# Entertainments that are guaranteed to make you cry every time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548 "2010-05-15T15:38:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/21 "2010-05-16T03:12:56Z")
In the next-to-last Seinfeld episode, The Clip Show, there’s some clips of hilarious outtake moments, the actors not being able to act for laughing, etc, and then it immediately switches to the opening guitar from Green Day’s ‘Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)’ - as if the song and sentiment wasn’t enough, there’s something about that switch from happy to sad that will make me cry every time. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/22 "2010-05-16T03:25:24Z")
Thirding Johnny Cash performing Hurt. And adding Immortal Beloved. Awesome movie. A friend of mine and myself dropped by another friend’s house while she and her boyfriend were watching it. The credits roll, and the guy says “well, that was coo- wait are all you CRYING?” And we were. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/23 "2010-05-16T03:38:57Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I don’t know whether or not to recommend _[My Dog Skip](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156812/)_. Actually, I’ve seen “My Dog Skip,” and it didn’t affect me that badly. But then again, Skip didn’t die. At least, not until several more years passed. ---
**Author:** ![raindrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@raindrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindrop)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/24 "2010-05-16T03:51:23Z")
Some American films will make me tear up a bit, but the ones that really turn me into a blubbering fool are Indian films. One of the most tear-jerkery of all is _Kal Ho Naa Ho_. During one week I played and replayed the DVD 6 times, and I cried like a big baby every single time. A few other Indian movies that I love and also cry over are… _Veer-Zaara Chalte Chalte Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Monsoon Wedding_ … but _Kal Ho Naa Ho_ still beats all of them for making me cry. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/25 "2010-05-16T05:41:34Z")
The first Susan Boyle video. When I really need something to pick me up, this always does it. I can’t stop smiling and crying. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/26 "2010-05-16T12:41:40Z")
Movies: Homeward Bound Marley & Me (Book does it too) Dances With Wolves Songs: Run for the Roses All By Myself Books: Where the Red Fern Grows The Lady and her Tiger Misc: Video of Secretariat’s Triple Crown victory, especially his 31 length win in the Belmont with the announcer yelling “…and Secretariat is running like a great red machine!” Those words still send chills down my spine. There are many, many more; most anything involving an emotional scene with an animal will send me blubbering. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/27 "2010-05-16T12:47:00Z")
\*The Velveteen Rabbit \*gets me in tears every time. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/28 "2010-05-16T14:42:57Z")
Good choices all, so far. And how in hell could I have forgotten to mention [**Ikiru**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044741/)? Takashi Shimura’s performance as Mr. Watanabe is, I think, the best of his career. And if you’re at all familiar with his work, then you’ll know that _that’s_ really saying something. ETA: And here are two **Extras** [Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDJLR_f3Mg) [Special](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAr_AjZt-E&NR=1) scenes that always produce tears (they did just now). ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/29 "2010-05-16T15:17:49Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > The song _This Woman’s Work_ by Kate Bush. > [@MTCicero](#): > > Agreed on “This Woman’s Work”, especially after seeing how it was masterfully utilized in the **Extras** “Extra Special Christmas Special”. Got a lump in my throat just thinking about it. > [@gaffa](#): > > I’ll have to search for that one. But the late John Hughes gets points for directing [the film in which it first appeared,](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096094/)and inspiring Kate to write it. And putting up with her slow work habits and delaying to film for her to deliver it. [I have to link to this clip.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MZWrEfB_VM) There is a shorter version, but this longer one is worth watching because it shows what led up to the song. Love the movie, love the song, love Kate Bush, love John Hughes for choosing Kate so that she could write one of her most perfect songs, with or without the visuals. Hate the Oscar people who totally ignored it. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/30 "2010-05-16T15:33:03Z")
_Shadowlands_. “Me too.” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/31 "2010-05-16T15:33:26Z")
[The Navy Hymn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iu8y2pvuRg) was played at my Dad’s funeral, and now it gets me every time. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/32 "2010-05-16T16:39:46Z")
Also: “Silent Night”, especially [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0zMUAOr0I). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/33 "2010-05-16T17:47:56Z")
Films: **We Are Marshall** (several times through course of film) \*\*Breaking the Waves \*\*(ending) the aforementioned **Toy Story 2** (that song) Song: “Volverás”, by Ricky Martin ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/34 "2010-05-16T17:49:58Z")
Most of Michael Moore’s documentaries leave me bawling. I know that he emotionally manipulates me on purpose, and I hate him for that, but it still happens. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/35 "2010-05-16T17:54:45Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > The song _By My Side_ & its segment in the movie GODSPELL- the women are all promising Jesus that they’ll stick with Him no matter what, meanwhile Judas is plotting his betrayal. I’ve been known to get veklempt (sp?) at hearing the Godspell song “All Good Gifts”. And I’m an agnostic (almost atheist)! Also, I’d like to second the film _The Elephant Man_. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/36 "2010-05-16T18:12:45Z")
The children’s book, “Are You My Mother?” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/37 "2010-05-16T18:47:02Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > [I have to link to this clip.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MZWrEfB_VM) There is a shorter version, but this longer one is worth watching because it shows what led up to the song. Love the movie, love the song, love Kate Bush, love John Hughes for choosing Kate so that she could write one of her most perfect songs, with or without the visuals. Thank you for posting that. > [@](#): > > _And in the end, I realized that I took more than I gave, I was trusted more than I trusted, and I was loved more than I loved. And what I was looking for was not to be found but to be made._ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/38 "2010-05-16T18:54:12Z")
I’ll second Iron Giant. When I was young, West Side Story always made me cry at the end. And now, I cannot listen to Warren Zevon’s Keep Me In Your Heart. Even thinking about that song chokes me up. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/39 "2010-05-16T19:18:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [The Navy Hymn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iu8y2pvuRg) was played at my Dad’s funeral, and now it gets me every time. On that note, _Taps_ played at any funeral, IRL or onscreen. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/40 "2010-05-16T21:28:24Z")
I cry all the damn time at movies, TV, you name it, if it involves grief or despair, I’m crying. But the two things that immediately came to mind at the OP, because I’ve read them many times and damn me if I don’t cry every single time like clockwork are Tennessee Williams’ play _Summer and Smoke_ and Milan Kundera’s novel _The Book of Laughter and Forgetting_. Now that I think about it, both stories involve women compromising themselves and their principles in order to get love (or mementos of a past love), and watching these characters suffer as they suffer shame, self-loathing, and defeat just about rips my heart out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548.md?page=3)