# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/121 "2010-05-26T18:11:26Z")
The end of **Bringing Out the Dead**. “Nobody asked you to suffer. That was your idea.” Man, I love that movie. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/122 "2010-05-26T20:52:38Z")
[This](http://larryfire.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/up-1.jpg) is my grandfather. Down to the last detail; the glasses, the tweed jacket, the pressed pants pulled suspiciously high, the white hair and the slightly straggly eyebrows and the blue eyes. He was one of the kindest, gentlest, most intelligent men I ever knew. He died in March 2008. I had a bit of difficulty getting through the opening montage of Up in the movie theater when it hit me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/123 "2010-05-26T23:26:37Z")
I tend to be a cynical sort (in the past, I’ve frequently re-applied Oscar Wilde’s “One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing” to one of the entries referred to herein), but I have yet to read Huckleberry Finn’s pronouncement “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” unblurred by moisture in the eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Chicago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Dr\_Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Chicago)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/124 "2010-05-27T07:58:33Z")
I once had a girlfriend break my heart clean in two, and though I had watched it a bunch of times before, the part in (anime) End of Evangelion where Asuka activates her Eva and starts fighting back…after I had my heart broken, I can’t help but tear up by the time she says, “You were always protecting me! Always watching over me!” Have no idea at the connection there. Also, when Dory from Finding Nemo says, “I look at you and…I’m home.” Write me off right there, I’m useless for the next few minutes. For songs…that same girl introduced me to Minor Majority, and one of the things I did to get over her was put on “Wonder If She Knows” by them and bawl. If I dig at it now, I can still get teared up. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/125 "2010-05-27T17:59:38Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Even more now that I have a small daughter who is growing up faster than I can bear. Oh, God - I know what you mean! Sometimes I walk around singing _Dream a Little Dream_ to her and it makes me cry. It was the same song that used to comfort my little boy when he was a baby and it kills me to know that she’s growing so fast and soon I’ll have no one to sing that song to. I wish I could hold her forever to watch her eyes light up while she laughs and reaches for my cheeks while I’m singing. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/126 "2010-05-27T18:08:10Z")
I have to add another one. This week’s episode of _Bleach_, and the corresponding chapter of the manga: About half the characters in this episode either die (but some get better) or end up horribly injured and/or traumatized. The death of Ulquiorra is the thing I specifically came to post about. He spends most of his time on the series alternately guarding and emotionally bullying Orihime, partly because it’s his job, partly because, as an Arrancar, he doesn’t understand her human emotions, especially her loyalty to her friends and unrequited love for Ichigo. It is only in Ulquiorra’s final moments that he understands that he, too, has emotions, and one of the last things he does is ask to hold Orihime’s hand. Being the compassionate girl she is, she agrees, and continues to do so as he turns to dust and blows away. I don’t know why this affects me so much, since he is a villain, but I think it ties in with what **Sunspace** wrote about striving to become human and experience love. I’ve only read the manga chapter and seen screenshots of the anime, and it still makes me misty-eyed just typing this. If I see the actual episode now, I will definitely start to cry. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/127 "2010-05-27T19:29:31Z")
You said entertainment, so here goes. I was at a local yokel St. Pat’s parade and leading the parade was a group of developmentally disabled children. I had to hide my eyes in my sleeve. ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/128 "2010-05-28T14:58:30Z")
The original short version of " Flowers for Algernon ". ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/129 "2010-05-28T20:06:54Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > I have to add another one. This week’s episode of _Bleach_, and the corresponding chapter of the manga People still watch _Bleach_? I really wanted to keep liking it, but the endless filler and the fight scenes that made DBZ look fast-paced… ugh. I got to the beginning of the 2nd Hueco Mundo arc I think, and gave up. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/130 "2010-05-28T21:12:10Z")
The Stand. I just re-read this for the millionth time and still, every, single time when Stu falls down the embankment and Larry, Glen and Ralph have to leave him behind. and when Stu gives Tom the eternity symbol medal M.O.O.N. That spells sobbing! ---
**Author:** ![sannerly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@sannerly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sannerly)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/131 "2010-05-30T19:30:01Z")
As many said: Beginning of Up, Marley & Me, the part in Sixth Sense where the kid tells his mother about her mother… Several songs, but the one that strikes me is Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley’s version. If I sing it myself, I can’t go through the entire song, but the worst thing is, I don’t know why. It just makes me tear up, and before long, I’m bawling. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/132 "2010-05-30T22:40:14Z")
This song by Sufjan Stevens about a girl dying of cancer and the boy who loves her. Can’t listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/133 "2010-05-30T22:46:15Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > Big Fish (wow, Big Fish really messed me up when I saw it) Oh yes. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/134 "2010-05-30T22:49:09Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > This song by Sufjan Stevens about a girl dying of cancer and the boy who loves her. > > Can’t listen to it. > [@](#): > > In the morning in the winter shade > On the first of March on the holiday > I thought I saw you breathing .. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/135 "2010-05-30T23:27:04Z")
I didn’t read the thread because even **reading** about sad songs/movies makes me cry. But I did a search and see that nobody’s mentioned the movie _Taking Chance_. Kevin Bacon, escorting a Marine’s body home. Every time Bacon did that slow salute, I teared up, and again when he spent the night in a warehouse with the coffin instead of heading for a hotel. They underplayed the traditional tear jerking scenes, which made the other scenes even more effective, because you had to think about it, about what happened to that 20-year-old kid. My family’s crying songs are _Blind Man in the Bleachers_ and _Country Bumpkin_, and the Kathy Mattea song about the couple in the nursing home. ---
**Author:** ![gizmokc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gizmokc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gizmokc)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/136 "2010-05-31T08:55:57Z")
Ok, on a personal note, the song Second Chance by Shinedown. Here are a few that I’m surprised no one has mentioned yet, when Roland watched Susan get burned at the stake in Wizard and Glass from the Darktower series by Stephen King, the movies My Life(with Michael Keaton) and Leaving Las Vegas(both excellent movies that I will never watch again), and Hello, Darlin’ by Conway Twitty. One that also gets to me is Sam’s last words on the finale of Cheers, “I’m sorry, we’re closed”. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/137 "2010-05-31T09:54:48Z")
Movie: _E.T._ – when he apparently dies, and then when the flower begins to revive and you know he’s alive. Song: _My Immortal_ by Evanescence – just a beautifully haunting song. Book: _Lonesome Dove_ – Gus’s death. Television: _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ – Mom’s death. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/138 "2010-05-31T13:01:47Z")
> [@gizmokc](#): > > My Life (with Michael Keaton) Oh my god. I remember seeing this in the theater and I was alone. I bawled my frickin’ eyes out. You made me remember…thank you. I’m in a bad place…maybe I should re-watch it and have a cathartic cry! ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/139 "2010-05-31T13:03:21Z")
> [@gizmokc](#): > > when Roland watched Susan get burned at the stake in Wizard and Glass from the Darktower series by Stephen King Oh…and a spoiler here probably would be good. I have not read the series but plan to someday. I’m sure I’ll forget by then but for others… ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548/140 "2010-05-31T20:05:34Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Two places in Watership Down: > > General Woundwort: Why throw your life away? > Bigwig: My Chief ordered me to guard this run. > General Woundwort: [Stunned] YOUR Chief? > > and of course: > > Black Rabbit: Hazel… Hazel… you know me, don’t you? > Hazel: I don’t know. > [the apparition reveals himself to be the Black Rabbit, and Hazel gasps] > Hazel: Yes, my lord. I know you. > Black Rabbit: I’ve come to ask if you’d like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you’d like it. You’ve been feeling tired, haven’t you? If you’re ready, we might go along now. > [Hazel looks at all the younger rabbits of Watership Down] > Black Rabbit: You needn’t worry about them. They’ll be all right, and thousands like them. If you come along now, I’ll show you what I mean. Oh yes. One of my favorite, favorite books. I first read it for a leadership class. Just reading this thread brings a lump to my throat. I’d forgotten about the short story, Flowers for Algernon, I remember reading it in high school, which was already kind of an angsty time. I can never read The Yearling again. I really had a tough time with the little girl in the pink coat in Schindler’s List. I always tear up during Beth’s death scene in Little Women. …“Now I am the one going ahead…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entertainments-that-are-guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-every-time/539548.md?page=8)