# Why do I watch movies that I know will make me cry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905 "2008-01-01T18:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/1 "2008-01-01T18:41:51Z")
Okay, so as I’m prepping my bedroom to paint, I flip through channels for some background entertainment and stumble across Jackson’s _King Kong_. And for reasons I’m still unsure of (see thread title), I freaking _leave it there_. And I don’t even like Naomi Watts all that much, acting-wise or hawt-wise. But when she goes to pieces at the end, I’m right there with her. I’m good through most of the movie, but once the monkey goes up the tower, I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, masking tape in hand, unable to look away for the last like fifteen minutes of the film. And I know what’s coming. I knew what was coming when I first saw this movie two years ago today in the theater. Hell, I figured after I watched _Field of Dreams_ Sunday night and _Juno_ last night I’d be all wrung out, but I guess not. And perusing the DVDs I got for Christmas, it looks to be a pretty weepy week for me, as I’ve still got _Raising Arizona_ and _The Princess Bride_\* on the shelf. Well, at least I’m finally done with the _Close Encounters_ 30th anniversary box set. Seriously, though, somebody please tell me that I’m not the only one that gets all sentimental and stupid over these things. - 100% heartfelt: thanks again **WomanOfScorn**! ---
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/2 "2008-01-01T19:46:43Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Okay, so as I’m prepping my bedroom to paint, I flip through channels for some background entertainment and stumble across Jackson’s _King Kong_. And for reasons I’m still unsure of (see thread title), I freaking _leave it there_. And I don’t even like Naomi Watts all that much, acting-wise or hawt-wise. But when she goes to pieces at the end, I’m right there with her. I’m good through most of the movie, but once the monkey goes up the tower, I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, masking tape in hand, unable to look away for the last like fifteen minutes of the film. And I know what’s coming. I knew what was coming when I first saw this movie two years ago today in the theater. Hell, I figured after I watched _Field of Dreams_ Sunday night and _Juno_ last night I’d be all wrung out, but I guess not. And perusing the DVDs I got for Christmas, it looks to be a pretty weepy week for me, as I’ve still got _Raising Arizona_ and _The Princess Bride_\* on the shelf. Well, at least I’m finally done with the _Close Encounters_ 30th anniversary box set. Seriously, though, somebody please tell me that I’m not the only one that gets all sentimental and stupid over these things. - 100% heartfelt: thanks again **WomanOfScorn**! [/QUOTE] Heh, nice shoutout there. You aren’t the only one. _The Notebook_ had be bawling like a little baby, and I’ve seen it a few times knowing it makes me cry. Sometimes we just need a good cry though so maybe that’s why we do this to ourselves. I cry a lot at movies actually. And books. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/3 "2008-01-01T20:04:58Z")
Crying is Cathartic. I have been tempted to leave Watership Down on when it comes on… But I’m far too old and far too Male to cry at movies. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/4 "2008-01-02T00:47:22Z")
I don’t know if it’s specifically about crying, but shouldn’t a movie at least make us \*\*feel \*\*something? So many movies just leave me cold. And **Lobsang** , I’m probably a lot older than you, and just as male, and I cry at movies all the time. ---
**Author:** ![bubastis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bubastis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubastis)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/5 "2008-01-02T01:19:32Z")
I was visiting some people over the holiday period, and in one house, the kids had Babe on TV in the background. I was in a room full of my friends, but I couldnt help but tune in to the Tv, knowing full well what would happen when the last five minutes came on screen; what always happens, ALWAYS, never fails; First, “That’ll Do, Pig” Second, I burst into tears. I’m 27. And yep, when that pig got the perfect score, no matter how hard I tried, I started blubbering in the middle of people I’ve known for years. Hey, what can you do? I’m not a robot. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/6 "2008-01-02T01:46:53Z")
\*\*The Joy Luck Club The Pride of the Yankees Saving Private Ryan Field of Dreams Indian Summer Eight Below\*\* (frigging Disney sled dog movie) I know there are more, if I think about it… but then I’ll get sad and have to watch one! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-watch-movies-that-i-know-will-make-me-cry/431905/7 "2008-01-02T02:00:14Z")
**Schindler’s List.** I’ve seen the movie 3 or 4 times, and every damn time, when Schindler is ready to escape and he drops the ring by the car and starts whispering “I could have done more” I curl up in the fetal position and start rocking back and forth.