Tear Jerkers For Our Times

Teen First
Tear-Jerker Movies
02-11-2009 14:19

Over the years a whole host of movies have had the power to make us cry but it’s the movies that make s cry time and time again that really pack the punch.

And it looks like Bright Star, which stars Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw, might just be another to add to the collection.

Directed by Jane Campion the movie is based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats’ untimely death at age 25.

So to acknowledge that we may have another weepy on our hands we took a look at some of the best tear jerker movies.

– Titanic

Back in 1997 we were all blubbing away in the cinema when Rose said goodbye to Jack in the movie everyone was talking about, Titanic.

Ok so Rose and Jack had finally admitted their feeling for one another, Rose got away from the creepy Cal, they had survived being shot at by Cal, as well as escaping a sinking ship all in one piece. So while we were all hoping that they would ride off in the sunset together James Cameron and co had other ideas.

Rose promises one last time that she will never let go and will continue to live her life before letting go of Jack.

Trust me there was room on that piece of wood for two!

– Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump may have had a very varied and exciting life from going to war in Vietnam, playing ping pong for his country and setting up a fishing business there was only one thing that he wanted…

That of course was to be with his childhood friend Jenny. After many trials and tribulations which see the pair spend long periods of times apart Jenny has finally got in contact with Forrest, that’s why he’s sat on the bench for most of the film.

Together at last Jenny reveals that Forrest is the father of her young son. She also admits that she is suffering from a virus and the three of them movie back to Greenbow, Alabama.

The couple finally marry but Jenny does not long after. The real tear jerking moment sees Forrest talking to Jenny’s grave to let her know how their son is doing.

– Green Mile

Green Mile is the one movie that makes me cry every time without fail.Despite having seen the film a thousand times and know the ending it doesn’t stop me from blubbing when the guards in the prison realise there is nothing they can do for John Coffey.

Paul Edgecomb, played by Tom Hanks, is shown by Coffey that he didn’t rape and kill those young girls and Paul offers to open the door and let John walk free.

But John tells him no, he is ready to go because here there is too much pain in the world, which he can feel, and that he is “rightly tired of the pain” and is ready to rest.

But it’s the moment that John asks Paul not to put the mask over his face as he is afraid of the dark that makes me sob like a baby.

– Ghost

Ghost was Patrick Swayze’s other mammoth movie after Dirty Dancing when it was released back in 1990, yes it really was almost twenty years ago.

And the ending is still a movie moment that brings a tear to my eye. By the end of the film Molly can now hear Sam. He is then enveloped in bright light, which makes him visible to both Oda Mae and Molly.

It’s time for Sam to go to heaven after sharing a kiss with Molly and saying a final goodbye to Oda Mae he walks towards the bright light. Not a dry eye in the house.

– Beaches

Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey came together in 1988 for the big screen adaptation of Iris Rainer Dart’s novel of the same name.

The two women share a long and difficult relationship at times, with many conflicts and much time spent apart. However, when push comes to shove, they are there for each other and CC cares for Hillary when she is diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy, a debilitating cardiac illness.

Beaches is a movie about long standing friendship and that no matter what friends stick together. But it’s the final moments of Hillary’s life that are the most emotional as the pair put all of their differences behind them as they sit and watch Hillary’s daughter playing on the sand.

– Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment is one of those movies that strikes a chord with many viewers as it tackles the idea of losing your child, no matter how old.

The story centres around the volatile relationship between a mother and daughter spanning 30 years the pair so often failing to see eye to eye.

But the past is forgotten when Emma is diagnosed with terminal cancer. But it’s time to get out the Kleenex when Emma bids farewell to her two young sons and mother and daughter finally put their difference aside.

– E.T.

Ok so E.T. is a children’s movie but the end where E.T. and Elliot are saying goodbye… only someone with a heart of stone would find that cry worthy!

Bright Star is released 6th November.

Helen Earnshaw