Emotional storytelling is the aim of any great film or television show. The goal is to evoke, to make the audience feel and relate in their own way, and to live in their hearts forever.
Recently, Twitter users revealed which TV shows and movies made them cry the hardest.
Make sure you’ve got a steady supply of tissues on hand, it’s going to get weepy!
*Schindler’s List*
There are very few films that have been made in the last 50 years that are as powerful and provocative as Schindler’s List .
This period piece about the WWII Holocaust is one everyone should see at least once in their lives.
*The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air*.
Having to watch Will’s father let him down once again was one of the most difficult and emotional moments in the entire series of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .
This was one of the first times fans got to see Will Smith’s true acting range.
*The Green Mile*.
No actor has reduced movie-going audiences to a proverbial puddle of tears the way Tom Hanks has. The Green Mile is one of the most inspiring films in recent memory.
The scene where the guards are crying as they walk John Coffey to the electric chair is almost too much to bear.
*Inside Out*.
Pixar has a remarkable ability to convey incredibly powerful emotion through CGI characters. It’s both the best and worst thing about their films.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Bong Bong said his sad heartfelt goodbye.
*Up*.
Just as I was saying, if you’re in need of a cathartic experience Pixar is for you!
They’re so good at communicating emotions and touching on shared experiences amongst their audience, that they don’t even need to have their characters speak to make us cry!
*This Is Us*.
Do you have strained relationships with your parents? Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? Do you sometimes hate the way you look? Great! This is Us is right up your alley!
Randall and William’s goodbye was just plain unfair.
RELATED STORIES
*Coco*.
Coco tries to humanize death and view it as being a part of life, as opposed to fear, or run away from.
I don’t think I need to go into much further detail as to why this is arguably the saddest Pixar film ever created.
*After Life*.
Once more, we’re dealing with a show that approaches the topic of death head-on and unapologetically. Ricky Gervais’ ability to use humor as a coping mechanism as his character deals with the loss of his wife is truly awe-inspiring and heartwarming.
The show also happens to be hilarious, so there’s that too.
*Sons Of Anarchy*.
I don’t even want to look at this one! Without a doubt losing Opie Winston on Sons of Anarchy was one of the most brutal and emotional television deaths in the last 20 years.
It had audiences weeping in disbelief.
*Dead Poet’s Society*.
“Oh Captain, My Captain!”
Dead Poet’s Society was a film they used to make us watch in school whenever there was an indoor recess. Which was brutal, because it meant that my classmates would end up seeing me reduced to a blubbering puddle.
*E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial*.
E.T. takes the cake for being the first film to have ever made me cry. We’re not just talking strong, silent tears either. I mean full-blown, uncontrollable snot-snobs with tears streaming down my face.
This still holds up as one of the greatest films Spielberg has ever directed.
*Toy Story 3*.
As if it wasn’t hard enough having to watch Andy say goodbye to his entire childhood in one selfless gesture, but when Woody uttered those three little words, I totally lost it.
“So long partner…” It gets me every time!
*Game Of Thrones*.
“HOLD THE DOOR!”
There are a lot of deaths on Game of Thrones , it’s kind of a signature staple of the show. Still, saying goodbye to Hodor was easily one of the most difficult.
Your sacrifice will never be forgotten, gentle giant!
*A Star Is Born*.
When Lady Gaga sings ‘I’ll Never Love Again’, that just might be the most gutwrenching musical moment in the history of film.
I would defy anyone to make it through without demolishing at least half a Kleenex box.
*The Land Before Time*.
Thanks, The Land Before Time ! You gave me my very first emotional scar at the ripe old age of 4 and I haven’t come close to getting over it since!
I think I hugged my mom for three days straight after watching this.
