There could be others, and I’m sure if I sat here long enough I would think of other films I should’ve and would’ve included.  I think when I make one of these lists that it’s all about the day I’m making it.  Tomorrow the list would include some of these same films, but there would probably be differences.  That’s the way it goes.  That’s life.  For now, today, these are some of my choices for the top films that always make me cry.  Honorable mention would go to films like Piano, On Golden Pond, Old Yeller, Fried Green Tomatoes, and countless other films you might be thinking of right now.

Philadelphia

The humanity in this scene is sort of overwhelming.  You have to ignore the crappy dubbing and the Greek subtitles, but it’s powerful none the less.

Beaches

Friends know each other for years, have their differences, lead disparate lives, stay bonded through everything, and love each other to the end.

Steel Magnolias

Nothing more heart wrenching than mother losing daughter. I distinctly remember seeing this and crying and laughing out loud and crying again.

Mystic River

Again… parent losing child.  This is powerful.

Playing By Heart

This whole movie takes the watcher on a roller coaster of emotion.  I cried a few times.  This scene is just sort of indicative of what the movie is about.  Not really a scene that made me cry.  It’s got an amazing cast and is a great film, if you like emotional movies about love and relationships that is.  If not, skip it.

Schindler’s List

This is one of, for me anyway, the most powerful scenes in film, ever.  Schindler is leaving and he breaks down wishing he could’ve saved more, done more.  It makes me cry just thinking about this scene.  Spielberg is a master.

Ghost

Sort of a common choice, but good none the less.  A classic tear jerker.  The moment when they see each other and he gets peace.

Powder

Fighting and then giving over of yourself… if you haven’t seen this movie it is a powerful film about humanity.  Just strange and amazing.

The Hours

I could’ve picked more than just two scenes from this movie.  It’s another character study kind of film about choices and consequences and living with both.

E.T.

I had to include this… E.T. goes home.

Boys on the Side

Love… loss…

Immortal Beloved

I don’t know why this gets me so much, but it does.  Partly it’s the music, partly watching him remember and knowing, finally, as an audience member, what the music was born out of.

Saving Private Ryan

This is the worst battle scene I’ve ever seen in film, for me.  I started crying almost immediately and by the end I was a mess.