Science fiction tear jerkers
Josh
Friday
11:56 am
An after-the-fact preface: Be sure to read through the discussion at the bottom for a TON of great weepy fare I missed. I mean, how could I have left “The Abyss” off this list? Be sure to chime in and berate me soundly below!
Let’s just be straight up with each other for a minute, OK? I cry at movies. It doesn’t really matter what genre; I bawled like a school girl during “Man Without a Face.” I got a lump in my throat during “The Wedding Singer” and “Lilo & Stitch.” And let’s just not bring up “Old Yeller,” yeah?
But, for some reason, there just aren’t a lot of tear-jerking sci-fi movies out there. Maybe that’s secretly why I love the genre so much — I can go on a date without having to touch up my makeup a billion times.
But I know there were a couple out there that got me a little choked up. OK, so my biggest embarrassment is how much I sobbed when Bruce Willis had to say goodbye to his daughter in “Armageddon.” But I knew there were others out there. So I went to my most magic of 8-balls: Twitter.
“Twitter!” I called out into the abyss. “Show me the saddest science fiction movies to grace the screen!”
The first three responses came back almost instantly. “Battlefield Earth,” “Battlefield Earth” and “Battlefield Earth.” Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. “The Matrix 2 and 3″ were next. COME ON, Twitter, where’s the serious? Remind me to never ask you for medical advice (again).
But then, a series of other answers came in, restoring my faith in the medium. Their answers, mediated and moderated, below:
Serenity:
Ah, Joss Whedon. You loveable, sadistic, hairy bastard man-child. You have a track record of creating the most memorable characters to grace screens big and small, and then completely wrenching them from us in as gruesome or pointless manner possible. Wash’s death I can almost handle, seeing as how he went out as a hero. But killing Book by just letting him bake in the sun for a spell, all of that delicious backstory just evaporating with him? You’re dangerously close to “you suck” territory, bub.
The Iron Giant:
This surprise bit of sweetness about a boy and his bot packed several emotional gut punches. The most powerful, however, was when the silent titular Giant sacrificed himself to save his friend, as well as most of the state of Maine. Twitter friend Knappst3r, who evidently cries about as much as I do, cited this movie, in addition to “Serenity.”
The Fifth Element:
We’ve talked at length about this quirky cult classic, which has become a surprisingly divisive wedge in fandom (you either love it or hate it). I fall into the former camp. And, most importantly, I got a little sad at the end, when Leeloo can’t feel love, but sacrifices herself thanks to Bruce Willis and some climactic music. Zeblue Prime mentioned that he cries at lots of sci-fi movies because of the sheer epic nature, but specifically cited The Fifth Element (or E5, if you have no idea what you’re talking about, because I just made that up). And GeekGirlDiva, ever the sort to fall for romance, seconds The Fifth Element as a key climactic sobfest.
A.I.:
Wait a minute… there was a robot boy in this movie?
A few of you got a little choked up over A.I. — most notably the last scene. Elwang admits that a lot of people trash the movie, but the part where he gets his mom back for a day makes him all manner of weepy. ReallyBigPeach mentions a rough scene I’d forgotten about, when Little Robot Boy gets left in the woods alone. I blame Gigolo Jane for blotting out that memory — I can’t seem to remember anything for around half an hour either side of her appearance.
Star Trek:
Very few people think of the rebooted “Star Trek” as a tear-jerker, unless bright, blinding lights make your eyes water. But at least one person was on the same page as me. Pippsta remembered that opening scene being a little sad. And I couldn’t agree more. CarrieLeighC went one further, saying it had her “sobbing faster and harder than any other movie ever has.”
I’m taking up a collection to rent “Old Yeller” for her.
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Reader Comments
Yeah, I have to agree with Star Trek. I think the opening scenes of that film were probably the best scene in all of Star Trek lore. (yes, even better than anything with Khan)
What about the Battlestar Galactica death of Kara Thrace (Starbuck)?
I agree with the Star Trek… both times I saw it in the theater, it was a little rough. It’s definitely an intense scene.
I’m right there with you with “The Iron Giant.” I re-watched it with my mom recently and just couldn’t hold it together.
None of these moments brought me to tears, to be honest, although I was affected by the death of Wash because it destroyed the perfect unit that was Zoe and Wash.
Moments that did make me cry? Hmmm….
E.T. “dying” (even my dad cried at that)
Talyn John dying in “Farscape”
D’Argo dying in “Peacekeeper Wars”
Spock dying in “Star Trek II”:
“It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
“Or the one.”
BTW, The book “Battlefield Earth” seriously rocks.
“A.I.” made me cry because it was just so bad and wouldn’t end.
Oh! And YES!!!! “Armageddon.” I can’t help it: I’m a daddy’s girl. that part gets me every time. It gets my dad, too.
Wasn’t The Iron Giant written by Sylvia Plath’s husband, for their kids to help them get deal with her suicide? It makes it even more of a tear jerker.
The part in Armageddon that always gets me has nothing to do with a Willis or an Affleck. It’s when Will Patton’s son runs up to him at the end holding a toy space shuttle. You’re made of stone if that doesn’t get you. The part when Teo Leoni gets smacked by a huge tidal wave in “Deep Impact” is good, too, but I think those might just be tears of joy.
I cannot believe Starship Troopers is not in this list. When NPH has to split from the group. Sad. When Johnny and Carmen have to break up. Sad. When they stick that probe in the bugs….nevermind.
SPOCK DYING IN ‘KHAN!’ … How could I not have mentioned that??
What about Torchwood Children of Earth? THAT was a tear jerker.
I probably cry more at movies than just about anyone. Everyone of those movies got me, but I definitely bawled like a baby when Spock died.
Old school, Frankenstein and King Kong both made me cry.
Solaris made me cry, but that was just for the hours of my life that I’d never get back.
I second whoever said that Battlefield Earth, the book, rocks, because it does. Hard.
Yes, yes, and yes – Serenity took us from high to below low and made me sob. How could he do this to us?
The Iron Giant! – All time fave – and I cry every time. “I am not Atomo.”
Star Trek – the good of the many outweighs the good of the few or the one. The reboot caught us all off guard, even those who already shed their tears for Spock.
Not sure how you could have written a piece on weepy sci-fi without mentioning “Silent Running” – oh gawd wish I’d not brought that memory back – anyone got a tissue
Uriel — I know. I should have mentioned “Silent Running,” “E.T.” and “Star Trek II.” Consider this my mea culpa, instead of modifying the article itself. : )
How about the ending of Bicentennial Man?
and what about Torchwood Children of Earth? I’m sad jut from thinking about it.
and Doctor Who S4E13, ouch, it hurts.
Err excuse me: – Torchwood s2 “Exit Wounds” and as aformentioned Torchwood ‘Children of Earth’, Stargate SG1 s5, “Meridian”, s7 “Heroes”. 28 Days later, Night Watch (origin not the american version), The Truman Show, A Clockwork Orange [...]
And why would you ever cry in Matrix 2+3???
Dude, Jake, yes when Starbuck died I was a mess for hours.
Oddly enough, when Starbuck gets herself off the planet and Apollo see’s her name taped to the raider and they both juke their wings… Get’s me every time.
There were a bunch of cry-worthy shows out there. I think, even though I wasn’t clear, I was sticking to big-screen shows. I agree on the SG1 episode “Heroes,” and I also get a little misty during the end of “The Message” in Firefly. Part of it is knowing that it was the last scene Edmonson composed for, and it was done as a farewell to the series.
My No. 1, though, has GOT to be when I cried and cried when reading about Josh scaring small, innocent children with his Halloween costume. Those poor kids were just there to learn about the exciting world of newspapers.
The series finale of Babylon 5 (”Sleeping in Light”), without a doubt. Also the episode of TNG where Data creates a daughter and she feels human emotion but dies as a result (”The Offspring”?).
I have actually thought of another Movie scene that gave me the chills and upset me – the first five minutes of the X-Men movie with Magneto’s family being forced towards the gas chambers. Why oh why did the death of Jean Grey not feel that painful? And of course there is “Flight of the Navigator” – the scenes with his mum missing him, the superlative Veronica Cartwright, they make me misty eyed too.
Torchwood “Children of Earth” definitely! And the Doctor Who episode where the Doctor and Rose got separated into different universes. I bawled for an hour over that one.
I have season 1 of Torchwood. Watched about 20 minutes of the first episode. Never made it back. This thread tells me I should make it back.
Start Trek 3: The Search for Spock. When they self-destructed the Enterprise. Kirk and the crew are on the planet and they look up. He says “My god what have I done” as they watch the ship break apart and burn in the atmosphere. I cried for the ship that had been part of the crew for years.
Hmm, the first season is very messy but contains the odd gem. The second season is much stronger. I must admit I had to force myself through a lot of the first season.
So good luck, but my point is you may have to make allowances.
Oh don’t get me wrong. I liked to 20 minutes I watched. And I kept trying to figure out if the lead female was hot or not.
Did anyone else tend to find DARYL sad at particular points?
Eve Miles. I knew her at college.
She is the sweetest person ever. And, I think you will find she grows on you. And aren’t those crushes the best?
Jadzia dying in DS9 crushed me.
Also, Catherine dying in “Beauty and the Beast.”
ST:TNG’s “The Inner Light” is also very touching.
But, yeah, the first two things I ever think of when it comes to tears and sci-fi are “E.T.” and “Wrath of Khan.”
Mrs. Josh mentioned one I can’t BELIEVE I left off:
“The Abyss”
“Dammit, Bud, you never fought for anything in your life, now BREATHE!”
“Knew this was a one way ticket, but you know I had to come. Love you wife.”
“You bitch, you never backed down from anything in your life! Now fight! Fight! Fight!”
Love that movie.
A lot of sci-fi movies choke me up a little, though. The aliens dying in their pods in the pool in “Cocoon” even got to me. And I’m sure yoda dying choked me up, but I was too young then: I can’t recall.
Oh, Amber. Were you ever young?
Oh Spock. I was weeping. Does fantasy count? the Lord of the Rings. Multiple times. Star Wars-the death of Obi Wan. Brazil. Last man on earth-Vincent Price version.
Seriously, how is Batteries Not Included not on this list?!?!
So much love for Spock, but where’s the love for Kirk and Data? Or were “Generations” and “Nemesis” too terrible to get the tear ducts working?
I know Josh is not into Stargate Universe too much, or maybe it’s because I’m new to Stargate series by this one, but “Light” episode of SG:U managed to capture me completely.I was probably too naive to think that but I really believed that somehow they were going to their deaths.
And I remember my eyes being wet by the end of Firefly’s “Out of Gas”. I was touched by Mal’s question “You all gonna be here when I wake up?”
Everyone knew Data was a goner in “Nemesis”: Spiner wanted out of Star Trek.
As for Kirk, as much as I love Shatner, “Generations” is painful in the extreme.
Charlotte, I think we’re the only people who even remember “Batteries Not Included.” I loved that movie as a kid; and yes, it was tears worthy.
Finally, yes, Josh, I was once young. I have pictures of me at four to prove it. I looked just like I do now–same sour expression and everything–only I was even shorter than I am today.
As for “A.I.,” I just have to come back to that and say, seriously?!? I don’t know, maybe moms got choked up about leaving that little kid in the woods. I found him so obnoxious I totally understood leaving him there. And the end? Argh. If it only HAD ended, instead of dragging on and on and on for so long that, were it even possible for me to feel empathy for that little chunk of metal and simulated flesh, I couldn’t have mustered it out of sheer exhaustion and frustration and a desire to flee the theater forthwith.
But, yes, still I was once young. And I even had a heart–once.
Alican — It’s not that I’m NOT into SG:U — I’m just on the fence over it, and making it earn its keep.
And, yeah, “Out of Gas” really choked me up. That was one of the best hours of television I’ve ever seen.
Astonished only one person has mentioned Doomsday.
“Am I ever going to see you again?” “You can’t.”
I’ll admit I cried when D’Argo died in Peacekeeper Wars… but my Mom did too, so it doesn’t count… does it?
Come on, why have only 2 people mentioned The Doctor saying goodbye to Rose? My mum bawled at that, and I just went quiet for weeks. :’(
I don’t want to be cursed off the face of the planet, but may I mention Star Wars III? I started crying when Palpatine forces Anakin to his knees to take the vows of Sithhood and didn’t stop until the movie ended. Yes, even through “she has lost the will to live.”
?
*tilt*
>;)
We thought the opposite about Serenity – I was fine with Book’s death, but Wash’s just seemed cheap and pointless. I was kind of pissed about that.