9. Frequency
If you like your tear jerkers with a side of hot guys, allow me to recommend Frequency, starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel as father and son Frank and John Sullivan. John lost his firefighter dad as a boy, but when he starts using Frank’s old ham radio, he is magically connected to his father’s voice 30 years in the past. John fights to save Frank’s life using information from the future, but changing the past has unforeseen and potentially deadly consequences.
10. Field of Dreams
Want to make a man cry? Put on Field of Dreams, in which Kevin Costner tries to save his struggling farm by responding to a mysterious voice from the Iowa cornfields that whispers, “If you build it, he will come.” Turns out “it” is a baseball field that attracts ghostly ball players from the disgraced 1919 Black Sox team. “He” is the part that brings the tears. But at least they’re happy tears.
11. The Notebook
This wildly romantic movie about star-crossed lovers Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) is framed as a story told by an old man to his ailing wife in a nursing home. Noah and Allie’s turbulent saga is plenty entertaining and features the best kiss-in-the-rain ever. But it’s when you realize the surprising connection between the older and younger couple that you’re going to need that box of tissues.
12. Stepmom
Jackie (Susan Sarandon) is none too happy when stylish photographer Isabel (Julia Roberts) becomes the stepmother to the children she shares with ex-husband Luke (Ed Harris). But when Jackie is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she has no choice but to learn to embrace Isabel and encourage her growing bond with the children. Sob.
13. Philadelphia
Set early in the AIDS epidemic, Philadelphia is the story of Andrew Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a closeted gay man with AIDS who is fired from his corporate law firm and sues for discrimination. The only lawyer willing to take his case is Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), who starts out homophobic but ultimately becomes an empathetic and passionate advocate, even after Andrew’s condition takes a dark turn. Of the many heartbreaking scenes, one that stands out is Andrew slow dancing with his lover Miguel (Antonio Banderes) at a costumed ball, both fully aware that it may be their last dance.
14. Life is Beautiful
The creator and star of Life is Beautiful, Roberto Benigni, plays Guido, a Jewish-Italian bookseller whose family is sent to a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. To protect his young son and hide the true purpose of the camp, Guido invents an elaborate game in which the boy can earn or lose points by following his father’s odd instructions, such as hiding in a box or not complaining about hunger. There are a lot of funny and joyous moments, but I wouldn’t want to be wearing mascara when you get to the ending.
15. Ghost
Who can forget Molly (Demi Moore) innocently working with clay on her pottery wheel when “Unchained Melody” starts playing on the jukebox and a shirtless Sam (Patrick Swayze) gets all up in her business? Now that’s a love scene! So it’s really unfortunate when Sam is murdered and comes back as a ghost hell-bent on protecting Molly from the same fate. The only way Sam can communicate with Molly is through psychic Oda Mae (Whoopi Goldberg), which leads to some supernatural romance that is both hokey and magical. In other words, your brain may not believe what you’re seeing, but your heart is all in.
16. Ordinary People
High school student Conrad (Timothy Hutton) attempts suicide after losing his older brother in a boating accident, and his parents disagree sharply about how to care for him. Conrad’s loving father Calvin (Donald Sutherland) will do anything to help him heal, but his cold and distant mother Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) is more concerned about appearances and privacy. Ultimately, it is psychiatrist Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch) who helps Conrad have a cathartic breakthrough and move forward. This extraordinary film about the inner workings of an ordinary family won Best Picture in 1980 and would have easily won Best Tear Jerker, too, if that were a thing.
