25 Popular Movies That Secretly Make Men Cry

In a recent online poll, a man asked, “What are some of the movies that made you secretly cry, and you aren’t saying a word about it publicly? For me, there is What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. When his mom came to pick him up at the jail, people stared at his mom.”

“My mother was overweight when I was a kid, and it was an endless joke as an elementary school kid.” Men shared the movies that make them cry too in a popular online forum; here are some of the most popular responses.

1. About Time (2013)

“About Time. The whole table tennis scene into them on the beach. It’s a brutal scene for me to get through,” one man confessed. Another admitted, “I was on the verge of bawling out loud in the movie theater when I saw that scene, but some poor sap two rows behind me did it first, and it helped calm me down.

2. Up (2009)

“I have never not cried during the opening scenes of Up. I do my best to hide it from my wife, but I never succeed,” one shared. A second added, “The scene where he reads the book and Ellie’s message is even sadder.” Finally, a third exclaimed, “Thank you! Everyone talks about the opening, but ‘Thank you for the adventure’ breaks me every time.”

3. The Green Mile (1999)

One man suggested, “The Green Mile. Watching the guard break down in the big moment. It’s tough, man.” “That movie is heartbreaking. I just picked up the book a few days ago,” a second confessed. A third added, “All Stephen King’s books kinda stick with me, but that one more than ever.”

4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

“The ending of Saving Private Ryan always gets me,” one answered. “Oh, man! I cry at the very beginning! I’ll always remember when I went with my dad to watch this movie in the theater. He’s a Navy Veteran.”

“In the scene in the beginning, when he drops to his knees, tears in his eyes, my dad started to cry and shake at the cemetery scene. It broke my heart into a million pieces. I can’t watch that movie anymore. The ending was wrenching,” replied another.

5. Big Fish (2003)

“Big Fish,” shared one. “I made the mistake of seeing that in the theater a few months after my dad died.” Another replied, “Big Fish is a sobbing one for sure. But that will also help to mend a relationship by reminding you of what’s important. Probably the number one film that will make you cry.”

6. Interstellar (2014)

“Interstellar always gets me. I can barely watch the scene after the wave planet where Cooper watches 23 years of videos from his kids, slowly questioning why they’re still doing that. And then, in the end. ‘Because my dad promised me.’ Oh my god, what a movie,” shared one.

7. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

“When Joseph Gordon Levitt tells all the little kids to get back on the bus because he doesn’t want them to die without hope at the end of The Dark Knight Rises. The look on his face when he sees Batman fly overhead is some of the best acting work I have ever seen, plus the epilogue with Michael Caine saying he failed,” another confessed. 

8. Toy Story 3 (2010)

“The ending of Toy Story 3 had me in such a wreck that I decided I could never see it again,” confessed one. “Agreed!” another exclaimed. “Toy Story 3 gets me, in the end, a couple of times and every time.”

9. Love Actually (2003)

“I’m not ashamed to admit it, stated one. “But in the right headspace, the scene from Love Actually where she replied, ‘Yes is being my answer. Just in case, ‘will leave me on the floor.”

10. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, when they reunite with the family at the end, Shadow limps up later than Sassy and Chance,” shared one. “I’m getting emotional just thinking about that scene. All these years later, it still gets me!”

11. The Fox and the Hound (1967)

“The Fox and the Hound broke my heart like nothing I have ever seen,” one man confessed. Another shared, “It was such a sad animated movie. My wife and I took our five-year-old daughter to see this, and during the sad part, the theater was quiet, and suddenly my daughter broke and cried loud and hard.”

“The whole theater was crying, including me. I mean, they were screaming and crying she brought the house down. It was funny but at the same time so sad. I will remember that forever.”

12. The Iron Giant (1999)

One man voted, “The Iron Giant. You are who you choose to be. The most important thing I’ve ever had to understand as a man. You can react to threats by turning into a weapon of mass destruction – or you can be Superman. We get to choose.”

“I do my best, but I’m ugly crying at that point. I’ve seen that movie probably three or four times, and every single time, I cry like a kitty, and I don’t care.”

13. Good Will Hunting (1997)

“Good Will Hunting. Such a powerful film. Robin Williams’ performance in that movie was just out of this world. He was such a great presence he brought to that film. ‘Sorry guys, I gotta see about a girl.’ I can’t get through the ‘They put freaking cigarettes out on me’ part without ugly crying,” admitted another.

14. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” one suggested. “The first time I watched it, I was dry eyes thinking it was a bit hokey, and in the final few seconds, I began ugly crying. The second time through, I watched it knowing what would come at the end, and then unexpectedly started ugly crying at the same moment.”

15. Manchester by the Sea (2016)

“Manchester by the Sea was a brutal movie,” said one. “This is probably one of only three movies that, even though it’s very sad, I watch every year or two just because it’s so high quality and it makes me feel emotions I don’t normally feel,” another man confessed. 

16. What Dreams May Come (1998)

“What Dreams May Come. I have this on DVD for an emotional constipation emergency. I will cry so hard I’ll need an IV,” shared one. Another suggested, “If someone doesn’t sob at the mere thought of this movie, there’s something wrong.”

17. Coco (2017)

“Coco. When this movie came out, my son was super into it. I saw it so many times. The ‘Remember me’ scene at the end got me teared up every time,” answered one. “I shed tears in the cinema, and my then seven-year-old daughter asked me if I was okay.”

“I watched this just after my grandma passed from dementia. It was not an easy watch, but I didn’t know that’s what the movie would be about,” a third replied. 

18. Warrior (2011)

“Warrior. The song at the end always breaks me down. Joel Edgerton’s character says, ‘I love you, Tommy,’ and Tommy subsequently taps. The father’s expression during all these probably won Nick Nolte a nomination.”

“Unbelievable acting from Nick Nolte,” another agreed. “It goes from drunken confusion, then the horrifying rage in his eyes, to just a deep sadness. It’s one of my favorite scenes, especially how Hardy’s character finally drops his guard to hold him close at the end.”

19. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

“Lord of the Rings: Return of the King when Aragorn tells the hobbits, ‘My friends. You bow to no one,’ then kneels. And Wind River. Just that whole movie, honestly. Another added, “Lord of the Rings has many great moments that can be tearjerkers. Like Sam’s speech in Osgiliath, Aragorn’s speech at the Black Gate, or Boromir’s death.”

20. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

“Bridge to Terabithia. That’s so so sad. I knew nothing about the book when I saw the movie, so yeah, that hit HARD,” one replied. Another admitted, “The marketing had me thinking it was like a Narnia kinda film, but NOPE. The saddest movie I’ve ever seen.”

21. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind makes me cry every time,” shared one. “Jim Carrey is phenomenal.” “Oh god, when he begs them to let him keep the memory of them under the colorful blanket makes my husband cry every time,” a woman chimed in. 

22. Gladiator (2000)

Someone shared, “The closing scene in Gladiator. The music alone is enough to make me weep. And if we’re branching out into TV shows on How I Met Your Mother, when Marshall finds out his dad has passed is the saddest moment in television history.”

23. 50/50 (2011)

“50/50. When he’s getting wheeled into surgery as he’s saying goodbye to his mom. It kills me every time,” stated one. “I watched it the night my brother called me to tell me he had cancer. I uncontrollably cried during that scene,” a second confessed. Finally, a third added, “I cry when he breaks down and starts screaming in the car while Seth Rogen stands outside.”

24. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

“I just cried watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Not too popular now, but it gets me every time. Also, I was fine with my son and wife seeing me. It’s a healthy thing, especially for him to see it,” one man shared. 

A second replied, “I was looking for this one. I’m an older brother, and just thinking about what the world would be like without me, or my brother hurts. And it has just enough of the old-fashioned American Dream to hit hard.”

25. Armageddon (1998)

Finally, one man shared, “Armageddon,” followed by the dialogue, ‘Mom, that salesman’s on TV.’ ‘That man’s not a salesman. That’s your daddy.’ It breaks me every time.”