There are several characteristics or traits that separate the men from the boys (besides a massive set of yam-bags). One of those characteristics is the ability to keep their emotions in check. At an early age, guys are taught that crying is reserved only for the wussies and ladies. It’s just not true. Kind of like the belief that masturbating too frequently will lead to blindness (extensive personal research has proven otherwise–I’m writing this article aren’t I?). It’s fine for a man to let out some emotion once in while in the form of salty tears.
A violent groin shot. The passing of a sports hero. Running out of propane in the middle of a BBQ. All acceptable reasons for a man to shed some tears. Add movies to that list of permissions. Real, heart-tugging guy flicks where something sucky happens to a beloved character. It’s more than acceptable for a man to let out a little whimper and some tears of sadness.
The following, in no particular order, is a list of some tear-inducing flicks where it’s fine for a guy to weep.
Brian’s Song must be included on any list of manly movies that make a man weep. It’s one of the greatest made-for-television movies ever, and easily one of the greatest sports films ever. The movie is a fine example of what can happen when two men set their egos and differences aside. What starts off as an innocent and superficial bond between two football players turns into one of the most heartfelt bromosexual lovefests ever. There’s nothing like sports and cancer to bring people together.
What starts off as such a happy moment in the film suddenly turns frightening. Hundreds of wildebeests stampede out of nowhere as a young Simba is frolicking about. In one of the truest depictions of a father’s love you will ever see on film, Mufasa races in to save his son with a complete disregard for his own safety. He lunges out from the stampede and nearly makes it until…GOD DAMN YOU SCAR – you son of a bitch! I lost my sh*t when Mufasa is falling back, limbs flailing about. Of course, I was 8 years old at the time but it was the first movie that ever made me cry. Simba is left fatherless in the world.
I was always the little dude when it came to sports. I only got picked in basketball because the most athletic guy playing happened to be my best friend. Coaches wouldn’t let me play football for fear of legal action, and my wrists were never strong enough to swing a bat or throw a baseball, despite rigorous “training” fourteen times a day testing my blindness theory. It’s for these reasons that Rudy is so god damned inspiring. The scene that does it for me starts off with the chanting crowd that leads to a ridiculously uplifting score when he first runs out. It’s followed by John Favreau’s proclamation of how little he looks and the pure joy on the looks of his father’s face. Then it goes into an endearing sequence of confusion, which transitions to a sack of the opposing quarterback, and finally all topped off when the Notre Dame crowd erupts in jubilation. RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!
I’ve seen this movie a handful of times and find myself weeping at three different points during the various viewings. The first is the boardwalk scene where the Ram describes himself as a “broken down piece of meat”; the next is the jogging scene where the Ram tries to do something physical for the first time after his surgery, only to end up broken and defeated. Of course the ending is where I lose it every time the Ram makes that leap and the movie fades out as Springsteen begins to play. Mickey Rourke turned in a performance for the ages and you’re nothing more than a robot if not left in tears by this film’s end.
This is probably the one everyone will agree with me most on. Ang Lee’s masterpiece is told gorgeously with minimal dialogue. Had Heath won for Best Actor, it would have been for a performance with minimal dialogue. Rarely has there been a love story this beautiful and timeless. The ending of the film is told with few words. One of the most powerful closing scenes I’ve ever seen in film is when Ennis Del Mar finds his old blood-stained shirt that’s tucked together with Jack’s blood-stained. If you haven’t yet seen this film, challenge yourself and do so.
I was 10 years old when I first saw this movie, and I have to say, there wasn’t a kid I was more jealous of than John Connor/Edward Furlong. I spent the film becoming emotionally invested in how awesome of a friend the T800 would be. Then James Cameron decides to take that all away from me by lowering him into the vat of melted steel. Bastard. I cried then when I first saw it, and misty eyed nostalgia still strikes whenever I watch it now. The tears start when Furlong begs, pleads, and orders Arnie not to do it. By the time the outstretched thumb finally disappears, I am a wet mess – and not the good kind.
Clint Eastwood is kind of a sneaky bastard. He spent his entire acting career convincing us of how much of a badass he is, then utilizes his directing prowess deconstructing those sentiments by punching us in the emotional gut with incredibly moving films. Clint builds a beautiful father/daughter relationship and then sets you up for an inevitably sad outcome. The death request is just so powerful and I am always moved to tears by Baby’s culmination.
“Earn this. Earn it.” This is the scene where I always lose it. Who could have thought that such a brutal war movie could end on such a sad and beautiful note. He begs his wife to tell him that he’s lived a good life as a good man. Private Ryan’s words are so heartfelt and they serve as an incredible reminder to the kind of sacrifice soldiers make every day of their life. Is there any actor more consistently great (pre-Da Vinci Code) than Mr. Tom Hanks?
Tombstone is one of the most underrated movies in the pantheon of “bro” films. Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Doc Holiday is one of my favorite performances ever and I strive to be a friend much like Doc. There hasn’t been a time where I’ve watched the deathbed scene and not bawled like a little girl. Doc begs for Wyatt to leave, and go after the life he’s always wanted, as tears stream endlessly down his face. It’s as if Doc holds onto life only long enough to be ensured that his best friend will do what he is supposed to.
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[...] 9 Movies That Made It Okay For a Dude to Cry There are several characteristics or traits that separate the men from the boys (besides a massive set of yam-bags). One of those characteristics is the ability to keep their emotions in check. At an early age, guys are taught that crying is reserved only for the wussies and ladies. It’s just not true. Kind of like the belief that masturbating too frequently will lead to blindness (extensive personal research has proven otherwise–I’m writing this article aren’t I?). It’s fine for a man to let out some emotion once in while in the form of salty tears. (Full Article) [...]
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Brock Landers
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I remember watching Brian’s Song in school. Maybe 5-6th grade. No idea why.
Tombstone is the greatest movie ever made.
The Wrestler?
No Field of Dreams? The first and only movie to make me cry. Its absence from this list is an oversight.
The opening sequence to Up was evil incarnate. Walk in expecting to see yet another happy, silly movie from Pixar only to have your heart ripped out of your chest instead. Especially since I went with my girlfriend and we’re both in our early 30s and trying to make sure we get to do all the stuff we want to before the time on the clock runs out. =P
Man, I have to agree with “Up,” though I think it gets too much of a “kid’s movie” vibe that it wouldn’t make a manly cry list. What other animated movie practically starts with a miscarriage? Crazy.
SHAWSHANK.
Wow, no Nights in Rodan? Im surprised.
big-bro-watching.us.tc
Old Yeller
Really, no Goose dying in Top Gun?
I thought it was an unwritten rule, that when watching Old Yeller, nobody “sees” other guys tears.. and nobody talks about it afterwards..
Debbie Does Dallas – when the store manager is told “NO” the first time by Debbie!
Huh? No Hoosiers? Who didn’t cry when Jimmy hit that shot?
Legends of the Fall did it for me.. Lets see… Brother dying fighting the kaiser. Wife getting shot presumably the kid as well. Sister in law killing herself.. The final fight with the grizzly bear.. Yeah gets me every time.
Also second to Top Gun, death of Goose. As well as Field of Dreams
Of Mice and Men. Watched it in High School and everyone, including the guys, were wiping their eyes when the lights came on.
How is Braveheart not in this list?
Hmmm. Really surprised Rocky and/or Rocky Balboa wasn’t on here (I pretend 2-5 never happened). First time I saw Rocky? Cried like an idiot.
Iron Giant. “Superman” (closes eyes). Nuf said.
OMG … YES !
Little known and little seen movie “My Life” with Michael Keaton who is dying of cancer.
Scene when his dad, played by Michael Constantine, is shaving him makes me bawl like a little baby….
Schindler’s list, stand by me and there not tears i’m just sweating from my eyes
saving private ryan = manliest movie ever and still even manly to cry a little. sick movie
When I clicked on this link I had a feeling lion king would be on here, because I was balling in that movie. I think was in 4th grade too. Saddest thing I ever seen back then.
I loved Terminator 2 andTombstone, I could see how men would tear up just a bit. You should know this; men think they are hard asses and when they are in a situation where the tears come unexpectedly they cry like girls. I am a girl and I haven’t cry in about 4 years, I figure why cry it is not going to change a thing.
the green mile
The family meal in Antwone Fisher
The breakthrough in Good WIll Hunting
Shaving scene in My Life
None of these list made me cry. “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story” made me flow in tears but that doesn’t mean I cried with a voice of a whale. BIG DIFFERENCE.
Even so, its okay to cry. Its a natural human body reaction.
Up was especially horrible for me. Was watching with the girlfriend and we had just gone through that same scenario. I couldnt stop crying through the entire thing.
I think one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen in a movie was during Return of the Jedi when the Ewok tries to wake his friend.
Brokeback Mountain? I think your timeline is a little off. I’m pretty sure it became OK for straight guys to cry from a movie long before it became OK for them to enjoy movies about gay male romance. I mean, if your guy friends see you crying and start making fun of you and questioning your manhood, I don’t think telling them “but I was watching Brokeback Mountain” is going to be a winning argument.
Um, no Field of Dreams or Armageddon? Come on!
Man on Fire needs to be on this list. The last scene after what Creasy(denzel washington) goes through the entire movie its fucking intense
Shawshank Redemption always gets me.
The Wrestler? Are you fucking kidding? You fell for that horribly redundant movie?
I agree on all, except Brokeback Mountain…
Agreed with anyone that said Up or the green mile, those should have been on there !