Four More Disney Movies That Make Me Weep Uncontrollably

A few months back, I wrote about five Disney movies that make me weep uncontrollably (they were UP, WALL-E, Ratatouille, Toy Story 2 and Mulan). But that was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The list of Disney movies that make me cry is long indeed, and I thought I’d follow up with a Part 2 and share with you four more films that make me reach for that handkerchief. As I said in my previous column on the subject, Disney can bring out the emotional side in all of us, and in many ways that’s the most powerful feeling of all. Not of sadness per se, but something that touches you deeply in a personal way, and may even bring a tear to your eye. And that’s just as true for the films as it is for the park…perhaps more so.

So join me once again as I share some more of my “Most Tearful Disney Movie Moments.” (Tissues ready? OK, here we go!)

Wreck-It Ralph
Sure, this fun-filled movie is a great tribute to the arcade games of old, whether you grew up on Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders, or more recent games like Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog. No matter what game is your favorite, you’ll find plenty of Easter eggs and hidden gems that will surely bring a smile to your face. But at its heart this movie is about finding your place in the world, and more importantly about friendship. Nowhere is this more evident than the friendship between Ralph and Vanellope. Sure, Vanellope can be sharp-witted and, let’s face it, free with the hilarious insults. And Ralph’s original quest was based purely on his envy of the Nicelanders (who got to live in a stylish high-rise while he slept in a literal junk pile), and all he wanted was that precious medal, but as the two characters grew closer, they realized that their friendship was more important than any of these other trivial matters. Most of the film is a great thrill ride and filled with tremendous action and suspense, but my favorite part of the movie is actually one of the saddest. When Ralph, with the best of intentions, destroys Vanellope’s car in an effort to save her life, Vanellope’s heart is torn apart as she realizes that she’s not only losing a chance to become a racer, but she is also losing – not just her friend – but her hero. The anguish in her voice and her cries of desperation always bring a bucket load of tears to my eyes. Even though it’s a sad moment, it ends up being a turning point in their relationship when Ralph later realizes he was wrong. But even in that moment when he was wrecking her car (and let’s face it, he’s pretty good at that kind of thing), we saw how much he truly cared for Vanellope, and that he was willing to sacrifice just about anything, including their friendship, in order to keep her safe. Their bond became even deeper, and this was reinforced at the end of the movie when Ralph confessed that the greatest moment of his day was at its end when he got to see Vanellope as the Nicelanders threw him off the roof as the arcade closed.

Bao
Bao is a bit of a departure from this list, in that it’s not a full-length animated feature, but rather a Pixar short that accompanied The Incredibles 2. The story revolves around a Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from empty nest syndrome. While her husband is at work, she makes a steamed bun that comes to life. She raises the steamed bun as her son, but as he gets older, he naturally wishes to become more independent. When he introduces his fiancée to his mother, she protests and “eats” him. (Don’t be alarmed, it turns out this was an allegorical dream, and her “son” was represented by the steamed bun she had made. Confused? Don’t worry, it will make perfect sense when you see it.) Eventually, the whole family, including the son’s fiancée, comes together at the end, making steamed buns as they sit around the table watching television.
The entire story tugs at your heartstrings as you make the journey from the joys of parenthood to the sadness of watching your children leave the nest. As a parent, this beautifully animated short hits every emotional button you’ll go through, and for me it made me appreciate every moment I had and always will have as a father. As we’ve seen many times on this list, that bond between parent and child is one of the most powerful of all, and one that can bring a flood of tears to your eyes, whether they be tears of joy, sadness, pride, or longing. Even though Bao is only eight minutes long, it manages to pack a lifetime’s worth of emotion into a few short minutes.

Endgame
We’ll journey over to the Marvel universe for this one, and admittedly, picking just one Marvel entry was difficult (pretty much every Marvel film has a tear-jerking moment), but after a moment’s thought it was clear that my choice would be Endgame. I actually kept track the second time I saw it…I cried 17 times. Yep, 17. We’re long past spoilers, so I’ll share some of the more obvious: like Tony Stark’s funeral, the demise of Black Widow, and the moment when Iron Man and Peter Parker are reunited. But for me, as you might suspect, the most emotional moments for me were those when parents and children were either reunited or just shared a tender moment. When Scott Lang (Ant-Man) finds his daughter Cassie, you can see all of their emotions pouring out: the sense of loss, the sense of relief, and the most precious love of all…that between a parent and child. But surely the most tender moments go to little Morgan Stark. Even when she asks Happy for cheeseburgers I can’t help but turn into a weeping puddle of mush. But it’s the classic “I love you 3000” that gets me every time (and admit it, it gets you too). It’s actually become an iconic line…one of the most well-known in the Marvel cinematic universe. And deservedly so. There’s nothing more purely emotional than the innocence of young child expressing their feelings of love for their parents or other loved ones…in a way so innocent and simple that you know it’s truly from the heart.

Finding Nemo
Oh, where to start? Finding Nemo is a true classic, centered around Marlin’s search for his son Nemo. It’s an emotional journey to be sure, and like so many Pixar films it’s hard to pick just one moment. Right out of the gate we’re confronted with Marlin’s anguish at losing his family…and his discovery of little Nemo. And of course there’s the moment when they’re reunited, and Marlin realizes that Nemo not only needs him just as much as Marlin needs Nemo, but that Nemo is also brave enough and smart enough to be OK on his own (but he still needs that “off to school” hug). But for me, the most emotional moment actually comes from Dory, and it’s when she pleads with Marlin not to leave, when in a moment of clarity (free from her short term memory loss for a brief moment) she realizes…and tells him…how much she needs him, and how she’s never felt like this before. True friendship is a rare thing…even rarer for Dory, and we can all relate how precious and fleeting those friendships can be. But when you find that special friend, it means the world to you.

So those are just a few more Disney cinematic moments that make me cry. But what about YOU? What are those moments that tug at your heart strings? Let us know in the comments below, but most of all, don’t forget that no matter whether you’re at the parks or watching a classic film, these emotions of love, togetherness, pride, and heartfelt connection are the true pixie dust. That’s where the true magic of Disney lies.