Have you ever been sitting down to watch a gruesome horror movie, or outrageous comedy, and then about halfway through you find yourself sobbing at something totally unexpected? Like a beloved pet's death, for instance? Or a passionate monologue from the movie's toughest character? Sometimes the films that I least expect to activate my tear ducts are the ones that leave me the most emotional. In honor of Hollywood devastating me out of nowhere over and over again (ugh), I went ahead and asked my fellow POPSUGAR editors what movies have unexpectedly left them misty-eyed over the years. (And yes, I may or may not have cried a little while writing this.)
Just be warned: there are spoilers to certain movies ahead, so tread lightly!
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"I cried multiple times during Bridesmaids, but the scene that really got me going is when Kristin Wiig's character Annie destroys the giant 'stupid f*cking cookie' at Lilian's bridal shower. She put together such a thoughtful gift and, after already being upstaged by Helen multiple times, flips out when she hears that Helen is taking Lilian to Paris — after giving her the f*cking idea! I lost my cool too, because it reminded me of all the times I've felt out of place at bridal and baby showers, especially when I haven't been able to afford fancy gifts. I felt for Annie in that moment; I related to the pressure of having to mix and mingle with women who look down on you for not being married or having children, on top of feeling as if you're losing your best friend."
— Britt Stephens, Content Director, Celebrity and Entertainment
"I've seen the Sex and the City movie at least 20 times, but whenever I watch it, I start crying as Charlotte, clutching a distraught Carrie, shouts a low, guttural "NO!" at Big in the middle of the street. It's the ultimate protective-best-friend moment, and I can't help but get choked up thinking about all the times my friends and I have been there for each other."
— Laura Meyers, Content Director, Trending and Viral Features
"This South Korean horror film about a father struggling to keep his young daughter alive on a train from Seoul to Busan in the midst of a zombie outbreak is full of terrifying moments, which quite literally kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was watching. But then, at the very end, there's a gut-wrenching sequence when the father has to sacrifice everything to save his daughter, and I found myself full-on sobbing."
— Quinn Keaney, Editor, Entertainment
"This movie was not a tear-jerker by any means, but Could You Ever Forgive Me? totally got me good. Melissa McCarthy is fantastic and there are several scenes that caught me off-guard. I watched it with my mom recently and we were both crying! It mostly got me because even though the character is incredibly unlikable, you could see she was trying in her own brittle way, and it was just very relatable."
— Julie Calnero, Email Marketing Manager
"Everyone thinks I'm crazy for this, but I have never bawled so hard in a movie than I did when I watched Click in high school. Yes, the Adam Sandler comedy. The climax of the movie when his character is dying on the street surrounded by his family is legit so sad!"
— Stephanie Nguyen, Native Editor, Style
"I randomly watched Meet the Robinsons with my friends in college one time, and openly wept in my residence hall lounge as a result. Maybe it was the sweet music or the adorable montage, but the ending scene where Lewis finally gets adopted really pulled at my heartstrings. No lie, I cried for about 10 minutes as the credits rolled."
— Kelsie Gibson, Associate Editor, Celebrity and Entertainment
"An underrated masterpiece. This movie in general tugs at my heartstrings. Lewis is just this poor, misunderstood kid who wants a family and closure as it pertains to why his mother gave him up for adoption. I remember seeing this in the theaters with my family and bawling because I just felt so bad for him. I've always had a happy and whole immediate family, so to be exposed to such a terrible experience that another kid had to face, it messed me up. (But I'm so glad it has a happy ending.)"
— Brea Cubit, Editorial Assistant, Celebrity and Entertainment
"In I Am Legend, when Will Smith's dog dies — THAT made me cry. And also when he's talking to the mannequin. (I need to stop typing or I'll start crying again)."
— Jenny Sugar, Staff Writer, Fitness
"This movie came out when I was 10, I was a choir kid, and we used to compete in similar competitions. I adored it, and must have watched it hundreds of times in the following years. I never cried. Then I stumbled across it again on TV last year, and just found myself welling up at the tiniest thing. I have no idea why. Lost youth? Lauryn Hill's voice? Jennifer Love Hewitt's outfits? Hormones?! Your guess is as good as mine."
— Gemma Cartwright, Senior Editor
"Zombieland is a zombie comedy, as its title suggests, and stars comedic talents like Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Jesse Eisenberg. I mean, there's even a hilarious scene where Bill Murray plays himself! So the last thing I was expecting while watching it was to end up crying out of nowhere, which is exactly what I do every time it gets to the part when Harrelson's Tallahassee tells the group about his late son, Buck. The flashback of his little baby face? Please. Instant sobs."
— QK
"When the cat is in the river in Homeward Bound, meowing in sheer terror, I was inconsolable, because that wasn't f*cking acting. That cat was really put in that river and was TERRIFIED."
— JS
"Few people have the power to make me tear up as fast as Tom Hanks, so I should've known watching coming-of-age comedy Big would be a risky move for my tear ducts. And I was right! There are a few parts of the movie that get me, but I always find myself welling up most when adult Josh is reminiscing as he walks around the neighborhood, reflecting on his lost childhood."
— QK
"When Toy Story 3 came out almost nine years ago, I went to see it with my group of friends. We were in high school at the time, and the movie theater was packed with little kids, but that didn't stop us from sobbing at the end when Andy gives away his toys (specifically Woody). He talks about how dependable his pal Woody is, and how the cowboy will 'never give up on you.' There were a lot of tears — I remember us all holding hands during that part of the film, sniffling nonstop — but to this day I have no shame!"
— Samantha Brodsky, Assistant Fitness Editor
"John Candy should've won a Grammy for the way he fiddled with my emotions in this movie. For every scene that I laugh out loud at (of which there are many), Candy's character Del Griffith also makes me teary-eyed. Of course the ending, when Neal (Steve Martin) realizes Del's wife has actually been dead all along is emotional, but the scene of them fighting in their hotel room is like a punch to the gut. (Family Guy parody aside.)"
— QK
"There's just something about a fluffy, anthropomorphic healthcare robot who doesn't understand fist bumps that makes a girl emotional. I found myself letting a few tears slip throughout the movie and expect many first time viewers did the same."
— Tembe Denton-Hurst, Assistant Editor, Makeup.com
"Like all films in Edgar Wright's The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, The World's End is bonkers: five very different friends reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier, but unwittingly discover that humanity is on the cusp of being taken over by androids. One of the friends, alcoholic Gary (Simon Pegg), is determined to finish the pub crawl even with the world literally coming down around him, but a scuffle with his pal Andy (Nick Frost) brings up a gutting revelation about Gary's mental state over the last few years. It's a surprisingly poignant moment in a movie that features a number of android brawls."
— QK
"When Mumble and his classmates have their graduation party on the iceberg, and they're all singing, they rip poor Mumble to shreds just because his vocals aren't up to par. So they kick him off, and suddenly we see him alone on a secluded piece of floating ice, looking on at all the other penguins sing. When I tell you that breaks my heart — it's shattered. They were so mean, and they didn't have to embarrass him in front of Gloria like that! Ugh."
— BC
"There are two parts that always get me in Happy Feet Two. The first is Erik's opera solo where he stands up to the elephant seals who refuse to help Mumble save the Emperor penguin nation that's trapped within giant walls of ice. His tiny voice is still so strong, and the way he waddle-runs and hugs his father after blowing everyone away with his vocals — I'm literally crying just writing this. The second part is when the elephant seals decide to help and they break out in the "Under Pressure" remix and you see all these animals coming together to break down the blocks of ice. It's such a powerful (and visually striking) moment. I literally lose it when Will the Krill stomps his itsy-bitsy foot on the ice — the last bit of force it needed to come tumbling down — and proves that he has a purpose in life: to change the world. Gaaahhhh!"
— BC
"I've watched Love and Basketball a few dozen times and it is still not physically possible for me to get through the 4th quarter without crying. The scene that gets me every time is when Monica challenges Quincy to one last one-on-one game to win him back. Spoiler Alert: He beats her, but as she walks away heartbroken he pauses, then says, 'Hey, double or nothing.' The whole movie builds up to this moment. It's so cathartic to finally see them end up together — and I can't seem to hold it together even when I know it's coming."
— Stacy Hersher, Director, Social & Partnerships
