8 Movies From Childhood That Make Us Cry Our Eyes Out
Just because a movie's primary demographic is supposed to be children doesn't mean it won't possess the ability to rip your heart out. Some films, no matter how heartwarming at times, have moments of pure and utter devastation that stick with you forever. Here are 8 childhood movies that still make us cry our eyes out.
'My Girl' (1991)
Um, this starts out as an adorably innocent 1970s coming-of-age story and ends with (SPOILER ALERT) the devastating death of an 11-year-old boy. We have nothing against bees, but Thomas J. did not deserve his untimely demise and poor Vada (Anna Chlumsky) did not deserve to endure the pain. Come to think of it, neither did young audiences everywhere. We're still not over this one.
'Charlotte's Web' (1973 and 2006)
It's not Hollywood's fault that E.B. White's 1952 masterpiece is such a downer, but they still decided to go ahead and subject us to the tragic, yet hopeful, barnyard tale of friendship anyway. RIP sweet Charlotte, the most beloved fictional spider in cinematic and literary history. We hope you're weaving your dream web in the sky.
'The Neverending Story' (1984)
This movie is trippy AF and it still haunts our nightmares. We literally get chills thinking about the Childlike Empress and her tear-filled porcelain face as she pleads to Bastian. But the true waterworks come when his horse dies in the Swamp of Sadness. SWAMP OF SADNESS. Too real.
'Harry and the Hendersons' (1987)
A family becomes BFFs with a goofy Sasquatch, which doesn't sound like it could be a sad situation in the least. Well, have you ever seen the farewell scene where they take him back to the wild because he's being aggressively pursued by murderous poachers? It's like the ends of "Casablanca" and "Toy Story 3" with more hair. Goodbye, my friend. Goodbye.
'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)
E.T. is the chillest, sweetest, most lovable alien ever, which is probably why his departure is so incredibly hard to watch. Yes, he gets reunited with the home he so desperately wanted to return to, but he also has to leave his main earth dude Elliott. One of the most classic bittersweet moments in cinematic history. Tear.
'The Land Before Time' (1988)
If you don't start crying uncontrollably as Littlefoot's mother dies slowly in front of him you are probably a soulless monster. We're still traumatized.
'Old Yeller' (1957)
Unless you've been living under a pop culture rock since 1957, you know this is the most upsetting film ever. We get choked up just thinking about it.
'My Dog Skip' (2000)
How cute! A spunky Jack Russell and his pal (Frankie Muniz) in 1940s Mississippi. Well, Skip doesn't meet a brutal early death or anything, but the movie does acknowledge his passing in the weepy final moments. "He really laid buried... in my heart," Harry Connick, Jr. narrates. Why, Harry, why?!
