9 Movies That Always Make Me Cry

Happens every time. Flipping channels on Sunday, Rudy's on, and it's the final game. Obviously, I put down the clicker and prepare to hold back the tears, but it never works. I don't know what it is about that flick, but every single time I watch I'm transformed into an eight-year-old schoolgirl by the time he's carried off the field. So in honor of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, I present clips from nine films that make me—and many other guys I know—well up just a little. It's my first official "TMI" mental_floss post.

[Note: Some spoilers ahead, so if you've never seen Brian's Song, Hoosiers, Ordinary People, Saving Private Ryan, Dead Poets Society, Glory, Scent of a Woman, Field of Dreams or Rudy, you might want to skip over those clips.]

1. Brian's Song

Anyone remember this made for TV movie? The Scene: When Billy Dee says it should be Brian Piccolo accepting the Halas Award instead of him.

2. Hoosiers

The two best moments: When the team manager, Ollie, makes both free throws in the regionals, and when Jimmy Chitwood sinks the shot that wins the finals. (Any scene where Dennis Hopper jumps wildly on his bed is a classic.)

3. Ordinary People

You probably weren't expecting this, but Ordinary People is one of my favorite films of all time, and the final scene always gets me.

4. Saving Private Ryan

My favorite scene in the movie is the Captain Miller monologue after Wade dies ("I'm a school teacher...".), but the line at the end of the final battle (5:33) is the saddest part, IMHO.

(P.S. Maybe someone can answer a question I've always had. Is the German soldier who knifed Pvt. Mellish the same one who Upham didn't want to kill earlier?)

5. Dead Poets Society

"Oh Captain My Captain." The look of terror in the kids' eyes, trying to get up the guts to stand on the desk. Love that scene.

6. Glory

"Give 'em hell, 54th!" The Scene: The march before the final battle.

7. Scent of a Woman

One of my favorite monologues AND tearjerker moments of all time. When Pacino and Chris O'Donnell walk out of the room (7:15), that's when I get a little misty. It's the same effect as when Jamaal and Sean Connery walk out of the classroom in Finding Forrester.

8. Field of Dreams

Do I need to explain? "Hey dad...wanna have a catch?" Classic.

9. Rudy

And of course, the winner. Rudy is a multiple-crying-moment flick. When his best friend dies, when he gets the Notre Dame acceptance letter, when every player puts their jersey on the coach's desk, the team running a different play to get the defense back in, the sack, and getting carried off the field. "Who's the wild man now!"

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Your turn. What movies always make you cry?