For me, the death of Boromir in Fellowship of the Ring was that great movie moment. I grew up reading Tolkien and that was my favorite part of the books.
I shamelessly cry every time I see it. Doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, it gets me. And Aragorn's reaction to it frankly hits me even harder than the death itself. At least in the movie version, it felt like the first major step for Aragorn in going on to accept his heritage, and his role as the king of Gondor.
John Coffee was definitely up there for me. I remember watching it for the first time as a kid and crying about as hard as I ever have and asking my dad over and over again "why?" Absolutely heart wrenching. The line from Pepper in End Game definitely hits close to home as well
Hey bro, I’m so glad that you have multiple channels now and are growing every day. I really enjoy watching you react and just talk about stuff. Something about the way you talk about things or explain yourself just really helps me calm down and relax. Also i’ve never been more into history then when I found you on UA-cam and you’ve led me to so many cool and interesting things to learn about over the years! I also find myself sympathizing with a lot of the life lessons you try to tell and ideas you bring to light. Just wanted to show my appreciation and how happy it makes me to see you succeeding!
Hi Chris! @VTH Extra Glad to hear you’ll be posing more content frequently on this channel!! May I suggest if you’d like, to upload a sermon of yours in the future, seeing as you’re a Pastor. I think many of your viewers, including myself, would be interested in you moving from general history, military, political, etc., and move towards more theological based videos. Just a consideration, but either way, love what you do!
How is CPT John H. Miller’s death (played by Tom Hanks) of Saving Private Ryan not number one, or even on the list? I saw the movie in college and was struck by the silence of the audience leaving the theatre except the row of WWII veterans crying. Now 25 years later and 2 combat tours as an infantry officer myself, the elder PVT Ryan in the cemetery with his family is even more impactful. I imagine it’s still so for non-veterans as well.
19:50 I remember when Robin’s death was announced. All you saw on social media was the gif of the kids at the end of Dead Poet’s Society standing on their desk and saying “O Captain! My Captain!” and that just encapsulated what Robin himself meant to a lot of us.
I can relate to your personal pain. My mother had Parkinson's followed by dementia. I often tell people my mom died 2 years before the date on her death certificate. The only positive was that her actual death ended the suffering and shell of a human she had become by just the age of 72.
I second the Brian's Song nomination from another commenter. Another heartwrenching 70's movie is "The Deer Hunter," with the Russian roulette scene at the end; stellar performances by Robert de Niro and Christopher Walken.
Love that you are reviewing movie videos as I'm a huge film buff myself (although I love all your history stuff of course too). Some movie deaths that they forgot: The biggest omission by far that surprised me that they did not include was of course Jenny's death in "Love Story". That was the Notebook before the Notebook. Since they were mentioning sci-fi and action films, I'm surprised they didn't put Darth Vader in "Return of the Jedi" in there. And where was Tom Hanks's death in "Road to Perdition"? One of the great films about fatherhood with a gut wrenching death scene. But I got two other really good smaller movies for you that do contain a powerful death scene but are also both just really good movies too: - Bridge to Terabithia (2007) - Longtime Companion (1989)
I watched the notebook for the first time with my gf back in 2014. I was also raised by my grandparents, who at 30 I’m fortunate/blessed enough to still have. But the ending somewhat reminds me of them, and it completely broke my heart 💔
I remember trying so hard not to cry at John Coffees death because my mom was sleeping on the couch next to me. She still woke up though, and I just started balling my eyes out. That scene made me cry harder than any other moment in any other movie I’ve seen
The worst for me is the kid from 1917 I saw it opening night. Everyone went in thinking the kid from Game of Thrones was the main character. Half way through he gets killed by a German that they were trying to aid. It's the absolute worst
Anything with superheroes or supernatural elements do not hit home really to me, One of my top five is old yellow. Never physically had to put down one of my dogs, But I was there when the vets did. Still makes me tear up today, 33 years later
As a kid who grew up watching Iron man in pretty much all forms and growing up with it and then as a 15 year old sitting in the theater watching Tony die was easily the hardest for me to watch his character was not only important to marvel and the heroes that I enjoyed but to my childhood and my memories so when I watched him die that was the first time I cried during a movie and I remember whispering out loud to myself when he talked to pepper just so important to my childhood
For me #1 is the funeral in My Girl. She just takes grief to another level, one where I have experienced when my mom passed. I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying and my dad had to hold me to keep me still. I couldn't speak and could barely breathe. Veda encapsulates all of the raw emotions in grief into just a few lines and makes it uncomfortably real for all of us. She deserved an Oscar for that role.
I've never seen The Boy with the Striped Pajamas, and I'm not sure I could handle it. Deaths in historical movies tend to get to me. Another thing that gets to me is when the Doctor regenerates in Doctor Who. I know it's not the end of the character, but in a sense it's still the end of a life. The one that gets me the most is the Fifth Doctor's regeneration when he basically sacrifices himself for Peri, who he barely knew at the time. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but it gets me in tears every time.
Boromir definitely would be high on my list. To struggle against the inherent greed of man, heroically overcome it, and put forth a herculean feat of might to save Merry and Pippin only to die right when his character arc hits it's zenith acknowledging the true king. Sad stuff, but made good on when the hobbits play key roles in saving Rohan and Gondor.
Have you ever watched The Snowman it's a classic film watched by us here in the u.k over Christmas. No dialogue just beautiful music and a sad ending . 😢
I remember the first time I cried while watching a movie was in Toy Story 3 when everyone was headed to the incinerator and instead of actively looking for a way out they just hold hands and accept that whatever happens happens. that was the very first time I cried in a movie.
Excellent point about the point of one's life when one sees a movie that affects one's reaction to it. Life events can drastically alter one's reaction to a movie on later re-watches; you are no longer the same person as you were on the first viewing. Dead Poets Society was released about a year before a friend of mine in college fell to his death. Having to explain everything to his family members was incredibly difficult. I haven't re-watched Dead Poets Society since then. Seeing the devastation such a loss can have on a family was indelibly imprinted on my brain. Anything involving dementia hits home after experiencing it happening to my grandmother and to a much more limited extent to my father (who died earlier this year). My father had to make the decision to end life support for my mother when she had a stroke. I was 13 at the time and he had to make the decision alone. Earlier this year, I had to make the decision to place my father in hospice care as his medical circumstances didn't permit surgery that might have prolonged his life. Such choices are unfortunately in most of our futures. If only it were not so.
I lost my dad to Covid in March 2021, and I was his Power of Attorney. It was me that had to make the difficult decision to take him off life support when the doctors told me there was going to be no recovery. It's the absolute WORST thing to have hanging over your head, and it still crushes me to this day. He was the one true and genuine person in my life in my corner, and to have to make the agonizing decision to end his life... I wouldn't wish that on anyone else. So, any life support scenes in movies kinda hit me a little differently than they did prior to March 2021. I have a hard time watching them...
As a Respiratory Therapist thank you for making such a hard decision. It is really hard to see patients suffer on a ventilator when all viable options have been eliminated. Once again thank you for making such a hard decision.
@generalismoGrosMichel it was extremely hard, but my dad had always stressed to me that if he was in that type of position that he wanted to just go. It's why he made me power of attorney. Because he knew I wouldn't let my emotions take hold and try and hold onto him out of personal feeling. The hard part was watching him choke to death once off the ventilator. For 2 and 1/2 hours, I watched as he gasped for air, coughed, and choked to death, and that was the worst feeling in the world. It's why I get really pissed at covid "hoaxers" because I lived it. Life support scenes have a different meaning to me now.
I’d love to see you react/deep dive into some of your favorite music videos or songs. I also, would love to see you do a series where you react to various war movies.
For the alzhiemers/dementia, the song Constance by Spiritbox helped me grieve from my grandmother going through and ultimately dying from it. I don't know why it took me that long (she passed away in 2019) to finally deal with it, but it helped.
My favorite Robin Williams movies are Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting. 2014 was a hard year for me. A month and a half after Williams’ passing, someone I grew up with took her own life at age 42. What makes it hard for me was that there was no funeral for her. I continue to pray for her. About 2 years later, I had a dream. I thought it was some other person. She turned around and it was the aforementioned one who died. She smiled and gave me a hug. I think God was allowing her to let me know that she made it to Heaven. I don’t know why He allowed her to comfort me at that particular time.
Hachi from "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" deserves an honorable mention at least. My family didn't even want to finish the movie because it was depressing them so much.
I was looking for this comment. For many who grew up watching this movie at the cinema as children and young people. It was devastating and horrifying. Especially as it comes so early in the movie. Many of the movies here you watch as an adult but that death so many of us experienced as young people.
The saddest one for me is one from honestly not a great movie, but a tremendous real story. Brian Piccolo was a running back for the Chicago Bears in the late 1960s who befriended/competed with/mentored star player Gale Sayers (There's some racial stuff as well, as Piccolo is white, Sayers is black). Piccolo was diagnosed with cancer, which metastasized and became inoperable. The ending scene where Brian and his wife share his final moment's together definitely had me tearing up. The movie is called Brian's Song, the original was released in 1971 (Starring James Caan and a young Billie Dee Williams) and remade in 2001 (Sean Maher and Mekhi Phifer)
Oh my, The Green Mile, Steel Magnolias, My Girl, The Outsiders, Avengers Endgame and Dead Poets Society always hit me in the gut and make me grab a box of tissues. I’d have to give thought to what I would add unless you want to go with movie musicals and that’s a whole other list.
John Coffey and Jenny Curran for sure. I'm not gonna argue the choices that made up this list, because it's all subjective (and it's WatchMojo) but: Missing from this list is Chris McCandless from Into the Wild. I shed a ridiculous amount of tears after that one. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie but the final quote goes "happiness is only real when shared". I'm tearing up just writing those words.
It isn’t a death but in Coco when Miguel sings Remember Me in hopes of getting Mama Coco to remember her father I lose it. The whole film does that to me. It’s been almost a year since my father died and he had Alzheimer’s. My grandmother (who was also a musician like the character of Hector) also died from it. It’s such a beautiful and powerful moment. I was honestly sobbing when I first watched it and that was before my dad died. As for actual deaths I don’t think I ever truly cried at a movie death. Green Mile was the closest I think.
Gabriel in the Patriot and everyone in First They Killed My Father. Though actually visiting Cambodia and seeing the Killing Fields firsthand definitely influenced my reaction to that film. One of those you need to watch but never want to see it again.
Richard Gear’s death and aftermath in “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.” You end up in tears for half the movie. Also, an overlooked Stephen King adaptation of note is “Apt Pupil,” starring Ian MaClellan (sp). If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it highly. It even has historical context.
I think they hit most of the live action movies that hit me hard, but I might add the final scene of Stephen King’s The Mist to my own list. I think I was too stunned to be teary-eyed, but that finale takes a horrifyingly tragic moment and manages to double down on it. Have to agree with Chris on King, though…always down for one of his horrors but it’s the more human stories of his that I really love. I particularly liked 11/22/63 for both the alternate history take and the relationships that develop between the main character and the people he encounters.
*SPOILERS FOR SONS OF ANARCHY AND HELL ON WHEELS BELOW* I always felt more of a sadness for characters in shows because of the time invested in the characters. For example, I think the saddest death for me would have to be Tara, Opie, and Jax from Sons of Anarchy. Hell on Wheels also has a few sad deaths. Notably Lily Bell, Elam Ferguson, and Ruth. The Walking Dead has various very sad deaths, as well. In the earlier seasons it really felt like anyone could die at any time; and much of them did.
I know... it's from a superhero movie. Starlord's mother's death at the beginning of Guardians of the Galaxy. Kinda weird that one of the most lighthearted movies of the MCU starts with a death.
For me my top 5 Would be as follows 1 - Geel Piet (Morgan Freeman) - The Power of One 2 - Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) - The Bridge To Terabithia 3 - John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) - The Green Mile 4 - Thomas J. Sennett (Macauley Culkin) - My Girl 5 - The Little Girl in Red - Schindler's List
Don’t tell me you didn’t cry watching E.T. The Extra Terrestrial! There is a couple other movies that came to mind. One was Collateral Beauty starring Will Smith and Reign over me with Adam Sandler. The latter was a movie about a man who lost his family during the 9/11 attacks. A super dark movie but VERY emotional. I got teary eyed watching you get emotional. I appreciate you doing this “reaction”. Aloha 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I'm just a little younger than you, Chris, and we read/watched/discussed The Outsiders in my English class too. The first one that came to mind not on the list is Beth in Little Women.
Seeing Rory return home in Nanny McPhee Returns still makes me cry. That man went off to fight in World War 2, injured his left arm, and came home to his wife and 3 kids as well as his niece and nephew. The reason Goose's death makes me cry is because of how much I connected with his personality as well as the fact that he's a family man. I was crying while watching the scene between Maverick and Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick because of how much I loved the chemistry between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. The fact Val Kilmer filmed the scene while suffering from throat cancer makes it hurt more because I lost a relative to complications related to cancer. The T-800 sacrificing himself in T2 stings more than any Man-O'-War jellyfish ever could. The loving couple in The Notebook dying together is one of the sweetest and saddest things at the same time. Neil Perry's death is really rough because this could happen to anyone. All Sirius had to do was explain how the 2-way mirror works and his death would've been prevented. Seeing Wolverine die was a massive gut-punch because of how hard he fought to get his daughter to safety. Jack and Rose would've fit on the door together if they had gotten on it from opposite sides at the sime time. Thomas J's death is one of the saddest things Vada could've gone through. Johnny's death in The Outsiders shows that being heroic comes with a price, and the price in this particular instance is more painful than whatever pain Scott from Kentucky Ballistics was in after his Serbu .50 caliber rifle exploded, especially in the book, which I had to read in junior high. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas shows what people in the Holocaust had to go through, and how cruel the Nazis really were. Seeing Tony Stark sacrifice himself for others was one of the sweetest things, but is also very sad. Jenny was the sweetest person Forrest ever had in his life, and losing her was gut-wrenching. The handshake between the one guard and John Coffee was amazing.
I personally would say that the death that hits the hardest for me is Tom Blake in 1917 but the thing about it is that it doesn’t hit until the very end, especially as someone with two younger brothers that’s just a bond that can’t be replicated.
I was so glad to see My Girl on there. I wanted to see Darth Vader, the daughter from Terms of Endearment, The kid from Hardball although that one is not well known, Bruce Willis Armageddon, the imaginary friend from Inside Out.
I remember when Robin Williams died, one of my favorite movies he was in, Aladdin, aired on Disney Channel commercial free, then they payed tribute to him with a constellation of the Genie. The first words coming to mind are ,"Genie you're free."
This was SUPER hard to watch. The video itself was emotional, then I’d look at you and see your tear glistening eyes. Also, I’m glad I heard someone mention the biblical allusions in the Green Mile like she did. I thought I had always saw something that wasn’t truly there because I’m a Christian.
For me as a 22 year old young man. Johnny Cade in the outsiders, Bruno and Schumel in the boy in the striped pajamas, and John Coffey really are hard. I think they nailed this list although they should have had Marley like the thumbnail! Because that hurts a lot. I have taken my dog to the vet clinic where they shot marleys death scene and it’s hard for everyone there!
Although, it’s a tv show and not a movie, a big, sad moment that is masterfully done is the burial of Juan Borgia by his father Rodrigo in “The Borgias.” Despite his son becoming angry, violent, resentful, and selfish toward his death, Rodrigo could not let him go initially. Then, when Rodrigo decided to bury him, Rodrigo (the Pope) rips into the earth with a spade, a bowl, and his hands to bury what he saw as his little boy. It’s gut-wrenching.
As the father of a Type 1 diabetic (T1D) daughter, “Steel Magnolias” is very frustrating. While the performances are all outstanding, many viewers come away thinking that Shelby couldn’t have the baby because she was a Type 1 diabetic. This is not true. Shelby had many other medical issues going on which may or may not have been related to her diabetes.
I just saw "The Iron Claw" and there wasn't a dry eye in the theater. For those who don't know, before WWE/WWF pro wrestling was a regional sport, and you had different wrestling promotions in different regions of the country. The Iron Claw is about the Von Erich's, a group of a father and 5 brothers who were the stars of the WCCW, a wrestling promotion based in Texas. The Von Erich's took the wrestling world by storm and helped turn WCCW into one of the most successful wrestling "Territories" in the country. Sadly, due to depression, injury, and drug use, 4 of the Von Erich brothers would die (3 of which from suicide) and all within a 3 year period. Kevin, the oldest and last surviving Von Erich who was played flawlessly by Zac Efron, had the most tear-jerking line ever at the end of the film while talking to his two sons, and apparently it was a real quote from Kevin Von Erich as well: "Dad, why are you crying?" "Well boys, I once had 5 brothers. And now, I'm no longer a brother." The Von Erich's were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and are beloved to this day.
BTS of order of the Phoenix is Daniel Radcliffe lost a close family member either that same day or close to filming of that scene. So his reaction is acting but he was hurting in real life as well
25:30 It's especially bad because they tricked us with that one. They marketed it as this fun kid's comedy with the kid from Home Alone in it, and instead they forced us to feel feelings. That's why the sequel bombed: everyone was all "I'll not fall for your deception again!" Because that's how kids in the 90s talked... Trust me on that.
One of the deepest messages (to me) in “Pajamas” was that once the German boy was wearing the stripes the Nazis couldn’t tell the difference
I saw that in 9th grade English right after we read Night by Elie Wiesel and it hit hard then. Will not watch that one ever again.
I would love to see you do more stories behind the Hymns.
For me, the death of Boromir in Fellowship of the Ring was that great movie moment. I grew up reading Tolkien and that was my favorite part of the books.
same with me dude, Boromir death hits me every time i watch the trilogy
I shamelessly cry every time I see it. Doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, it gets me. And Aragorn's reaction to it frankly hits me even harder than the death itself. At least in the movie version, it felt like the first major step for Aragorn in going on to accept his heritage, and his role as the king of Gondor.
One of the best deaths and characters of all time.
Boromir isn't on the list? Fail.
Hitting us hard with the marley and me dog right out of the gate with the freeze frame lol
Same. I saw that frame and immediately had to pause the video. Literally had to take a deep breath.
That movie cut me DEEP!
We had had to put our dog to sleep a few months before I first saw that movie, I had to walk away I couldn’t watch the end
I would love to see more VTH extra. I can watch Chris all day, history stuff etc, whatever has Chris in it haha
Agreed 👍
John Coffee was definitely up there for me. I remember watching it for the first time as a kid and crying about as hard as I ever have and asking my dad over and over again "why?" Absolutely heart wrenching. The line from Pepper in End Game definitely hits close to home as well
The fact that the ending of the movie The Mist is it on here is a travesty
Hey bro, I’m so glad that you have multiple channels now and are growing every day. I really enjoy watching you react and just talk about stuff. Something about the way you talk about things or explain yourself just really helps me calm down and relax. Also i’ve never been more into history then when I found you on UA-cam and you’ve led me to so many cool and interesting things to learn about over the years! I also find myself sympathizing with a lot of the life lessons you try to tell and ideas you bring to light. Just wanted to show my appreciation and how happy it makes me to see you succeeding!
Hi Chris! @VTH Extra
Glad to hear you’ll be posing more content frequently on this channel!!
May I suggest if you’d like, to upload a sermon of yours in the future, seeing as you’re a Pastor.
I think many of your viewers, including myself, would be interested in you moving from general history, military, political, etc., and move towards more theological based videos.
Just a consideration, but either way, love what you do!
Theodens son dying and Theodens scene with Gandalf after the burial always gets me
Yeah, that one gets me too.
I would’ve put Boromir on here. ‘I would’ve followed you to the end. My brother. My captain. My king.’
GREAT scene!
How is CPT John H. Miller’s death (played by Tom Hanks) of Saving Private Ryan not number one, or even on the list? I saw the movie in college and was struck by the silence of the audience leaving the theatre except the row of WWII veterans crying. Now 25 years later and 2 combat tours as an infantry officer myself, the elder PVT Ryan in the cemetery with his family is even more impactful. I imagine it’s still so for non-veterans as well.
"Earn this" is one of the most haunting quotes in any movie. It's number one for me too.
Wade was more impactful
19:50 I remember when Robin’s death was announced. All you saw on social media was the gif of the kids at the end of Dead Poet’s Society standing on their desk and saying “O Captain! My Captain!” and that just encapsulated what Robin himself meant to a lot of us.
I can relate to your personal pain. My mother had Parkinson's followed by dementia. I often tell people my mom died 2 years before the date on her death certificate. The only positive was that her actual death ended the suffering and shell of a human she had become by just the age of 72.
I second the Brian's Song nomination from another commenter. Another heartwrenching 70's movie is "The Deer Hunter," with the Russian roulette scene at the end; stellar performances by Robert de Niro and Christopher Walken.
Old Yeller I watched it once when I was a kid and have never watched it since. And the Yearling too.😢😔
Love that you are reviewing movie videos as I'm a huge film buff myself (although I love all your history stuff of course too).
Some movie deaths that they forgot:
The biggest omission by far that surprised me that they did not include was of course Jenny's death in "Love Story". That was the Notebook before the Notebook.
Since they were mentioning sci-fi and action films, I'm surprised they didn't put Darth Vader in "Return of the Jedi" in there.
And where was Tom Hanks's death in "Road to Perdition"? One of the great films about fatherhood with a gut wrenching death scene.
But I got two other really good smaller movies for you that do contain a powerful death scene but are also both just really good movies too:
- Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
- Longtime Companion (1989)
I watched the notebook for the first time with my gf back in 2014. I was also raised by my grandparents, who at 30 I’m fortunate/blessed enough to still have. But the ending somewhat reminds me of them, and it completely broke my heart 💔
I remember trying so hard not to cry at John Coffees death because my mom was sleeping on the couch next to me. She still woke up though, and I just started balling my eyes out. That scene made me cry harder than any other moment in any other movie I’ve seen
The worst for me is the kid from 1917
I saw it opening night. Everyone went in thinking the kid from Game of Thrones was the main character.
Half way through he gets killed by a German that they were trying to aid.
It's the absolute worst
Anything with superheroes or supernatural elements do not hit home really to me, One of my top five is old yellow. Never physically had to put down one of my dogs, But I was there when the vets did. Still makes me tear up today, 33 years later
As a kid who grew up watching Iron man in pretty much all forms and growing up with it and then as a 15 year old sitting in the theater watching Tony die was easily the hardest for me to watch his character was not only important to marvel and the heroes that I enjoyed but to my childhood and my memories so when I watched him die that was the first time I cried during a movie and I remember whispering out loud to myself when he talked to pepper just so important to my childhood
I love watching your reactions videos. Its like watching these videos with a best friend! Thank you for the smiles.
For me #1 is the funeral in My Girl. She just takes grief to another level, one where I have experienced when my mom passed. I was so upset, I couldn't stop crying and my dad had to hold me to keep me still. I couldn't speak and could barely breathe. Veda encapsulates all of the raw emotions in grief into just a few lines and makes it uncomfortably real for all of us. She deserved an Oscar for that role.
I've never seen The Boy with the Striped Pajamas, and I'm not sure I could handle it. Deaths in historical movies tend to get to me.
Another thing that gets to me is when the Doctor regenerates in Doctor Who. I know it's not the end of the character, but in a sense it's still the end of a life. The one that gets me the most is the Fifth Doctor's regeneration when he basically sacrifices himself for Peri, who he barely knew at the time. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but it gets me in tears every time.
You need to watch it Professor What trust me!
This is seriously one of your best videos
Boromir definitely would be high on my list. To struggle against the inherent greed of man, heroically overcome it, and put forth a herculean feat of might to save Merry and Pippin only to die right when his character arc hits it's zenith acknowledging the true king. Sad stuff, but made good on when the hobbits play key roles in saving Rohan and Gondor.
Artax from Neverending Story...god I still bawl my eyes out when I see that scene
Yep, that one and the rockman scene, heart breaking.......they look like big strong hands, don't they?
Have you ever watched The Snowman it's a classic film watched by us here in the u.k over Christmas. No dialogue just beautiful music and a sad ending . 😢
Love the regular content idea! Hope
You had a great Christmas man
I remember the first time I cried while watching a movie was in Toy Story 3 when everyone was headed to the incinerator and instead of actively looking for a way out they just hold hands and accept that whatever happens happens. that was the very first time I cried in a movie.
Maximus' death at the end of gladiator is another sad one
In my opinion, the death of Spock in "Star Trek II" at least deserves an honorable mention.
Excellent point about the point of one's life when one sees a movie that affects one's reaction to it. Life events can drastically alter one's reaction to a movie on later re-watches; you are no longer the same person as you were on the first viewing.
Dead Poets Society was released about a year before a friend of mine in college fell to his death. Having to explain everything to his family members was incredibly difficult. I haven't re-watched Dead Poets Society since then. Seeing the devastation such a loss can have on a family was indelibly imprinted on my brain.
Anything involving dementia hits home after experiencing it happening to my grandmother and to a much more limited extent to my father (who died earlier this year).
My father had to make the decision to end life support for my mother when she had a stroke. I was 13 at the time and he had to make the decision alone.
Earlier this year, I had to make the decision to place my father in hospice care as his medical circumstances didn't permit surgery that might have prolonged his life. Such choices are unfortunately in most of our futures. If only it were not so.
I lost my dad to Covid in March 2021, and I was his Power of Attorney. It was me that had to make the difficult decision to take him off life support when the doctors told me there was going to be no recovery. It's the absolute WORST thing to have hanging over your head, and it still crushes me to this day. He was the one true and genuine person in my life in my corner, and to have to make the agonizing decision to end his life... I wouldn't wish that on anyone else. So, any life support scenes in movies kinda hit me a little differently than they did prior to March 2021. I have a hard time watching them...
As a Respiratory Therapist thank you for making such a hard decision. It is really hard to see patients suffer on a ventilator when all viable options have been eliminated. Once again thank you for making such a hard decision.
@generalismoGrosMichel it was extremely hard, but my dad had always stressed to me that if he was in that type of position that he wanted to just go. It's why he made me power of attorney. Because he knew I wouldn't let my emotions take hold and try and hold onto him out of personal feeling.
The hard part was watching him choke to death once off the ventilator. For 2 and 1/2 hours, I watched as he gasped for air, coughed, and choked to death, and that was the worst feeling in the world. It's why I get really pissed at covid "hoaxers" because I lived it. Life support scenes have a different meaning to me now.
I’d love to see you react/deep dive into some of your favorite music videos or songs.
I also, would love to see you do a series where you react to various war movies.
One missing:
Ofelia’s death in Pan’s Labyrinth…it’s impossible for me to watch that film ever again in part because how much of a gut punch that was.
For the alzhiemers/dementia, the song Constance by Spiritbox helped me grieve from my grandmother going through and ultimately dying from it. I don't know why it took me that long (she passed away in 2019) to finally deal with it, but it helped.
I think a good one not mentioned is Thomas More’s death in “A Man For All Seasons”. That brought out the waterworks for me.
Jack Twist's death tore me apart and when Enis straightens up his short tore my heart out.
Possibly my favorite of all your reaction videos. "Dying is a part of life. I wish it wasn't."
This was great! Would love more content like this!
My favorite Robin Williams movies are Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting.
2014 was a hard year for me. A month and a half after Williams’ passing, someone I grew up with took her own life at age 42. What makes it hard for me was that there was no funeral for her. I continue to pray for her.
About 2 years later, I had a dream. I thought it was some other person. She turned around and it was the aforementioned one who died. She smiled and gave me a hug. I think God was allowing her to let me know that she made it to Heaven. I don’t know why He allowed her to comfort me at that particular time.
For me, it's Shane and whether he died or not. The little kid calling out his name makes it even sadder. That's my favorite.
I lost a child. My son died many years ago. Life was never the same. You don't "get over it".
please make more "different" reactions like this theyre very entertaining and a great change of pace
Hachi from "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" deserves an honorable mention at least. My family didn't even want to finish the movie because it was depressing them so much.
Unfortunately the list was about human deaths.
I think we’re almost the same age and I agree with you on my girl. I still can’t watch it again. It’s been decades.
I can't understand how Artax from Neverending Story isn't on here. That death wrecked an entire generation.
Yes it did, that scene and the scene with the rockman, they look like big strong hands, dont they?
So true!
I was looking for this comment. For many who grew up watching this movie at the cinema as children and young people. It was devastating and horrifying. Especially as it comes so early in the movie. Many of the movies here you watch as an adult but that death so many of us experienced as young people.
The saddest one for me is one from honestly not a great movie, but a tremendous real story.
Brian Piccolo was a running back for the Chicago Bears in the late 1960s who befriended/competed with/mentored star player Gale Sayers (There's some racial stuff as well, as Piccolo is white, Sayers is black). Piccolo was diagnosed with cancer, which metastasized and became inoperable. The ending scene where Brian and his wife share his final moment's together definitely had me tearing up.
The movie is called Brian's Song, the original was released in 1971 (Starring James Caan and a young Billie Dee Williams) and remade in 2001 (Sean Maher and Mekhi Phifer)
I can still hear the melody from the soundtrack of that movie! We watched it in middle school. Very sad indeed.
For being a comedian Robin Williams was in some movies that were complete tear jerkers bicentennial man, patch adams just to name a couple.
Oh my, The Green Mile, Steel Magnolias, My Girl, The Outsiders, Avengers Endgame and Dead Poets Society always hit me in the gut and make me grab a box of tissues. I’d have to give thought to what I would add unless you want to go with movie musicals and that’s a whole other list.
John Coffey and Jenny Curran for sure. I'm not gonna argue the choices that made up this list, because it's all subjective (and it's WatchMojo) but:
Missing from this list is Chris McCandless from Into the Wild. I shed a ridiculous amount of tears after that one. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie but the final quote goes "happiness is only real when shared". I'm tearing up just writing those words.
Would love to see more content on VTH Extra Chris, god bless you and your family.
It isn’t a death but in Coco when Miguel sings Remember Me in hopes of getting Mama Coco to remember her father I lose it. The whole film does that to me. It’s been almost a year since my father died and he had Alzheimer’s. My grandmother (who was also a musician like the character of Hector) also died from it. It’s such a beautiful and powerful moment. I was honestly sobbing when I first watched it and that was before my dad died. As for actual deaths I don’t think I ever truly cried at a movie death. Green Mile was the closest I think.
The medic from saving private Ryan
When he's calling for his Mom, damn.
Love this channel! Excited for more content
@23:23 "can't identify with fantasy deaths" after talking about the deaths in Harry Potter
Still generally true. Doesn't mean it's ALWAYS true. There are exceptions.
Gabriel in the Patriot and everyone in First They Killed My Father. Though actually visiting Cambodia and seeing the Killing Fields firsthand definitely influenced my reaction to that film. One of those you need to watch but never want to see it again.
Richard Gear’s death and aftermath in “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.” You end up in tears for half the movie.
Also, an overlooked Stephen King adaptation of note is “Apt Pupil,” starring Ian MaClellan (sp). If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it highly. It even has historical context.
I think they hit most of the live action movies that hit me hard, but I might add the final scene of Stephen King’s The Mist to my own list. I think I was too stunned to be teary-eyed, but that finale takes a horrifyingly tragic moment and manages to double down on it. Have to agree with Chris on King, though…always down for one of his horrors but it’s the more human stories of his that I really love. I particularly liked 11/22/63 for both the alternate history take and the relationships that develop between the main character and the people he encounters.
A mini series, not a movie, but Robert Duvall's death in "Lonesome Dove" was touching and well acted. The heart of the series.
*SPOILERS FOR SONS OF ANARCHY AND HELL ON WHEELS BELOW*
I always felt more of a sadness for characters in shows because of the time invested in the characters.
For example, I think the saddest death for me would have to be Tara, Opie, and Jax from Sons of Anarchy.
Hell on Wheels also has a few sad deaths. Notably Lily Bell, Elam Ferguson, and Ruth.
The Walking Dead has various very sad deaths, as well. In the earlier seasons it really felt like anyone could die at any time; and much of them did.
I know... it's from a superhero movie. Starlord's mother's death at the beginning of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Kinda weird that one of the most lighthearted movies of the MCU starts with a death.
For me my top 5 Would be as follows
1 - Geel Piet (Morgan Freeman) - The Power of One
2 - Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) - The Bridge To Terabithia
3 - John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) - The Green Mile
4 - Thomas J. Sennett (Macauley Culkin) - My Girl
5 - The Little Girl in Red - Schindler's List
I worked in a movie theater when the Norebook came out and you always knew a showing was finished by all the people in tears in the lobby.
I know it’s not from a movie, but William Hill from This Is Us is probably one of the saddest deaths I have ever seen.
Can you do Bible Studies with Chris?
Don’t tell me you didn’t cry watching E.T. The Extra Terrestrial! There is a couple other movies that came to mind. One was Collateral Beauty starring Will Smith and Reign over me with Adam Sandler. The latter was a movie about a man who lost his family during the 9/11 attacks. A super dark movie but VERY emotional. I got teary eyed watching you get emotional. I appreciate you doing this “reaction”. Aloha 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I'm just a little younger than you, Chris, and we read/watched/discussed The Outsiders in my English class too.
The first one that came to mind not on the list is Beth in Little Women.
Boromir's death deserved to be in the top 3
Gladiator is one that gets me pretty darn close it’s one of these endings that the closest to perfect as you can get.
Seeing Rory return home in Nanny McPhee Returns still makes me cry. That man went off to fight in World War 2, injured his left arm, and came home to his wife and 3 kids as well as his niece and nephew. The reason Goose's death makes me cry is because of how much I connected with his personality as well as the fact that he's a family man. I was crying while watching the scene between Maverick and Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick because of how much I loved the chemistry between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. The fact Val Kilmer filmed the scene while suffering from throat cancer makes it hurt more because I lost a relative to complications related to cancer. The T-800 sacrificing himself in T2 stings more than any Man-O'-War jellyfish ever could. The loving couple in The Notebook dying together is one of the sweetest and saddest things at the same time. Neil Perry's death is really rough because this could happen to anyone. All Sirius had to do was explain how the 2-way mirror works and his death would've been prevented. Seeing Wolverine die was a massive gut-punch because of how hard he fought to get his daughter to safety. Jack and Rose would've fit on the door together if they had gotten on it from opposite sides at the sime time. Thomas J's death is one of the saddest things Vada could've gone through. Johnny's death in The Outsiders shows that being heroic comes with a price, and the price in this particular instance is more painful than whatever pain Scott from Kentucky Ballistics was in after his Serbu .50 caliber rifle exploded, especially in the book, which I had to read in junior high. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas shows what people in the Holocaust had to go through, and how cruel the Nazis really were. Seeing Tony Stark sacrifice himself for others was one of the sweetest things, but is also very sad. Jenny was the sweetest person Forrest ever had in his life, and losing her was gut-wrenching. The handshake between the one guard and John Coffee was amazing.
I personally would say that the death that hits the hardest for me is Tom Blake in 1917 but the thing about it is that it doesn’t hit until the very end, especially as someone with two younger brothers that’s just a bond that can’t be replicated.
I was so glad to see My Girl on there. I wanted to see Darth Vader, the daughter from Terms of Endearment, The kid from Hardball although that one is not well known, Bruce Willis Armageddon, the imaginary friend from Inside Out.
Radio’s mother dying in radio always got me
I remember when Robin Williams died, one of my favorite movies he was in, Aladdin, aired on Disney Channel commercial free, then they payed tribute to him with a constellation of the Genie. The first words coming to mind are ,"Genie you're free."
Man, Iron man hit me so hard because the first movie I saw with my dad was iron man 1. I was 18 when that came out and it felt like my childhood died.
Katsumoto in The Last Samurai
Bubba's death is sadder.
U-96 and Der Alte from Das Boot.
G-Baby's death in Hardball will never be forgotten. Wish that was on the list
The Man in the Moon with Reese Witherspoon, heartbreaking.
This was SUPER hard to watch. The video itself was emotional, then I’d look at you and see your tear glistening eyes. Also, I’m glad I heard someone mention the biblical allusions in the Green Mile like she did. I thought I had always saw something that wasn’t truly there because I’m a Christian.
Welcome back Chris.
It's not really a "death" per se, but Tom Hanks losing Wilson to the ocean in Cast Away never leaves me with dry eyes.
We read outsides when I was in eighth grade 09-10 Hope they still read it
Marley had me as a kid. That one hurt man
Great stuff
For me as a 22 year old young man. Johnny Cade in the outsiders, Bruno and Schumel in the boy in the striped pajamas, and John Coffey really are hard.
I think they nailed this list although they should have had Marley like the thumbnail! Because that hurts a lot. I have taken my dog to the vet clinic where they shot marleys death scene and it’s hard for everyone there!
Maybe more videos about your faith? Videos about theology or specific biblical perspectives you agree/disagree with?
Idk, man. I still feel nothing for Jenny's death years and years after watching the movie.
The little girl from Grave of the Fireflies, nuff said.
Although, it’s a tv show and not a movie, a big, sad moment that is masterfully done is the burial of Juan Borgia by his father Rodrigo in “The Borgias.” Despite his son becoming angry, violent, resentful, and selfish toward his death, Rodrigo could not let him go initially. Then, when Rodrigo decided to bury him, Rodrigo (the Pope) rips into the earth with a spade, a bowl, and his hands to bury what he saw as his little boy. It’s gut-wrenching.
As the father of a Type 1 diabetic (T1D) daughter, “Steel Magnolias” is very frustrating. While the performances are all outstanding, many viewers come away thinking that Shelby couldn’t have the baby because she was a Type 1 diabetic. This is not true. Shelby had many other medical issues going on which may or may not have been related to her diabetes.
The ending of the Last of the Mohicans, when Barry Pepper gets shot in Saving Private Ryan.
I just saw "The Iron Claw" and there wasn't a dry eye in the theater. For those who don't know, before WWE/WWF pro wrestling was a regional sport, and you had different wrestling promotions in different regions of the country. The Iron Claw is about the Von Erich's, a group of a father and 5 brothers who were the stars of the WCCW, a wrestling promotion based in Texas. The Von Erich's took the wrestling world by storm and helped turn WCCW into one of the most successful wrestling "Territories" in the country. Sadly, due to depression, injury, and drug use, 4 of the Von Erich brothers would die (3 of which from suicide) and all within a 3 year period. Kevin, the oldest and last surviving Von Erich who was played flawlessly by Zac Efron, had the most tear-jerking line ever at the end of the film while talking to his two sons, and apparently it was a real quote from Kevin Von Erich as well: "Dad, why are you crying?" "Well boys, I once had 5 brothers. And now, I'm no longer a brother."
The Von Erich's were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and are beloved to this day.
Poor Von Erichs.
Coming late to the comments, my choices: Billy Flynn in The Champ (1979), and François Paradis in Maria Chapdelaine (1983, 2021).
13:27 "Cybernetic organism."
BTS of order of the Phoenix is Daniel Radcliffe lost a close family member either that same day or close to filming of that scene. So his reaction is acting but he was hurting in real life as well
25:30 It's especially bad because they tricked us with that one. They marketed it as this fun kid's comedy with the kid from Home Alone in it, and instead they forced us to feel feelings.
That's why the sequel bombed: everyone was all "I'll not fall for your deception again!"
Because that's how kids in the 90s talked... Trust me on that.