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Posted on Sep 11, 2013

The Top 8 Times Tom Hanks Makes You Cry

Ranging from his superhuman ability to act in 'Philadelphia', to the time I embarrassingly nearly cried all the liquid out of my body watching 'Toy Story 3'.

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Tom Hanks has single-handedly broken me eight times. It's probably because he is the best human being ever. No argument.

I know a lot of people who find ‘The Terminal’ unbearably annoying. But I find the whole film so heartwarming and entertaining. Hanks makes Viktor such a likeable character and he just gets better throughout. When he finally gets the last signature I was so happy. And he gets to go back to Karkhozia! But he doesn’t get the girl. Gah.

I know a lot of people who find ‘The Terminal’ unbearably annoying. But I find the whole film so heartwarming and entertaining. Hanks makes Viktor such a likeable character and he just gets better throughout. When he finally gets the last signature I was so happy. And he gets to go back to Karkhozia! But he doesn’t get the girl. Gah.

The thing with ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ is that whereas there is normally one key moment that makes you crumble, the whole film has a really depressive feel. But in a gentle way that makes it enjoyable at the same time. If it’s not sad enough that the son rings a radio station to help his depressed dad, the part where Hanks talks to his imaginary dead wife made my mum refuse to carry on watching it. But it ends happily. Even though they’ve pretty much never had a conversation.

The thing with ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ is that whereas there is normally one key moment that makes you crumble, the whole film has a really depressive feel. But in a gentle way that makes it enjoyable at the same time. If it’s not sad enough that the son rings a radio station to help his depressed dad, the part where Hanks talks to his imaginary dead wife made my mum refuse to carry on watching it. But it ends happily. Even though they’ve pretty much never had a conversation.

To my horror my history teacher said we’d spend two lessons watching this film. I mean it is an incredible film, it’s so gritty and riveting. Hanks was nominated for an Oscar and boy did he deserve it. But he dies so close to end and I can’t cope with watching it. The panic cries of ‘Medic!’ and of course the ‘Earn this. Earn it’ made me want to sob for the next 24 hours. Cue classroom of teenagers desperately trying to hide the fact they’re crying.

To my horror my history teacher said we’d spend two lessons watching this film. I mean it is an incredible film, it’s so gritty and riveting. Hanks was nominated for an Oscar and boy did he deserve it. But he dies so close to end and I can’t cope with watching it. The panic cries of ‘Medic!’ and of course the ‘Earn this. Earn it’ made me want to sob for the next 24 hours. Cue classroom of teenagers desperately trying to hide the fact they’re crying.

‘Big’ is simply one of the best films ever made, it’s definitely in my top 5 ever and I dread to think how many times I’ve watched it. At least 3 times just over every Christmas break. I know this is essentially a comedy and there’s no point, say, where Hanks dies. But I swear I cried way more when Josh first becomes big, and Billy leaves him in that awful motel. He blockades the door and curls up and cries on his bed. Good job the rest of the film is pure bliss.

‘Big’ is simply one of the best films ever made, it’s definitely in my top 5 ever and I dread to think how many times I’ve watched it. At least 3 times just over every Christmas break. I know this is essentially a comedy and there’s no point, say, where Hanks dies. But I swear I cried way more when Josh first becomes big, and Billy leaves him in that awful motel. He blockades the door and curls up and cries on his bed. Good job the rest of the film is pure bliss.

This film, like most sad animal films, made me take to my bed for a day. Why I watched it (I was warned), I will never know. I definitely cried more at this than at films higher up this list, but seeing as Hanks only contributed about 30% of the sadness I put it lower. It is just THE WORST. Not only does Hooch take a bullet, but he then drags himself across the ground to save Turner. And then he dies. And Turner says he just needs a rest, and then cries. And I can’t watch Hanks cry. Wahh.

This film, like most sad animal films, made me take to my bed for a day. Why I watched it (I was warned), I will never know. I definitely cried more at this than at films higher up this list, but seeing as Hanks only contributed about 30% of the sadness I put it lower. It is just THE WORST. Not only does Hooch take a bullet, but he then drags himself across the ground to save Turner. And then he dies. And Turner says he just needs a rest, and then cries. And I can’t watch Hanks cry. Wahh.

This is probably a popular choice for most people. I mean one word says it all. Wilson. I once watched that one scene grotesquely hungover and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever stop crying. This is another film where he doesn’t get the girl in the end, and leads to my sister and I having heated debates about what the end with the parcel and the girl in the truck meant.

This is probably a popular choice for most people. I mean one word says it all. Wilson. I once watched that one scene grotesquely hungover and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever stop crying. This is another film where he doesn’t get the girl in the end, and leads to my sister and I having heated debates about what the end with the parcel and the girl in the truck meant.

I would imagine this however is a controversial choice, but I’m only telling the truth. I was beyond obsessed with Toy Story when I was kid. Like I actually used to burst in my room to try and catch my Woody and Buzz moving. I still retain that Woody is my favourite character ever. I really thought they were all going to melt at the end, and I was composing an angry letter to Pixar in my head as I sobbed uncontrollably into my 3D glasses. Then I thought it was over, but my heart was crushed again when the little girl reaches for Woody and Andy yanks him back. Oh my god I’m crying now.

I would imagine this however is a controversial choice, but I’m only telling the truth. I was beyond obsessed with Toy Story when I was kid. Like I actually used to burst in my room to try and catch my Woody and Buzz moving. I still retain that Woody is my favourite character ever. I really thought they were all going to melt at the end, and I was composing an angry letter to Pixar in my head as I sobbed uncontrollably into my 3D glasses. Then I thought it was over, but my heart was crushed again when the little girl reaches for Woody and Andy yanks him back. Oh my god I’m crying now.

Where to even start with this film, which is probably the only one on the list that I couldn’t watch again, despite it being completely brilliant. One of the first films to portray how gay people fought against prejudice and homophobia makes it sad enough. And of course Hanks dies again, so that’s pretty heartbreaking. But the bit that really gets me is the scene where Andrew is explaining opera to Miguel. Hanks demonstrates exactly why he won an Oscar, and it’s the turning point for Miguel. He realises his homophobia is wrong and Andrew is just as capable of love.

Where to even start with this film, which is probably the only one on the list that I couldn’t watch again, despite it being completely brilliant. One of the first films to portray how gay people fought against prejudice and homophobia makes it sad enough. And of course Hanks dies again, so that’s pretty heartbreaking. But the bit that really gets me is the scene where Andrew is explaining opera to Miguel. Hanks demonstrates exactly why he won an Oscar, and it’s the turning point for Miguel. He realises his homophobia is wrong and Andrew is just as capable of love.

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