Room

I maintain that Room, even though it's about a woman and her child being imprisoned by a twisted man, is actually life-affirming. That's not to say that I didn't sob my way through the movie, and I fully blame the brilliant acting of Jacob Tremblay [3] and Brie Larson. In my opinion, this is the most emotional movie of the year, for many different reasons.

— Shannon Vestal Robson, content director

Furious 7

I've been a fan of the Fast & Furious movies since the first installment, and Paul Walker [4]'s death hit me particularly hard. Still, I thought I'd be able to keep it together during Furious 7, and I did — until the end. The closing scene is such a touching tribute [5] that I had to sit and cry in my seat for a while. When I finally got up, an old man patted me on the back and said, "It was a sad movie, huh?" I just kept weeping so hard that my boyfriend had to herd me away from the crowd because I was was making people uncomfortable.

— Maggie Pehanick, entertainment editor

This movie is every bit of wild, action-packed fun as its predecessors, but it’s hard not to watch it while thinking about Paul Walker. In the final scene where he and Vin Diesel drive off in different directions as “See You Again” plays, it may or may not have felt like The Rock was punching me directly in the heart.

— Quinn Keaney, assistant celebrity editor

Amy

I cried during Amy because it was so moving, so heartbreaking, and so representative of what addiction can do. It also sheds a lot of light on the cost of fame and how even those who don't necessarily seek it out have to deal with the repercussions of getting too big, too fast.

— Britt Stephens, lead celebrity editor

Inside Out

Inside Out is a beautiful, beautiful film that I also wish didn’t exist because I’ve never truly recovered from the heart-wrenching death of lovable elephant Bing Bong. I was sobbing louder than any child in the movie theater. No shame.

— Quinn Keaney, assistant celebrity editor

The part in Inside Out that hit me the hardest? When Riley breaks down in class. She reminded me of when I was that age and everything was just so much.

— Shannon Vestal Robson, content director

I was already crying before Inside Out even started with the I Lava You short, so I knew it was going to be a doozy. Two words: Bing Bong. Cue the sobbing. Pixar just KNOWS how to hit you right in the feels.

— Tara Block, content director

I mean, who didn't cry when Bing Bong said: "Take Riley to the moon for me?" Tears everywhere.

— Brinton Parker, assistant editor of trending and viral features

The Intern

Robert De Niro [6] is just so sweet, and whenever he talked about his late wife I just could NOT.

— Laura Maria Meyers, trending and viral features editor

Brooklyn

This is one of the few movies where its ending — giving me everything I was hoping for — made me cry tears of happiness.

— Shannon Vestal Robson, content director

My parents are Irish immigrants, so in addition to being a stunning film, the story hit really close to home. I started crying while watching the trailer a month ago and have yet to actually stop.

— Chloe Durkin, editorial intern

Max

I start crying as soon as I see dogs, pretty much (they're just so cute, OK?), so watching this movie probably wasn’t a wise choice on my part. Still, this drama about a family who adopts the highly trained service dog of their soldier son after he dies in action is a major tearjerker, and I highly recommend it for anyone who 1) needs to cry it out, or 2) wants to see Robbie Amell’s perfect bod in uniform.

— Quinn Keaney, assistant celebrity editor

Mockingjay — Part 2

Maybe it's because I'm a huge fan of the series, but I definitely cried over the last Hunger Games movie. Not only was it the end of an era for me, but each and every scene was perfectly adapted from book to screen. And I totally lost it when Peeta asked, "You love me, real or not real?" and Katniss replied, "Real."

— Kelsie Gibson, assistant celebrity editor

Carol

The scene in Carol where Cate Blanchett [7] argues for why she should receive joint custody of her daughter just killed me. I simultaneously wept, realized how amazing Cate Blanchett is, and wanted to call my mom.

— Kelsey R. Garcia, editorial assistant

Everest

It's hard to go into a movie when you already know that the true story didn't end happily. In the case of Everest, the true story is a literal disaster [8]. I emotionally braced myself going into the movie, and it still wasn't enough to keep me from becoming an utter mess by the end credits.

— Maggie Pehanick, entertainment editor

Dark Places

Having read this book before the movie was released, I truly didn't expect to shed any tears. However, Christina Hendricks's convincing portrayal of a suffering mother trying desperately to provide for her kids really hit me hard.

— Brinton Parker, assistant editor of trending and viral features

The Danish Girl

Of course I cried at this period piece starring Eddie Redmayne as one of the first women to undergo sexual reassignment surgery. If Redmayne's performance doesn't move you, Alicia Vikander's (as his wife, undergoing her own transformation) will.

— Maggie Pehanick, entertainment editor

Beasts of No Nation

Beasts of No Nation was the movie that really got me this year. Luckily, since it's on Netflix, I could do my crying privately, in my bed, instead of in a crowded theater.

— Aemelia Madden, assistant fashion editor

I don't want to spoil anything about this movie, but suffice it to say that a young child is put through a lot of really awful stuff, and it's heartbreaking to watch. Keep a box of tissues nearby.

— Brinton Parker, assistant editor of trending and viral features

Joy

I love Jennifer Lawrence [9], but I've never cried at a Jennifer Lawrence movie — until Joy. I cried approximately twice, and for completely different reasons each time. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but it's likely that women are going to get more emotional at this movie than men.

— Maggie Pehanick, entertainment editor

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

When Han Solo said, "Chewie, we're home."

— Brian Sugar, CEO