Summary

• Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films capture the emotional journey of the characters, evoking tears of joy and sorrow in fans.
• The scenes and quotes from the trilogy are deeply ingrained in the hearts of fans, invoking visceral reactions and speaking to the tale of humanity and kinship.
• The emotional moments in the films, such as the opening scene in the Shire and Sam carrying Frodo up Mount Doom, bring out the profound bravery and friendship that define the story of The Lord of the Rings.

Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films are filled with moments that bring fans to tears every time. The journey from the Shire to Mount Doom is profoundly emotional, from beautiful moments of joy and adventure to sorrowful scenes of death and heartbreak. No matter how many times the trilogy is viewed, certain scenes will always tug on the heartstrings of fans, speaking to the tale of humanity and kinship that The Lord of the Rings offers. After all, not all tears are an evil.

Adapted from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson's films may not capture every word as written out on paper, but they've been praised as some of the best movies based on books for capturing the essence of Tolkien's message. The Lord of the Rings is a story about friendship and hope overcoming the darkest of times, and will forever be a timeless tale of good against evil. Many of the trilogy's scenes are so engrained in the hearts and minds of fans that even just a quote or musical queue can invoke a visceral reaction.

10 The Shire

The opening scene of the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring is a welcoming introduction to Middle Earth that will always make many fans feel right at home. While it may not be a sad scene, the beautiful scenery, iconic Howard Shore score, and sense of anticipated adventure evoke a magical feeling of warmth and comfort. From the opening shot of Frodo reading by a tree and hearing Gandalf's humming grow nearer to the sprawling landscapes and cheerful sounds of children as the score crescendos, the scene perfectly builds the Shire as a reminder of everything good in the world, bringing tears of joy every time.

9 Faramir’s Charge

Faramir's relationship with Denethor makes him one of the most tragic characters throughout The Lord of the Rings. In a last effort to prove himself to his father, Faramir leads a charge to retake Osgiliath, showing his undying courage as he carries out what would likely be his final order. The charge is emotional on its own, but the addition of Pippin's song, "The Edge of Night," makes the scene far more tear-jerking. The bleak lyrics and somber emotion from the usually jolly Pippin blend perfectly with the impending sacrifice of Gondor's brave knights for an upsetting scene, even without showing the battle.

8 Gandalf’s Fall

Gandalf is one of the best Lord of the Rings characters, making his supposed death in Fellowship of the Ring so haunting. Gandalf is the Fellowship's leader and a man Frodo and the others can look upon to feel safe. His fall against the Balrog is heroic and iconic, but it's the Fellowship's varying reactions to his absence that can bring fans to tears. Gandalf means the world to Frodo, and the scene is amplified by knowing that Frodo will spend the rest of his journey thinking Gandalf has ed.

7 Boromir’s Sacrifice

Boromir is a complex character, but his heroic sacrifice to defend the Hobbits redeems his past weakness. Shortly after Boromir nearly loses himself to the temptation of the One Ring, he dies a true warrior's death at the Skirmish at Amon Hen. But he doesn't go down easily. Even with two arrows in him, Boromir fights to protect those who can't protect themselves, which was always his motive. His sacrifice and the emotional follow-up scene with Aragorn are major tear-jerkers, as Boromir its to his faults and subtly pushes Aragorn toward his destiny as the King of Gondor.

6 The Breaking Of The Fellowship

Following the climactic battle in The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo's plan to carry on alone makes for a bittersweet ending. Frodo stands by the river, ing Gandalf's inspiring words that power him to push on, Sam nearly drowns to fulfill his promise to stay by Frodo's side, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli form an unbreakable camaraderie. This ending sequence serves as a testament to the bonds of the Fellowship, showing that even though they're traveling separate ways, their friendship will get them through tough times ahead.

5 Sam’s Monologue

The ending of The Two Towers sees Frodo Baggins in one of his darkest moments, ready to give up hope after the One Ring nearly consumes him. Sam's monologue lifts him, reminding Frodo of what their journey is for: that there's still good in the world that they have to fight for. The montage aspect of the scene sees Rohan surviving the Battle of Helm's Deep and the Ents fighting back against the industrialism of Saruman and Isengard, perfectly capturing Sam's message of hope and the ing of darkness. The scene is deeply inspiring, and its uplifting message can bring tears in each watch.

4 Frodo Moves On

The Return of the King has many endings, but Frodo's decision to leave Middle Earth with Gandalf is the most heartbreaking. Frodo is torn by the war and his time as a Ring-bearer and must say his goodbyes to his Hobbit companions rather than grow old with them in the Shire. The moment is filled with tears as he hugs each friend and bids them farewell before setting sail and leaving Middle Earth forever.

3 The Ride Of The Rohirrim

The Ride of the Rohirrim is a Lord of the Rings scene viewers love to re-watch, as it's one of the most epic scenes in movie history. The Witch-king's speech about the failure of men is perfectly cut short by the sound of a distant horn blowing, and the army of Mordor turns to see the Rohirrim approach with the sun beaming behind them. As anticipation builds for their charge, Théoden gives his speech, and the musical score ramps up, the scene always gets the heart pumping and tears flowing.

2 Aragorn’s Coronation

To see the crown finally lifted upon Aragorn's head is a beautiful moment, as the great hero of the War of the Ring accepts his destiny as the king. His song and reunion with Arwen are beautiful, but it's the scene's closing moment that makes audiences bawl. As Merry, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin bow to the new king, Aragorn delivers the line, "My friends... you bow to no one," and the free world of Middle Earth s him in kneeling before the four Hobbits whose profound bravery brought them their safety.

1 Sam Carries Frodo Up Mount Doom

Many moments define Sam and Frodo's friendship, but the scene on the slopes of Mount Doom is the most emotional in The Lord of the Rings. With their destination finally in sight, Frodo has lost all energy to carry on, and Sam reminds him of the beauty in the world they fight for. When his words aren't enough to lift his friend up the final steps, Sam exclaims his iconic line, "I can't carry it for you... But I can carry you!" This scene is gorgeous from start to finish, but the crescendo of Howard Shore's score as Sam mounts Frodo on his shoulders will draw tears every time.