The Most Emotional Scenes In Sci Fi Movies Ranked

Science fiction is a genre that is bound to display images of a dystopian world overrun with robots, or a virus that turns humans into machines, or some extremely scientific action-packed scenes in outer space. This perception of sci-fi movies has made the genre into a heartless and firm concept, most of the time completely devoid of emotions. However, through more exploration and the significant development of the film industry, sci-fi movies have moved onto a newer meaning, and some even prove to be extreme tearjerkers. It is time to uncover some of the most emotional scenes in sci-fi movies, new, and old.

5 The Death of Spock - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

     Paramount Pictures Studios  

The Star Trek universe is one of the most diverse sci-fi movie universes, including recent remakes as well. The original Star Trek movies had the appeal of making the viewers develop an emotional connection with the characters and relationships between them. The cinematic appeal of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) sacrificing himself in a radiation-filled chamber to protect the USS Enterprise. Spock telling Kirk (William Shatner) “It was only logical” marks one of the most unexpected ends of a beloved character and a beautiful friendship between the two. This scene on its own is one of the most memorable of the Star Trek series and for sure made many viewers ugly cry. Director Nicholas Meyer hit the jackpot with the cinematography of this specific death.

4 Tears in Rain - Blade Runner (1982)

     Warner Bros. Pictures  

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford as a character that makes you question so many aspects of life, Blade Runner is one of the best sci-fi movies ever. Though it gives the initial outlook of a typical sci-fi movie, by the end, it proves to be the complete opposite. This brilliant movie offers an extremely emotional ending monologue, where the suspected villain cries with his tears being hidden by the rain, exceptionally bringing out the enigma of his character. This extremely emotional scene is bound to make viewers bound to feel their hearts clench, and to make them question the relevance of life itself.

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3 The Space Dance - Wall-E (2008)

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures  

Wall-E is the 2008 classic sci-fi animated movie and one of Pixar’s biggest hits. The movie immediately makes fans fall in love with the main robot, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt). He is left alone on Earth and spends his time cleaning whatever he can. His recreational activities include guarding a plant that he finds, and watching videos of humans dancing. Wall-E is discovered by the robot Eve (voiced by Elissa Knight) and instantly falls in love with her.

His innocence and personality are quick to make viewers get attached to him. In the heroic scene of protecting the plant on a spaceship, he is forced out into zero gravity with a fire extinguisher Eve accompanies him. Finally, he can have the dance that he so dearly waited for. This moment is one that will make you cry out tears of joy and wholesomeness.

2 Years of Messages – Interstellar (2014)

     Warner BrosParamount PicturesFilmcompagniet  

Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece Interstellar is every science fiction lover’s dream come true. Pushing all boundaries revolving around science fiction, exceptional cinematography, end-of-the-world tropes, and a heroic adventure into other dimensions, Interstellar has it all. As expected, Nolan does seem to have an extremely cumbersome relationship with emotions, but some scenes are bound to tug at your heart strings.

After the heroic escape from an abandoned planet because of the mistake of Dr. Brand (Anne Hathaway), Cooper (Mathew McConaughey) receives video messages from his kids, all grown-up. 23 years pass by on Earth, and Cooper watches the messages hearing his kids talk about giving up on him. This will make you wail like a child. Watching a grown-up Murph (Jessica Chastain) rant about her father not fulfilling his promise and going on a complete radio silence makes Cooper’s heart break. On a mission to save humanity, viewers get to see Cooper at his lowest point, on the verge of losing all sense of hope.

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1 The Death of Tony Stark - Avengers: Endgame (2019)

     Marvel Studios  

This list cannot be complete without the death that broke the hearts of millions and shook the entire Marvel Universe fandom to the core. The Avengers series has had a huge following because of the incredible story lines, amazing CGI, and superheroes that everybody grew up loving. Avengers: Endgame became the Russo Brothers’ highest-grossing movie of all time, and biggest emotional rollercoaster one could get on.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), one of the most lovable characters of the whole series, faced his heroic end after taking hold of the infinity stones after an action-packed fight against Thanos and his army. Endgame was emotionally stimulating in scenes. Captain America (Chris Evans) being worthy of Thor’s hammer, old characters who had died, coming back to life, and the Avengers all assembling for the final fight shook everyone. However, nothing can beat the impact that Tony Stark’s death had on viewers.