Humans are the only animals to cry tears. In fact, we cry three different types of tears, according to Medical News Today. The first kind of tear is the basal tear, constantly secreted by your tear ducts to keep your eyes moist every time you blink. The second, the reflex tear, is triggered by irritants such as smoke or onions. The final tear is the emotional one, which contains a higher level of stress hormones than the other two.

Someone might try to hold back their tears if they see them as a sign of weakness, but science suggests that doing so might mean missing out on a plethora of health benefits. Researchers have found that crying has a soothing effect, helps to relieve pain, enhances mood, releases toxins, relieves stress, aids sleep, and even fights bacteria.

In his article for Harvard Health Publishing, Leo Newhouse writes that crying is a critical safety valve, mostly because bottling unpleasant feelings up inside (what psychologists call repressive coping) can be detrimental for our health. Studies have linked repressive coping with a less resilient immune system and cardiovascular disease, as well as with mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and depression. 

The American Psychological Association says women and people assigned female at birth cry an average of 30 to 64 times per year, while men and people assigned male at birth cry an average of five to 17 times per year. Researchers say the feelings that are most likely to conjure up a good cry will vary by age, gender, and culture, but universally, the most common feelings that elicit tears are hopelessness and helplessness.

In his article for Psychology Today, Paul J. Zak writes that, when we watch a movie, cognitively, we know that the story we are watching is (usually) fictional and the actors are paid to play on our emotions. So, why do we end up sobbing? It all comes down to the neuropeptide oxytocin. Oxytocin engages brain circuits that make us care about others, even complete strangers, even if they’re fictional and on a 20-foot-high screen. 

In his book, Flicker: Your Brain On Movies, Dr. Jeffrey Zacks explains how our brains had evolved to their current state well before movies were around. Basically, this means that we’re processing these usually fictional narratives now with the same grey matter our pre-tech ancestors were using to watch mammoths in the distance millennia back. This goes some way to explaining the psychology behind why we react so enthusiastically to cinema.

In his video essay for The Closer Look, Henry Boseley dissects three movies (UP, The Green Mile, and Interstellar) that typically make audiences cry, and explores the filmmaking techniques used in each to explain how it’s done. According to Boseley, the key to creating sadness does not lie in the action, but rather the reaction of those affected by it.

Boseley remarks on the recurring theme of injustice in each film, and how the audience is compelled to identify with the characters since it’s such an integral part of any sad scenario. He goes on to add that a bad filmmaker will make the audience understand that the character is sad, while a good one will make the audience understand why the character is sad.

Have you ever found your face leaking while you were watching a movie or even cuddled up on your couch in an attempt to Netflix and chill? That’s probably just the oxytocin talking.

Which of the flicks in this list are most likely to get your waterworks going? Upvote your favorites and don’t forget to comment on the ones you found most relatable!