Most Powerful Moment in Film: The E.T. Farewell Scene

We all love a good cry every once in a while in front of the TV set or at the theater. FilmClub has conducted a poll to determine which are the most tear-jerking moments in film, and the E.T. farewell scene came out first.

Under a new initiative meant to showcase film’s “universal power to inspire, educate, move and unite the nation,” FilmClub and LOVEFiILM have joined forces in an attempt to determine which are the most powerful moments in cinematography.

The poll was conducted on 2,000 respondents – 30 percent of which voted for the aforementioned farewell scene as the most impacting.

Voters here also included Gareth Unwin from “The King’s Speech,” Matt Lucas and Ashley Jensen of “Ugly Betty,” Female First reports.

Second place goes to “Toy Story 3,” last year’s best selling animation film, for a scene in which the toys hold hands as they try and prepare for the fate awaiting them.

Third place goes to “Rocky” (1976) and his big fighting scene, with 15 percent of voters saying they found it very emotional.

“Bambi” comes in fourth, while the scene in which cowboys from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) leap out of their hiding for a typical shoot-out lands at fifth.

The rest of the top 10 is as follows, as per Female First:

“6. The Wizard of Oz (U, 1939): When Dorothy opens the door of her grey house onto a world filled with color.

“7. Battleship Potemkin (PG, 1925): The influential ‘Odessa Steps’ massacre scene.

“8. Mr Smith Goes To Washington (U, 1939): The filibuster scene makes a powerful case for justice: ‘I’m going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause.’

“9. Network (15, 1976): When news anchor Howard Beale announces ‘I’m as mad as hell.’

“10. Miracle in Milan (U, 1951): Final scene when Toto and his friends rise into the sky on brooms.”