Tear jerker
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A tear jerker (or weepie) is a movie (or novel) that functions to cause crying by viewers (or readers) that are sympathetic to tragic circumstances that are presented in the story. The term is mildly perjorative because tear jerkers are often viewed as unfairly manipulating human emotions. Nevertheless, tear jerker movies, especially those normally characterized as dramas, are often deeply loved and admired by the viewing public. Examples include A Tale of Two Cities and Steel Magnolias.
While popular perception holds tear jerkers to be movies that appeal to women viewers (see chick flick), many popular movies serve to induce a sorrowful response from male viewers (see Glory). It is possible that men feel a license to weep for movie characters in the dark anonymity of movie theaters, even as they consider it inappropriate to cry for themselves and their own troubles. Hollywood tends to cast male and female adversity in stereotypes: women work through relationship issues and men overcome physical obstacles. In a typical tear jerker, no amount of valiant effort can prevent the final, fatal sacrifice.
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