17 Performances so sad that you won’t be able to hold your tears

Modified Feb 09, 2025 11:34 ET

The Father | Image Source: Sony Pictures Classics

10) Tom Cruise in Magnolia (1999)

Magnolia | Image Source: New Line Cinema

In Magnolia, Tom Cruise provides one of the most surprising yet deeply moving performances of his life. Portraying Frank T.J. Mackey, an anti-female motivational speaker, Cruise's role gradually unwinds to expose a man very, very badly marked by his own past. The last scenes of the film, with a full sense of emotion, bring out years of pain and trauma in Frank's life that lead to a breakdown raw and devastating. In his scenes of vulnerability and anger, he reveals a rare depth that makes an impact long after the movie has ended.