The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
The Moment: Gandalf makes a stand when the Fellowship is attacked by a Balrog fire demon while making its way through the Mines of Moria. "Thou shalt not pass!"
Wipe Away A Tear When: Gandalf and Balrog tumble into the fiery abyss. Just because we know the wizard survives doesn't lessen the heart-stopping impact.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Moment: Detective Kujan pieces together the pieces of the puzzle on his wall (and under his mug), as Verbal Kint, aka Keyser Soze, walks away scot-free.
Wipe Away A Tear When: You realise you've been as duped as Kujan.
Spartacus (1960)
The Moment: Having quelled his revolt, Roman soldiers try to locate Spartacus only to discover unusual solidarity amongst his surviving troops.
Wipe Away A Tear When: "I'm Spartacus!" " I'm Spartacus!" etc
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
The Moment: Elliott rides E.T. to the forest where he can "phone home," and the alien shows him a faster way to travel by sending their bicycle skywards.
Wipe Away A Tear When: The bike is silhouetted in mid-air against a ginormous full moon.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Moment: Darth Vader breaks the news to Luke Skywalker that he didn't kill his father, but "I am your father."
Wipe Away A Tear When: Luke chooses (apparently) certain death over the Dark Side, and lets himself fall off the gantry into the innards of Cloud City.
Jaws (1975)
The Moment: Chief Brody realises there really is a shark, as Spielberg pulls off a perfectly executed dolly zoom to isolate Roy Scheider's gut-punched expression from his surroundings.
Wipe Away A Tear When: The Great White claims young boy Alex Kintner as its latest victim.
Blade Runner (1982)
The Moment: A dying Roy Batty saves the life of Rick Deckard, the 'blade runner' whose mission is to track down the fugitive replicant.
Wipe Away A Tear When: "Batty tells Deckard what his death means. "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Moment: Warden Norton, confused and angry at the absence of Andy Dufresne from his cell, throws a rock at the poster on the wall… and it carries straight through.
Wipe Away A Tear When: In flashback, we see Andy emerge from a sewage tunnel to freedom. He might be covered in shit, but he's deliriously happy as he throws his arms to the sky.
Star Wars (1977)
The Moment: With seconds left until the Rebel base is in range of the Death Star, Luke is flying blind and Vader has him in his sights. What could possibly go right?
Wipe Away A Tear When: Han Solo "yee-haws" to the rescue, taking out Vader and giving Luke the chance to use the Force. "You're all clear, kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!"
Magnolia (1999)
The Moment: With everybody at their lowest ebb, all of the characters unite in an unexpected sing-song of Aimee Mann's Wise Up .
Wipe Away A Tear When: Even dying Earl Partridge, who can hardly speak, joins in.
