The 21 Times You'll Cry During 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'

In the breathtaking climax of the film, Yondu saves Peter from the exploding planet that is Ego. The Ravager sacrifices himself for Peter by giving him his space suit as the planet crumbles. Yondu tells Peter, "[Ego] may have been your father, but he ain't your daddy." As the man who raised Peter, Yondu acknowledges that he truly loved the half-human like a son.

Yondu dies, cupping Peter's face in his hands while Peter struggles to remove his space suit to save his dad. Good god, if you don't dissolve into a puddle of tears during this scene, your heart might actually be the cold vacuum of space. 

Early in the film, the audience learns that Rocket and Peter are struggling with their friendship because they're both arrogant. Rocket struggles to connect with others, pushing them away if they get too close. 

During Yondu's funeral, the Ravagers who once exiled the blue man pay their respects, which Rocket internalizes and says, "They came back, even though he was mean, and yelled at them, and stole batteries he didn't need." The last transgression is actually Rocket's very own mistake, which Peter understands and responds with, "Of course they [came back]." This moment of reconciliation is all the more touching for its subtlety. James Gunn is truly a wizard of love. 

You'd think that the words "baby" and "near death experience" being in the same sentence would be enough to convey the pain of this scene, but somehow, it's not. You cannot know the hurt of this moment until you watch it with your own eyes.

As Groot is trying to place the bomb on Ego's core, there's a dark moment where things look real grim for the Guardians. Groot is running through a tunnel when the sentient walls of Ego begin to close in and crush him. The baby tree screams in abject terror as a single tear rolls down his cheek. If, at this moment, you stand up and scream, "Stop this! Stop this now!" you will likely be carried out of the theater as a hero. 

Drax has a number of touching moments with Mantis. In the beginning of their friendship, there are lots of funny scenes where he tells her she's objectively hideous. But during Yondu's funeral, as they watch the fireworks, Mantis says, "They're beautiful." Drax agrees, and tells her she's beautiful as well. It's one of those moments where your throat catches. And then with pristine comedic timing, Drax adds, "On the inside." Your sappy tears immediately transform to tears of laughter. It's just magic. 

In GotG 2, Nebula's redemption arc really starts to come into clarity. She is actually one of the most sympathetic characters in the movie. By the end, the lifelong tension between her and her sister, Gamora, melts away as they embrace. At this point, you've already experienced so much emotion that you're crying and hiccuping at the same time. It's okay. It's totally natural. It just means your heart is working. 

While you're still reeling from Yondu's earth-shattering death scene, you'll find yourself in the midst of Yondu's funeral. As his body is cremated by enrapturing rainbow-colored flames, the Ravager fleet that had exiled him comes to pay their respects with a dazzling fireworks show in space. In that moment, your body will be stricken dumb, paralyzed by the sheer volume of hormones exploding within.