Stand by Me (1986)
The only entry on the list that stands a chance of rivalling ET in the tear-jerking stakes, Rob Reiner's drama follows four boys who set out on a journey to find the body of a missing child. The untimely death of young star River Phoenix lends a darker shade of poignancy to the film's concluding scenes, but it's nonetheless a thoroughly good-hearted and emotionally resonant coming-of-age story.