10 Most Heartbreaking Sci-Fi Movie Moments

10. Thumbs Up – Terminator 2: Judgement Day

James Cameron's 1984 brainchild The Terminator proved to be a massive success for the director, and he followed it up with an even more successful sequel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

The follow-up flipped the script, seeing the titular Terminator turn from a futuristic robot hitman to a near-invincible protector reprogrammed by the future of humanity to protect young John Connor. If you've not seen it, it makes sense. Honestly.

Having the former antagonist turn hero was hard to adjust to, but over the course of T2, John's mechanised guardian becomes a placeholder for his absent father, and the relationship between the boy and the (apparently) unfeeling machine is vital to the plot.

The T-800 actually begins to show a form of computerised affection for the boy, learning at his behest to use such endearing colloquialisms as "no problemo", "hasta la vista, baby", and "chill out, d*ckwad".

This makes it all the more heartbreaking when the Terminator ultimately sacrifices himself to protect mankind's future, leaving a heartbroken young John with a simple thumbs up as he dies.

It's simple, it's poignant, and it had us collectively crying like babies.