Anya Taylor-Joy Reveals the Movie Scene That Brings Her to Tears Every Time

Anya Taylor-Joy recently opened up about the movie scene that moves her to tears every time she watches it.

Speaking on MTV’s My Life in Soundtracks in 2020, she revealed that her favorite musical moment comes from Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film Almost Famous.

The scene she singled out features the fictional band Stillwater coming together to sing Elton John’s Tiny Dancer. Taylor-Joy admitted that she sometimes mistakenly calls the band Clearwater, but the emotional impact of the moment is clear.

“The scene in Almost Famous where Clearwater has had a fight… and they all get on the bus, and they sing ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John, and they’re all friends by the end of it. That is the perfect musical moment. It just makes me cry every time,” she said.

She also shared a personal anecdote about tracking down a copy of the soundtrack: “I was in Philadelphia earlier this year… I’d never been able to find the actual soundtrack on vinyl, or on a CD… I went to a radio station, and they burned me a copy of the CD. So now I have my own CD of the Almost Famous soundtrack. And that was really special to me.”

Almost Famous tells the semi-autobiographical story of a teenage journalist, played by Patrick Fugit, who writes for Rolling Stone magazine in the early 1970s.

He travels with the rock band Stillwater to cover his first major story. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Despite its initial underperformance at the box office, grossing $47.4 million against a $60 million budget, the film quickly earned acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Critics praised the movie for its heartfelt storytelling, memorable performances, and rich depiction of the 1970s rock scene. Roger Ebert gave it four out of four stars, calling it “funny and touching in so many different ways.”

A.O. Scott of The New York Times highlighted its charm, noting, “The movie’s real pleasures are to be found not in its story but in its profusion of funny, offbeat scenes. It’s the kind of picture that invites you to go back and savor your favorite moments like choice album cuts.”

Kate Hudson and Frances McDormand were particularly praised for their performances, earning Academy Award nominations. The soundtrack, featuring the iconic Tiny Dancer scene, also won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.

Almost Famous has since gained cult status. It is ranked among the best films of the 21st century in polls by the BBC and The New York Times, and a stage musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2022. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 91% approval rating, and Metacritic gives it a score of 90, reflecting universal acclaim.

For Taylor-Joy, the emotional power of the Tiny Dancer bus scene is a lasting memory that connects music and storytelling. Her reaction underscores why the film continues to resonate decades after its release.

What do you think of this scene and its emotional power? Share your thoughts in the comments.