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Which are the best 18 heart-touching movies that make me so emotional?

Sad movies or tears affect our thoughts and feelings more than other types of movies. As a source of entertainment, they make us feel happier and more alive. Every time we face a loss or failure in life, we become wiser and stronger than that. We can learn not only from our loss but also from the pain and suffering of other people. Sad movies make us aware of the pain of others and thus increase our knowledge. 

As a lover of sad movies, here is a list of 18 movies that touched my heart and blew my mind.

18. Life is Beautiful (1997)

"Life Is Beautiful" (1997) is an Italian Comedy-Drama Movie. The film is based on a Jewish father and his family surrounded by Nazi death camps. Living in a hostile environment, he uses humor to protect his young son from the harsh realities of war.

a family pic in which a couple and a kid is there in Life is Beautiful (1997), sad movies on netflix
sad movies on Netflix

Why should you watch this movie?

One of the best movies ever, this is one of those films that will leave an indelible impression on you. After watching it, I found that it had less to do with the Holocaust and more to do with human emotions and the beautiful relationship between a father and his son.

One-Person Review: One of the most beautifully written masterpieces ever, "Life Is Beautiful" depicts the bonds of love between a young couple and the love of a father who triumphs over Hitler's hatred.

The comedy is of an older genre, but one that I can appreciate and enjoy; the kind of comedy I loved.

 

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17. Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" is a 2009 American Drama Movie based on the 1987 Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari. "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" is based on the true story of an Akita who was so devoted to his master that he waited for him at the Tokyo train station every day. After the man, a Japanese college professor, died in 1925, the dog remained in his place for nine years until his death.

a dog is there in Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009), sad movies of all time
sad movies of all time

This amazing drama film is based on young Ronnie who tells his classmates that his protagonist is a dog named "Hachi". Ronnie, with the help of his fellow students, tells the remarkable story of his friendship with his grandfather's dog.

Honest review of one person:

This film made me very emotional. The dogs are so loyal that Hachi was waiting for his master at Shibuya station which made me very proud and sad. Many people have dogs but they do not take care of them still they are very loyal. The film introduces us to a real Akita dog named Hachiko who waits for his master at the station even after his owner's death. Hachiko is no more with us today but he will still be in our hearts. Wherever he is, hope he will be at peace. I will name my puppy Hachiko. A big salute to Hachiko!!!

 

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16. The Green Mile (1999)

"The Green Mile" an American Fantasy Drama Movie was released in 1999. The Green Mile is a fantasy film based on the novel by Stephen King. It tells the story of death row overseer Paul Edgecombe's encounter with John Coffey, an unusual inmate who exhibits indescribable healing and empathy abilities.

a movie poster of The Green Mile (1999), best sad movies
best sad movies

One person reviewed this film:

I expected this film to be a typical horror film like other Stephen King adaptations, but in my opinion, this film was completely different. This movie plays with your emotions. You laugh, cry, and have a feeling that cannot be expressed in words. This movie is by far the best movie I have ever seen. This movie had everything; A wonderful story, heart-warming emotions, amazing acting, and overall an unforgettable drama. The film is 3 hours long but you don't even realize it. I guarantee that this film will leave a lasting impression on you.

15. The Pianist (2002)

"The Pianist" is a 2002 Biographical War Drama Film. During WWII, acclaimed Polish composer Wadysaw faces various struggles as he loses touch with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw to survive.

a movie scene of The Pianist (2002), best emotional movies
best emotional movies

One person reviewed this film:

I can't think of many films that I would think of to rate this highly.

For a 2-hour film, this is easily one of the most enjoyable watches that you can watch over and over and still be in awe of what you are watching. The brutality of the Nazis is well highlighted to the point that it makes you feel uncomfortable even to watch some of the scenes (those who have seen it probably know right away). The Nazis were brutal, their brutality knew no bounds during this era and I believe this film is a great representation of that.

14. Atonement (2007)

"Atonement" is a 2007 Romantic War Drama Film. The film reveals that, in real life, Robbie dies of septicemia while awaiting evacuation in Dunkirk, and Cecilia dies a few months later in the Balham tube station bombing. So, in his book Brioni decides to reunite the couple, to make up for the happiness they had while they were still alive.

a couple is there near sea in Atonement (2007), saddest movies on netflix
saddest movies on Netflix

One person reviewed this film:

I love this movie. It's everything I love about movies. Brings the war to life in my eyes. The ending is excellent. Bowled over and didn't see it coming. The whole movie surprised me. They all play well in the movie, never a big fan of Keira Knightley but think differently about her now. And Saoirse Ronan as the young girl, really well done. And just love James McAvoy. Another surprise was seeing Benedict Cumberbatch! Recommend anyone to watch this because I thought it was very different from what it was and I was very happy when I saw it

13. Call Me by Your Name (2017)

"Call Me By Your Name" (2017) is a Romantic Drama Film. The expression "call me by your name" appears to be a newer expression suitable for use among gay men. It's a way of letting a person know whether what they're saying online or offline sounds gay. Online, the proverb is the subject of Internet memes surrounding the film of the same title.

a boy is standing near window and a girl is on cycle in Call Me by Your Name (2017) sad romance movies on netflix
sad romance movies on Netflix

One person reviewed this film:

If you are looking for a great movie to watch, this is it!! I hadn't heard of this movie until I was scrolling through TikTok with the title "Best Romance Movies to Watch" and call me by your name on the list.  I would recommend this movie to anyone but be careful, you may cry at times and not be able to move on as I did. But that's okay, this movie gives me hope that I'll experience my first true love like Elio did in that fierce summer.

 

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12. Ikiru (1952)

"Ikiru" (1952) is a Japanese Drama Film. The word "Ikiru" translates to "to live" and, sometimes in a state of despair, Mr. Watanabe is determined to complete at least one worthwhile task before dying.

a person is on swing in Ikiru (1952), sad movies to watch
sad movies to watch

In this film, a heart-warming masterpiece that can inspire self-reflection, and even drastically change every viewer's lifestyle, the beautiful Ikiru ranks among the greatest life-affirming motion pictures of all time. 

One person reviewed this film:

I must say this is the best movie I have seen in world cinema. Even after watching it for more than a year, I can't forget the characters and the scenes. My salute to the writers who write such gems. Takeshi Shimura played the protagonist.
I have noticed that people credit Kurosawa as the best filmmaker in the world for no reason. He was a true genius. He holds you together for more than two hours in such a poignant story.
If you don't get teary-eyed watching it, you're human.

11. Schindler's List (1993)

"Schindler's List" (1993) is an American Epic Historical Drama Movie. This movie is based on a Non-Fictional Novel by Thomas Keneally (Australian novelist) - "Schindler's Ark". In this film, industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) arrives in Krakow in 1939, ready to make his fortune from the just-started World War II. Having joined the Nazi Party primarily for political gain, he works with Jewish workers in his factory for similarly practical reasons. When the SS begins exterminating the Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler arranges to protect his workers to keep his factory running, but soon realizes that by doing so he is also saving innocent lives.

a movie scene in black-white in Schindler's List (1993), most emotional movies
most emotional movies

I have a Question. Why is Schindler's List 18+?
In this film, there Arbitrary killings and mass murders occur, Nazi commanders compare Jews to rats, children are being killed, and there are scenes of shocking, horrific violence. There are many scenes of nudity and also a lot of smoking and drinking. In two of them, a woman is naked in bed and sexual positions above the waist.

One person reviewed this movie:

The film was equally real in defining the horrors of the living and dying of Jewish people not only in Nazi Germany but also in Poland and other places! Steven Spielberg is not only one of the best filmmakers when it comes to researching this particular topic in-depth, but when I saw this movie I was deeply impressed by the true story of Oscar Schindler and that being of German origin made it all. How did he do anything that could have saved the lives of as many Jewish people as possible? Stop the 100% destruction of the Jewish people by Adolf Hitler, a lunatic infected with syphilis! Very accurate movie! My salute to Mr. Spielberg!!

10. Manchester by the Sea (2016)

"Manchester by the Sea" (2016) is an American Psychological Drama Movie. Although Manchester by the Sea is a very quiet film, it turns out to be a very powerful film. I won't say much about the plot because I don't want to give anything away but it's a deep and emotional gem with a very good story as well as some gorgeous and emotionally charged performances.

a couple is in Manchester by the Sea (2016), emotional movies on netflix
emotional movies on Netflix

Is it based on a true story?

Although Kenneth Lonergan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter, and director of Manchester by the Sea, has spoken at length about his long process of writing the script, filled with inspiration and grief, he has never said the film is based on a true story.

One person reviewed this movie:

I felt many emotions while watching this film. I laughed at times, felt hopeful at times, and cried at times. Emotionally underdeveloped Casey Affleck plays the overwhelming role of a father who can't recover from a heinous mistake that led to the death of his children and his divorce. It's a great film about two people tracing their tough times together.

9. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

"Brokeback Mountain" (2005) is an American Neo-Western Romantic Drama Movie. Brokeback Mountain is highly regarded because it features two main characters: Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who do not have the flamboyant personalities usually associated with homosexuality.

two men are doing camp fire in Brokeback Mountain (2005), emotional romantic movies
emotional romantic movies

The tragic story of "Brokeback Mountain" is not based on true events, but a short story of Brokeback Mountain. This short story by Anne Proulx first appeared in The New Yorker in 1997.

One person reviewed this movie:

8. Come and See (1985)

"Come and See" (1985) is a Soviet anti-war film. The film is considered one of the greatest anti-war films of all time, and with the most historically accurate depictions of crimes on the Eastern Front.

a girl and a boy is looking at sky in Come and See (1985) movies on netflix that make you cry
movies on Netflix that make you cry

One person reviewed this film:

It is the most brutal, devastating, and saddest movie of all time. I saw the restored version, and I have to admit that it is beautiful to look at while still haunting at the same time. The story is simple, like any other war story we have already seen, but the way it is presented to us is very different. It's an important film that I think everyone should get a chance to teach you to understand what war means. If more people could see it, fewer people might have waged a war.

 

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7. Paris, Texas (1984)

"Paris, Texas" (1984) is a road movie. Travis Henderson is a neurotic man wandering the desert with no idea who he is. When a stranger approaches his brother Walt, Travis strangely reconciles with his brother. Travis has been missing for years and his presence upsets Walt and his family, including Travis's son Hunter.

a man is driving and a girl is sitting near him in Paris, Texas (1984), sad movies on hulu
sad movies on HULU

One person reviewed this film:

'Paris, Texas is one of the best art houses out there. This is two and a half-hour slow-moving film that took my eyes off the screen. How can a film hit the hardest with so many warm and tender feelings? The film starts slowly, and soon the heroine-like rushes into your vein and wows you with it on the evergreen dry streets of Western America.
The film is long and slow-paced, so it certainly won't be for everyone, but, not every film is for everyone.

6. Spirited Away (2001)

"Spirited Away" (2001) is a Japanese Animated Fantasy Movie. In this film, ten-year-old Chihiro and his parents end up in an abandoned amusement park inhabited by supernatural beings. Soon, he learns that he must work to free his parents who have turned into pigs.

two anime are there in which one of them is sharing her food in Spirited Away (2001), movies that will make you cry on netflix
movies that will make you cry on Netflix

Is 'Spirited Away' Based On A True Story?

With its fantasy characters and otherworldly setting, the film is far from reality, but according to a tweet that went viral in Japan in 2020, there are parallel parallels to a real-life story that suggests it may have been the inspiration for the film.

One person reviewed this film:

A gem in animation, Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (2001) is a work of magic you shouldn't miss. He creates a fantastic world and makes you feel like you are moving with the character throughout the film, creating a sense of the place portrayed through time, distance, and scale.

There are countless moments where the characters are simply present and nothing significant happens during those scenes, which is kind of genius. But given the short time frame, the tension build-up in the film can escalate to a wider dimension. 

The film falls under the animation/drama genre and revolves around the themes of a child's innocence, fearlessness, and pure love.

5. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is a Japanese Animated War Tragedy Film. This movie is based on a short autobiographical story by Akiyuki Nosaka (1967) which is "Grave of the Fireflies".

a movie scene of Grave of the Fireflies (1988), very sad movies
very sad movies

This movie is based on an incident. Akiyuki Nosaka lost her younger sister to malnutrition during the war and blamed herself for her death. To make up for the loss, he wrote 1967: "Hotaru no Haka" ("A Grave of Fireflies").

Why is "Grave of the Fireflies" movie so sad?

The film is so sad because there are small moments of beauty, which make the carnage all the more heartbreaking. While "Grave of the Firefly" is punishing, it's not relentless. The film has short, beautiful interludes, which remind us that we are capable of joy and wonder even in life's most difficult moments.

 

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One person reviewed this movie:

Grave of the Fireflies is an example of an emotional masterpiece. It only resonates because it's so pure and realistic. We may have seen sibling stories before, but this movie is a gem for a reason. Not only does it make you emotional because of what it shows, but it also moves you with imagination. Although high on drama and strong characters, it may not work for those expecting a "plot" or unwilling to think during the experience. It manages to say a lot without saying too much directly, and it only works because of the two characters' innocence, purity, and love for each other.

4. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

"Requiem for a Dream" (2000) is an American Psychological Drama Movie. The film is about Sarah Goldfarb who is addicted to amphetamine, Tyrone Love, Marion Silver, and Harry Goldfarb are all addicted to heroin. These characters' lives completely change as they progress into an addiction.

a couple is laying in Requiem for a Dream (2000) top sad movies
top sad movies

One person reviewed this film:

After watching this movie it became one of my favorite movies. One of the best, mind-blowing psychological thrillers I've ever seen.
Main story:
The film is an anthology film based on 4 different interconnected stories. But the main characters of those 4 stories are in depression at the end. This film is divided into 3 chapters.
Heat: In this chapter, everything returns to normal. There are great times in everyone's life.
FALL: In part, all the characters in this movie make mistakes as to why they're in a depression. The director beautifully portrayed his mental states
Winter: Due to the state of depression, all the characters in these films have a very sad ending.
So this is the main story. But the screenplay and cinematography of this film are excellent. I liked this film. This is another must-see masterpiece

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) is an American Science Fiction Romantic Drama Movie. This film, "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" shows us that memories are no files to delete. They are much more than simple thoughts stored in the mind because they shape the core of the self. People need both good and bad to learn and grow.

a girl is hugging a boy in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), saddest movies 2021
saddest movies 2022

One person reviewed this film:

This is one of those movies that has put a lot of thoughts in your mind. Because sometimes we also find ourselves in such situations. I am deeply overwhelmed and equally devastated. There are also some great quotes, about love as a whole, in every part of it, from the sweet to the sour truth of the relationship. I can't describe how authentic it feels to travel in one's story.

2. Blue Valentine (2010)

"Blue Valentines" (2010) is an American Romantic Drama Film. Blue Valentine has a rare emotional intensity and in this film, there's no way to prepare for her final frames, they're inevitable as they are. Not only a picture of the dissolution of the marriage but above all of the love that had once excited her.

a couple is kissing each other in Blue Valentine (2010), romance movies make you cry
romance movies make you cry

One person reviewed this film:

I believe the film is about the journey of love. Not about who is right or wrong.

  • At first, it's all green and shiny, but when it gets old you get bored and frustrated.

Because people change, desires change, and bodies change.
I believe it happened when two different agenda people got together with an unplanned future.

  • It was true that Dean had some alcohol problems, but he was not a bad father (knowing that the child is not his). He tried to be a good husband. (Though their romance ends in a "sex motel") But somewhere Cindy is in dire need. She always wanted something else but didn't know what it was.

1. Pieces of a Woman (2020)

"Peace of a Woman" (2020) is a Drama film. This wonderful film is based on A Heart-breaking Home Birth which follows a woman dealing with a deep emotional collapse, separated from her partner and family by a grieving gap.

a lady is crying in a bathtub in Pieces of a Woman (2020), sad films on netflix
sad films on Netflix

One person reviewed this film:

The film is full of raw emotion and symbolism that will make your eyes water. Many people are criticizing the couple's relationship deteriorating too quickly after the baby's death (suggesting that they loved each other and that the breakup of their relationship was unrealistic). I think these people haven't experienced grief and have seen how it can poison even the strongest love. It has a similar feel to Marriage Story as it is painfully realistic and difficult for many to watch. If you've had your own miscarriage experience, this might not be a good movie for you. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who has the stomach for it. This is a beautiful story of the trauma many women have experienced.

 

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The list of the #1 saddest movie!

  • Life is Beautiful (1997)
  • Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
  • The Green Mile (1999)
  • The Pianist (2002)
  • Atonement (2007)
  • Call Me By Your Name (2017)
  • Ikiru (1952)
  • Schindler's List (1993)
  • Manchester by the Sea (2016)
  • Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  • Come and See (1985)
  • Paris, Texas (1984)
  • Spirited Away (2001)
  • Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
  • Requiem for a Dream (2000)
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  • Blue Valentine (2010)
  • Pieces of a Woman (2020)

Did you know these amazing FAQs?

Ques: Is it good to cry sometimes?

Ans: Research has determined that similar to being self-soothing, dropping emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. Those chemical substances make humans experience good and can lessen each bodily and emotional ache. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and sell a sense of properly being.

Ques: Is Hachi the saddest movie ever?

Ans: Most emotional movie ever
A very sad story but very well made. Some ideas of Hachi's way of looking at things and her emotion were very easily visible from her face and the way the film was played with so many lovely characters.

Ques: Which movie has had the most deaths?

Ans: Titanic (1997) - 307 deaths
James Cameron's box-office-breaking, Oscar-winning Titanic depicts one of the biggest disasters of the 20th century, and as such, it appropriately has the most on-screen deaths of any film of that genre. 

Ques: Why do movies make you cry?

Ans: Crying in movies is a sign that oxytocin is triggered by relationships you feel because of distorted social experiences. The story of the film grabs your attention and the emotions are stirred up.

Ques: Why is crying healthy?

Ans: Researchers have mounted that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, additionally referred to as endorphins.

Ques: Why do I like sad movies?

Ans: The results suggest that people enjoy tragic films through two mediators: realism, and participation. According to the authors, 'sadness amplifies perceived reality and heightens a sense of participation, prompting audiences to enjoy the tragic film'.