Prepare the tissues, grab a box of Kleenex, and dim the lights, because we’re diving into a cinematic realm guaranteed to evoke tears and unleash a torrent of emotions.
This list curates 15 movies that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you both deeply affected and strangely cathartic.
MY LIFE
My Life is a 1993 movie starring Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman. It is a story about a terminally ill man preparing for his death. If you watch it even once, it will make you bawl so much.
It stars Michael Keaton, who is dying and ‘finds out that he has kidney cancer that will leave him dead within months. He sets out to videotape his life’s acquired wisdom for his child and ends up on a voyage of self-discovery and reconciliation.
WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS
Where The Red Fern Grows stars James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, and Jack Ging. It is about a young boy’s quest for his red-bone hound hunting dogs. While it may not make you cry, it will fill your heart with sorrow.
“I remember watching that movie when I was younger. It did not necessarily make me cry, but my insides hurt for days after that. Felt like my heart was stabbed with a dagger,” a movie enthusiast shares.
ABOUT TIME
About Time is a story about Tim, who, at the age of 21, discovers that he can travel in time and make changes in the future and past. He decides to improve the world by getting a girlfriend, but it isn’t easy.
A fun fact about the movie – despite being set in England, none of the actors are English.
“I watched this movie around the time my grandmother was passing away. This movie made me rain buckets out of my eyes. Still can’t rewatch to this day from fear of uncontrollably leaking.” a user asked.
THE GREEN MILE
Green Miles is one of my favorite movies starring Tom Hanks. It is set in a Southern jail, where giant John possesses weird power to heal people’s illnesses. When the lead guard recognizes his gift, he tries to save him from the execution.
While the storyline doesn’t reflect the emotions, it is a movie that will make you drop a tear.
“The only movie to make me nearly uncontrollably cry,” said one.
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES
While most animated movies are fun to watch, this one is emotional. It is the story of a young boy and his little sister struggling to survive World War II in Japan.
“Grave of the Fireflies. Don’t let the fact that it’s animated. If you’re empathetic at all, have some tissues nearby.” said one.
HACHIKO
This is a touching movie about a dog named Ba Tong and how he waits for his owner to return for over 10 years even after the owner dies.
“This movie crushed my spirit into smithereens. I was sobbing on and off for hours afterward and yelling at my partner for putting me through that.” says one.
BIG FISH
It is a story about a frustrated son who keeps trying to distinguish fact from fiction in his dying father’s life. For many, it reminds them of their own parents.
“I love this movie, but I never watch it because it makes me bawl,” one added.
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
This isn’t a movie but a documentary by a friend who memorializes his friend’s murder when his friend’s ex-girlfriend (also arrested as a suspect) announces she is expecting his son.
“Dear Zachary isn’t even sad. It’s beyond sad; it’s soul-crushing and deflating and will legitimately ruin your entire month. I saw it ten years ago and have wanted to rewatch it, but I refuse to put myself through that again. I don’t even recommend it to people unless I hate them.” says one.
PADDINGTON 2
Paddington 2 is an animated movie about Paddington, who picks up various odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a good present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday. However, the gift gets stolen, and the movie’s last scenes will leave you sobbing.
Did you know that Paddington’s author Michael Bond died on the last day of filming? It is just as sad as the movie.
WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
Unlike any other movie, this is focused on the afterlife. In the movie, Chris dies in an accident and goes to heaven only to find that his wife also killed herself out of grief. He then embarks on a journey to reunite with her.
“This movie makes me ugly cry from the opening 5 minutes on.”
INTERSTELLAR
While the movie doesn’t make us cry, many netizens think otherwise. The story is based on a time when Earth became inhabitable. A farmer and ex-NASA pilot then search for new planets for humans.
“Interstellar, but only since I had a daughter. Now it wrecks me every time.”
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
The movie is based on a preteen’s life. Jess has a difficult teen life and meets her new neighbor Leslie. Together they imagine a fantasy world Terabithia where they can be superheroes or feral creatures. However, tragedy strikes and Jess has to adjust to the change.
“Bridge to Terabithia. It’ll get you in the end. Ugly cried in the theaters, and I had read the book, so I knew what would happen.” said one.
MY GIRL
The story is about an 11-year-old whose life turns upside down after her dad hires a new receptionist. It may sound ordinary, the movie will break your heart.
“My Girl. If that doesn’t make you cry, your heart is made of stone.” says one.
COCO
It is a heart-touching story of an aspiring musician, Miguel. He confronts his family’s ancestral ban on music, and when he enters the land of the dead to find his great-great-grandfather, he finds that he is a legendary singer. He then sets off to discover the real reasons.
“Coco. My Grandma died months before the movie came out, and the end made me cry so hard I got annoyed. Like audible crying.” says one.
THE FAREWELL
In this movie, a Chinese family learns their beloved grandmother’s is diagnosed with terminal illness, and her time is precious. They decide to celebrate her life with a joyous gathering disguised as a wedding, ensuring her final days are filled with love and laughter.
“The Farewell. I went to a minimal showing, but everyone in the theater sobbed like a baby by the end. It is rated 97% on rotten tomatoes. I still think about it all the time. Some of the final scenes were so relatable; I was emotionally destroyed but in a good way.”
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This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.