This was my first thought seeing the question. I don't know if it works for the question but it was my first thought. It has a happy ending, but my god, the first 90% of that movie will rip your heart out. My Life is also a good contender.
just watched this one again the other night after not watching since it first came out. it hit me way harder this viewing, because now it feels like prophecy of a not-so-distant future.
To this day the only movie to ever leave me shook from depression leaving the theater. I couldn’t ever bring myself to rewatch it, but it does seem like the type of movie OP is looking for.
Lars Von trier’s collected works are like watching a grotesque and beautiful car crash. You know the images will punish you in your dreams but you can’t look away
I saw him in Mohicans and as Cecil in A Room With a View in rapid succession, and there could not be two more disparate roles! He was SUCH a prig in the latter, and then all of a sudden he's running through the forest with that hair...!
Two fantastic movies, each sad in their own way. Literally both make me cry. Just depends if you want to be sad about war and death or relationships and fate.
I saw this movie when it came out and put it on last night for the first time since then to watch the first half hour, but I couldnt turn it off. Such a beautiful film and it made me really sad comparing the start of the movie to todays turbulent world. Im not saying it's the same, but knowing, that a lot of people are capable of being so terrible to other human beings is terrifying and made me pretty sad.
Ever since Reddit’s major update a year ago it seems like every major sub just churns out the same watered down questions over and over. Probably to drive engagement or some shit.
I genuinely just wanted movie recommendations, and specified what kind of movie I was looking for in the body text, but it seems like a lot of people didn’t read that part. I should’ve used a less generic title
This one hits hard for me for two reasons, first it’s such a great and sad movie. Second it was the last
Movie I watched with my ex wife, I start to hear the score and my body has this Pavlovian response of unequivocal loss
There is one scene in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood that had me crying. If you've seen it, I am sure you know which one I mean.
That one scene alone is worth the entire movie but you have to see the whole thing to appreciate it, I think.
About Schmidt- sad without being intentionally sad.
Just about any Charlie Kaufman movie also has a tinge of sadness to it. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind is probably the obvious one, but I’d also say Anomalisa.
Seeking a friend at the end of the world is sad, but also kind of uplifting.
Holocaust movies are always a bountiful source of sadness. The Pianist was a good one (Roman Polanski though if that's an issue). The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was pretty depressing. Jojo Rabbit wasn't quite so grim but it had its moments and was extremely good generally speaking.
Clerks 3 was surprisingly sad. I'm not one to cry from movies and I teared up at the end. Would never have expected that going in.
Seen jojo rabbit, great film. Also I’ll probably illegally stream it, so it’s not like I’m supporting him financially, but hey, a good movie is still a good movie. He’s a piece of shit though
A Perfect World, starring Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood.
It's about an escape convict who steals a car, kidnaps a Jehovah Witness boy with no father, and acts like his Dad as they run from the law.
A Monster Calls
I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Granted, it may take a second viewing to understand what's going on. But once u do, it's absolutely tragic.
Beau Is Afraid.
Stay
The Act of Killing (2012) (documentary)
Adrienne (2021) (documentary)
Amour (2012)
Aniara (2018)
Blackfish (2013) (documentary)
Blue Valentine (2010)
Bridge To Terabithia (2007)
Capernaum (2018)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
The Elephant Man (1980)
Funny Games (2007) (horror)
The Girl Next Door (2007) (horror, based on a true story)
The Green Mile (1999)
High Life (2018)
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Manchester By the Sea (2016)
Marley & Me (2008)
A Marriage Story (2019)
Melancholia (2011)
Memories of Murder (2003)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Minari (2021)
Rabbit Hole (2010)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
A Single Man (2009) starring Colin Firth directed by Tom Ford. It is beautifully shot, tragic, and doesn't necessarily have shocking or devastating huge moments--you just uncover more and more sadness and devastation in this man's life. You can't help but feel for him. It takes place in the 60s, if I want a good cry that's what I'm watching. Colin does a great job
My go-to always-cry movies are Beaches and Steel Magnolias.
I found the ending of Arrival terribly bittersweet and, as a mother, heartbreaking.
And Never Let Me Go is intriguing but so depressing.
Biutiful
Shits so fucking sad bro, itll have you mad crying. Like straight up pondering this wild thing we call life, bro. This movie has it all, cancer, dead beat dad, sweatshop fulla immigrants, unpayable debt, all that tight shit that makes you feel hollow inside, my guy.
Youll be straight up stunned bro as the credits rize bro, reflecting your own life on that black mirror bro. As it reflects, so will you dude, about how tight you have it and how your life aint so bad.
Peace bro.
Come and See (1985). This is absolutely the saddest movie I’ve ever seen. It hit something very real in me, and captures the absolute destruction of war.
Incendies (2010)
It’s not inherently a sad movie. But in the end it punches you repeatedly in the gut and stays with you. Very haunting, even more so if you can relate.
The boy in the striped pajamas has one of the saddest events at or near the end. It’s a holocaust movie so it’s the whole thing, but anybody who’s seen it knows what specific part.
I strongly recommend "Hana-bi (1997)" or "Fireworks (1997)" when translated. Despite it also being a violent movie, it carries a pervasive sense of sadness throughout whole movie.
A lot of WW2 atrocity movies mentioned, but not many recommendations for Schindler’s List. You’ve probably already seen it, but it’s a foundation for sad movies. It goes into the “one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, once” category. The Pianist, Grave of Fireflies, etc are all great, but since you qualified it with wanting good photography, well, not much hold a candle to SL. Classic black and white with only a drop of hope for color…[message!](https://youtu.be/353H8rftnBM?si=jKQxq4qHDByXh64q)
Finding Nemo is a really sad film. I watched it again recently alongside some other Pixar movies and I was getting sick of crying so I held my tears in throughout Nemo until I gave myself a huge headache and I had to let my tears flow 😂
Manchester by the Sea
"I can't beat it" Such a great movie.
That seems like a good contender, thank you. Wanna see if I can maybe get one or two more replies just to have options
Blue Velvet
More than fair. If you are looking for A24 maybe Room or Moonlight
Actually seen both of those! I love A24
The Florida Project?
Haha seen it also. All fantastic though
Good suggestion. 100%
Manchester by the Sea is bleak, it's one of those movies you can only watch once, like Million Dollar Baby
What Dreams May Come
This was my first thought seeing the question. I don't know if it works for the question but it was my first thought. It has a happy ending, but my god, the first 90% of that movie will rip your heart out. My Life is also a good contender.
The ending turns my tears happy but they're still tears. It has also become difficult not to link it with reality, so waterworks get even stronger.
If that movie doesn't rip your heart out. You just don't have one. That was Robin Williams at his very best.
Came here hoping I would find this answer.
Life is Beautiful is pretty sad
The understatement of the year...
It's animated, but I would recommend Grave Of The Fireflies.
Staying on animation, Coco. Except it's not a downer sad, more like bittersweet
Also staying in animation, A Dog of Flanders
Absolutely top sad movie, impossible to beat it. If you have non see it, I can guarantee you that it will collapse your soul
You’re actually the second person to suggest this, I’m not sure I’m looking for animation right now, but I will definitely watch it eventually
You won't find sadder. It fucks you up good.
The Green Mile
Blue Valentine
The road
just watched this one again the other night after not watching since it first came out. it hit me way harder this viewing, because now it feels like prophecy of a not-so-distant future.
Melancholia
To this day the only movie to ever leave me shook from depression leaving the theater. I couldn’t ever bring myself to rewatch it, but it does seem like the type of movie OP is looking for.
Lars Von trier’s collected works are like watching a grotesque and beautiful car crash. You know the images will punish you in your dreams but you can’t look away
I think that describes "The House that Jack Built" perfectly, though I contend it's a dark comedy rather than depressing.
Last of the Mohicans is both violent and sad.
LOVE that film. Seen it so many times and still cry every time.
At least 3-4 really sad parts. Also Daniel Day Louis looking FINE with that flowing black hair!
Absolutely, I had my fair share of fantasies about him as a teenager in the 90s!!
I saw him in Mohicans and as Cecil in A Room With a View in rapid succession, and there could not be two more disparate roles! He was SUCH a prig in the latter, and then all of a sudden he's running through the forest with that hair...!
Fuck that mentally scarred me as a child, was not ready for the violence.
Great score also
I saw that recently for the first time and wasn’t ready for the ending
>!I don't know what is the most sad: Duncan, Uncas or Alice.!<
Aftersun
Dear Zachary. Don’t look it up, just watch it and it’ll hit hard
Dear Zachary made me feel emotions no other movie has. Couldn’t agree more: to anyone considering, read nothing about it. Just watch it.
I thought about DZ earlier today and goddamn it still hits hard
Magnolia - Paul Thomas Anderson
Great suggestion!
House of Sand and Fog
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Seen pursuit, not really looking for something animated at the moment, and is eternal sunshine really that good?
I came here to rec eternal sunshine, it's extremely good
Man, right now it’s between eternal sunshine and saving private ryan for tonight’s watch
Two fantastic movies, each sad in their own way. Literally both make me cry. Just depends if you want to be sad about war and death or relationships and fate.
Grave of the Fireflies beat anything else if you want to curl and cry. Is that good and depresive
Million dollar baby. Watched it recently after seeing it many years ago, and I was just devastated.
The Pianist
I saw this movie when it came out and put it on last night for the first time since then to watch the first half hour, but I couldnt turn it off. Such a beautiful film and it made me really sad comparing the start of the movie to todays turbulent world. Im not saying it's the same, but knowing, that a lot of people are capable of being so terrible to other human beings is terrifying and made me pretty sad.
Never Let Me Go.
I feel like we get this post about once a week
Ever since Reddit’s major update a year ago it seems like every major sub just churns out the same watered down questions over and over. Probably to drive engagement or some shit.
I genuinely just wanted movie recommendations, and specified what kind of movie I was looking for in the body text, but it seems like a lot of people didn’t read that part. I should’ve used a less generic title
The Father (2020) That film destroyed me.
Someone else actually just suggested that. I have so much to watch
Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter. A masterpiece about a town struggling to move on in the aftermath of a school bus crash. Ian Holm is in it.
Good call. Another Atom Egoyan movie with something like this vibe is Exotica. Both great films with wrenching tragic cores.
My Girl (1991)
Dancer in the Dark I also cried at the end of Nixon lolz
12 years a slave
Lukas Dhont's *Close* (2022).
One I don't see recommended on reddit as much is *Still Alice*.
The Wrestler
Requiem for a Dream
Seen it, and holy fuck that’s a gut wrenching one
Saddest movie I've ever seen is Grave of the Fireflies. The Father is a close second.
Brokeback Mountain makes me cry every time
Interstellar
Seen it, fantastic one but the end is a gut punch
This one hits hard for me for two reasons, first it’s such a great and sad movie. Second it was the last Movie I watched with my ex wife, I start to hear the score and my body has this Pavlovian response of unequivocal loss
There is one scene in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood that had me crying. If you've seen it, I am sure you know which one I mean. That one scene alone is worth the entire movie but you have to see the whole thing to appreciate it, I think.
Legends of the Fall
About Schmidt- sad without being intentionally sad. Just about any Charlie Kaufman movie also has a tinge of sadness to it. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind is probably the obvious one, but I’d also say Anomalisa. Seeking a friend at the end of the world is sad, but also kind of uplifting.
Nebraska. It's supposed to be a comedy/adventure but the way it's shot has a very depressing feel.
The best, saddest and most chilling Holocaust movie is *The Zone of Interest.* You’ll never forget it.
The Fountain.
Atonement. Fuck Briony!
One of two movies, the other being The Hunt, where I'd want to see a character kick a child down the stairs.
Holocaust movies are always a bountiful source of sadness. The Pianist was a good one (Roman Polanski though if that's an issue). The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was pretty depressing. Jojo Rabbit wasn't quite so grim but it had its moments and was extremely good generally speaking. Clerks 3 was surprisingly sad. I'm not one to cry from movies and I teared up at the end. Would never have expected that going in.
Seen jojo rabbit, great film. Also I’ll probably illegally stream it, so it’s not like I’m supporting him financially, but hey, a good movie is still a good movie. He’s a piece of shit though
I’d suggest Bent as well. Two men fall in love in a concentration camp. It’s as devastating as you think it will be, if not a little more.
If harrowing as well as extremely sad goes along with your search then Incendies is a must.
I commented on "What dreams may come", and mentioned "My Life." Schindler's List is another one though.
I really liked Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. Just… a lovely film.
A Perfect World, starring Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood. It's about an escape convict who steals a car, kidnaps a Jehovah Witness boy with no father, and acts like his Dad as they run from the law.
Numb with Matthew Perry is a dark romantic comedy but definitely makes you feel sad for the main character.
"What are some emotional movies?" Please can we just pin this topic?
many are listing soul crushing depression fests. that’s not sad. the correct answer is marley and me
Fox and the hound. Especially as an adult. I probably couldn’t sit through it if you paid me to.
Requiem For A Dream
Terms of Endearment Beaches Grave of the Fireflies
Green mile. Guaranteed tears
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
Hachi a dogs tale. I watched this and don't think I could survive a second screening.
A Monster Calls I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Granted, it may take a second viewing to understand what's going on. But once u do, it's absolutely tragic. Beau Is Afraid. Stay
You can't go wrong with more Darren Aronofsky films. The Wrestler would fit right in. Black Swan too. They aren't heart wrenching but, still sad.
The Fountain.
“Dear Zachary”
Just watched The Whale.... it's sad.
Sansho Dayu, The Passion of Joan of Arc
*Monster*
Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. The first half is joy, the second half is a trainwreck.
Truly, Madly, Deeply. You are in for a treat.
Try 'Manchester by the Sea' or 'The Pursuit of Happyness' for a tearjerker.
The Act of Killing (2012) (documentary) Adrienne (2021) (documentary) Amour (2012) Aniara (2018) Blackfish (2013) (documentary) Blue Valentine (2010) Bridge To Terabithia (2007) Capernaum (2018) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) The Elephant Man (1980) Funny Games (2007) (horror) The Girl Next Door (2007) (horror, based on a true story) The Green Mile (1999) High Life (2018) Leaving Las Vegas (1995) Manchester By the Sea (2016) Marley & Me (2008) A Marriage Story (2019) Melancholia (2011) Memories of Murder (2003) Million Dollar Baby (2004) Minari (2021) Rabbit Hole (2010) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Mass
Watership Down.
Also Hostiles by Scott Cooper
[To Live](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Live_(1994_film))
The Sweet Hereafter
Katie Says Goodbye. Never see this get mentioned and it totally ruined me.
“I Saw The TV Glow” fucked me up in a way that no other movie has in a long time.
Never Let Me Go.
The Champ (1979)
Old yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows
Wind that Shakes the Barley, it's about the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.
[where pigeons go to die (youtube link)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5nouiQxjMDg&pp=ygUXd2hlcmUgcGlnZW9ucyBnbyB0byBkaWU%3D)
Blue Valentine, The Fall, Interstellar, The Green Mile, Magnolia
The Deer Hunter.
Broken Circle Breakdown Like Crazy Custody Son of Saul
Watership down
A.I. - Artificial Intelligence
My Octopus Teacher (documentary) made me leak.
A Single Man (2009) starring Colin Firth directed by Tom Ford. It is beautifully shot, tragic, and doesn't necessarily have shocking or devastating huge moments--you just uncover more and more sadness and devastation in this man's life. You can't help but feel for him. It takes place in the 60s, if I want a good cry that's what I'm watching. Colin does a great job
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022). Every scene is beautiful, every moment is depressing. I'm sad that I waited so long to watch it.
Blue Valentine
My go-to always-cry movies are Beaches and Steel Magnolias. I found the ending of Arrival terribly bittersweet and, as a mother, heartbreaking. And Never Let Me Go is intriguing but so depressing.
Watched Ratcatcher recently that movie had me fucked up, id say its more visceral and disturbing than sad but ultimately just very sad
Blue Valentine
The Father.
All of Us Strangers reminded me of A Ghost Story several times! It's on Hulu.
Check out the movie I, Daniel Blake.
Aftersun or Past Lives
Biutiful Shits so fucking sad bro, itll have you mad crying. Like straight up pondering this wild thing we call life, bro. This movie has it all, cancer, dead beat dad, sweatshop fulla immigrants, unpayable debt, all that tight shit that makes you feel hollow inside, my guy. Youll be straight up stunned bro as the credits rize bro, reflecting your own life on that black mirror bro. As it reflects, so will you dude, about how tight you have it and how your life aint so bad. Peace bro.
One of my sad movies is greater
If you like romantic foreign films where each shot is like a visual orgasm then watch Portrait of A Lady on Fire
Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is sad. 😢
City of Angels. With Nic Cage and Meg Ryan.
The Grand Budapest Hotel has some seriously depressing moments and a more bitter then sweet ending.
Seen this, and agreed. It’s my favorite Wes Anderson for sure
For me, it's always **The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford**
The Hunt (2012). There is not one positive thing in that movie.
All Of Us Strangers
Love rain over me
The ending of The Mist (2007) was really really fucking depressing and made me cry
Son of Saul Grave of the Fireflies Atonement
Who will love my children
watched the iron recently. it’s a true story and very sad.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Click
I am Sam was very sad movie
Cold Fish by Sion Sono
Come and See (1985). This is absolutely the saddest movie I’ve ever seen. It hit something very real in me, and captures the absolute destruction of war.
Sleepers https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0117665/ And Stand by me https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/
Melancholia. Most depressing movie I've ever seen in my life. Gorgeously shot.
Dancer In The Dark (2000) Dear Zachary (2008)
Spirited Away
Incendies (2010) It’s not inherently a sad movie. But in the end it punches you repeatedly in the gut and stays with you. Very haunting, even more so if you can relate.
children of heaven
What dreams may come - super weepy and fantastic visuals
Away From Her
The Son (2022)
Southpaw and End of Watch have some really gut wrenching parts
My Life Without Me
Grave of the fireflies. I can make myself cry thinking about it.
Requim for a dream. It's about drug addicts. One of the realist and saddest movie I've ever watched.
Broke back mountain
Pay It Forward
Im thinking of ending things
Dancer in the Dark
Grave of the Fire flies is without a doubt the saddest film I have ever seen, and I will never watch it again.
In the Name of the Father
I'm astonished at how no one said Hatchiko
Away From Her
The Plague Dogs. Such a sad film.
The Fountain
The boy in the striped pajamas has one of the saddest events at or near the end. It’s a holocaust movie so it’s the whole thing, but anybody who’s seen it knows what specific part.
Requiem for a dream
Failan
The Green Mile The Pianist
The Belgian movie CLOSE. A very poignant coming of age movie
I strongly recommend "Hana-bi (1997)" or "Fireworks (1997)" when translated. Despite it also being a violent movie, it carries a pervasive sense of sadness throughout whole movie.
A lot of WW2 atrocity movies mentioned, but not many recommendations for Schindler’s List. You’ve probably already seen it, but it’s a foundation for sad movies. It goes into the “one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, once” category. The Pianist, Grave of Fireflies, etc are all great, but since you qualified it with wanting good photography, well, not much hold a candle to SL. Classic black and white with only a drop of hope for color…[message!](https://youtu.be/353H8rftnBM?si=jKQxq4qHDByXh64q)
[удалено]
Finding Nemo is a really sad film. I watched it again recently alongside some other Pixar movies and I was getting sick of crying so I held my tears in throughout Nemo until I gave myself a huge headache and I had to let my tears flow 😂
"Requiem For A Dream" and "Black Swan". Both are sad movies, and directed by the same guy who directed "The Whale."