To keep functioning as a human in a complicated world, sometimes you need to have a good cry. Often, there's no better way to let the tears flow than watching a good sad movie, or a "tearjerker," to get you to feel all the feelings.
While it might seem like putting yourself through the emotional ringer watching a sad movie, studies have shown that they remind us we're not alone, release endorphins, and even increase our pain tolerance. It's powerful to feel empathy by watching stories unfold on-screen—whether they're heartbreaking romances, moving coming-of-age stories, or a compelling drama. We rounded up a handful of films—some considered the best of all time—to watch when you feel like shedding a tear and have a tissue box nearby. Below, find the best sad movies of all time. (If you want even more weepy recommendations, check out our suggestions for the best sad romances on Netflix.)
Sad Romance Movies
'Call Me By Your Name' (2017)
Reason You'll Cry: Sometimes our first love and first heartbreak hurt the most. Luca Gaudagnino’s adaptation of André Aciman’s beloved novel brings to life the whirlwind romance between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) in the Italian countryside, with desire and the pain it brings pulsating through every shot. So if you’ve ever left things unsaid or lost what you thought might be a great love, you’ll be in all the feels.
Weepiness Level: You’ll cry just as much, if not more, as Chalamet in that final shot.
'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004)
Reason You'll Cry: Michel Gondry makes thoughtfully quirky movies that punch you in the gut. This one stars Jim Carey as a man reeling from a crappy breakup who decides to use new technology to have all memories of his ex, Kate Winslet, wiped from his memory. But as the strange, surreal erasure process starts to take him through every memory he has with her, he realizes that maybe relationships are filled with good and bad—and that's sort of the point of everything.
Weepiness Level: More like Eternal Sadness of the Sobbing Mind.
'Her' (2013)
Reason You'll Cry: This Spike Jones-helmed movie is a unique meditation on loneliness in the age of artificial intelligence, and it will have you questioning the ways you use technology to cope.
Weepiness Level: Shoulder shaking quietly, staring at your smartphone suspiciously, but with a weird longing.
'Marriage Story' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: We've all experienced the crushing loss of a relationship falling apart and Marriage Story reflects that pain right back to us.
Weepiness Level: Pretending it's allergies to everyone watching with you even though it is not just allergies.
'Me Before You' (2015)
Reason You'll Cry: Because not all love stories have a happy ending—but it's even sadder when that sad ending is part of a choice and not fate stepping in.
Weepiness Level: Ugly crying into a bottle of wine and drunk texting, "I love you," to everyone you care about.
'Moulin Rouge' (2001)
Reason You'll Cry: A fun, gorgeous, sexy, movie-musical romp about love that ultimately ends in tuberculosis. So unfair.
Weepiness Level: Lip-quivering with perhaps a contemplative tear.
'The Notebook' (2004)
Reason You'll Cry: This Nicholas Sparks adaptation may be treacly, but it's also deeply romantic and tragic in the way all love stories are since they can't possibly last forever.
Weepiness Level: Tearing up throughout, then heavy sobbing by the end.
'Revolutionary Road' (2008)
Reason You'll Cry: Because of the death of these people's hopes and dreams ... and also because of literal death.
Weepiness Level: Tearfully reminding your confused and concerned significant other that you love and appreciate them.
'A Star is Born' (2018)
Reason You'll Cry: Two musicians come together to create arguably one of the best songs of all time and fall in love. The film would end there if it were a perfect world, but instead, vices and tragedy get in the way.
Weepiness Level: When you think you're done crying, you'll cry again.
'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964)
Reason You'll Cry: It's about two people (Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo) who love each other but can't be together. Need we say more?
Weepiness Level: Crying while singing in French, if you can imagine such a thing.
'Titanic' (1997)
Reason You'll Cry: Based on a historical disaster, James Cameron's epic is shrouded in tragedy. But the central, fictional romance about a brief love affair as deep as the Atlantic is what will most warm your heart and then break it. (There certainly was room for Leonardo Dicaprio's Jack on that door!)
Weepiness Level: Several fully-formed tears.
'The Way We Were' (1973)
Reason You'll Cry: Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford have undeniable chemistry in this story of two mismatched lovers who, in the end, can't make it work. It's sad because it'll remind you of your lost loves. Also, it's got a killer soundtrack.
Weepiness Level: Sobs that won't stop because, honestly, they're not really about the movie, are they?
'Y tu mamá también' (2001)
Reason You'll Cry: This Alfonso Cuarón movie is achingly poetic. It touches not only on literal death, but also on the death of youth, friendship, and innocence.
Weepiness Level: Wine-drunk tears while you stalk your long-lost childhood best friend on Instagram.
Sad War Movies
'All Quiet on the Western Front' (2022)
Reason You'll Cry: This adaptation of the classic German novel presents the horrors of World War I in living color, juxtaposing the horrors in the trenches with a diplomat's attempt to negotiate a ceasefire.
Weepiness Level: Sobs interrupted by intermittent cries of, "War is pointless!"
'Atonement' (2007)
Reason You'll Cry: A beautiful, lush movie about a terrible mistake made by a young girl (Saoirse Ronan) that ruins not only her life but the lives of two innocent people (Keira Knightley and James McAvoy). Pass the tissues.
Weepiness Level: Horrified tears.
'Foxtrot' (2017)
Reason You'll Cry: This critical, thought-provoking look at Israel's military by Israeli filmmaker Samuel Maoz starts with a family's reaction to their son's death―but takes several unexpected turns that somehow make the film even more gut-wrenching than expected.
Weepiness Level: See All Quiet on the Western Front.
'Grave of the Fireflies' (1989)
Reason You'll Cry: Don't be mistaken by this Japanese movie's animation: Its depiction of World War II from the perspective of two young Japanese children has the power to gut you emotionally.
Weepiness Level: Crying as you request an appointment with your therapist ASAP.
'Hair' (1979)
Reason You'll Cry: Director Milos Forman changed the ending of this classic musical to make it doubly as upsetting. Much of the movie is a celebration of life, rebellion, and hippie culture, so the comedown at the end will have you positively wrecked.
Weepiness Level: Sobbing as you pine for world peace and stick flowers in your long, untamed hair.
'Jojo Rabbit' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: The entire second half of the movie, as Jojo's life crumbles around him once he realizes the truth of his life in Nazi Germany.
Weepiness Level: A short mix of crying-laughing-wincing, before it gives way to full-out sobs.
'Schindler's List' (1993)
Reason You'll Cry: This is probably the first film you thought of when you read "sad war movies," as the real-life story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) has already elicited tears from generations of World History students.
Weepiness Level: Just give us all the tissues.
Sad Beautiful Movies
'Aftersun' (2022)
Reason You'll Cry: Filmmaker Charlotte Wells reflects on her childhood in this memoir-like indie hit about a father (Paul Mescal) and daughter’s (Frankie Corio) vacation together amid his mental health crisis. It’s one of the many films that has made Mescal among the leaders of today's generation of actors, given the poise he brings to portray men at their most vulnerable.
Weepiness Level: You’ll never listen to Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” the same way again.
'The Danish Girl' (2015)
Reason You'll Cry: While this LGBTQ+ movie has since been considered controversial for casting a cisgender man (Eddie Redmayne) in the lead role of a trans woman, it tells the important story of Lili Elbe. You'll be moved by its depiction of the injustice of transphobia and the endurance of unconditional love.
Weepiness Level: Hugging your pillow, murmuring, "It's just not fair."
'Dead Poets Society' (1989)
Reason You'll Cry: In this movie, we have: Robin Williams as the teacher figure you always wanted, a group of young men trying to find their way in this scary unknown world, overbearing parents who just won't quit meddling, and the life-altering power of literature.
Weepiness Level: You'll have to hold in your sobs to not draw attention.
'The Farewell' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: Because you'll be reminded of a simple fact that we all know, but usually try to ignore actively thinking about: Everyone we love will eventually die and all we can do is make the most of the time we have with them.
Weepiness Level: Several tissues and a call home to your family.
'Forrest Gump' (1994)
Reason You'll Cry: Do you know anyone who can keep from crying during this movie? We sure don't. Even the characters within the film are moved to tears by Forrest (Tom Hanks) and Jenny's (Robin Wright) stories.
Weepiness Level: Crying to '60s and '70s rock classics.
'Happy as Lazzaro' (2018)
Reason You'll Cry: You'll fall in love with the innocent yet doomed Lazzaro (Adriano Tardiolo) in Alice Rohrwacher's ethereal, fable-like film. And at the end, you'll be crying not only for him, but also out of frustration that the world is the way it is.
Weepiness Level: Sobs in Italian.
'Little Women' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: All we want is for Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) to find love and live the life she deserves. There's another big reason you'll cry, but we won't spoil it if you have yet to read Louisa May Alcott's classic novel (or seen any number of its adaptations over the years).
Weepiness Level: A couple packs of tissues are necessary.
'Loving Vincent' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: Van Gogh was misunderstood and mistreated during his lifetime. And the fact that this movie was made using different Van Gogh-style paintings for every frame makes it infinitely more poignant.
Weepiness Level: Letting the credits run completely because you're too busy sobbing to stop them.
'Minari' (2020)
Reason You'll Cry: A Korean-American family’s dream of moving to Arkansas and starting a farm proves to be an immense challenge that manages to both tear them apart and bring them closer together. Largely following the adorable, young son (Alan Kim) and his relationship with his grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung), it’s all the more compelling story of loss and family as it’s seen through a child’s eyes.
Weepiness Level: Expect to at least sniffle.
'My Girl' (1994)
Reason You'll Cry: Even if you're not a child of the '90s, Macauley Culkin as an adorably sweet boy with a fatal bee allergy will ruin you.
Weepiness Level: A few minutes of bawling.
'Past Lives' (2023)
Reason You'll Cry: Celine Song’s semi-autobiographical movie about a woman (Greta Lee) who reconnects online with a childhood friend (Teo Yoo) years after immigrating from South Korea to Canada, and his visit to see her again when she’s married years later, will make you reflect on your own choices. It’s a stunning reflection of where we’ve been, where we could have gone, and ultimately how it can be beautiful no matter where we end up.
Weepiness Level: The end will bring tears, but once the movie’s over and you’re alone with your thoughts, you’ll sob.
'Steel Magnolias' (1989)
Reason You'll Cry: It's a movie about a group of sister-friends, one of whom (Julia Roberts) dies tragically while fulfilling her dream of having a family (even knowing the potential consequences). If you have a pulse, you will cry. Also, Dolly Parton is in it which is not a reason to cry, but is good to know.
Weepiness Level: Snotty nose-blowing.
Sad Emotional Movies
'AI: Artificial Intelligence' (2001)
Reason You'll Cry: If you can watch the scene where Haley Joel Osment, playing a robot who believes he's a real boy, begs his human mother (Frances O'Connor) not to abandon him as she drives away and leaves him to mourn her love for all eternity, then you might be the robot.
Weepiness Level: Moderate weeping, as this list goes. Luckily, there are less sob-fest parts of the movie, too.
'Beaches' (1988)
Reason You'll Cry: About two lifelong friends (Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler) who met vacationing with their families as girls and stay in touch into middle age, until tragedy tears them about, it’ll make you think of your own besties. It’s considered one of the most classic tearjerkers for a reason.
Weepiness Level: If you watch it during a girls-night-in, you’ll be hugging each other by the end.
'Blue Valentine' (2010)
Reason You’ll Cry: The heartbreaking slice-of-life film starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams chronicles a couple’s relationship, from their sweet meet-cute to years later when their love eventually grows so cold that it freezes over.
Weepiness Level: You’ll simply be stunned.
'Christine' (2016)
Reason You'll Cry: In Christine, we watch the title character (Rebecca Hall) slowly succumb to loneliness until she dies by suicide on live television. And it's based on a true story.
Weepiness Level: Stunned silence followed by a sudden, drawn-out sob.
WATCH IT
'Five Feet Apart' (2019)
Reason You'll Cry: More than 30,000 Americans live with cystic fibrosis, and we get a glimpse of how the disease takes a toll on young people.
Weepiness Level: At least one box of tissues and a call to your mom after the movie ends.
'Fruitvale Station' (2013)
Reason You'll Cry: One of the most realistic and gut-wrenching depictions of an unlawful police shooting ever put to film.
Weepiness Level: Dismayed sobs and a call to your fatherbrother/son/etc.
'The Lovely Bones' (2009)
Reason You'll Cry: Grappling with the murder of a young girl (Saoirse Ronan) and the lack of answers her family receives about her death throughout the movie, plus experiencing the life she had ahead of her.
Weepiness Level: You'll be calling your parents at least three times after finishing the movie.
'Mary and Max' (2009)
Reason You'll Cry: This stop-motion movie captures the essence of intense loneliness, isolation, suicidal depression, and the sheer power of a single, unexpected human connection in a way that few live-action films have.
Weepiness Level: More crying than you ever expected to do for claymation characters, that's for sure.
'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' (2015)
Reason You'll Cry: It's in the title. A girl (Olivia Cooke) dies, and even though you know it's coming, the climactic tragedy still rips you apart.
Weepiness Level: Weep quietly with tears streaming down your face.
'Never Let Me Go' (2010)
Reason You'll Cry: Swelling orchestral soundtrack? Check. Romantic, forbidden love triangle? Check. Doomed friendships? Check. Postmodern fable about clones based on a genius book by Kishuo Ishiguro? Also check.
Weepiness Level: A good, transfixed cry.
WATCH IT
'One Day' (2011)
Reason You'll Cry: Based on the David Nicholls novel of the same name, this story follows Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as two people who meet in college and meet again on the same day each year for two decades. There is more death than there probably needs to be for something that's such a slow burn. Even telling you the plot might make you tear up.
Weepiness Level: Tears over how unfair life (and this movie) can sometimes be.
'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (2012)
Reason You'll Cry: Stephen Chbosky adapted his beloved coming-of-age novel of the same name to screen, and it’s one of the best book-to-movie adaptations of all time. Following the introverted Charlie (Logan Lerman) during his freshman year of high school as he meets a group of fellow outcasts—after starting off the school year with his only friend dying by suicide—it’s a beautiful look at finding oneself and community and growing past our trauma.
Weepiness Level: You’ll tear up from joy and sadness throughout, and feel like you’ve been through it by the conclusion.
'Pieces of a Woman' (2020)
Reason You'll Cry: A devastating home birth that the main character (Vanessa Kirby) experiences will hit home for many women.
Weepiness Level: Quite a bit of "ugly crying."
'Stepmom' (1998)
Reason You'll Cry: When a photographer (Julia Roberts) starts dating an older man (Ed Harris), she struggles to connect with his children (Jena Malone and Liam Aiken) who have sided with their mom (Susan Sarandon) in the divorce—and are facing the reality of her terminal illness. The film sensitively looks at all parties involved, and you’ll feel endeared to every character as they undergo the immense changes in their lives.
Weepiness Level: Your fragile heart will not be able to be still.
'Toy Story 3' (2010)
Reason You'll Cry: When Andy's toys come face to face with their own, horrifying demise and then accept that they're going to burn to death in an incinerator, you'll feel the burning pain of your childhood dying a little. Don't worry, they make it out, but still.
Weepiness Level: The always-jarring feeling of being forced to acknowledge your mortality, paired with a setting that makes you consider that through the lens of childhood.
The Saddest Movies of All Time
'If Beale Street Could Talk' (2018)
Reason You'll Cry: Childhood friends turned love-struck couple (KiKi Layne and Stephan James) struggle to move forward with their life together when one of them is arrested and put in jail for a crime they didn't commit. You'll never want to scream at your television more.
Weepiness Level: A jumbo box of tissues' worth.
'Lion' (2016)
Reason You'll Cry: The story of a young Indian boy (Sunny Pawar) who gets separated from his family, adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), and then goes in search of his birth family as an adult (played by Dev Patel). Ugh, it's so sad!
Weepiness Level: Some of the heaviest crying you'll do in a film, guaranteed.
WATCH IT
'Manchester by the Sea' (2016)
Reason You'll Cry: Kids dying and lifelong guilt and lost love in cold, coastal New England.
Weepiness Level: The type accompanied by physical pain in your chest.
'Marley & Me' (2008)
Reason You'll Cry: It tracks the life of possibly one of the cutest and most energetic dogs on the planet. The movie was promoted as a comedy—and has its moments—but as we said, it "tracks the life," including the end.
Weepiness Level: Clutching your furry friend's coat while crying.
'Mouchette' (1967)
Reason You'll Cry: Robert Bresson is known for depicting characters in impossible, dire circumstances, and the sight of this orphaned little girl (Nadine Nortier) crying right into the camera, will set you off.
Weepiness Level: Pausing the movie because you can't hear it over your crying.
'Seven Pounds' (2008)
Reason You'll Cry: We'll try to save the spoilers, but let's say that when the truth about the main character's (Will Smith) random acts of kindness is revealed, crying is guaranteed.
Weepiness Level: Stunned silence and a steady stream of quiet, body-shaking sobs.
'Sophie's Choice' (1982)
Reason You'll Cry: The titular choice in this movie is synonymous with devastating, no-win situations. That choice is the moment when Holocaust survivor Sophie (Meryl Streep) is forced to choose which of her children to send to their deaths.
Weepiness Level: Existential crisis-induced sobs and a lingering sadness that will hit you again, without warning, for the rest of your life.
'Up' (2009)
Reason You'll Cry: You can watch this movie without crying, but you'd need to skip the first 10 minutes. The gist is: Woman meets man, woman marries man, woman lives a perfect life with man, woman dies, man has to keep on going somehow.
Weepiness Level: A truly traumatizing cry for two minutes, and then the shadow of that cry for the rest of the movie.
