Top 20 Most Heartbreaking Movies of All Time
#20: “Atonement” (2007)
With WWII as a backdrop, this British drama traces a doomed pairing from the 1930s to the 1940s. Young Briony wrongly believes that her older sister Cecilia is assaulted by Robbie. This sets off a course of tragic events that separate the couple, who were actually in love. Briony writes this story into a book and tries to make the ending of the romance seem more hopeful. In a twist, the writer reveals that Cecilia and Robbie both died in the early stages of the war. A series of painful scenes show the former dying in the Blitz and the latter contracting a fatal bout of sepsis at Dunkirk. This revelation serves as a gut punch to viewers who hoped they would reunite.
#19: “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (2015)
Top 100 Greatest Horror Movies of All Time
A funny project with a lot of heart, this quirky comedy deals with the ups and downs of high school. The central character Greg is a filmmaker who partners up with his friend to make parodies of classic movies. After reluctantly hanging out with a sick girl named Rachel, he comes to realize that his films could mean something to someone else. The story touches on the pitfalls of being a teenager and struggling to express yourself through art. Greg and Rachel develop a special friendship as they warm up to each other, bonding over cinema and commiserating about the future. The title might give away the ending, but it doesn’t lessen the impact of the final act.
#18: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
This imaginative sci-fi drama features Jim Carrey attempting to erase his ex-girlfriend from his memory after she does the same, only to encounter hiccups in the procedure. The central dilemma takes Carrey's character Joel into a flurry of memories about Kate Winslet’s Clementine. Filmmaker Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman bring together their poignant vision for the future with incisive points about romantic relationships. Joel's trek through his subconscious leads to emotional episodes revolving around his life. The process finds him confronting his weaknesses and the troubled romance that he wants back. Considered to be a modern classic, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” gives viewers a brutal look at the imperfections of love.
#17: “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
Top 20 Saddest Scenes in Teen Movies
In this adaptation of the John Green book, Hazel falls in love with fellow cancer patient Gus. Their teenage romance starts in Indianapolis and ends up in Amsterdam, where the two track down a mysterious author. The love story between the two takes a humane look at the lives of young people with serious medical problems. Rather than portraying them as victims, the film allows them to have an adventure together before one of them succumbs to the illness. It’s a movie that you definitely have to watch with a box of tissues, just in case. After Gus sadly passes away, Hazel tries to carry on in an especially emotional ending.
#16: “Old Yeller” (1957)
Top 10 Teen Movies That Were Ahead Of Their Time
The classic Disney film "Old Yeller" has scarred young children for many generations. Set after the Civil War, the plot centers around a Texas boy who takes in a stray dog and learns to love it. The main bond between Travis and his canine friend plays out as they work on the homestead. As is the case with most movies about pets, this eventually leads to one of the more devastating endings in cinematic history. The main character decides to put Old Yeller out of his misery, leaving behind the innocence of his picturesque childhood.
#15: “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
Top 10 Movies of All Time
Andy Dufresne is handed consecutive life sentences for a double homicide he claims not to have committed. Of his sentence, he spends only nineteen years in prison before making his way out. During that time, he endures abuse that tests his faith in humanity. Frank Darabont's movie examines the effects of prison on various characters over the course of several years. A corrupt warden and sadistic prison guards also make his stay even more disturbing. The entire emotional arc of Dufresne builds up to a cathartic experience, including a dazzling escape and a moving conclusion. "The Shawshank Redemption" still stands as an engrossing study about the triumph of people over a corrupt system.
#14: “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
Among the most famous depictions of WWII on screen, "Saving Private Ryan" follows American soldiers during the initial invasion of Normandy. The first sequence depicts the D-Day landings without pulling any punches. Director Steven Spielberg accurately depicts the gruesome effects of warfare, putting audiences at ground level as hundreds of men are mowed down. The story then shifts to a mission concerning the whereabouts of the titular Private. Forcing Army men to confront their worst fears on the battlefield, the movie takes a hard look at the many sacrifices made to save one soldier. The last scene only drives home that notion as most of the characters lose their lives in combat.
#13: “Moonlight” (2016)
OSCARS FAIL! Moonlight Takes Best Picture From La La Land! – The CineFiles Ep. 10
This Oscar-winning drama follows Chiron through his turbulent childhood, teenage years and adult life. Director Barry Jenkins’ vision allows for three distinct eras of personal growth, during which the main character deals with his abusive mother and discovers his sexual identity. He also receives guidance from a drug dealer who becomes a father figure in his life. His first encounter with another student doesn't pan out, later leading to harassment and an incident that finds him in trouble with the law. Chiron then transforms into a guarded adult for the final chapter. The film's tremendous impact comes together in the last few scenes as the hero reconnects with his former love.
#12: “The Notebook” (2004)
Top 100 Greatest Romance Movies of All Time
Nicholas Sparks' most famous book received a massively popular adaptation in 2004. Spanning a multi-year love affair, "The Notebook" follows the complicated courtship of Noah and Allie in 1940s South Carolina. It also features several gut-wrenching scenes such as a moment in the rain that might be the movie's most iconic image. Next to tear-inducing romance, there's also the frame story of both characters in older age. This both puts the plot into a larger context and makes the flashbacks that much more meaningful. Their last embrace ranks among the more touching finales in romantic film history.
#11: “Titanic” (1997)
Top 10 Titanic Stars: Where Are They Now?
James Cameron's epic project features two interlocking tragedies. The first story is an interpretation of the real-life incident, while the second concerns the fictional romance of Jack and Rose. Audiences know that the fateful voyage as well as the relationship will end in tremendous heartbreak, but that still does nothing to cushion the effects of the tragedy as it plays out. During the extended climax, the movie includes one sad moment after the other as passengers fight for their lives. Thousands of casualties occur as the ocean liner rips apart and disappears into the water. To top everything off, the infamous door scene takes away any remaining hope of true love.
#10: “The Green Mile” (1999)
Top 20 Greatest Animated Movies of All Time
"The Green Mile" is a Stephen King adaptation that showcases the relationship between death row inmate John Coffey and prison guard Paul Edgecomb. Death might be the initial focus of the film, but it's really all about the importance of life. Throughout the movie, Coffey performs miracles and gradually shows that he’s an extraordinary man. Michael Clarke Duncan gives a vulnerable and commendable performance as the supernatural prisoner. His relationship with Tom Hanks' character represents a deep bond - one that is ultimately broken by an execution. This scene is especially sad given the innocence of Coffey. "The Green Mile" is both unexpectedly moving and an amazing tribute to the potential of the human spirit.
#9: “Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
Darren Aronofsky's tale about people who struggle with substance abuse might still be among the most dire movies ever. Following a group of desperate individuals, "Requiem for a Dream" doesn't mince words about the pain caused by serious addiction. Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly try to keep up their heroin habit, while Ellen Burstyn spirals into a world of prescription drug dependency. Every section of this plot comes with explicit drug use, terrible side effects, and desperate schemes to chase the next fix. Each character eventually reaches a dark conclusion of complete isolation, in what may just be one of the most effective yet depressing anti-drug campaigns in movie history.
#8: “The Pianist” (2002)
Top 20 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
Telling the true story of Władysław Szpilman, "The Pianist" follows the Jewish musician through the darkest days of WWII. Execution scenes show the Nazis’ cruel and inhumane actions during the German occupation of Poland. Adrien Brody embodies the titular character in an emotional and physical performance that's bound to leave you shaken. Brody reportedly starved himself to achieve an authentic look for the part, portraying Szpilman's life in harsh living conditions such as the abandoned buildings of Warsaw. His brushes with violence, sickness, and starvation present images of extreme sadness. This eventually builds to a moment of surprising humanity from the unlikeliest of people.
#7: “Manchester by the Sea” (2016)
Led by an Oscar-winning performance from Casey Affleck, "Manchester by the Sea" carries around a reputation for being depressing. This might be true to some degree, but it doesn't negate the film's powerful story about grief. Affleck's character Lee Chandler returns home after his brother's death and finds himself facing his inner demons once more. He also struggles with the knowledge that he's responsible for a prior accident that led to the death of his children. This becomes significant as he’s left to take custody of his teenage nephew. "Manchester by the Sea" is a painfully realistic study of grief and how it never leaves us no matter how far we go.
#6: “Grave of the Fireflies” (1988)
Studio Ghibli might be the gold standard of Japanese animation, with "Grave of the Fireflies" ranking among their most emotional works. It's the tale of a brother and sister trying to survive the end of WWII. They endure everything from air raids to food rationing, all while trying to make sense of the world around them. The drama takes a hard look at life in war-torn Japan, with all of its desperation. Losing both of their parents, the children end up on their own as they fight off starvation. There's ultimately one tragic element after another, leading up to a truly affecting finale.
#5: “Blue Valentine” (2010)
Another Worst Blue/Green Screen Effects in Movies
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give authentic performances in this stirring romance. Instead of being a bubbly rom-com, "Blue Valentine" features a raw look at a relationship that slowly falls apart. Gosling and Williams play a couple with two different outlooks on life. They raise a child together, but their differences get in the way of their happiness. Their story is told partly in flashbacks as their troubled lives turn out to be anything but a fairytale. Derek Cianfrance's film is not for those looking for escapist entertainment, but rather an examination of love gone wrong.
#4: “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
“Brokeback Mountain” was controversial upon its initial release, but time has been kind to this romance. The plot finds two cowboys falling in love in the 1960s. They try to keep their relationship secret, which only drives them apart and creates lingering resentments. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger have amazing chemistry in this realistic portrayal of love on the rocks. Having to contend with societal norms, neither man gets to truly express their feelings for each other outside of brief meetings. Their story comes to a sad ending as one of them tragically loses his life in an accident. Ledger’s character reels from the loss in a touching third act that puts everything into perspective.
#3: “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” (2008)
Top 10 Movies That Are Only Good For Making You Cry
Using two children as the focal point, this period drama takes a look at the Holocaust from an entirely different perspective. The child of an SS officer discovers a boy on the other side of a fence, not understanding that his new friend is in a concentration camp. They spend time together and slowly begin to find the similarities in each other. Most of the sadness of this film comes from the profound metaphor at its center, using the innocence of the characters as a counterpoint to the horrors around them. "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" also features an earth-shattering ending that sees both kids suffering the same fate.
#2: “Sophie’s Choice” (1982)
Boasting arguably Meryl Streep's finest performance to date, this historical drama delves into a traumatic decision during WWII. "Sophie's Choice" asks difficult questions about survivor's guilt and impossible resolutions that shape a life. For the title character, she finds herself unable to cope with the death of her child. This sets up a harrowing flashback where she's forced to choose between her two children. It's a scene that speaks to the horrors of that time period, presenting an awful event and its unshakable effects. Given its distressing subject, the movie chooses not to sugarcoat Sophie’s story, opting for a heartbreaking ending in lieu of a happy conclusion.
#1: “Schindler’s List” (1993)
Steven Spielberg's award-winning drama follows Oskar Schindler's journey from Nazi sympathizer to unlikely savior. Along the way, many horrific scenes from the Holocaust are shown in graphic detail. Sequences such as the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto capture historical events in the most explicit way imaginable. As all of this happens, Schindler maintains an uneasy relationship with feared officer Amon Göth and other individuals who committed terrible atrocities. While the terrifying violence serves as one source of sadness, the film also has moments of hope that tug at the heartstrings. This balance functions like a rollercoaster of emotion that cements “Schindler’s List” as the saddest movie ever made.
