Top 20 Saddest Scenes in Teen Movies
#20: Romeo & Juliet’s Deaths “Romeo + Juliet” (1996)
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You know this story — and that it’s not called a tragedy for nothing. Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and fall madly in love, but it seems like the whole world — namely their feuding families — is against them. Though a plan is hatched that would enable them to run away together, things go horribly wrong. It all culminates in this heartbreaking scene where both pass away. Sure, we all knew this moment was coming — but that doesn’t make it any easier to digest. The worst part is that it’s not really the feuding families or all the odds stacked against them that leads to their deaths. It’s a handful of rash choices and some miscommunication.
#19: Sebastian Passes Away “Cruel Intentions” (1999)
We might not care about what happens to Sebastian at the start of this flick. After all, he’s a vile character who bets his stepsister Kathryn that he can get new girl Annette to be intimate with him. However, Sebastian falls for Annette, and as he changes, we start rooting for him. So when he gets hit by a car and is killed while trying to save her, we’re gutted. He’s gone through so much personal growth by this point, and we get the sense that he wants to build a better future with Annette. Yet in one swift instance, that chance is taken from him. The whole thing happens so fast, and leaves us reeling.
#18: Bethany Gets Vulnerable “Soul Surfer” (2011)
“Soul Surfer” is about Bethany, one of the most prominent young surfers on the come up who gets her arm bitten off by a shark. Of course, the event changes her life — ultimately though, she thrives in the face of adversity. In this scene, however, we see what she’s been keeping to herself. Behind the triumphant face she wears on the outside, there is a scared and angry girl. She’s navigating a major shift, and there are bound to be peaks and valleys as she learns to accept what’s happened. Bethany finally lets it all out to her church’s youth ministry leader in a cathartic and tear-jerking moment that never fails to grip us.
#17: Sutter Rejects Aimee “The Spectacular Now” (2013)
It’s not just that he rejects her. It’s the way he rejects her. All Aimee ever did was love Sutter. Sutter’s nastiness comes from his realization that he might not be good for her, and his attempts to push her away only get worse. While driving under the influence, he nearly gets them in an accident while arguing with Aimee. He’s so upset about endangering her that he kicks her out of the car in the middle of the road. And yes, that’s when she actually does get hurt — though not too seriously, thankfully. The scene is so brutal and shocking, and watching it never gets less painful.
#16: Nadine's Apology “The Edge of Seventeen” (2016)
“The Edge of Seventeen” places Nadine’s experiences front and center, so it’s really easy to empathize with her, and see things from her perspective. However, that doesn’t mean she isn’t flawed – and we delve deeper into her sometimes selfish and self-centered behaviors. But the thing is, none of it comes from a place of malice – she’s just dealing with a lot, so it feels like the world is out to get her. In this scene she confesses her deepest insecurities and fears to her brother, expressing how badly she’s been hurting, while also recognizing that she is not the only one who hurts. It’s such a profound, raw, and vulnerable moment that shows us Nadine at her most relatable.
#15: Flashback to the Party “Speak” (2004)
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Based on the equally devastating book, “Speak” is about a young girl, Melinda, who finds herself struggling to vocalize the trauma she’s experienced. When school starts, she’s mistreated for having called the cops on the gathering, but no one knows what really happened. We can tell something bad has happened, and flashbacks to the party slowly reveal the truth of what transpired that night. Indeed, Melinda didn’t contact the authorities to break up the festivities, she did so to report that she had been sexually assaulted. But when the moment came, she just couldn’t say it. The facts are devastating enough, but to see Melinda actually go through it all is absolutely heartbreaking.
#14: The Accident “If I Stay” (2014)
Top 10 Saddest Scenes in Teen Movies
Whatever small mercy it may be, this scene is at least not quite as graphic on screen as it is in the book. Mia and her family get into a terrible car accident, and she watches the aftermath unfold in an out of body experience. She doesn’t even realize at first that she was injured too. When you see the extent of the wreckage, you just know it’s bad. The fear, uncertainty, and frenzied panic on her face is too much to bear. And it only gets worse once she discovers her own body on the ground. This sets up much of the emotional tension of the film as she heads to the hospital, and lets us know we’re in for a difficult journey.
#13: The Pond “Five Feet Apart” (2019)
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To be honest, this whole thing is quite tear-inducing. These kinds of 2010s romantic teen movies were practically in a competition to see which one could make us cry the hardest. But this scene in particular really wrecks us every single time. Polar opposites Will and Stella fall in love while living in the hospital with cystic fibrosis. Though they aren’t supposed to be closer than six feet apart, they go on an adventure together. While lying on a frozen pond, Stella falls through the ice. Watching as Will tries to save her is absolutely heartstopping.
#12: Johnny's Death “The Outsiders” (1983)
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This one is tough. He and his friends ran into a burning building to save a bunch of children, and this is what he gets for it. Thanks to Ralph Macchio’s performance, it’s like you can feel Johnny’s pain as he lays in the hospital dying from his injuries. Speaking of great performances, C. Thomas Howell and Matt Dillon also deliver the goods in this movie. You can see just how guilty Ponyboy and Dallas feel, as they survived the harrowing incident. Johnny was a good guy – arguably one the best out of the whole greaser gang. He definitely deserved better.
#11: Leslie's Passing “Bridge to Terabithia” (2007)
When Jess and Leslie become friends, they use their creativity and imagination to create a beautiful world all their own. They have adventures, and fight their enemies, and it’s obvious that their bond runs deep. But the one time she goes to Terabithia alone while he’s on a trip with his teacher, tragedy strikes. Thankfully we don’t have to watch what happens to Leslie. But it may be worse hearing the news along with Jess. He comes home to hear that she drowned while he was away, and you can just see as the guilt and grief washes over him.
#10: “She Just Didn't Love Us Back” “Pretty in Pink” (1986)
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This classic John Hughes comedy follows Andie as she struggles with her frustrations about her working-class upbringing. Much of this tension manifests in her relationship with her father, which comes to a head in this explosive scene. Molly Ringwald exemplifies why she was the queen of teen films in the ‘80s as Andie’s anger is released full force. The scene turns from anger to sadness however as she forces her father to reconcile with the fact that her mother is simply gone. There’s a compassionate honesty to the scene that makes it both compelling and poignant.
#9: Arnie Tries to Wake His Mom “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993)
Leonardo DiCaprio received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Arnie Grape, and scenes like this show the pathos he injected into the performance. When he tries to awaken his sickly mother, she remains unconscious, and it becomes clear to the audience that she’s dead. However, Arnie, who lives with a disability, takes a bit longer to figure it out. There are no special filmmaking tricks here; all of the emotion arises from the compassionate performance of a child coming to terms with a parent’s mortality. It’s understated and simple storytelling like this that makes the film one we remember decades later.
#8: Kayla Signs Off “Eighth Grade” (2018)
Few films embrace the realism of how hard it is to be a young teenager like Bo Burnham’s debut feature. Kayla is a graduating eighth grader who has a habit of posting admittedly awkward advice videos on the Internet. However, after an unfortunate encounter with an older boy, she falls into a deep depression. She records a new video, but instead of the bright, enthusiastic Kayla, we get a despondent girl who opens up about her experience with anxiety. The natural dialogue and Elsie Fisher’s subtle performance will break your heart and put you right inside the character’s head. Fortunately, things do get better, and ultimately turn out pretty well.
#7: The Airport “Lady Bird” (2017)
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The complicated dynamic between Lady Bird and her mother Marion comes to a head when Marion discovers that her daughter is going to New York for college. A resentful Marion decides not to walk her to her gate at the airport, but instantly regrets it. Her pain is palpable, thanks to Laurie Metcalf’s superb performance, and you can’t help but feel for both mother and daughter. It exemplifies the walls that these two characters have put up, but also the tenderness for each other that hides behind those walls. Thankfully, though, it also sets up one of the most beautiful film endings in recent memory.
#6: Khalil Gets Pulled Over “The Hate U Give” (2018)
One of the decade’s most underrated coming of age films, “The Hate U Give” deals with more intense subject matter than most. At the end of the first act, the protagonist, Starr, is driving with her lifelong friend, Khalil, and the two are pulled over. The scene becomes tense as Starr tries to convince him to take the cop seriously, and ends in tragedy with Khalil’s death. Starr is forced to watch, horrified, as he dies slowly on the road. The pacing, directing and acting in this scene is exquisite, and it’s not easy to watch, but it proves that this is a film that has something to say.
#5: Landon Gets Into Medical School “A Walk to Remember” (2002)
What would this list be without at least one Nicholas Sparks adaptation? After a short, wistful relationship, Jamie and Landon get married for a brief period before Jamie passes away from leukemia. In the film’s epilogue several years later, Landon meets with Jamie’s father and reveals that he’s been accepted into medical school. It’s a touching moment as the two reflect on the love he shared with Jamie, and it illustrates how far he’s come from the delinquent he once was. The scene may feel a little dated all these years later, but there’s no doubt that it can still bring a tear to your eye.
#4: The Fireplace “Call Me by Your Name” (2017)
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After a passionate whirlwind romance, Elio is forced to say goodbye to Oliver, who has to return to the US. Several months later, Oliver calls the family with the news that he’s getting married, which naturally crushes Elio. In a scene that’s since become the movie’s most iconic image, he stares into the fire and sobs. Timothée Chalamet brilliantly portrays the scene’s quiet but powerful emotion, ending the film on a beautifully understated note. It’s a scene that speaks to the central idea of the movie; of embracing feelings rather than turning away from them, as Elio is able to find beauty in his sadness.
#3: “Okay, Hazel Grace?” “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
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We all knew that a movie about two lovebirds with cancer wasn’t really going to be particularly happy. Still, it packs a major emotional punch when Gus passes away. As the movie reaches its emotional conclusion, Hazel reads the eulogy Gus never got to give for her. Ansel Elgort’s heartfelt voiceover works in tandem with Shailene Woodley’s performance to make Hazel’s grief and love searingly palpable. Rather than allowing the film to have a downer ending, the scene comes off as a love letter to the tragic coupling that’s somehow uplifting even through the tears.
#2: Charlie's Flashbacks “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
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After a tumultuous freshman year of high school, Charlie must say goodbye to his best friends Patrick and Sam as they leave for college. His mental health reaches a low point as he’s beset by bizarre memories of his late aunt. It becomes clear that he suffered abuse at her hands that he had since blocked out. This moment finally gives us some insight into Charlie’s complicated mind, and there’s no way not to empathize with him. Still, the film does end on a note of hope to help us recover from all the hurt. Indeed, we feel confident Charlie is surrounded by people who love him, and has the necessary support to heal.
#1: Why Brian Is in Detention “The Breakfast Club” (1985)
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John Hughes was among the first and most noteworthy filmmakers to take teenage problems seriously. “The Breakfast Club” is a great example of this, and it reaches its emotional climax when Brian reveals he’s in detention because he had a weapon in his locker. He planned on using it to take his own life because of academic pressure from his parents. In this moment, each of the characters stop being the stereotypes they initially saw each other as, and they become five friends who sincerely care about one another. It brings the movie’s themes front and center with impeccable dialogue and earnest performances, making this a movie that sticks with us to this day.
