When you need a good cry, emotional movies are a great way to bring that out of you. If you find yourself easily susceptible to the ‘Drama’ section of Netflix, you might be in need of a new movie to get those tears out. Check out this list of 15 emotional movies that will leave you in absolute shambles.
Beautiful Boy is a devastating movie that had me sobbing my eyes out. The movie follows the life of a family whose son, Nicolas (played by Timothée Chalamet), is struggling with drug addiction. Originally deemed popular and thriving, Nic finds himself hooked on meth which takes a heavy toll on his life. In and out of rehab, Nic struggles to get a grip on his addiction as his father (Steve Carell) does everything he can to help his son. Watching the emotional turmoil of this family is shattering enough, but the movie is even more impactful due to the fact that it is based on a true story. You can find the film on Prime Video.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is guaranteed to make you go through each and every emotion on the human spectrum. The film’s protagonist, Gilbert Grape (portrayed by Johnny Depp), finds himself pressured with the responsibility of taking care of his overweight mother along with his intellectually disabled brother, Arnie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Constantly putting others above himself, Gilbert begins to look at life differently when he meets Becky. This film emphasizes the importance of balancing the needs of your loved ones along with your own needs; definitely a tear-jerker. This film is available on HBO Max.
You may need to grab several tissue boxes for this one. Ben Thomas, portrayed by Will Smith, is on a mission to find good, deserving people who are facing some sort of health crisis and give back to them. In the midst of this, Ben meets a woman named Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) who suffers from a serious and deadly heart condition. Their strong connection climaxes at a devastating decision Ben must make… And it is not an easy one. Check out Seven Pounds on Netflix, and be prepared to have your life altered after watching this film.
Get ready for this one. The Lovely Bones takes on the perspective of 14-year old Susie Salmon (portrayed by Saoirse Ronan), who was murdered by her neighbor. She watches over her family as a ghost, cycling between wanting revenge on her neighbor and wanting her family to heal. This film is as emotionally charged as it gets as we watch her family grieve and search for answers, as well as the impending fact that her neighbor may commit this crime on another victim. The Lovely Bones is currently available on Starz.
Starring Kate Winslet as Clementine and Jim Carrey as Joel, this movie is one of my personal favorites on the list. After Clementine and Joel break up, Clementine undergoes a procedure where she decides to erase all her memories of Joel. Joel finds out about this and decides to go through the same procedure. As this movie takes us through Joel’s procedure and all the beautiful memories surrounding their relationship, Joel begins to slowly regret what he is doing, making this movie a painful watch. This movie is available for streaming on iQIYI – and I highly recommend that you watch it if you want to shed some tears.
I just want you to really mentally prepare yourself before you watch this one… Because it’s brutal. Blue Valentine follows the life of a married couple, Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) whose relationship starts to fall apart. In the midst of this, the movie cuts between flashbacks of when the couple first met and had that initial spark compared to where they are now. Dean tries desperately to save the marriage and get that spark back. This movie is unapologetically depressing, and you can stream it on Prime Video.
Upon first look, Soul may look like your average animated Pixar movie… But emotions run high as you realize that this story follows a man named Joel who never truly chased his dreams. Joel is a band teacher, but he loves to play jazz. While on the way to his first big gig, Joel falls into a sewer drain. He finds himself taken to the “Great Beyond,” but escapes to a realm known as the “Great Before” instead as he is not ready to die yet. Here, he ends up mentoring a soul that has not yet been born named 22. This movie is existential in nature as Joel is forced to confront the true meaning of life. In other words, despite the fact that this movie may be initially meant for children, you will definitely find yourself sobbing as a full-grown adult. You can watch Soul on Disney+.
Set in the 1770’s, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire follows the story of a woman named Marianne (Noémie Merlant) who must paint a bride-to-be. Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) has no idea she is being painted by Marianne, as she does not want to follow through with the wedding. Marianne must follow and observe Héloïse on a daily basis under the premise of being a “companion” to help ease her into her marriage. This story is a romantic, tantalizing, and beautiful portrayal of a taboo love affair. Currently, you can find this movie on Hulu.
Seen through the eyes of a naïve kid, The Florida Project follows the story of a girl named Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) living at a motel in Florida just outside of Disney World. Her mother struggles to support her, but through Moonee’s eyes, life is full of adventure and fun as she runs around with her best friends. Harsh realities begin to set in as the film progresses, and Moonee is forced to face the results of her current situation. The Florida Project is available for streaming on Paramount+ and Showtime.
Brokeback Mountain is another slow-burn on the list following a taboo love affair between two sheep herders in the 60’s. When Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) makes a pass at Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) during the job, both men begin a secret love affair that will eventually tear them apart. They eventually go on to marry two separate women, but they continue their affair throughout their unhappy marriages. If you’re into cowboys, romance, and tears, this movie is perfect for you. You can rent the emotional film on Prime Video.
Anna’s older sister Kate has an illness that threatens to kill her, and all the pressure is on Anna (Abigail Breslin) to save her sister’s life. Anna’s entire life is based around the premise that she was born to be a marrow donor for her sister. Physically and emotionally taxed, Anna decides to go through the emancipation process, which puts a dent in the family’s plans. This film surrounds the questions of morality and what it means to be a family. Deeply emotional, the bond between Kate and Anna is sure to leave you in a puddle of tears. My Sister’s Keeper is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Moonlight follows the life of a boy named Chiron (portrayed by Trevante Rhodes in adulthood) as he grows up reserved and isolated in Miami. As a queer, black man, Chiron struggles to come to terms with both his sexuality and what masculinity means to him. Throughout the film, Chiron explores the difference between what society expects of him vs. who he truly is. This is a beautiful, eye-opening film, and one of my favorites on the list! You can find Moonlight on Paramount+ and Showtime.
Based on a true and devastating story, Room follows the life of a woman referred to as Ma (Brie Larson) and her son Jack (Jacob Trembley) as they are held captive in a basement. Spending his early years only in the basement, Jack is able to finally experience the world outside of this confinement when him and his mother gain their freedom. This film takes us through a mother’s powerful connection with her son and how they overcome their trauma. If you’re looking for an emotional movie – this one is sure to break your heart. Room is available on HBO Max.
At first glance, Waves may seem like your average coming-of-age movie, but it gets much darker. The story is broken down into two perspectives within a family; the son and the daughter. First, we follow the son, Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he suffers a sports injury that ultimately leads to a series of events which will change the trajectory of his life. We then follow his sister, Emily (Taylor Russell) in the second part as she navigates her life following a tragic event. This movie is going to send you on a rollercoaster of emotions, so be prepared. You can stream the movie on Peacock.
Requiem For A Dream is one of those movies that will leave you emotionally drained after watching it. In my case, I was only able to watch the movie once, and I haven’t gone near it since. The movie follows a widowed woman named Sara (Ellen Burstyn) and her son Harry (Jared Leto). Sara finds her solace and joy in watching a television game show, while Harry struggles with his addiction to heroin alongside his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). When Sara is invited to come onto the game show, she begins taking amphetamines in an attempt to “slim down” and fit into an old red dress. Each character in the movie struggles with their own vices, dreams, and desires, eventually leading to a downward spiral for every party involved. Requiem For A Dream is available to stream on Prime Video.
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