Get your tissues ready, because these sad Netflix movies are guaranteed to make you cry rivers of tears. From tragic romances to gut-wrenching dramas, this list has it all. Prepare to have your heart shattered into a million pieces.
1. Marriage Story (2019)
Marriage Story follows the devastating divorce of a couple played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Despite starting out amicably, their split turns ugly as they battle for custody of their son. Watching the family slowly fall apart is truly heartbreaking. Driver and Johansson give raw, emotional performances as their characters say unforgivably cruel things to each other that they can never take back. One scene where they have a vicious argument will leave you sobbing. It’s a realistic, painful look at how divorce can bring out the worst in people and destroy a once-loving relationship. At the same time, the film shows glimpses of happier times and has a bittersweet ending that provides a sense of closure and hope for the future, even after everything the couple has been through.
2. Roma (2018)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is a semi-autobiographical film about Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid working for an upper-middle-class family in Mexico City in the 1970s. Shot in stunning black and white, it intimately captures a year in Cleo’s life filled with both joy and sorrow. Cleo faces her own personal heartbreaks, including an unwanted pregnancy and abandonment by her boyfriend. Meanwhile, the family she works for also goes through a separation. Aparicio gives a quietly powerful performance that will move you to tears. Cuarón’s meticulous direction immerses you in Cleo’s world. The film builds to a heart-stopping climax involving Cleo saving the children that is one of the most emotionally overwhelming scenes ever committed to film. Roma is a profound, visually poetic masterpiece about love, loss, and resilience.
3. Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beasts of No Nation sheds light on the horrific use of child soldiers in an unnamed African country’s civil war. A young boy named Agu (Abraham Attah) is forced to join a rebel group led by a ruthless Commandant (Idris Elba) after his father and brother are killed. Agu’s loss of innocence as he is turned into a killer is devastating to witness. Attah and Elba both give intense, committed performances. The scenes of Agu being cruelly manipulated and abused by the Commandant are hard to watch. First-time director Cary Joji Fukunaga brings an unflinching realism to depicting the brutality Agu faces. While unrelentingly bleak, the film ends on a note of hope that Agu can somehow heal from his traumatic experiences. It’s a powerful, important story that shines a light on the stolen childhoods of those forced to fight.
4. Mudbound (2017)
Set in the Jim Crow South after World War II, Mudbound follows two families – one black, one white – whose lives are intertwined on a Mississippi farm. When the sons of both families return from war, their friendship kindles racial tensions. Directed by Dee Rees, the film features an ensemble cast including Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, and Mary J. Blige in an Oscar-nominated performance. Mudbound doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly racism of the time period. One scene involving the black son Ronsel (Mitchell) being brutally beaten by white men is especially gut-wrenching. The film powerfully depicts how racism destroys lives and tears people apart. With its themes of PTSD, inequality, and injustice, Mudbound will leave you emotionally shaken by the cruelty the characters face.
5. The Pianist (2002)
Directed by Roman Polanski, The Pianist tells the true story of WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a Jewish pianist in Warsaw who struggles to survive the Holocaust. Szpilman goes from playing in upscale cafes to starving in the Warsaw Ghetto after the Nazis invade. Brody gives a haunting, Oscar-winning performance that will break your heart. Watching Szpilman endure unimaginable suffering and loss is deeply upsetting. The film provides a visceral, unflinching look at the horrors inflicted upon Jews during WWII. Several scenes, such as Szpilman seeing his family get sent to their deaths and later hiding among the ruins of Warsaw, are almost too devastating to bear. And yet, Szpilman’s determination to survive and keep his humanity intact in the face of such evil is also incredibly inspiring. The Pianist is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning epic Schindler’s List tells the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. Shot almost entirely in black and white, the film realistically depicts the unspeakable atrocities committed by the Nazis. Scenes of Jews being rounded up into ghettos or brutally murdered are stomach-churning. Ben Kingsley co-stars as Schindler’s Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern, with Ralph Fiennes chilling as Nazi officer Amon Göth. Watching Schindler gradually change from a greedy profiteer to a compassionate savior risking his life for his Jewish workers is profoundly moving. The cathartic ending showing the real-life Schindler Jews will leave you weeping. Schindler’s List is an emotionally overwhelming experience that mourns the lives lost while celebrating the courage of those like Schindler who dared to make a difference.
7. The Green Mile (1999)
Based on the Stephen King novel, The Green Mile stars Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard in the 1930s whose life is changed by an inmate with supernatural healing abilities played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Duncan’s gentle, childlike performance is the heart of the film. Watching his wrongfully convicted character face execution for a crime he didn’t commit is gut-wrenching. The film builds to a powerful, thought-provoking ending that will shake you to your core and stay with you long after. Hanks brings his trademark everyman decency to his role, making his character’s moral dilemma all the more impactful. Though it has fantastical elements, at its core The Green Mile is a poignant, heartbreaking story about the cruelty of the death penalty, the loss of innocence, and the power of redemption.
8. Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Pieces of a Woman stars Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf as a couple shattered by the loss of their newborn daughter. The film opens with a harrowing 30-minute single-take scene depicting the baby’s tragic home birth. Kirby is utterly devastating as a mother consumed by grief and depression in the aftermath. She completely transforms, making you feel her character’s anguish in your bones. LaBeouf is also excellent as the husband struggling to support his wife while processing his own pain. The film is an unflinching portrait of how the death of a child can tear a relationship and a person apart. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a cathartic one thanks to Kirby’s raw, fearless performance. Pieces of a Woman will hit especially hard for anyone who has experienced loss or grief.
9. The Lovely Bones (2009)
Based on the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones centers on Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), a 14-year-old girl who is brutally raped and murdered by her neighbor. Susie narrates the film from the afterlife as she watches her family grieve and struggle to move on. Ronan’s voiceover is deeply poignant, capturing the character’s innocence and longing. Watching Susie’s parents (Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz) grapple with her loss is heartbreaking. Stanley Tucci is skin-crawling as the killer, making Susie’s tragic fate all the more upsetting. Director Peter Jackson brings his signature visual flair to the afterlife scenes. The film strikes a delicate balance between tragedy and hope, showing how Susie’s loved ones slowly heal while she also finds peace. Though it tackles dark subject matter, The Lovely Bones is ultimately a moving, life-affirming story about a family’s love enduring after an unspeakable loss.
10. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Set during WWII, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas depicts the Holocaust through the eyes of two 8-year-old boys: Bruno (Asa Butterfield), the son of a Nazi commandant, and Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish prisoner in a concentration camp. The two form a secret, forbidden friendship, with Bruno initially naive to Shmuel’s circumstances. Watching the horrors of the Holocaust slowly dawn on Bruno is gutting. With the dramatic irony of the audience knowing more than him, every scene with the boys is laced with dread. The film’s final minutes are among the most devastating ever committed to film. The young actors are tremendously affecting in their roles. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking story about the loss of innocence and the human cost of hatred. Its child’s perspective on unimaginable evil is both deeply unsettling and profoundly moving.
11. Philomena (2013)
Philomena tells the true story of Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), an Irish woman who searches for the son she was forced to give up for adoption as a teenager. Steve Coogan co-stars as Martin Sixsmith, the journalist who helps Philomena look for her long-lost child. Dench gives a phenomenal performance filled with warmth, regret, and quiet strength. Watching Philomena reckon with the Catholic Church’s cruel treatment of “fallen women” like herself is infuriating and heartbreaking. The film flashes back to her time in the convent as a young woman, with Sophie Kennedy Clark excellent as the younger Philomena. Coogan and Dench have lovely odd-couple chemistry, bringing humor and heart to the tearjerking story. Philomena is a moving, beautifully acted drama about faith, forgiveness, and a mother’s unbreakable bond with her child.
12. I Am Sam (2001)
I Am Sam stars Sean Penn as a father with an intellectual disability fighting for custody of his 7-year-old daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning). As Lucy begins to surpass Sam intellectually, social workers try to take her away from him. Penn disappears into the role, giving a sensitive, transformative performance free of condescension. Fanning is wise beyond her years as Lucy, breaking your heart with her love for her father. Michelle Pfeiffer co-stars as the lawyer who takes on Sam’s case. The court scenes are gut-wrenching to watch, as Sam’s parental abilities are called into question. Though it can veer into sentimentality at times, I Am Sam is an earnest, unabashedly emotional film carried by Penn and Fanning’s powerful connection. Keep the Kleenex close by for this one.
13. Irreplaceable You (2018)
Irreplaceable You stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Michiel Huisman as Abbie and Sam, childhood sweethearts newly engaged to be married. Their lives are turned upside down when Abbie is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Knowing she’ll die soon, Abbie sets out to find a new girlfriend for Sam to fall in love with after she’s gone. Mbatha-Raw and Huisman’s palpable chemistry makes Abbie and Sam’s romance feel lived-in and true. Watching them grapple with the unfairness of their situation – building a life together only to have it snatched away – is deeply upsetting. The film doesn’t shy away from the realities of cancer, showing Abbie’s physical and emotional pain. Though the premise may sound melodramatic, Irreplaceable You mostly avoids clichés, grounding Abbie and Sam’s story in authentic, heartfelt emotion. Bring the tissues for this tearjerker romance.
14. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society follows Juliet Ashton (Lily James), a London writer who travels to Guernsey Island after WWII. There she meets the eccentric members of a book club formed as a front during the German occupation. She grows close to them, especially the handsome, brooding Dawsey (Michiel Huisman). Through flashbacks, Juliet learns about their experiences during the war, including what happened to Dawsey’s love Elizabeth (Jessica Brown Findlay). The film has a cozy, romantic charm while still depicting the horrors the islanders faced. Brown Findlay is particularly moving in the flashbacks. Watching her protect her friends while suffering abuse at the hands of German soldiers is heartbreaking. The ending is the kind of cry that feels cathartic and earned. With its picturesque setting and endearing characters, Guernsey is an old-fashioned tearjerker perfect for curling up with.
15. All the Bright Places (2020)
Based on the YA novel by Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places stars Elle Fanning and Justice Smith as two troubled teenagers who fall in love and help each other heal. Violet (Fanning) is grieving her sister’s death, while Finch (Smith) struggles with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The two meet when Finch talks Violet down from the ledge of a bridge. He then makes it his mission to help her embrace life again. Fanning and Smith have a tender, winning chemistry. The film thoughtfully depicts the realities of mental illness and how it can strain even the deepest connection. Finch’s manic pixie dream boy character is given nuance and depth by Smith’s sensitive performance. The devastating ending will leave you sobbing as it shows both the beauty and the tragedy of these two lost souls finding each other. All the Bright Places is an achingly bittersweet story of young love and loss.
16. Remember Me (2010)
Remember Me stars Robert Pattinson as Tyler, a troubled young man still reeling from his brother’s suicide. He starts a romance with Ally (Emilie de Ravin), a fellow NYU student who witnessed her mother’s murder as a child. The two bond over their shared grief and family issues. Pattinson delivers his best performance outside the Twilight films, bringing soulful depth to Tyler’s anger and vulnerability. His scenes with Ruby Jerins as his younger sister are especially poignant. The love story between Tyler and Ally is swoony and heartfelt, with a sense of two damaged people finding solace in each other. The film builds to an emotionally shattering ending that will leave you a sobbing wreck. It recontextualizes everything that came before, making you see Tyler and Ally’s story in a profound new light. Remember Me is a tearjerker romance that packs a devastating emotional punch.
17. The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Theory of Everything depicts the relationship between renowned physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife Jane (Felicity Jones). It follows their love story from their college meet-cute through Stephen’s ALS diagnosis and decades of marriage as his condition deteriorates. Redmayne won an Oscar for his physically and emotionally transformative performance as Hawking. He heartbreakingly captures Stephen’s frustration and fear as he loses control of his body. Jones is equally excellent as Jane, showing her devotion to Stephen even as his illness takes a toll on her. The film is an intimate, moving portrait of a marriage tested by extraordinary circumstances. Watching Stephen and Jane’s love evolve and strain under the weight of his condition is both inspiring and tragic. Keep tissues handy for the emotional gut-punch of an ending. The Theory of Everything is a beautifully acted tearjerker about love’s power and limits.
18. The Impossible (2012)
The Impossible tells the true story of a family’s struggle to reunite after being separated by the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor star as the parents, with Tom Holland in his breakout role as their eldestson. The film opens with a harrowing, visceral sequence depicting the tsunami hitting the Thai resort where the family is vacationing. Watts gives a raw, physically demanding performance as a mother fighting to survive and find her son. Her scenes of being battered by debris-filled water are difficult to watch. Holland is equally impressive as a boy forced to grow up quickly in order to help his injured mother and search for his missing father and brothers. The film builds unbearable tension as the family members struggle to find each other amidst the chaos and devastation. When they finally reunite, it’s an emotional release that will have you sobbing tears of relief. The Impossible is a powerful story of a family’s love and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
19. Lion (2016)
Lion tells the incredible true story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy who gets lost thousands of kilometers from home and is eventually adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, he uses Google Earth to find his birth family. Dev Patel stars as the adult Saroo, with Sunny Pawar giving a heartbreaking performance as young Saroo. The scenes of 5-year-old Saroo lost and alone on the streets of Calcutta are gut-wrenching to watch. Nicole Kidman and David Wenham play Saroo’s adoptive parents with warmth and sensitivity. The film builds to an incredibly moving climax as Saroo finally reunites with his birth mother. Patel’s face in this scene communicates a lifetime of longing and emotion. Lion is a profoundly touching story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the power of never giving up hope. It’s the kind of cry that feels cathartic and life-affirming.
20. A Monster Calls (2016)
Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls follows 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) as he struggles to cope with his mother’s terminal cancer. He’s visited by a giant yew tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) who tells him stories to help him process his grief. MacDougall gives a raw, heartbreaking performance as a boy angry at the world for taking his mother away. Felicity Jones is equally moving as Conor’s mom, trying to stay strong for her son while facing her own mortality. The monster’s stories are brought to life through stunning watercolor animations. As Conor learns to accept the inevitable loss of his mother, the film builds to a devastating emotional climax that will leave you sobbing. A Monster Calls is a powerful, visually stunning exploration of grief, loss, and the healing power of storytelling. It’s a cathartic cry for anyone who has lost a loved one.
21. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Based on John Green’s bestselling YA novel, The Fault in Our Stars follows the romance between two teens with cancer: Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort). Hazel is hesitant to get close to anyone, knowing her terminal diagnosis. But Gus’s charm and optimism break down her walls. Woodley and Elgort have lovely chemistry, making you root for their star-crossed love. The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of living with cancer, showing the physical and emotional toll it takes. Laura Dern and Sam Trammell are heartbreaking as Hazel’s parents, trying to stay strong for their daughter. The devastating third act will leave you an emotional wreck. Watching Hazel and Gus’s love story cut tragically short is gut-wrenching. The Fault in Our Stars is a beautiful, bittersweet romance about finding joy and meaning in the face of mortality.
22. My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
My Sister’s Keeper tells the story of Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin), a girl who was conceived to be a donor for her older sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) who has leukemia. When Anna sues for medical emancipation at age 11, it tears the family apart. Cameron Diaz gives a raw performance as the girls’ mother Sara, who will do anything to keep Kate alive. Watching the family grapple with impossible ethical dilemmas is deeply upsetting. The film doesn’t shy away from showing Kate’s physical suffering as her condition worsens. Vassilieva is particularly moving, capturing Kate’s weariness and desire to stop fighting. Alec Baldwin co-stars as the lawyer representing Anna. The courtroom scenes are gut-wrenching as Anna is forced to testify against her parents. My Sister’s Keeper builds to a devastating twist ending that will leave you sobbing. It’s a thought-provoking, emotionally wrenching drama about family, ethics, and letting go.
23. P.S. I Love You (2007)
P.S. I Love You stars Hilary Swank as Holly, a young widow struggling to move on after her husband Gerry (Gerard Butler) dies of a brain tumor. Before his death, Gerry arranged for Holly to receive a series of letters from him, each containing a task to help her heal and rediscover herself. Through flashbacks, we see Holly and Gerry’s love story unfold. Swank and Butler have winning chemistry in these scenes, making their romance feel lived-in and true. Watching Holly grieve is heartbreaking, with Swank capturing her character’s pain and anger. The supporting cast, including Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon as Holly’s friends, bring warmth and humor. As Holly follows Gerry’s instructions and slowly begins to heal, the film builds to an emotional catharsis. P.S. I Love You is a bittersweet romantic drama about the enduring power of love even after death.
24. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
The Pursuit of Happyness tells the inspiring true story of Chris Gardner (Will Smith), a struggling salesman who becomes homeless with his young son (Jaden Smith) while pursuing a stockbroker internship. Smith gives one of his best dramatic performances, bringing depth and nuance to Chris’s desperation and determination. His real-life son Jaden is equally affecting as 5-year-old Christopher. Watching them struggle to find shelter each night is gut-wrenching. One scene where they’re forced to sleep in a subway bathroom will break your heart. The film doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of homelessness and poverty. And yet, Chris’s unwavering love for his son and refusal to give up on his dreams is deeply inspiring. When Chris finally achieves success, it’s an emotional release that will have you sobbing tears of joy. The Pursuit of Happyness is an uplifting tearjerker about a father’s love and the power of perseverance.
25. Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump follows the extraordinary life of its simple-minded but pure-hearted title character, played to perfection by Tom Hanks in an Oscar-winning performance. As Forrest recounts his life story, we see him unknowingly influence several defining moments of the 20th century. But at its core, it’s a love story between Forrest and his childhood friend Jenny (Robin Wright). Watching Forrest’s unwavering devotion to Jenny, even as she repeatedly leaves him behind, is deeply moving. Wright brings complexity to Jenny, a troubled woman unable to accept Forrest’s unconditional love. The film’s emotional high points will leave you sobbing, from Forrest’s eulogy for Bubba to his final conversation with Jenny. Hanks disappears into the role, bringing warmth and innocence to Forrest. The bittersweet ending perfectly captures the film’s themes of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life. Forrest Gump is a heartwarming, tear-jerking classic that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
These 25 sad movies on Netflix are guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and leave you emotionally drained. From tragic romances to gut-wrenching dramas, there’s something here for every kind of crier. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand before you start watching!
Whether you’re in the mood for a cathartic sob or just want to feel something, these films deliver powerful emotional experiences. They tackle heavy themes like grief, loss, illness, and injustice with sensitivity and depth. Many are based on true stories or beloved novels, adding an extra layer of poignancy to their narratives.
So the next time you’re in the mood for an emotional rollercoaster, queue up one of these tearjerkers on Netflix. Just don’t forget the tissues – you’re going to need them!