Movies are often used to brighten one’s mood, have a fright, or simply just forget about life for a while. However, there are often times when someone needs to open the flood gates and have a good cry. There are countless movies that will guarantee a viewer will shed more than a few tears. Whether just a sad movie scene or an entire film, here are 10 of the saddest movies to watch when you need to let it all out.
10. Up
The Pixar films are some of the most beloved family movies of all time. even the ones that aren’t as well-received have something memorable about them. One thing they excel at is hitting audiences in the feels. Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking Pixar moments is found in Up and happens in the opening moments. The film opens by showing the relationship between Carl and Ellie. Things start out fantastic for the young couple. Audiences see them grow together and eventually marry. The heartbreak starts when it is revealed the two lost their baby. Things get even more gut-wrenching when Ellie passes away, leaving Carl alone. While much of the film is rather upbeat, this scene alone makes it one of the saddest movies.
9. My Girl
There was once a time when Mackuly Culkin was the top child star in the world. He charmed audiences in the John Candy film Uncle Buck and took the world by storm in Home Alone. When he appeared in My Girl a year after Home Alone, audiences were very aware of who he was. That makes this infamous sad movie scene all the more shocking. The film carries a somber tone throughout, as the main character’s father works as a funeral director out of their home, and her mother passed away during childbirth. Things get much worse when her best friend, played by Culkin, gets stung by a swarm of bees and dies. His funeral is held in her house of all places, and her begging him to wake up still haunts those who viewed it.
8. Marley & Me
Little can be said about why this film is sad that hasn’t been said before. The film is still fresh in the minds of audiences 14 years later and is still just as tear-jerking. The Owen Wilson-led film follows a family after they adopt a lab puppy. The dog, named Marley, is quickly called “The worst dog in the world” by Wilson. Marley is filled with love but is terribly misbehaved. The inevitable happens late in the film when Wilson makes the difficult decision to put Marley down after he becomes ill. The scene showcasing Marley’s final moments is sure to make even the most hardened person shed a tear. This scene alone is so powerful, it catapults the entire film as one of the saddest movies.
7. Old Yeller
If there is a drama with a dog as a central character, it is safe to assume something bad will happen to the dog before the end of the film. That trend was popularized by Disney’s Old Yeller. The film, based on the novel by the same name, is about a family that adopts a dog they name Old Yeller. To say Yeller becomes a member of the family is an understatement. He becomes just as important as any of the Coates family. In a heartbreaking moment, Old Yeller defends the family farm and becomes Rabid in the process. In one of the saddest movie scenes of all time, Yeller is put out of his misery. The scene is just as heartbreaking today as it was in 1957 and has earned its place as one of the saddest Disney movies.
6. Titanic
Whenever the topic of saddest movies is brought up, Titanic is nearly always mentioned. James Cameron’s epic, tragic love story is one of the most famous films of all time, and one watch makes it clear why. Anybody who knows anything about history knows the tragic fate of the titular ship, and the scenes showing the sinking are hard to watch. If one can sit through the sinking in one piece, then the death of Jack is sure to send them over the edge. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jack, one half of the film’s core love story. Rose manages to take refuge aboard a door, but Jack is left in the freezing water, where he dies holding Rose’s hand. The ending may be hopeful, but this audience still hasn’t gotten over this film in 25 years, with many still claiming Jack could have lived.
5. Field of Dreams
The relationship between a father and son is one of the most sacred one can have. Field of Dreams is more than a sappy baseball drama, it takes the idea of family and small-town America and shows it at its most vulnerable. Even hard, no-nonsense men have claimed this film has made them bawl their eyes out by the end. One doesn’t need to have a knowledge of sports to enjoy the film, as it appeals to everyone. Many claim this is Kevin Costner’s best film, and everyone should check out whether they want to cry or not. Just bring the tissues.
4. The Pursuit Of Happyness
Who knew that a film with the word happy in the title would be one of the saddest movies? The Pursuit of Happyness tells the very real story of Chris Garnder. Gardener, played by Will Smith, is a single father who has been evicted from his apartment. Along with his young son, played by Smith’s real-life son Jaden, Chris must find a place to sleep each night, all while keeping a happy face for his son. The entire film pulls at the heartstrings of anyone with emotions. Scenes such as the bathroom scene or Christopher losing his toy are all contenders for the saddest movie scenes of all time. The film showcases the sacrifices it takes to be a parent perfectly.
3. The Green Mile
Stephen King is a horror legend. How can a man who has caused so many nightmares be responsible for one of the saddest movies? With The Green Mile. Based on King’s serial novels, Green Mile isn’t a horror story but a story that explores the human spirit. The film follows Paul Edgecomb, the head of the death row block in a prison. A new prisoner is introduced, and the waterworks soon follow. This film has slight fantasy elements, but it is still realistic in the portrayal of the characters. There are several sad scenes, but John’s execution is sure to cause tears to flow long after the film has wrapped up.
2. Bridge To Terabithia
Again we have a film where the House of Mouse opens the flood gates. Disney’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s coming of age story is infamous for containing one of the saddest moments in all of film or literature. The film follows Jesse, a young loner who struggles to fit in. He soon meets Leslie, a girl who quickly befriends him and teaches him to open his mind to new possibilities. While the film’s big tragedy happens off-screen, its impact is felt heavily. The movie deals with what it means to grow up, even the hard parts. The film’s trailer has little to do with the movie, showcasing it as a fantasy adventure. If you skipped it because of this, it deserves a second look.
1. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Leonardo DiCaprio was a powerhouse actor even as a kid. Johnny Depp plays the titular Gilbert Grape, as he struggles to find his place while helping to raise his intellectually disabled younger brother Arnie (DiCaprio). The film is filled with heart, even though several dramatic scenes ground it in a big way. The scene where Gilbert lashes out at Arnie is sad for sure, but one scene near the end drives it home. Arnie comes across the body of his recently deceased mother. this is bad enough, but Arnie keeps trying to wake her up as he slowly realizes what has happened. DiCaprio’s acting is heartbreaking, and it is no surprise why he went on to win an Oscar.
