Some filmmakers and actors join forces to create projects that leave audiences feeling fuzzy on the inside. These films inspire a new, more optimistic outlook on life, allow us tobelieve in love again(or for the first time), and encourage us not to give up on our dreams. Viewers leave the theater or exit the screen with a smile on their faces. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are movies that make those who watch it want to curl up into a ball.
“Cynical” and “depressing” may not be adjectives most want to be associated with themselves or their lives. But these heavier films do serve a great purpose. They can allow individuals to feel seen and understood, provide a safe and distant outlet, or sometimes, just validate that things can suck. Whether these films achieve it through a character’s mindset or plot choices, many gravitate toward these downer stories. Here are 15 cynical movies that are just downright depressing.
15Atonement (2007)
Atonementis a war romance based on a novel by Ian McEwan. Briony Tallis is a young girl living in England during the 1930s. She is very interested in the relationship betweenher older sister, Cecilia, and the housekeeper’s son, Robbie. This interest only grows when she reads a letter in which Robbie professes his attraction towards Cecilia, and she later sees them having sex. But Briony doesn’t believe it’s consensual, and when an assault takes place on a young girl on their estate, it’s no surprise who she implicates.
A Not-So Storybook Ending
This film had all the setup to be a classic historical romance. While it pulls on viewers' heartstrings in the first act, it shifts into a much more somber story later on. Robbie went to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, while the actual perpetrator got a happy ending. As a result, he joins the army and is injured, but it looks like things are on the mend as he and Cecilia reunite. But all is not how it seems. This film delves into how tall of an order taking responsibility for your wrongs sometimes is for many people, and reminds us that good people don’t always get a happy ending.Rent on Apple TV
14The Vanishing (2019)
The Vanishing
The Vanishingtakes audiences to the Flannan Isle of Scotland, where a real-life lighthouse crew disappeared in 1900. James, Donald, and Thomas are on a six-week shift tending to the lighthouse. After a tumultuous storm, the men discover a boat and a man who appears injured. The man attacks Donald, who smashes him with a rock in defense, killing him. A chest also washed up with the man, and the crew members find gold inside. Now, they have to agree on what to do with their newfound fortune and if they can trust each other with it.
Is It Human Nature?
Being a true story makes this psychological thriller all the more depressing (and eerie). Glimpses of the men’s lives are shown and discussed. One has a family, another is grieving, and the other is just starting his career. It’s sad to see how these normal people changed due to greed. The gold’s allure is too much to resist, and what they do to hold onto it is nothing short of cynical. Would most people turn to depraved acts if wealth were guaranteed? This film toys with that question and will leave a sour taste in viewers' mouths.Stream on Freevee
13Planet of the Apes (2001)
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apesis a science fiction film directed by Tim Burton and adapted from a novel by Pierre Boulle. It serves as the sixth addition to thePlanet of the Apesseries. Set in the far-off year of 2029, it follows Leo Davidson, an astronaut working on a space station with his ape colleagues. After having to make a crash landing, he’s taken aback to see, on this planet, human-like apes are the dominant species and humans are subservient to them.
Not What It Seems
Any film that shows humanity getting overrun by another species is sure to be a bit of a bummer. However,Planet of the Apesgoes further by showing the hands humans potentially played in their own demise. Many sci-fi films invite discussions about humans' role in destroying the planet, and here is no different. For much of the movie, viewers and Leo himself can put a bit of separation between what’s happening on this distant planet — until, that is, he returns to Earth at the end and everything is turned on its head.Stream on Hulu
12Stand By Me (1986)
Stand by Me
Stand By Meis a must-watch film for lovers of coming-of-age stories. Originating from one of Stephen King’s works, it revolves around a boy named Gordie, his three friends, and a Labor Day weekend that changed their lives forever. Unfortunately, hard times aren’t a foreign concept for Gordie. His older brother died, and his parents don’t bother paying attention to their surviving child. Gordie and his friends decide to search for the body of a missing boy. Along the way, they encounter bullies, wild dogs, leeches, and more. But the most important journey is the one taking place within them.
(N)everlasting Friendship
Some movies make us want to run outside and become best friends with the first person we encounter. Others make us vow never to get close to another person because the potential pain of losing them is too great. Guess which oneStand By Meis. Lovers of this film appreciate the nuanced and authentic portrayal of the boys' friendship. People don’t always stay bonded to those who are present at pivotal moments in their lives. Despite understanding this, the portions ofStand By Methat dive into their adulthood aren’t any easier to swallow.Stream on Netflix
11My Girl (1991)
Vada inMy Girldoesn’t have the typical home life of her peers in her Pennsylvania hometown during the ’70s. Her dad runs a funeral home, which doubles as her household. Due to this, death and getting sick are always on her mind. Luckily, she has Thomas J. as a friend to keep her company through a summer in which she’s experiencing many changes: her father starts dating a woman whom Vada thought she could trust; she has a growing crush on her teacher; and she starts wondering if it’s her fault that her mom died. Viewers become invested in her and Thomas' friendship, accepting that, when all else fails, at least they’ll have each other.
Talkin' ‘Bout My Girl
A large subset of cinephiles prefer films wherechildren characters’ innocenceremains intact and they receive their happily ever after. Anytime “adult” issues and themes infiltrate stories involving kids, it reminds us that the world is not as rosy as we once believed. The anguish Vada experiences would be enough for any adult to crack, let alone an 11-year-old.My Girlis a true dramedy, so there are definitely comedic moments to dilute some of the heavier scenes. Still, the sad moments are what stick out the most for viewers and can leave many with the thought: life just isn’t fair.Stream on Paramount+
10Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Million Dollar Baby
When Maggie Fitzgerald shows up at the boxing gym Frankie owns inMillion Dollar Baby, he doesn’t anticipate that she wants him to train her. But her being a woman (and an older one at that) compel Frankie to deny her request. But after his star boxer signs with someone else, Frankie takes her up on the offer. It’s not just the challenges Maggie will face that cause him to keep her at arm’s length, but the reminders she brings of Frankie’s own daughter and their strained relationship. Thus starts a mentor-mentee relationship where both individuals will have to overcome the ghosts of their past to succeed.
When Life Knocks You Down
Million Dollar Babyin many ways, is a classic underdog story. As a woman boxer, she has to overcome so many obstacles within herself and the sport as a whole. But the filmmakers must’ve ignored the hallmark of underdog narratives: the protagonist normally comes out on top. After so much fighting, Maggie’s progress is thwarted by a crooked opponent. Depending on which way viewers look at it, Maggie did have her happy ending. Another very valid (and very depressing) viewpoint is that no matter how hard you try, if life wants to throw a wrench into things, sometimes there’s little we can do to stop it.Rent on Apple TV
9The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile
The Green Mileis about a death row prison guard named Paul Edgecomb. Being surrounded by death and criminals is tough, but the abuse of power by fellow officers is an unexpected challenge of the job. A new inmate named John enters his vicinity, a Black man convicted of the rape and murder of two white girls, a crime not so uncommon back in the ’30s. John is subject to racism and assaults, but Paul notices something special in him. The ability to heal with his touch and other powers. As he learns more, Paul suspects that John is about to be executed for a crime he didn’t commit.
Better Off Dead?
Anytime a film broaches the false convictions of anan innocent prisoner, it can spark a lot of outrage. Add in the racial implications, and this film is already laying the foundation for a depressing experience. However, what makes this film cynical is John’s acceptance of — and even preference for — death rather than continuing to live in a racist, cruel world. All the experiences John had and the dehumanization of him and the other inmates lead viewers to agree (even a little bit) with this depressing point of view.Rent on Apple TV
Related:The Green Mile: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Cast and Production
8Precious (2009)
Preciousfollows the titular character, a 16-year-old girl growing up in Harlem with her mother, Mary. Precious has a child, who is the product of rape and incest and has Down syndrome. Precious' father subjected her to constant abuse, physical and sexual, and now the former is taken over by Mary. Now pregnant with her second child by her father, Precious is forced to attend an alternative school. But living in extreme poverty and still deep in the horrors of her upbringing, Precious wonders if there’s a light at the end of this pitch-black tunnel.
Inherited Challenges
Some viewers won’t viewPrecious' overall message as cynical or depressing. She’s trying to turn her life around, is learning how to read at a more advanced level, and walks away from her abusive mother. That’s one way to view it. A more cynical interpretation is the little control we have over our lives. We can’t control who our parents are, what baggage and unhealthy behavior they carry on, and sometimes we are a product of our environment. While seeing Precious stand on her own two feet is encouraging, it’s also a sad fact that she will continue to struggle and face countless roadblocks solely due to the unfortunate hand she was dealt in life.Stream on Peacock
7The Descent (2005)
The Descent
Sarah loved doing adventurous, adrenaline-spiking activities inThe Descent. After the death of her husband and daughter, she lost herself. But a year after the tragedy, she and her friends decide to head to the Appalachian Mountains, rent a cabin, and explore caves. Things become less exhilarating and more dire when the ladies become trapped within. They have each other, sure, but they also have the company ofhorrifying humanoid creaturesthat begin picking them off one by one.
Real World Implications
Granted, horror films aren’t typically uplifting and hopeful. But even within the genre, viewers often see an ending where the main character and one or two companions stagger their way toward safety after a terrifying ordeal. Even though we understand that protagonists need to struggle in order to grow, Sarah is put through the wringer. It’s entertaining on one end as a film lover, but exhausting and depressing when thinking about how it translates to a real-world context. Loss of family, friends, and, herself — nobody loves thinking about these things, yet it’s front and center inThe Descent.Rent on Apple TV
6Memento (2001)
Christopher Nolan’sMementois about a man named Leonard seeking justice and revenge against the people who killed his wife and caused his anterograde amnesia. With this condition, Leonard cannot form new memories and experiences short-term memory loss. Despite his difficulty piecing together much of his past, the love he had for his wife and glimpses of that day are enough to keep him focused on his pursuit.
Lost in Your Own Mind
A character suffering from amnesia gets plenty of movie lovers on the defensive. If not executed correctly, it can seem like a cheap and lazy way to manufacture conflict and present obstacles unrelated to the plot. InMemento, it seems like a very intentional choice. What also feels intentional is the message of being unable to escape your mind and thought spirals. Viewers agree with Leonard’s motivations, but as the film continues, discomfort starts to crop up. Leonard is so motivated by his hatred that he appears to have lost himself and his purpose of living because he refuses to face a traumatic past.Stream on Peacock
