We all have those days when we could use a good cry, when we could bathe in the tragedy of fictional characters and feel a little less alone. Thankfully,Netflixhas an amazing selection of heart-wrenching andsad moviesthat provide those perfectly emotional, cathartic moments. Whether you need an escape from reality or simply want to treat your softer side, these sad anddramaticmovies will let your feelings flow in a safe space.
With so many choices available on the world’s largest streaming service, we’ve made it easier for you to find the perfect tearjerker to watch right now. Fromtouching love storiesfilled with loss and longing to moving dramas that highlight important social issues, Netflix’s vast library houses the kind of movies that will have you reaching out for tissues.
32Beyond the Universe (2022)
A bona fide tearjerker that operates on the lines between hope and despair,Beyond the Universesees Giulia Be starring as Nina, a young pianist who’s awaiting a kidney transplant. In one of herdarkest periods of life, Nina finds love and compassion in the man tasked with saving her life, Dr. Gabriel (Henrique Zaga). As the pair bond, the boundaries of their friendship transcend a normal relationship between a patient and a doctor, and Nina’s faith in life and her craft is restored.
A Love Story on the Edge of Death
This deeply moving film has many genuine moments that are upheld by a string of solid performances, paired with Kaue Zilli’s stunning cinematography. Henrique Zaga, who most recently starred inThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, has excellent chemistry with Giulia Be, making their fraught relationship feel all the more emotional by the time the credits roll. It’s a film with familiar plot beats, but it’s one that’ll tug on your heart nonetheless.
35 Sad Movies That Are Certified Tearjerkers
Looking for a sappy love story, the loss of a beloved pet, or a cruel reminder that the justice system isn’t fair? This list has a film for whatever gets you reaching for the tissues.
31Purple Hearts (2022)
Purple Hearts
Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum and based on Tess Wakefield’s novel of the same name,Purple Heartsfollows a struggling singer named Cassie (Sofia Carson) who gets married to a marine named Luke (Nicholas Galitzine) for military benefits. The relationship starts off as a marriage of convenience before the lines are blurred, and societal arrangement turns to a torrid wave of romance. The film was directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, whose prior credits include notable television shows likeWhy Women Kill,Dead to Me, andThe Vampire Diaries.
Love Blooms in a Marriage of Convenience
Apart from touching upon the conventional aspects of love in relationships,Purple Heartsalso delves into the trials and tribulations military men face to keep their personal lives afloat. Powered by Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine’s palpableoff-the-charts chemistry, along with a relationship that grows into something genuinely engaging,Purple Heartsmakes for quintessential, sad romantic viewing. Galitzine would later go on to have a modest role in the beloved 2023 comedyBottoms.
30Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beasts of No Nation
Seeing a child lose his innocence and be brainwashed into picking up arms is one of the saddest truths of life. Operating on this premise,Beasts of No Nationis packed with Idris Elba’s kinetic, brutal, and raw aura as he plays the role of an African warlord who brainwashes young boys into fighting for him. His latest recruit, Agu (Abraham Attah), is promptly swept up into the armed conflict after his home village is attacked by rebels. What follows is a harrowing journey for survival in a world of violence and political tension.
The Loss of Innocence
Cary Joji Fukunaga’s film sheds light on Africa’s war-torn conditions and the complete disregard for human life that festers in such environments. The film also serves as a watershed moment inIdris Elba’s career, as he gives one of his best performances to date, resulting in an equally horrifying and heartbreaking experience. Of course, credit also has to be doled out to Abraham Attah, who did an incredible job in his role given the film’s upsetting tone and grim subject.
29Brain on Fire (2016)
Brain on Fireis adapted from Susannah Cahalan’s memoir of the same name, andstars Chloë Grace Moretzas Susannah, a successful young journalist who suddenly becomes ill and displays symptoms of schizophrenia. As weeks progress, Susannah descends deeper into the depths of her thoughts and is on the cusp of losing her mind, when a doctor’s last-minute intervention saves Susannah’s life and provides her with a fresh ray of hope.
An Inescapable Mental Decline
Brain on Fireoffers a peep into the nightmarish scenarios related to schizophrenia and the lapses in the American healthcare system. Despite having some moments of complete heartbreak and despair, Gerard Barrett’s film also has an abundance of endearing moments and silver linings. Moretz also shines in her captivating performance alongside other impressive cast members, including Thomas Mann, Richard Armitage, Jenny Slate, Tyler Perry, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
28All the Bright Places (2020)
Adapted from Jennifer Niven’s novel, the story begins on a somber note. While on the run, Finch, portrayed by Justice Smith, encounters Violet,played by Elle Fanning. Violet is precariously perched on a bridge, giving the impression of someone contemplating suicide. Finch manages to talk her down, leading to an unexpected partnership for a school project. As their bond deepens, they uncover each other’s hidden pain. The central question becomes whether the warmth and connection they find in each other can provide solace from the inner demons they battle.
Trying to Conquer Demons in the Arms of Another
All the Bright Placesappeals to fans ofThe Fault in Our Starsas it offers another emotional journey of love emerging amidst personal struggles. This film stands out for its dedicated cast, including talents like Keegan-Michael Key and Lamar Johnson, delivering performances that are tender, contemplative, and undeniably heart-wrenching. It’s worth noting that director Brett Haley is best known for films like this, having previously directedHearts Beat LoudandI’ll See You in My Dreamsin 2018 and 2015, respectively.
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27Lost Girls (2020)
Adapted from Robert Kolker’s book, this drama narrates the authentic tale of Mari Gilbert (Amy Ryan), an unwavering mother who persistently urges law enforcement to initiate the search for her missing daughter, Shanna. Simultaneously, it unveils a series of unresolved homicides involving young sex workers on the South Shore barrier islands, attributed to the Long Island serial killer. Liz Garbus directed this feature, having previously worked extensively in therealm of documentarieswith projects likeWhat Happened, Miss Simone?andLove, Marilyn.
A Mother’s Quest for Justice
Liz Garbus skillfully allows the social themes withinLost Girlsto naturally surface through the fervent voices of the grieving mothers and sisters. While it differs from Garbus’s typical documentary style, this film possesses the potent storytelling prowess of non-fiction and effectively communicates the emotional essence of the narrative. This film also features a gripping early performance from Thomasin McKenzie, who would later shine in films likeThe Power of the DogandLast Night in Soho.
26Worth (2021)
In the 2020 biopicWorth,Michael Keaton takes on the roleof Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney entrusted with the challenging task of quantifying the worth of individual lives – a task he must repeat a thousand times. Specifically, he’s in charge of managing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The film delves into the painstaking two-year process undertaken by Feinberg, alongside his partner Camille Biross (Amy Ryan).
Finding Reparation for Those Wronged
Worthis a gripping cinematic experience, driven by powerful performances and real-life stories of 9/11 victims and survivors. It serves as a poignant reminder that a person’s value cannot be reduced to mere numbers or algorithms, emphasizing the inherent worth of every individual. Sara Colangelo previously directedThe Kindergarten Teacherin 2018, and while that film was more minuscule in its scope, the same level of emotionally-driven storytelling can be found in spades throughoutWorth.
25First Match (2018)
First Matchtells the story of Mo (Elvire Emanuelle), a teenager from Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, who’s been in and out of her foster homes her whole life. Her father, Darrel (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), is now out of prison, and Mo wants to live with him. When he refuses, Mo decides to join the boys’ wrestling team, hoping to change his mind because she knows he was a medal-winning champ in his prime. The film marks the feature-length directorial debut of Olivia Newman, who would later go on to directWhere the Crawdads Singin 2022.
Finding Inspiration Through Sports
This gritty and impactful movie won both the Audience Award and the Gamechanger Award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Elvire Emanuelle shines as the determined Mo, both on and off the wrestling mat. It’s part inspirational sports movie and partraw family drama, shedding light on the unfortunate truth that sometimes the people we fight hardest for may not want us to succeed. This heartwrenching drama also features an impressive early performance from Jharrel Jerome (I’m a Virgo,Moonlight).
24tick, tick… BOOM! (2021)
tick, tick… BOOM!
We’ve all been there: doubting and contemplating our life choices, rolling off the ‘what ifs’ in our darkest moments, especially when our dreams look like they’re destined to fail. Inthis faithful and poignant adaptation of a musician’s true story, Andrew Garfield glows as Jonathan Larson, the late legendary composer behindRent.tick, tick… BOOM!follows Larson around on his many attempts at perfecting his work and still feeling inadequate about himself while also dealing with the trials of love and relationships. As his 30th birthday looms, Larson pours heart and soul into the passionate project, just hoping for his big break. However, the clock is ticking and success seems ever so out of reach because the rejections are piling up.
Pouring Heart and Soul into the Arts
The movie portrays Larson’s struggle accurately, the gut-wrenching wait for a life-changing success, only to pass before you even see it happen – beautiful and raw. It’s particularly notable for its director, whom you may already be familiar with if you’re a fan of musicals. The talented Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton,In the Heights) directed this film in his one and only director role so far, capturing the tearjerker story behind one of the most prominent musicals in Broadway history.
23The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name,The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Societyis set in post-war London. Juliet Ashton (Lily James) is a free-spirited author who begins a correspondence with the residents of Guernsey Island and the society they found when the country was underGerman occupation in WWII. Through bundles of letters exchanged and information shared over months, Juliet finds vivid glimpses of the island’s characters and their moving histories. She is so touched by their stories that she begins to picture what the scene must have looked like back then.
Love in the Time of War
Lily James is absolutely stellar as Juliet. She engages your emotions with those of the islanders’ and makes you feel the hardships they faced and the resilience they showed. In a way, the film writes a page-turning story by itself, celebrating people and the power of literature. Along with Lily James, Glen Powell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matthew Goode, and Michiel Huisman make up the rest of the main cast, bringing this unconventionally touching story to life under the direction of Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco,Four Weddings and a Funeral).
