20 movies that are guaranteed to make you cry

James Cameron’s masterpiece is an epic in every sense of the word, whether referring to run time, scale, or emotion. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are Jack and Rose, the star-crossed lovers who meet aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Cameron tugs at every possible heartstring with his central romance, set against the backdrop of real-life tragedy. The recreation of the ship sinking is as impressive as it is devastating, and the melody of “My Heart Will Go On” has the power to cue the waterworks instantly. 

Steven Spielberg’s chilling and grim portrayal of the Holocaust is a heavy watch that showcases the best and worst of humanity. It’s the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who turns his factory into a safe haven for Jewish people and saves thousands of lives. Shot in black and white, the film doesn’t shy away from man’s barbaric and evil history, and the final scene that features real-life survivors is a haunting and moving tribute to one of our darkest chapters. 

Life is Beautiful is as heartwarming as it is heart-wrenching. The Italian film follows Guido, a Jewish man who uses humor and imagination to protect his young son from the horrors of the concentration camp they are trapped in. He pretends the situation is a game, allowing his son to find joy in the darkness. The film is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and although the ending is full of hope, it is equally tragic in its outcome. 

Hailed as one of the greatest war films of all time, Studio Ghibli’s Grave of the Fireflies is a gut-wrenching experience. The film tells the story of a boy and his little sister fighting for survival in Japan after an American firebombing during World War II. Having lost their parents, the pair must rely on each other in a tale reminding viewers of war's human cost. The entire film is drenched in tragedy, but the bleak ending drives its message home.

While the entirety of Pixar’s Up is undoubtedly a masterpiece, it’s the film’s genius first ten minutes that will have viewers in tears. The wordless montage chronicles Carl and Ellie’s relationship from meeting as kids, getting married, living as husband and wife, being unable to have children, and planning their dream trip, all the way to Ellie’s sudden death. It beautifully foreshadows Carl’s journey for the rest of the movie and stands alone as a moving piece of storytelling.

While Bridge to Terabithia is a family movie about the power of childhood and friendship, its themes of loss and trauma are quite confronting and mature. The film follows friends Jesse and Leslie, who create the fantastical world of Terabithia to escape reality. As these friends immerse themselves in the magic of their imaginations, the film also grounds itself heavily in reality and takes a swing near its ending that might be one of the most upsetting moments in any children’s movie.

Based on the incredible true story, Lion follows Saroo, who is separated from his family in India as a child and adopted by an Australian couple. As an adult, Saroo searches for his birth parents, and his journey is an emotional rollercoaster. Young Saroo will steal your heart and break it into tiny pieces, and his homecoming as an adult will have you unabashedly sobbing. The film’s poignant ending also has the same effect if, for some unknown reason, you haven’t cried already.

Multiple versions of A Star Is Born have hit the screen over the years, but none more memorable and universally soul-crushing than Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake. It tells the story of country singer Jackson Maine, who falls in love with up-and-coming artist Ally. As Ally rises to stardom, Jackson is plagued by his alcoholism and personal demons. Cooper and Lady Gaga’s palpable chemistry makes their romance feel completely authentic and the tragedy of it all the more painful.

Animated Disney movies may be targeted toward children, but they sure know how to make grown adults cry. One prime example is The Fox and the Hound, which follows the unlikely friendship between a red fox and a hound dog. As the pair grow older, they become enemies due to their instincts and societal pressures. What’s so upsetting is the external circumstances that force these friends apart, and the film’s ending is also particularly traumatizing. 

As one of the greatest animated movies of all time, The Lion King has become one of Disney’s biggest hits and a timeless classic. Unless you have lived under a rock for the past thirty years, you’ll know it features the most traumatizing death scene in any animated movie. The film is an emotionally, visually, and musically epic experience, but the wildebeest sequence just hits on another level. You know it’s coming, but you still foolishly hope Mufasa can make it out alive. 

If you’re in the mood for happy tears, look no further than the 2022 Best Picture winner, CODA. The heartwarming drama follows Ruby, the only hearing person in her deaf family. She wants to pursue her passion for music but fears abandoning her family, who heavily rely on her. It’s a classic crowd-pleaser that tugs on every heartstring possible. Ruby’s final performance, where she sings and simultaneously signs for her family, is beautifully touching and warrants a packet or two of tissues. 

Room follows Jack and his mother, who have been held captive in a room for seven years and finally escape. As Jack was born and raised in captivity, he has never been outside and experienced the world for the first time. The film’s performances, including Brie Larson’s Oscar-winning turn, are breathtaking, but little Jack will melt your heart. Viewers will be deeply moved as he takes in the world with curiosity and innocence and his mother struggles to adjust to their new life.

Movies about cancer are usually always tearjerkers, but Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is even more emotional, thanks to how authentic and earnest it feels. The story follows awkward teen Greg, who is forced by his mom to befriend Rachel, who has leukemia. While the subject matter is grim, the film cleverly uses witty humor to deal with those themes without taking away their weight. The central friendship is the film’s emotional core, and a creative yet tragic sequence near its ending will stay with you long afterward.

Unless you have no heart, Marley & Me will leave you with swollen eyes, running home to your pets to give them a cuddle. The film follows a couple who adopt a puppy named Marley, who grows up with them and their children over several years. There’s plenty of adorableness and humor, but things take quite a turn when Marley becomes sick. You might be able to tell where this is headed, so it’s safe to prepare to have your heart ripped out of your chest. 

In 2020, the world lost the incredible Chadwick Boseman, aged 43, to cancer. Marvel had the impossible task of making a Black Panther sequel without its lead star but managed to do so by creating a loving and thoughtful tribute to its fallen hero. By sensitively weaving Boseman’s death into its narrative, the film acknowledges and carries on his legacy. Whether it’s the silent Marvel Studios intro or the emotional closing moments of the film, it’s a reminder of a talent taken far too soon. 

In A Man Called Otto , Tom Hanks plays against type as a grumpy widower who wants to end things. When a new family moves near him, his plans change as they help him find a new appreciation for life and people. The friendship Otto forms with enthusiastic neighbor Marisol is a touching joy to watch, and although the film explores mature themes of grief and death, it’s equally about the beauty of being alive. Its bittersweet ending brings this full circle. 

My Girl is the sweetly sad story of Vada, a feisty tween girl who is a hypochondriac. She is furious when her widowed father starts dating but finds comfort and stability in her friendship with a boy named Thomas Jay. While the film chronicles Vada’s trauma after losing her mother and this heartwarming friendship, a fatal bee allergy brings about a brutal gut punch of an ending that will have viewers howling. Be warned, and make sure to have the Kleenex handy.

Everybody loves an epic romance, and The Notebook will have even the most cynical viewers feeling all the feels. The iconic love story follows Noah, a poor man, and Allie, a rich woman, who fall in love one summer but are separated due to war and social differences. While the central romance is captivating, the flash-forwards of an old man reading their story to his sick wife really get the waterworks going. The tragic ending ties it together beautifully.

The inspiring romantic drama Me Before You follows Lou, who takes a job as a caretaker for Will, who has paralysis after a motorbike accident. As the two form a special bond, Lou becomes determined to show Will that life is worth living, but as Will deals with his condition and own mortality, it’s clear that his head is elsewhere. While the film’s bittersweet ending isn’t the result of something out of the character’s hands, it’s still just as tough to swallow. 

Stephen King is known for horror, but the guy knows how to pack an emotional wallop. Based on his serial novel, The Green Mile follows Paul, the head guard of a prison, who discovers that inmate John, who is on death row for murder, possesses a mysterious supernatural power. As Paul sees that John is gentle and kind, he tries to stop his execution. The film is a powerful experience that creates much empathy for its inmate characters, and its ending is both shattering and uplifting.