Movies have the power to transport us to different worlds and immerse us in their stories. As we watch, we feel what the characters are feeling, our hearts breaking when they do — as long as the movie's any good, that is.
Whether it's a tragic ending or an emotional goodbye, these 13 movies are sure to leave you with an empty tissue box and an emotional hangover. Don't say we didn't warn you.
1: Life is Beautiful (1997)
For many on Reddit, it's the movie Life is Beautiful.
“That movie broke me,” u/Snoretortle explained. “Watched it once, and I absolutely loved it and I point blank refuse to ever watch it again. Honestly, I believe that if I think about it any longer, I will start to cry again.”
2: Jojo Rabbit (2019)
u/okietarheel suggested, “Jojo Rabbit.”
“Those shoes hit like a freight train the first time I watched,” added u/TheShark24.
3: Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
u/HelfulRN replied with the documentary, “Dear Zachary.”
Other Redditors like u/normal_jeans agreed. “Also came to say Dear Zachary. Never cried over a film like that before or since.”
u/blurr77 added, “One of the few movies that really made an impact on me and at the same time I would not want any friends to watch.”
4: Million Dollar Baby (2004)
u/alotalotabit suggested, “Million dollar baby.”
“I was expecting this to be a feel-good Rockyesque movie,” added u/rf8350. “I was wrong.”
5: Pan's Labrynth (2006)
u/mackiebobo shared, “Pan's Labyrinth. That's the only movie where I physically cried during the credits.”
u/EvLokadottr saw the film on a date once and said that “everyone left the theatre in silence or tears. We ended up having a deep discussion about childhood trauma and abuse instead of getting laid.”
6: Grave of The Fireflies (1988)
u/HiMaintainceMachine responded, “Grave of The Fireflies.”
“That sh** was depressing from the beginning,” replied u/jbobeffrey. “Beautiful movie, but I don’t think I could ever watch it again.”
But some Redditors, like u/redditcasual6969, take a different approach. “That shit was depressing from the beginning. Beautiful movie, but I don’t think I could ever watch it again.”
7: Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
u/Constant_Ad217 suggested, “Bridge to terabithia.”
More like, “Bridge to Ripping My God Damn Heart Out,” as u/AReallyAsianName put it.
8: My Girl (1991)
u/LaundromatSLO loves, “My Girl.”
“I watched this as an adult. I was an editor making cable edits on movies at the time and this movie came up,” shared u/ukudancer. “None of the women wanted to take it on. I've never seen it before, but I remembered seeing the VHS boxes when I was a kid, so I figured it'd be a nice easy coming of age film. I was soooo wrong.”
“What's worse is that I had to watch it like 5 times because I had to cut the running time, write a commercial, and edit the commercial for the film. I was wrecked for a whole week.”
9: The Pianist (2002)
u/el_tigresa said, “The Pianist broke something inside of me.”
u/bikey_bike agreed. “fr. Adrian Brody has resting sad face. he breaks my heart even in comedies.”
10: Marley and Me (2008)
u/stephaniem44 answered, “Marley and Me 😭”
“Seeing that dog's decline killed me,” added u/DCJustSomeone.
11: Empire of the Sun (1987)
u/Spodson said, “Empire of the Sun. Because of this movie I can never see Christian Bale as a “child actor.” He was just a young actor who could really get into character.”
12: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
u/1q8b shared, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.”
“I knew exactly how it would end but it still destroyed me anyway,” said u/scattertheashes01. “Such a horrific ending.”
13: First Blood (1982)
“First Blood. When I was young, it made me sad to see him crying,” replied u/gaffimaster.”
“Now that I am older, I realize the PTSD and it is just as sad. I think Stallone did an excellent job in this movie. I know he gets a lot of crap but he really nailed that scene.”
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Maya (she/they) is a queer entertainment and culture journalist. They cover interviews, reviews, roundups, news, and more. She loves horror, history, and creativity. They hope their writing both entertains readers and inspires them to think critically. Her favorite pastimes include needle felting, gaming, and drawing.