Why is it that we’re so obsessed with sad movies? Movies are supposed to make us feel happy, right? That’s why it’s called entertainment. While there are plenty of happy movies out there, there are also a huge amount of films that are so sad that at the end there’s not a dry eye in the house. These are the saddest movies of all.
The concepts of comedy and tragedy have been around for as long as theatre itself. As any Ancient Greek will tell you, the intention of great theater is to evoke some kind of catharsis, or emotional release, from the audience. Just as there’s a place for laughter in popular entertainment, there’s also always been a place for tears. Just ask Oedipus.
Great art – theatre and film included – makes us feel something. If art leaves you feeling absolutely nothing, it’s failed at its purpose. Great theatre (and great film) puts us in someone else’s shoes. It makes us sympathize with its characters and forces us to grapple with whatever they’re grappling with. We’re along for the ride, witnessing their journey in real-time. And when that journey ends tragically, if the story is properly told, it’s nearly impossible to not feel at least a twinge of emotion.
Watching these films – and possibly even just reading about them – might leave a lump in your throat, or they could turn you into a bawling, blubbery mess. They’re all films that have truly sad endings, with catharsis guaranteed. This should go without saying, but SPOILER ALERT! (If you’re looking for something a little bit lighter, check out the highest-grossing comedies of all time.)
“Schindler’s List” (1993)
“Schindler’s List” is the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German businessman who saved over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust. The entire movie is gut-wrenching, but the ending, in which Schindler breaks down over not having saved more lives, is particularly poignant.
“Life is Beautiful” (1997)
“Life is Beautiful” won the Best Actor Oscar for its star, writer, and director Roberto Benigni. This Italian film follows a Jewish man during the Holocaust named Guido, who uses his humor and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp. The ending, in which Guido sacrifices himself to protect his son, is devastating.
“The Green Mile” (1999)
Set on death row in a Southern prison, “The Green Mile” tells the story of the bond between a gentle giant named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) and a prison guard named Paul (Tom Hanks). Even though John is innocent, he is executed in the end.
“Grave of the Fireflies” (1988)
This animated film tells the tragic story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, struggling to survive in Japan during World War II. In the end, they sadly succumb to starvation and illness.
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (2008)
Also set during the Holocaust, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” follows a forbidden friendship between a young German boy named Bruno and a Jewish boy named Shmuel. Both meet a tragic fate in the film’s heartbreaking ending.
“Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
“Million Dollar Baby” tells the story of an underdog boxer (Hillary Swank) and her relationship with her grizzled trainer, Frankie (Clint Eastwood). At the end of the Best Picture-winning film, Maggie becomes paralyzed after hitting her head during a fight and convinces Frankie to end her life.
“Old Yeller” (1957)
This Disney classic, which takes place on the Texas frontier, follows the bond between a boy named Travis and his loyal dog, Old Yeller. In the tear-jerking ending, Travis must put down Old Yeller after the dog contracts rabies, also losing his innocence in the process.
“Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
This devastating Darren Aronofsky film explores the destructive effects of addiction on the lives of four characters. By the end of the film, each of these characters’ lives have spiraled out of control, leaving off on a very bleak note.
“Marley & Me” (2008)
Losing a pet is one of the most devastating things we can experience, and “Marley & Me” ends with the loss of a beloved family pet – but not before we spend years with the mischievous dog and the couple who loves him, played by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Proceed at your own risk.
“The Notebook” (2004)
One of the most devastating tear-jerkers of all time, “The Notebook” tells the love story of a couple named Noah and Allie, toggling through time so we see them young as their relationship blossoms as well as elderly when Allie is battling dementia. They die in each other’s arms at the end, and we still haven’t recovered.
“Manchester by the Sea” (2016)
“Manchester by the Sea” stars Casey Affleck as a depressed and grief-stricken man who grapples with his past while having to care for his nephew after the death of his brother. By the end of the film, Lee has somewhat come to terms with his tragic past (he was responsible for the death of his children in a fire) and is finding some semblance of closure.
“Atonement” (2007)
“Atonement” is set during World War II, and deals with the aftermath of a young girl making a false accusation that tears apart the lives of two lovers. Though the film appears to have a happy ending, at the very end it’s revealed that it’s a fictionalized version of events created by the young girl (now an elderly woman) to atone for her mistake. In reality, the couple died during the war.
“Bridge to Terabithia” (2007)
In this family drama, two young friends (played by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb) create a magical kingdom in the woods to cope with their troubled lives. At the end of the film, one of the friends dies after hitting her head. The other is left struggling to deal with his grief.
“My Girl” (1991)
A coming-of-age classic, “My Girl” tells the story of the friendship between a precocious 11-year-old girl named Vada (Anna Chlumsky) and a mild-mannered boy named Thomas (Macaulay Culkin) in 1972. At the film’s end, Thomas dies after being stung by bees, devastating Vada as well as an entire generation.
“Terms of Endearment” (1983)
“Terms of Endearment” follows the complex relationship between a mother and daughter (Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger) over the course of 30 years. The daughter is diagnosed with terminal cancer and passes away at the end. However, before her death, she affirms her love for her mother and entrusts her children to her care.
“The Elephant Man” (1980)
“The Elephant Man” tells the true story of a severely disfigured man named John Merrick, who finds acceptance and friendship in Victorian England. At the poignant end of the film, he finds dignity in his final moments before dying.
“Sophie’s Choice” (1982)
Quite possibly the saddest movie of all time, “Sophie’s Choice” stars Meryl Streep (who won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance) as a recent Polish immigrant to Brooklyn who recounts the story of her experience during the Holocaust, including having to choose which of her two children to send to the gas chamber. An already devastating film becomes even sadder at the end when she dies of suicide.
“A Walk to Remember” (2002)
“A Walk to Remember” is a coming-of-age romantic drama. It follows a rebellious teenager (Shane West) who befriends and eventually falls in love with the local minister’s daughter (Mandy Moore). After she confesses to him that she has leukemia, he vows to stay by her side until she dies, which happens shortly after they get married and spend a final summer together.
“Love Story” (1970)
The film that brought every Baby Boomer to tears, 1970’s “Love Story” follows the relationship between young lovers Jenny (Ali MacGraw) and Oliver (Ryan O’Neal). Jenny is diagnosed with a terminal illness and passes away, but not before uttering the film’s most iconic line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
“Titanic” (1997)
The true story of the sinking of the Titanic is overlaid with the fictional story of wealthy debutante Rose (Kate Winslet) and poor artist Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). The pair meet on the ill-fated liner and fall in love. “Titanic” was one of the biggest films of all time. It’s also one of the saddest, as the ship sinks at the end, with Jack dying shortly thereafter and Rose reuniting with him in the afterlife. Even though its ending is decidedly sad, it’s still a movie we love to watch over and over again.