Movies that make people cry every time touch the deepest parts of our hearts. They pull at our emotions with stories of love lost, lives cut short, family bonds broken, and quiet struggles that feel all too real. These films stick with you long after the credits roll, often leaving viewers reaching for tissues no matter how many times they watch. What makes them so powerful is how they show human pain in ways that feel honest and raw, reminding us of our own vulnerabilities.
One of the top tearjerkers is The Notebook from 2004. This romantic drama stars Ryan Gosling as Noah and Rachel McAdams as Allie. Their love story starts young and fierce, but life pulls them apart with class differences, wars, and tough choices. Noah builds a dream house to win her back, and their reunion scenes are pure magic. Yet the real heartbreak hits in the later years when old age and memory loss test their bond. Allie forgets Noah over and over, but he reads their story from a notebook to bring her back each time. The moments where she remembers just enough to feel their love, only to slip away again, have made grown adults sob uncontrollably. People say they tear up from the start and end up with chest-heaving cries by the finish, ruining their makeup completely.[1]
Me Before You from 2015 delivers another punch to the gut with its mix of humor and tragedy. Emilia Clarke plays Louisa, a quirky caregiver hired to look after Will, played by Sam Claflin. Will is a wealthy young man paralyzed from a motorcycle accident, full of wit but trapped in a body that no longer works. Louisa brings color to his gray world with her bright outfits and endless energy. They fall deeply in love, sharing laughs, travels, and intimate talks. But Will has a secret plan to end his life because he cannot see a future worth living. The film builds to a devastating choice where love clashes with personal freedom. Viewers often describe ugly crying sessions, the kind where you hug a pillow and text loved ones out of overwhelming emotion.[1]
Jojo Rabbit from 2019 blends dark comedy with profound sadness in a World War II setting. Roman Griffin Davis stars as Jojo, a boy whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler, played by Taika Waititi. Jojo idolizes the Nazis until he finds out his mother, Scarlett Johansson, hides a Jewish girl named Elsa, played by Thomasin McKenzie, in their attic. The second half shifts from laughs to tears as Jojo faces the horrors of war, loss, and his own innocence shattered. The ugly truths about Nazi Germany hit hard, turning the film into one long emotional release. Fans report crying, laughing, and wincing before full sobs take over.[1]
Fruitvale Station from 2013 tells the true story of Oscar Grant, played by Michael B. Jordan. It shows his last day alive in 2008, full of small joys like buying food for his mom and playing with his daughter. Oscar is flawed but loving, trying to turn his life around. The film builds quiet hope before the brutal police shooting on a train platform in Oakland. Getting to know Oscar makes his real death feel personal and unjust. Many watch it and end up with deep, shower-level cries over the world’s unfairness.[1]
Brokeback Mountain from 2005 captures forbidden love in the American West. Heath Ledger is Ennis and Jake Gyllenhaal is Jack, two cowboys who meet in 1963 and share a summer of passion herding sheep. They part ways but reunite over decades, stolen moments amid marriages and kids. The final scene destroys hearts when Ennis finds Jack’s blood-stained shirt in his closet, a relic of their fight and undying love. Society’s homophobia kept them apart, and Jack’s death leaves Ennis alone with regret. That shirt reveal has left audiences wrecked, pondering lost chances.[2]
The Lord of the Rings films have scenes that hit like waves of grief. In The Two Towers, Boromir’s death stands out. Sean Bean plays the warrior who falters but redeems himself by fighting orcs to save hobbits Merry and Pippin. His tearful talk with Aragorn, pledging loyalty, pulls heartstrings as arrows take him down. Another gut punch is Haldir’s sacrifice in the same film, a brief elf warrior dying quietly amid battle chaos. These moments remind us of loyalty and fleeting bravery in war.[2]
Avengers: Infinity War from 2018 shocked superhero fans with real stakes. Thanos snaps half of all life away, and Spider-Man’s fade-out is the most tearful. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker clings to Tony Stark, saying he does not feel good as dust takes him. His youth and trust in his mentor make it unbearable, turning cheers to sobs in theaters.[2]
Mystic River from 2003 weaves childhood trauma into adult pain. Three friends suffer when one girl vanishes, suspected murdered. Years later, Sean Penn’s Jimmy seeks revenge, blinded by grief. The twist reveals he kills the wrong person, his own daughter’s friend, in rage. It shows how pain twists love into more tragedy, leaving viewers heartbroken over rippling losses.[3]
Remember Me from 2010 builds a sweet romance between Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson, and Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin. Tyler deals with family strife after his brother’s suicide. Just as hope blooms, the twist hits: Tyler is on the second plane in the World Trade Center on 9/11. His dad sees a photo of Tyler’s hand with his kid’s drawing, too late. The sudden cruelty of fate after healing turns films into pure regret.[3]
My Sister’s Keeper from 2009 follows Anna suing for medical freedom. She’s born to donate to her leukemia-stricken sister Kate, played by Sofia Vassilieva. Their mom pushes treatments, but Kate wants peace. Flashbacks show sisterly love amid hospital hell. The end reveals Kate chose to stop fighting, using Anna’s suit to die on her terms. Goodbyes between them ache with selfless love.[3]
Buried from 2010 traps Ryan Reynolds as Paul in a coffin underground. He fights for rescue via phone, calling family and officials. Each failed plea builds terror, ending in quiet acceptance. Sharing his fear second by second makes his end feel like our own, a raw look at isolation.[3]
Dancer in the Dark from 2000 stars Bjork as Selma, a Czech immigrant losing her sight in 1960s America. She works factory jobs and loves musical fantasies to escape. Saving for her son’s eye surgery, she’s wrongly accused of theft and faces execution. Her songs turn tragic as innocence crumbles. It’s relentlessly bleak, earning its spot as a musical downer that breaks even tough viewers.[4]
Manchester by the Sea from 2016 stars Casey Affleck as Lee, gutted by losing his kids in a fire he blames himself for. He returns home to care for his nephew after his brother’s death. Quiet scenes of grief, like staring at old home videos, feel mortifyingly real. No big speeches, just unending sorrow that mirrors true loss.[4]
An Elephan
