*Please look up trigger warnings for all recommended movies
I love crying. I’m not ashamed of it. I’ll cry on public transit, at a theatre, in the library, you name it. My favourite books, TV shows, and movies are all emotional rollercoasters. If you’re into experiencing the full range of human emotions, here are some sob-worthy movies that are guaranteed to bring on the tears.
1. Aftersun (2022)
I thirst-watched this for Paul Mescal, hoping to indulge in an indie movie about a (hot) single dad. Without having read about or watched any trailers for the movie, I was blindsided by how tragic it was. The heart of the movie takes place in flashbacks, as a daughter reflects on a vacation she took with her father 20 years earlier. Themes of childhood innocence, family, and depression are always a recipe for tears.
2. Four Good Days (2020)
I watched this on a plane. Let’s just say that was a big mistake. I don’t know what it is about air travel, but movies always seem a thousand times sadder when you’re sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers. Mila Kunis plays a long-suffering heroin addict, appearing on her mother’s doorstep seeking help. Their relationship is strained but enduring, and it broke my heart over and over to watch them both suffer the throes of addiction. I was pretty much inconsolable by the end of it, and had to ask the person next to me to move so I could go compose myself in the airplane toilet.
3. Room (2015)
You might sense a theme here… sad family dramas. They get me every time. This one’s about a young woman (played by Brie Larson) who lives in captivity with her son and their abuser, and their determination to survive. It’s devastating and honest-to-goodness terrifying. As a young woman myself, it was deeply disturbing to imagine living out this storyline. As horrific as it is, the mother-son relationship draws you in and keeps a hold of you from start to finish. I wouldn’t recommend watching this without a box of tissues nearby.
4. Into The Wild (2007)
The words “based on a true story” are a surefire way to get me sobbing. I read the biography that this movie was based on, so I knew what I was getting into from the get-go. Still, it absolutely tore me apart. In 1992, new grad Chris McCandless gave his entire $24,000 savings to charity, ditched his car, and ventured into the Alaskan wilderness. I felt like this movie was about idealism and human connection, and how you can easily lose both. This is the kind of story that sticks with you, so good luck keeping your eyes dry.
5. The Truman Show (1998)
As a child of the 2000s, I don’t even remember the first time I watched this movie. I grew up knowing that I could put this on and have a truly cathartic experience. Have you ever thought “What if my life was a TV show?”. Well, that’s The Truman Show in a nutshell. Jim Carrey is iconic in this role, and he plays the line between humour and tragedy like nobody else could. Waterproof mascara is a MUST if you want to make it through the last 30 minutes without looking like you’ve been crying for days.
6. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
This is a story about an old man and his loyal dog. Enough said.
7. Palm Springs (2020)
I watched and then repeatedly re-watched this movie over reading week last term, back when I had plenty of time to sit around in a puddle of my own tears. Basically, two lovable but troubled characters are stuck reliving the same day over and over. And they just have to figure it out. I’m not really sure what genre this movie is, maybe Romcom-SciFi-Comedy? I’d describe it as Groundhog Day meets The Hangover meets My Best Friend’s Wedding…plus The Matrix? As funny as it is, it’s also surprisingly emotionally charged. There are several gut-wrenching plot twists that triggered my emotional breakdown. It helps that I’d do just about anything for Andy Samberg (including cry my eyes out).
8. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
I read this classic John Green novel in one sitting on the eve of my 14th birthday, and I will never forget how it destroyed my mood for the entire week. The movie features YA all-stars, Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, as teen cancer patients and ill-fated lovers. You know how the story ends from the start, so the entire watch is one big waterfall of tears. Like any good coming of age story, this one’s at times pretentious (“it’s a metaphor, Hazel Grace”), but it’ll absolutely wreck you if you let it take you on its ridiculous ride. There’s a reason this is one of the most well-known titles from the 2010s.
9. Me Before You (2016)
I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve seen this movie. Pretty much every single time I’ve watched it, I’ve cried because it’s just such a beautiful, tragic love story. This romance is about a very bubbly woman hired as a caretaker for a very cynical, grumpy, wealthy banker who became paralyzed years earlier from a tragic accident. Of course, they fall for each other and drama ensues. It’s both adorable and a tear-jerker, not to mention Hunger Games hottie Sam Claflin is absolutely stellar in it.
10. Eighth Grade (2018)
For any girl who went through a middle-school awkward phase, this movie is sure to leave you wrecked with sad nostalgia. It will leave you with a deeply familiar sense of insecurity and the crushing desire to be cool, loved, and popular. Maybe you’ll remember who you wanted to be when you grew up, and reevaluate who you are now. It completely ruined my night… and I totally loved it! Best enjoyed with an oversized bowl of popcorn, while wearing the ratty pajamas you’ve kept for way too many years.
