"This Film Should Be Illegal" – 31 Devastatingly Sad Movies That'll Get You Sobbing Into 2024 (2025)

"I went to see it with a friend…. Starts all fun and laughs and then goes to a real gut punch. I was full-on ugly crying as was my friend. It was the first and only time I have been full-on sobbing in a cinema. Went home and gave my lab a big hug and lots of love."

—loz1986

"It's just so heartbreaking."

—mkennedyb88

"Watched it one night by myself, not knowing what it was about. I expected a light-hearted anime in the style of Studio Ghibli, but what I got was 30 minutes of full-on snot bubble sobbing at the end."

—karlkarloffs

"I bawled for hours after that movie."

—abigaillewis7060

"It's one of the finest Christian Bale performances of his career to date."

—emmam4f8580614

"Michael Jeter’s character is perfection and Robin Williams is amazing. I cried my eyes out during and after the film."

—laurav9

"It has to be here. That closing scene..."

—michaelwgilbert

"I was a mess after watching it. I sat in the cinema with red, puffy eyes and a snotty nose because I was in absolute bits, I was mortified when the lights came up."

—vellichords

"I watched once 15 years ago and it still haunts me."

—fantasyfound17

"It gets to me every time. Seeing Leo DiCaprio’s character battle with addiction and begging his mom for help."

—jennymjimenez212

"That movie is in my top five 'made me cry so hard can’t actually talk about it out loud'."

—natashayanikyan

"We watched Lion in class at my high school when it came out and I cried in front of everyone."

—rorygilmore07

"This film should be illegal."

—rorygilmore07

"It completely wrecked me. My six-year-old was very concerned about how much I was crying."

—francesjoys

"I almost threw up I was crying so hard."

—francesjoys

"It had me straight ugly sobbing during the montage at the end. I know so many people didn’t like it but I genuinely love that movie and the combined emotions at the end of the film were too much. Maybe it’s just because of how much I related to their relationship so seeing that ending killed me."

—kgblincoe1022

"I got emotional just reading the tiny few lines of it. I watched it as a 12-year-old with my best friend – at 45 I still have that same best friend and it still gets me."

—imaflamibgo

"I have watched it so many times and I cry every single time. When Riley breaks down because she finally lets sadness take over the controls. I had to go to a new school senior year and it was just the worst time of my life.

I had to start all over trying to make friends and slowly grow apart from my existing friends. I felt abandoned and angry and everything about that time was hard. My parents don't understand to this day how traumatic it was for me. All those feelings come flooding back to me when I watch that scene and I know exactly what she's going through so I completely empathise with her."

—erincadigan1

"I'm 38 and have only watched it three times in my life because it leaves me crying for hours and sad for weeks."

—debbiefrazer

"BRUTAL. I was blowing my nose in my sleeve."

—rachie2518

"Hold on to your heart with this one."

—rosadokayla

"If you're anything like me, the ending will have you ugly crying."

—kyleeanderla6

"I saw it once as a small child and it made me cry so hard and traumatised me so much I never could watch it again."

—jennyjen1211

"I must have seen it thrice, but I can't help tearing up."

—inigowilhelmus

"Omg, I was 8-10 watching it by myself and my dad came home from work and I was HYSTERICAL. To this day, saddest movie I’ve ever seen. 10/10 would recommend once. Never twice."

—sampleallyson

"I never cry in the theatre but this got me."

—jeremyo811

"I made the mistake of watching it on an airplane! The little girl in the middle seat next to me was VERY concerned about me."

—jennerator

"Particularly at the end. I took my teenagers to see that and my son and I were bawling but then again so was most of the theatre."

—jeanettec439d752da

"It’s a magnificent film but a devastating one."

—snodge27

"It’s absolutely hilarious in parts, and then Sally Field has me sobbing. It’s honestly a masterpiece and I watch it when I need a cathartic cry."

—skybluedays

"Even 30 years later that movie deeply haunts me."

—bestcookie705