Posted on Jun 6, 2021

35 "Emotionally Traumatizing" Movies People Recommend Everyone See Once, But Never Again

No one's asking for seconds in here.

Allie Hayes

BuzzFeed Staff

We recently took a look at a viral Reddit thread asking, "What movie is so good you'd recommend it to all your friends, but so emotionally traumatic that you'll never watch it again?" and their incredible answers lead to even more great responses from our very own BuzzFeed Community! So, with that in mind, here are even more movies that people would recommend you see at least once, but could never watch again themselves:

1. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

"Amazing movie, but I’ll never watch it again — especially knowing what happens to Solomon Northup in the end."—murrays3 — Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Amazing movie, but I’ll never watch it again — especially knowing what happens to Solomon Northup in the end."
—murrays3

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Amazing movie, but I’ll never watch it again — especially knowing what happens to Solomon Northup in the end."
—murrays3

2. The Wicker Man (1973)

"The original one. Good god."—ritaf3 — British Lion Films

"The original one. Good god."
—ritaf3

British Lion Films

"The original one. Good god."
—ritaf3

3. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

"This may be an unpopular opinion, but it just really traumatized me. I can't watch that movie again. It didn't scare me as much as that movie did."—gabbier6 — Icon Productions

"This may be an unpopular opinion, but it just really traumatized me. I can't watch that movie again. It didn't scare me as much as that movie did."
—gabbier6

Icon Productions

"This may be an unpopular opinion, but it just really traumatized me. I can't watch that movie again. It didn't scare me as much as that movie did."
—gabbier6

4. The Last King of Scotland (2006)

"Great film, but Forest Whitaker was far too convincing for me."—trilingualmom — Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Great film, but Forest Whitaker was far too convincing for me."
—trilingualmom

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Great film, but Forest Whitaker was far too convincing for me."
—trilingualmom

5. Bone Tomahawk (2015)

"I’ve said this movie so many times for so many different posts on this website, but it really did fuck me up! It was great to see once, so cool what they did there, but I’ll never watch it again!"—rainaf4e29d925f — RLJ Entertainment

"I’ve said this movie so many times for so many different posts on this website, but it really did fuck me up! It was great to see once, so cool what they did there, but I’ll never watch it again!"
—rainaf4e29d925f

RLJ Entertainment

"I’ve said this movie so many times for so many different posts on this website, but it really did fuck me up! It was great to see once, so cool what they did there, but I’ll never watch it again!"
—rainaf4e29d925f

6. The Lovely Bones (2009)

"Deeply unsettling at times and very sad at others. The movie actually made me go through the stages of grief while I was watching it. Highly, highly recommend, but I won’t watch it again."—ciara15237 — Paramount Pictures

"Deeply unsettling at times and very sad at others. The movie actually made me go through the stages of grief while I was watching it. Highly, highly recommend, but I won’t watch it again."
—ciara15237

Paramount Pictures

"Deeply unsettling at times and very sad at others. The movie actually made me go through the stages of grief while I was watching it. Highly, highly recommend, but I won’t watch it again."
—ciara15237

7. A Star is Born (2018)

"I can’t believe this wasn't on the original list! I'm happy I saw it once because Bradley Cooper was remarkable, but there are scenes from it that still haunt me and I don’t think I could watch it again."—kelzee05 — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

"I can’t believe this wasn't on the original list! I'm happy I saw it once because Bradley Cooper was remarkable, but there are scenes from it that still haunt me and I don’t think I could watch it again."
—kelzee05

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

"I can’t believe this wasn't on the original list! I'm happy I saw it once because Bradley Cooper was remarkable, but there are scenes from it that still haunt me and I don’t think I could watch it again."
—kelzee05

8. The Family Stone (2005)

"It hurts my heart. My mother is still here, but I know I won’t be able to watch this movie once she’s gone, and something about knowing that makes it harder to watch now."—rainaf4e29d925f — 20th Century Fox

"It hurts my heart. My mother is still here, but I know I won’t be able to watch this movie once she’s gone, and something about knowing that makes it harder to watch now."
—rainaf4e29d925f

20th Century Fox

"It hurts my heart. My mother is still here, but I know I won’t be able to watch this movie once she’s gone, and something about knowing that makes it harder to watch now."
—rainaf4e29d925f

9. Just Mercy (2019)

"It's such an important movie to watch, but I cried off and on the whole time. It’s so emotional, especially since it’s a true story and things like that do happen to Black people. A positive ending, but a total rollercoaster. I think about it all the time."—lnicolek012 — Warner Bros. Pictures

"It's such an important movie to watch, but I cried off and on the whole time. It’s so emotional, especially since it’s a true story and things like that do happen to Black people. A positive ending, but a total rollercoaster. I think about it all the time."
—lnicolek012

Warner Bros. Pictures

"It's such an important movie to watch, but I cried off and on the whole time. It’s so emotional, especially since it’s a true story and things like that do happen to Black people. A positive ending, but a total rollercoaster. I think about it all the time."
—lnicolek012

10. Eden Lake (2008)

"If you know, you know."—spaced — Optimum Releasing

"If you know, you know."
—spaced

Optimum Releasing

"If you know, you know."
—spaced

11. The Neon Demon (2016)

“I was not prepared for it."—carolibal4cfa04881 — Amazon Studios

“I was not prepared for it."
—carolibal4cfa04881

Amazon Studios

“I was not prepared for it."
—carolibal4cfa04881

12. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009)

"I will never watch it again, and — now that I have children — I'm even more adamant about that."—livlintern — Lionsgate

"I will never watch it again, and — now that I have children — I'm even more adamant about that."
—livlintern

Lionsgate

"I will never watch it again, and — now that I have children — I'm even more adamant about that."
—livlintern

13. Funny Games (1997)

"Those people were not 'funny' in the least, and it really fucked me up when they just moved on to the next house at the end."—jasond42d4442c9 — Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner

"Those people were not 'funny' in the least, and it really fucked me up when they just moved on to the next house at the end."
—jasond42d4442c9

Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner

"Those people were not 'funny' in the least, and it really fucked me up when they just moved on to the next house at the end."
—jasond42d4442c9

14. Marley and Me (2008)

"As a lover of animals, I could never watch this again without bawling my eyes out. It physically hurt me to watch."—h2creech — 20th Century Fox

"As a lover of animals, I could never watch this again without bawling my eyes out. It physically hurt me to watch."
—h2creech

20th Century Fox

"As a lover of animals, I could never watch this again without bawling my eyes out. It physically hurt me to watch."
—h2creech

15. Parasite (2019)

"The garden party scene was wild, but — as much as I liked this movie — I can’t watch it again."—shariffamawani — CJ Entertainment

"The garden party scene was wild, but — as much as I liked this movie — I can’t watch it again."
—shariffamawani

CJ Entertainment

"The garden party scene was wild, but — as much as I liked this movie — I can’t watch it again."
—shariffamawani

16. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

"I can’t even think about it without getting upset."—christine61390 — Universal Pictures

"I can’t even think about it without getting upset."
—christine61390

Universal Pictures

"I can’t even think about it without getting upset."
—christine61390

17. Prisoners (2013)

"That movie with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal — oof."—merrifieldgiorgio — Warner Bros. Pictures

"That movie with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal — oof."
—merrifieldgiorgio

Warner Bros. Pictures

"That movie with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal — oof."
—merrifieldgiorgio

18. Still Alice (2014)

"I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago. It was so raw and real. I can see why Julianne Moore won the Oscar, but it left me with such a deep sadness that I know I’ll never watch it again."—jilll40e854a89 — Sony Pictures Classics

"I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago. It was so raw and real. I can see why Julianne Moore won the Oscar, but it left me with such a deep sadness that I know I’ll never watch it again."
—jilll40e854a89

Sony Pictures Classics

"I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago. It was so raw and real. I can see why Julianne Moore won the Oscar, but it left me with such a deep sadness that I know I’ll never watch it again."
—jilll40e854a89

19. The Paperboy (2012)

"John Cusack will never be same to me."—serenak4cd31813e — Millennium Films

"John Cusack will never be same to me."
—serenak4cd31813e

Millennium Films

"John Cusack will never be same to me."
—serenak4cd31813e

20. The Father (2020)

"It was absolutely brilliant...maybe TOO brilliant, because I don't want to watch it ever again."—adeledazeem — Lionsgate

"It was absolutely brilliant...maybe TOO brilliant, because I don't want to watch it ever again."
—adeledazeem

Lionsgate

"It was absolutely brilliant...maybe TOO brilliant, because I don't want to watch it ever again."
—adeledazeem

21. Mother! (2017)

"It's a trippy, weird movie, but really good!"—cherylkeswani — Paramount Pictures

"It's a trippy, weird movie, but really good!"
—cherylkeswani

Paramount Pictures

"It's a trippy, weird movie, but really good!"
—cherylkeswani

22. Joker (2019)

"It was so good, but I almost had an anxiety attack in the theater and can’t bring myself to watch it again."—marileib — Warner Bros. Pictures

"It was so good, but I almost had an anxiety attack in the theater and can’t bring myself to watch it again."
—marileib

Warner Bros. Pictures

"It was so good, but I almost had an anxiety attack in the theater and can’t bring myself to watch it again."
—marileib

23. Room (2015)

"Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay were both phenomenal, but it was an emotionally exhausting experience!"—tessmarin — A24

"Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay were both phenomenal, but it was an emotionally exhausting experience!"
—tessmarin

A24

"Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay were both phenomenal, but it was an emotionally exhausting experience!"
—tessmarin

24. Hereditary (2018)

"The emotional dinner scene did it for me. Toni Collette’s anguish over her daughter’s death was too much to handle. I watched the movie shortly after my mom died and it was just too raw."—okokimono — A24

"The emotional dinner scene did it for me. Toni Collette’s anguish over her daughter’s death was too much to handle. I watched the movie shortly after my mom died and it was just too raw."
—okokimono

A24

"The emotional dinner scene did it for me. Toni Collette’s anguish over her daughter’s death was too much to handle. I watched the movie shortly after my mom died and it was just too raw."
—okokimono

25. Les Misérables (2012)

"I had to turn it off the second Gavroche died. The way they shot that scene was horrible, it really showed the pain everyone felt. It could also partly be that my mom wouldn't let me see this until I turned 16, but I really loved the soundtrack, so I basically grew up listening to the characters while having no idea that most of them died. I haven't watched it in years, but I can still remember all of the deaths."—lunalovegood987 — Universal Pictures

"I had to turn it off the second Gavroche died. The way they shot that scene was horrible, it really showed the pain everyone felt. It could also partly be that my mom wouldn't let me see this until I turned 16, but I really loved the soundtrack, so I basically grew up listening to the characters while having no idea that most of them died. I haven't watched it in years, but I can still remember all of the deaths."
—lunalovegood987

Universal Pictures

"I had to turn it off the second Gavroche died. The way they shot that scene was horrible, it really showed the pain everyone felt. It could also partly be that my mom wouldn't let me see this until I turned 16, but I really loved the soundtrack, so I basically grew up listening to the characters while having no idea that most of them died. I haven't watched it in years, but I can still remember all of the deaths."
—lunalovegood987

26. Tusk (2014)

"Everyone I've ever known who's seen this movie has had a visceral reaction to it, whether it be total disgust, violent anger, or whatever else. I personally think it's one of the must-see movies for those who want to get into B-movie horror, but I would be very concerned if you wanted to watch that shit multiple times."—p1nkl3m0n4d3 — A24

"Everyone I've ever known who's seen this movie has had a visceral reaction to it, whether it be total disgust, violent anger, or whatever else. I personally think it's one of the must-see movies for those who want to get into B-movie horror, but I would be very concerned if you wanted to watch that shit multiple times."
—p1nkl3m0n4d3

A24

"Everyone I've ever known who's seen this movie has had a visceral reaction to it, whether it be total disgust, violent anger, or whatever else. I personally think it's one of the must-see movies for those who want to get into B-movie horror, but I would be very concerned if you wanted to watch that shit multiple times."
—p1nkl3m0n4d3

27. Glory (1989)

"We watched it in class when I was 12. My teacher wanted us to understand that racism was (and still is) just as pervasive in the North as it is in the South. I’m 26 now, and I haven’t seen it since. I’ll NEVER forget how much that movie gutted me, but it's SO important to see."—sierrao44a157429 — TriStar Pictures

"We watched it in class when I was 12. My teacher wanted us to understand that racism was (and still is) just as pervasive in the North as it is in the South. I’m 26 now, and I haven’t seen it since. I’ll NEVER forget how much that movie gutted me, but it's SO important to see."
—sierrao44a157429

TriStar Pictures

"We watched it in class when I was 12. My teacher wanted us to understand that racism was (and still is) just as pervasive in the North as it is in the South. I’m 26 now, and I haven’t seen it since. I’ll NEVER forget how much that movie gutted me, but it's SO important to see."
—sierrao44a157429

28. The Imitation Game (2014)

"Incredible movie, great performances, but a heartbreaking ending."—christig2 — The Weinstein Company

"Incredible movie, great performances, but a heartbreaking ending."
—christig2

The Weinstein Company

"Incredible movie, great performances, but a heartbreaking ending."
—christig2

29. Kids (1995)

"That movie bothered me. I hated to think that’s what teens were actually doing."—jenniferw486be321c — Shining Excalibur Films

"That movie bothered me. I hated to think that’s what teens were actually doing."
—jenniferw486be321c

Shining Excalibur Films

"That movie bothered me. I hated to think that’s what teens were actually doing."
—jenniferw486be321c

30. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

"This one REALLY got me."—vvinter — A24

"This one REALLY got me."
—vvinter

A24

"This one REALLY got me."
—vvinter

31. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

"I saw it once. It was very well-made, but it also made me sick and I don't think I could ever watch it again."—dianaelenac — Warner Bros. Pictures

"I saw it once. It was very well-made, but it also made me sick and I don't think I could ever watch it again."
—dianaelenac

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I saw it once. It was very well-made, but it also made me sick and I don't think I could ever watch it again."
—dianaelenac

32. A Single Man (2009)

"Colin Firth gave a searing, devastating performance — he’s so good, I can’t see it again. I was emotionally drained at the end."—stephanies4bcc536a5 — The Weinstein Company

"Colin Firth gave a searing, devastating performance — he’s so good, I can’t see it again. I was emotionally drained at the end."
—stephanies4bcc536a5

The Weinstein Company

"Colin Firth gave a searing, devastating performance — he’s so good, I can’t see it again. I was emotionally drained at the end."
—stephanies4bcc536a5

33. Oldboy (2003)

"It was an absolutely phenomenal film that I can never watch again. Witnessing THAT twist ending was enough to give me permanent 0_0 face whenever I think about it!"—ashleyoftheroses — Show East

"It was an absolutely phenomenal film that I can never watch again. Witnessing THAT twist ending was enough to give me permanent 0_0 face whenever I think about it!"
—ashleyoftheroses

Show East

"It was an absolutely phenomenal film that I can never watch again. Witnessing THAT twist ending was enough to give me permanent 0_0 face whenever I think about it!"
—ashleyoftheroses

34. Hotel Rwanda (2004)

"Great movie, would recommend it to everyone, but once was enough for me."—jaida — MGM Distribution Co.

"Great movie, would recommend it to everyone, but once was enough for me."
—jaida

MGM Distribution Co.

"Great movie, would recommend it to everyone, but once was enough for me."
—jaida

35. And finally:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

"I had to watch it in history class in eighth grade, and....well, it's a beautiful film, but I can't watch it again or I'd never finish it due to tears."—ivoryd97 — Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"I had to watch it in history class in eighth grade, and....well, it's a beautiful film, but I can't watch it again or I'd never finish it due to tears."
—ivoryd97

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"I had to watch it in history class in eighth grade, and....well, it's a beautiful film, but I can't watch it again or I'd never finish it due to tears."
—ivoryd97

Now it's your turn! What's a movie that's so good, you'd recommend that everyone watch it once, but you couldn't ever personally bring yourself to watch it again? Share your pick(s) in the comments below, and be sure to check out the initial post to see if your pick was listed there!

NOTE: Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity.

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