"This Film Should Be Illegal" – People Are Sharing The Saddest Movies Of The Century, And I'm Tearing Up Just Reading

"I sat in the cinema with red, puffy eyes and a snotty nose 'cause I was in absolute bits, I was mortified when the lights came up."

We watch movies for all sorts of reasons, but sometimes it's to just have a big ol cry. Well, there has been a fair share of tear-jerkers since the turn of the century – and people have been talking about some of the most severe.

Searchlight Pictures

So, here are 33 of the saddest movies of the century/millennium:

1. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Sony Pictures Releasing

"It’s so good, but watching them have to sleep in the bathroom of a subway station and how he turned it into a game was too much. Also, when had to lock the door, holding back tears, when someone was trying to get in wrecked me. I know he turned his hustle into wealth, but I can’t watch that movie again."

—jming2

Take a look:

youtube.com

2. Five Feet Apart (2019)

Lionsgate

"I bawled for hours after that movie."

—abigaillewis7060

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

3. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"We even had to take a break halfway through watching it. An amazingly powerful and devastating film but one I can never bring myself to watch again."

—glastogirlie78

Watch the trailer:

youtube.com

4. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

20th Century Fox

"I never have I cried as much as I did watching that movie OR made such pre-historic animal noises since."

—bbfrew89

5. Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

6. The Flowers of War (2011)

EDKO Film

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

—natashayanikyan

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

7. Inside Out (2015)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"I have watched it so many times and I cry every single time. When Riley breaks down because she finally let sadness takes over control. 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.

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 of 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

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

8. Marley & Me (2008)

20th Century Studios

"My mom and I were sobbing at the end and so were most of the other moviegoers."

—sharonm8

Have a look at the trailer here:

youtube.com

9. Incendies (2010)

Entertainment One

"It's the most devastating film I've ever seen. I left the cinema an emotional wreck and vowed to never watch it again despite the fact it was also one of the best films I've seen. It's not for the faint-hearted and brutal at times but I'll never forget it."

—marlpit7

Have a look here:

youtube.com

10. Lion (2016)

Transmission Films

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

—rorygilmore07

Take a look here:

youtube.com

11. Greater (2016)

Hammond Entertainment

"You know what is happening from the beginning, but I still cried throughout."

—hkeefer85

Have a look here:

youtube.com

12. Elvis (2022)

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I was not expecting to cry as much as I did. I went through two packets of tissues, and I only was able to calm down after the credits. It's one of my all-time favourite movies, but if I don't turn it off after the final Vegas show, I'll be devastated all over again."

—ellecullen2005

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

 "It had me sobbing in the movie theatre."

—isabellelondon22

Have a look at the trailer:

youtube.com

14. Encanto (2021)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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

—francesjoys

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

15. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

Sony Pictures Entertainment

"This film should be illegal."

—rorygilmore07

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

16. La La Land (2016)

Lionsgate

"It had me straight-up 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

Have a look here:

youtube.com

17. A Man Called Otto (2022)

Sony Pictures Releasing

"It's one of the saddest movies I have ever seen."

—christijp

Watch the trailer:

youtube.com

18. If I Stay (2014)

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I bawled my eyes out the entire movie, it just kept getting sadder and sadder."

—megalin5150

Have a look here:

youtube.com

19. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"I was a teen and had no idea what to expect, and it was so much deeper and emotional than I was prepared for."

—rlmarlatt32

Watch the trailer:

youtube.com

20. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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

—fantasyfound17

This is the trailer:

youtube.com

21. Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Searchlight Pictures

"No spoilers, but at a family movie night my sister warned us in advance that it's hilarious but heartbreaking. I thought she was being a little dramatic... I was DEVASTATED. 

I cried for the entire final third, then when it ended we (four grown-ass adults) looked at each other, all in tears, and I just started sobbing uncontrollably. Even thinking of it weeks later would cause me to ugly cry all over again - an amazing film which I highly recommend but could never ever watch again!"

—bettyakers

Have a look here:

youtube.com

22. The Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

Summit Entertainment

"I saw it as a kid, and haven't watched it since because I cried so much. I need to watch it again."

—mollyisadragonauthor

Take a look:

youtube.com

23. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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

—jeanettec439d752da

Have a look here:

youtube.com

24. My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I've lost multiple toes, but watching this film hurt more."

–casualgem30

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

25. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

A24

"I wouldn’t say it’s the saddest but it had me violently sobbing. My fiancé had to hold me for 20 minutes after it ended while I just cried."

—oblongtoe

Watch the trailer:

youtube.com

26. Big Hero 6 (2014)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"It doesn't seem like it would be sad enough to claim the intense sobbing it did for me, but I was in a really bad place, and Tasashi on the giant screen in a dark theatre saying 'the world needs you.' had me LOUD SOBBING."

—rowanterra

Have a look:

youtube.com

27. Me Before You (2016)

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I sob at that film every time and not just at the ending. I knew the ending already having read the book, one of the best adaptions from book to film."

—staceyleighk

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

28. The Whale (2022)

A24

"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

Check it out here:

youtube.com

29. Arrival (2016)

Paramount Pictures

"Since I had my daughter, the thought of knowing what Amy Adams’s character knows about her daughter absolutely shatters me. I can barely watch the movie anymore, and if I do I’m pretty much sobbing from start to finish."

—lrob3727

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

30. Dancer in the Dark (2000)

FilmFour Distributors

"When I came out of that movie there was not one person who wasn’t openly sobbing. People waiting in line for the next showing look scared!!!! I seriously think there’s some mind control involved in it. I’m not talking about crying, I’m talking about openly sobbing, it’s insane."

—trudecool

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

31. Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Entertainment Film Distributors

"Watching it during high school history class is a memory I’ll never forge. Not a dry eye in the room."

—serenafischer

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

32. Train to Busan (2016)

Next Entertainment World

"I went in expecting an incredibly scary zombie movie and was sobbing for the last 30 minutes of it."

—rachelc43

Have a look:

youtube.com

33. Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Amazon Studios

"I saw it once in theatres, then I forced myself to watch it one more time so my husband could see it, but never again. It was brilliant but so, so sad."

—moxietttt123

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

34. Coco (2017)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"It's such a beautiful film, but it had me tearing up at multiple points throughout, I'll put it on whenever I need a comforting cry."

–casualgem30

Have a look:

youtube.com

What movies would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!