Movies that will make you cry are an excellent way to release those cathartic tears that will help you recharge your batteries after a tough week.
Some of these movies will make you eat a pint of ice cream, while others will make you call a family member.
Whichever is the case, make sure to have a box of tissues closed before you start watching them.
1. Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is one of those movies that will make you cry. It is about Dean and Cindy, who appear to have the perfect marriage.
However, on a closer look, they are pretty dysfunctional. Meanwhile, they try to raise their daughter in their dysfunctional marriage and rekindle the relationship.
This movie was released on December 27, 2010, and Derek Clanfrance directed it.
Additionally, this movie stars Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, and Faith Wladyka.
2. Beautiful Boy
The Beautiful Boy is one of those movies that will make you cry. It is about a teenager, Nicolas Sheff, who appears to have it.
He has good grades. He is an athlete, an actor, an artist, and the school newspaper’s editor.
However, his meth addiction threatens to destroy him and everything he has worked for. So, his father does whatever he can to save his son and family.
This movie was released on January 18, 2019, and the director is Felix Van Groeningen.
Some of the cast members in this movie are Steve Carell, Timothee Chalamet, Jack Dylan Grazer, Maura Tierney, Kaitlyn Dever, and Amy Ryan.
3. Call Me by Your Name
This is another movie that will make you cry. It is about a 17-year-old boy, Elio, who spends the summer with his family in Italy in 1983.
During the vacation, Elio falls in love with Oliver, his father’s intern. Although their relationship is short, Elio discovers his sexual orientation and comes to terms with it.
Furthermore, this movie was released on October 20, 2017, and the director was Luca Guadugnino.
The movie also starred Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garrel, and Andre Aciman.
4. My Sister Keeper
My Sister Keeper is sure one movie that will make you cry. It is about Anna suing her parents for medical emancipation for making her donate bone marrow, blood, tissues, and organs to her leukemia-stricken elder sister to help her live.
Meanwhile, the family falls apart. This movie, directed by Nick Cassavetes, was released on October 16, 2009.
The movie starred Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz, Sofia Vassilieva, Alec Baldwin, Evan Ellingson, and Jason Patric.
5. P.S I Love You
Get your tissues because this movie will make you cry. The movie centers around Holly, a teenager who goes to study in Europe.
While in Europe, she met and fell in love with an Irishman, Gerry. They both got married and had a passionate romance. However, Gerry dies very young and leaves a few letters before he dies.
During the movie, Holly receives and reads letters from her husband, which gives her hope, inspiration, and strength.
The letters make her feel he is right beside her every step of the way. The movie, directed by Richard LaGravenese, was released on December 20, 2007.
The movie stars are Gerard Butler, Hilary Swank, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kathy Bates, and Harry Connick Jr.
6. The Spectacular Now
This is another movie that will make you cry. It begins when Aime finds Sutter passed out on her front lawn after a drunken night.
Besides, Sutter is a popular party animal who deals with problems in his life, while Aimee is introverted and plans for her future after school.
Although they come from separate worlds, they fall in love unexpectedly and teach each other things neither knows about life.
This movie was released on August 2, 2013, and James Ponsoldt was the director.
The movie stars Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller, Kyle Chandler, Brie Larson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
7. A Walk to Remember
This movie will make you cry. It begins when Landon is assigned community service after getting in trouble.
His punishment is participating in the school spring play with the reverend’s daughter, Jamie. However, before he starts, Jamie warns him not to fall in love with her.
She made him promise not to fall in love with her, which he did, and laughed at the ridiculousness of him falling for a “church girl.”
Nevertheless, he fell hopelessly in love with her, not knowing she was dying from leukemia.
This movie was released on January 25, 2002, and Adam Shankman directed it. Mandy Moore, Shane West, Peter Coyote, Lauren German, and Daryl Hannah starred in it.
8. Inside Out
Even though Inside Out is an animation, it is definitely on the list of movies that will make you cry. This movie is about the emotions of an eleven-year-old girl, Riley, who moves from Minnesota to San Francisco.
Her five core emotions are fear, anger, sadness, joy, and disgust. The movie shows how each emotion works within her.
This movie was released on June 17, 2015, and Pete Docter directed it. Some cast members are Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Pete Docter, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, and Bill Hader.
9. The Notebook
The list of movies that will make you cry will not be complete without The Notebook. This movie is basically about Duke reading the story of Allie and Noah from his notebook every day to Ms. Hamilton, an old lady with dementia.
Moreover, Allie and Noah are two people from different worlds who fall in love, and fate separates them. The movie was released on June 25, 2004, and Nick Cassavetes directed it.
Furthermore, this movie stars Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Marsden, James Garner, Joan Allen, and Gena Rowlands.
10. Titanic
Like The Notebook, Titanic is a must-see movie that makes you cry. This movie is about Rose and Jack; Rose is a seventeen-year-old girl from an aristocratic family engaged to marry.
While Jack is a poor artist, they both board the Titanic ship and fall in love. However, the iceberg ruins their romance.
Besides, an ongoing argument still states that Jack had enough space on the floating plank.
Furthermore, this classic was released on November 18, 1997, and James Cameron directed the movie.
In addition, some stars in the film are Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, and Frances Fisher.
11. The Fault in Our Stars
Another movie that will make you cry is The Fault in Our Stars. This movie is about two cancer-afflicted teenagers, Hazel and Augustus, who met in a cancer support group.
They fall in love while visiting a reclusive author in Amsterdam. This movie was released on June 2, 2014, and the director is Josh Boone.
Some cast members are Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, and John Green.
12. The Lion King
You might be wondering why this movie is on the list of movies that will make you cry. Well, even though this movie is about Simba taking back the Pride land from a wicked uncle, Scar.
The scene where Mufasa died is sure to make you cry.
The words “Help! Anybody! Somebody!” will leave their mark with you forever. This movie was released on May 7, 1994; the directors were Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.
Some of the cast members in this movie are Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, and Rowan Atkinson.
13. What Maisie Knew
This movie will make you cry. It is about a married couple at odds with each other and their six-year-old daughter, who is used as a pawn in their feud.
Maisie is the daughter of a hot-headed musician and an art dealer. She discovered how hard a difficult divorce could affect a youngest.
Maisie was caught in the middle of her self-absorbed parent’s bitter custody battle, being used as a pawn.
Although Maisie finds a reason to hope for some genuine affection after her parents marry new mates, the damage to her psyche is already done. Additionally, this movie was released on May 3, 2013.
Scott McGehee and David Siegel directed it. The film’s cast includes Onata Aprile, Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Joanna Vanderham, and Steve Coogan.
14. Lion
Lion is another movie that will make you cry. It is about a man, Saroo, who is searching for his parents in India.
An Australian couple adopted Saroo, an Indian boy, after separating from his family when he was five.
Even though the couple is loving, Saroo longs for his birth parents. After twenty-five years, he returned to India looking for them.
This movie was released on November 26, 2016, and Garth Davis directed the film.
Furthermore, Dev Patel, Saroo Brierley, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Rooney Mara, Priyanka Bose, and Sunny Pawar.
15. Coco
Even though Coco is an animation, it will surely leave you sobbing. Hence, it is on the list of movies that will make you cry.
Coco is a Disney animation about Miguel pursuing his love for singing despite his family’s ban on music.
Miguel goes to the Land of the Dead and learns about his great-great-grandfather, a famous singer.
Additionally, this movie was released on October 27, 2017. Andrian Molina and Lee Unkrich directed it.
Furthermore, the movie cast members are Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alanna Ubach, Renne Victor, Lee Unkrich, and Jaime Camil.
16. Marley & Me
This movie will make you cry as long as you have owned or seen a dog. It is about how a mischievous Labrador Retriever, Marley, teaches a family an essential life lesson.
Besides, the movie begins with a happily married couple adopting a little pup. Over the years, they give birth to kids, and the dog grows older.
Meanwhile, the dog taught the couple and their family much about life.
Additionally, the movie was released on December 25, 2008, and David Frankel was the director.
Some of the stars in this movie are Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Haley Bennett, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, and Kathleen Turner.
17. My Girl
My Girl is another movie that will make you cry. This movie centers around a hypochondriac girl, Vada, who becomes distraught when her widowed father dates a makeup artist, Shelly. Vada attempts to destroy their relationship.
This movie was released on November 27, 1991, and Howard Zieff directed it. Additionally, some of the stars in the film are Anna Chlumsky, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Macaulay Culkin, Griffin Dunne, and Richard Masur.
18. Other People
The next movie on the list that will make you cry is Other People. This movie is about a man and his dying mother.
David, a struggling comedy writer who had freshly broken up with his boyfriend, had to move back home to help his sick mother, who was dying from cancer.
Although David is back home, he feels like a stranger living with his conservative father and two sisters. Meanwhile, he tries to convince himself and everyone that he is okay as his mother’s condition worsens.
Furthermore, this movie was released on January 21, 2016, and Chris Kelly directed it. Some cast members are Molly Shannon, Jesse Plemons, Josie Totah, Maude Apatow, and Madisen Beaty.
19. The Color Purple
This movie is a classic that is a must on the list of movies that will make you cry. This movie centers around Celie, a young African-American woman who was sexually abused, and how she tries to overcome years of this abuse.
First, her father used her, and she bore two children for him. Then, she is married off to a man who is also abusive.
In addition, this movie was released on December 18, 1985, and Steven Spielberg directed it.
Some stars in this movie are Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Akosua Busia, and Margaret Avery.
20. A Star is Born
The ending of this movie is sure to leave you sobbing. Thus, it is on our list of movies that will make you cry. This movie is about Ally, a struggling artist, and Jackson, a famous musician.
Jackson falls in love with Ally and coaxes her to follow her dreams. Meanwhile, he is battling alcoholism and personal demons.
This movie was released on October 3, 2018, and Bradley Cooper directed it. Some of the stars in this movie are Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Dave Chappelle, Anthony Ramos, Sam Elliot, and Andrew Dice Clay.
21. If Beale Street Could Talk
This is another movie that will make you cry. It is based on a novel of the same name.
This movie follows a black couple, Tish and Fonny, who were childhood friends before becoming lovers in the 1970s. They lived in Halem.
Furthermore, the movie shows the injustice they faced while trying to build a life together. Fonny was falsely accused of rape, and a pregnant Tish set out to prove his innocence.
This movie was released on December 25, 2018, and Barry Jenkins is the director. Furthermore, some of the cast in the film are Kiki Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Ed Skrein, Colman Domingo, and Brian Tyree Henry.
22. Sophie’s Choice
Sophie’s Choice is another oldie on the list of movies that will make you cry. The movie is about Sophie, Nathan, and Stingo.
Sophie and Nathan, her lover, became friends with Stingo, a young writer who moved to Brooklyn in 1947 to write his first novel.
However, Stingo learns that Sophie is a Holocaust survivor. The movie shows flashbacks of Sophie’s harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz.
Meanwhile, in the present, Sophie and Stingo grow closer as Nathan’s fragile mental state worsens.
Additionally, this movie was released on December 8, 1982, and Alan J. Pakula directed it. Some stars in this movie are Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Rita Karin, Josh Mostel, and Peter MacNicol.
23. 1 Mile to You
This is another movie that deserves to be on the list of movies that will make you cry. It is about a High school senior, Kevin, who is praised for being a fast runner.
However, his new school does not know that he runs because it is the only way he can channel the memories of his girlfriend, best friend, teammates, and coach, who died in a tragic accident.
This movie shows Kevin’s journey through grief as his new coach strengthens him to move past the tragedy.
He also attracts the attention of a brilliant new girl who seeks to discover his exact problem.
This movie was released in 2017, and Leif Tilden is the director. Some cast members are Graham Rogers, Stefanie Scott, Tim Roth, Liana Liberato, and Melanie Lynskey.
24. Five Feet Apart
This is also another movie that will make you cry. It is about two teenagers with cystic fibrosis. Stella, a seventeen-year-old girl, spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient.
Hence, her life is characterized by routines, self-control, and boundaries. At the center, she meets Will, who also has the same illness.
They are instantly attracted. However, there are restrictions on keeping a safe distance.
This distance is to avoid the risk of passing a potentially deadly infection. Nevertheless, they are more tempted to ignore the rules as the attraction grows.
Additionally, this movie was released on March 15, 2019, and Justin Baldoni directed it.
Cole Sprouse, Haley Lu Richarson, Moises Arias, Parminder Nagra, and Claire Forlani are some of the stars in this movie.
25. All the Bright Places
This movie serves the movies that will make you cry dish. This movie is about Violet, a high school student who recently lost her older sister.
Meanwhile, Fitch, her classmate, helps her deal with the grief of loss. However, as Violet starts getting better, she learns of Finch’s secret struggles.
Additionally, this movie was released on February 28, 2020, and Brett Haley directed it. Some cast members are Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Alexandra Shipp, Luke Wilson, and Felix Mallard.
26. Up
Even though Up is an animation, it will surely make you cry within the first ten minutes. Thus, it deserves a spot on the list of movies that will make you cry.
It is about an old widower, Carl, who goes off on an adventure in his flying house, looking for Paradise Falls, his wife’s dream destination.
This movie was released on May 16, 2009, and Pete Docter directed it. Some cast members are Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Pete Docter, Christopher Plummer, and Bob Peterson.
27. Me Before You
This is another movie that will make you cry. It is about Louisa Clark. When Louisa becomes unemployed, she is forced to accept a caregiver to Will Traynor, a paralyzed man. Soon, they both fell in love with each other.
You would think this will have a happy ending, right? Well, watch and make sure you have tissues close by.
Additionally, this movie was released on May 23, 2016, and was directed by Thea Sharrock.
Some of the stars in the film are Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, and Matthew Lewis.
28. Seven Pounds
Seven Pounds is one of the movies that will make you cry in public. This movie is about Ben Thomas, an IRS agent who is guilt-ridden because of a mistake he made that ended up killing seven people, including his fiancee.
So, he decided to embark on an extraordinary journey to change the lives of seven strangers.
This movie was released on December 19, 2008, and Gabriele Muccino is the director.
Some of the stars in this movie are Will Smith, Michael Early, Woody Harrelson, Rosario Dawson, Robinne Lee, and Barry Pepper.
29. Les Miserables
Les Miserables is made up of miserable people, and they are sure to make you weep. Hence, it is one of the movies that will make you cry.
It is about a prisoner, Jean Valjean, who breaks parole to start a new life. He becomes the caretaker of a little girl, but his past comes looking for him. This movie was released on December 5, 2012, and Tom Hooper directed it.
Some of the movie’s cast members are Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
30. Dead Poets Society
The last on our list is the Dead Poet Society. This movie is another classic that deserves a spot on the film that will make your cry list.
It is about a progressive English teacher, John Keating, who tries to encourage his students to break free from the norm.
He advises them to go against the status quo and live life unapologetically to the fullest. This movie was released on June 2, 1989, and was directed by Peter Weir.
Some of the stars in this movie are Robin Williams, Josh Charles, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Dylan Kussman, and Gale Hansen.
These are some gut-wrenching movies that will make you cry, and most of them are on Netflix.
Watch one of these movies whenever you are looking for a good, feel-good cry fest, and you will not be disappointed.
