Though tragic andemotionally devastating moviescan be hard for audiences to witness, they nonetheless offer poignant insight and touch the heartstrings of many. These harrowing stories that are stirring and render us emotionally uncomfortable are impressive cinematic triumphs, as the characters and their adverse circumstances stay in the minds of viewers indefinitely. Such films can usually only be watched once, as witnessing their distressing tales multiple times is more than most can handle. Regardless, these thought-provoking and outstanding features come from some of the most renowned and respected directors and performers.
The incredibly moving narratives,endearing film characters, and gripping premises demand the attention of viewers and have gone on to become some of the most critically acclaimed works in Hollywood history. Whether you need a good cry or simply wish to escape your life problems and witness a fictional figure’s issues instead, there is an extensive library of tear-jerking pictures at your disposal. From the Oscar-winning Lee Daniels dramaPreciousto the tragically romantic Keira Knightley and James McAvoy movieAtonement, the cinema has no short supply of riveting content. These are some of the most depressing movies of the last two decades.
Updated on September 9th, 2023, by Soniya Hinduja:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
13Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
War dramas have a reputation for leaving you emotionally torn and shaken to the core with their accurate depictions of the harrowing tales from a time long gone. Based on the incredible true story,Hacksaw Ridgetells the tale of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss, a man with rigid religious beliefs who enlists in the military but refuses to carry a weapon into the field.
When he is drafted as an American Army Medic and sent tofight WWII, he enters as a non-combatant on the battlefield and despite being in the middle of the bloodiest conflicts Doss remains a pacifist. He saves the lives of 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa and earns praise for his bravery. Director Mel Gibson spares no detail in showcasing the nightmarish violence of war. From grim injuries and charred injuries to open-flesh wounds and chilling screams, the movie has a nauseating effect on the viewer.
12Marriage Story (2019)
Brought to the small screen by a brilliant director, Noah Baumbach,Marriage Storytakes an intimate dive into a marriage falling apart. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are truly mesmerizing as Nicole and Charlie Barber, two people belonging to the creative industry while navigating a bitter divorce and its devastating aftermath.
Throughout the movie, you see Nicole and Charlie getting into arguments where they tear each other apart with piercing jabs at their profession. Their dialogues and expressions feel vividly real and resonate with our tender souls. Baumbach fashions a battleground out of their separation and you see just how scary the dissolution of their family is. Raw and just outright depressing,Marriage Storyisn’t for the romantics.
11Midsommar (2016)
Unfolding in psychedelic fashion, with vibrant cinematography and captivating score,Midsommarholds several horrors in its sun-drenched storyline. Directed by Ari Aster and starring Florence Pugh, the movie follows Dany, a grieving woman, and her insensitive boyfriend, as they go on a trip to a Swedish midsummer festival. However, it isn’t long before their strained relationship descends into something sinister at the hands of pagan rituals and frenzied violence.
This 2016 movie sure wins points for creativity. But perhaps the most beautifully sad part of the movie is when it lures you into the promise of quiet and serenity only toslam you with scenes of shocking brutality. Because in a way, life is a series of calms followed by elongated storms.
10Short Term 12 (2013)
Masked under the facade of an inspirational high is a depressing glimpse into the lives of troubled teenagers who often go unseen. Set at a group home for at-risk youth, the movie follows Brie Larson in her first leading role as Grace, a compassionate but traumatized counselor trying to find peace and closure by helping broken families and problematic teenagers. However, her tough exterior begins to crack when she sees glimpses of her past in the residents.
Short Term 12is an affecting indie drama written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who crafts a natural and realistic portrait of these kids. Taking turns in being funny and heartwarming, the film ultimately ends on a chilling and dark note, showing how trauma ripples through generations.
9Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
Before Julia Michaels released her record-breaking song, If The World Was Ending, Director Lorene Scafaria made a film surrounding the same premise. Steve Carell stars as a crass salesman named Dodge whose wife doesn’t even flinch before cutting ties after it is announced that an asteroid is nearing Earth and will obliterate almost everything in less than a month. When his neighbor Penny, played by Keira Knightley, delivers the news, he decides that he must find love before it all ends.
The two embarkon a bittersweet road tripand along the way discover the meaning of connection. The title,Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, itself speaks volumes. And even though Carell and Knightley bring their signature charm and humor to the narrative, the film gets occasionally soppy and the melancholia that lingers is palpable. Imagine being in a story of love knowing there’s no future.
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8Atonement (2007)
Based on the Ian McEwan novel of the same name, theperiod romance movieAtonementfeatures a sensational cast including James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Saoirse Ronan, and tells the heartrending story of a 13-year-old aspiring writer who irrevocably alters the lives of several people when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a disturbing crime he did not commit. The young and in-love couple find their relationship torn apart by the lie told by the jealous little sister, and all three must deal with the tragic consequences of her actions.
The faithful adaptation was heralded for its brilliant performances, stunning cinematography and visuals, and emotional depth, and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score. The heavy and deeply intense ending provides a somber conclusion to the harrowing tale, withRolling Stonewriting, “It’s some kind of miracle. Written, directed, and acted to perfection,Atonementsweeps you up on waves of humor, heartbreak, and ravishing romance.”
7The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Set during World War IIand told from the perspective of the eight-year-old Bruno, the 2008 British tragedyThe Boy in the Striped Pajamaschronicles a forbidden friendship between the son of a commandant at a German concentration camp and the young Jewish prisoner Shmuel on the other side of the camp fence. The profound and poignant picture is based on the John Boyne novel, and audiences are confronted with the brutality and devastation of the war while realizing the heartbreaking impending fate of the innocent boy.
he lead actors Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon delivered performances of a lifetime, with the children’s lonely and strikingly conflicting circumstances ever present throughout the emotionally-heavy drama. The young actors went on to earn nominations at the Young Artists Awards and the British Independent Film Awards for their moving and raw portrayals.
6Precious (2009)
Adapted from the novelPushby the author Sapphire, Lee Daniels’ Oscar-winning 2009 dramaPreciousfollows an overweight, abused, and illiterate teen who attempts to navigate the streets of Harlem in 1987 while coping with her second pregnancy by her father and the violent and constant abuse of her vicious mother. The superb Gabourey Sidibe made her on-screen debut as Claireece “Precious” Jones, having beat out 300 others in nationwide casting calls despite not having any prior acting experience; her premiere performance rightfully nabbed the actress anAcademy Award nomination for Best Actress.
In the often difficult-to-watch drama, Precious is invited to enroll in an alternative school and sees an opportunity to take control of her life, finding guidance and encouragement from her kind new teacher Ms. Rain.Sibide told Oprahthat she hoped audiences would focus on the message of hope from the film, saying, “Precious, she gets hit by life so many different ways and so many times, but she doesn’t yield to it. She continues to get up and she continues to struggle for a better life.”
5Melancholia (2011)
Known for his confrontational examination of existential, political, and social issues, Danish director Lars von Trier helmed the 2011 apocalyptic drama art filmMelancholia,which centers on two sisters who find their already strained relationship challenged by an approaching doomsday at the hands of a rogue planet about to collide with Earth. Von Trier came up with the idea of the picture during a therapy session for the treatment of his depression and knew from the beginning that the world would end so that audiences wouldn’t be distracted by the suspense of not knowing.
Moviegoers are shown at the beginning of the drama the characters’ fates, withTrier having expressed,“…some things may be thrilling precisely because we know what’s going to happen, but not how they will happen. InMelancholiait’s interesting to see how the characters we follow react as the planet approaches Earth.” The apocalyptic flick premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it was lauded by critics and film scholars.
4Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Filmmaker and composer Kurt Kuenne wrote, produced, edited, and directed the 2008 documentaryDear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father,which depicts the life of his close friend Andrew Bagby, who was murdered after he ended his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Shirley Jane Turner; after the woman was arrested for the brutal crime, she announced she was pregnant with Bagby’s child, a boy she named Zachary. What unfolds in theheart-wrenching tear-jerkerand tribute is tough for viewers to stomach, which showcases what can happen when justice goes tragically wrong.
Debuting at the Slamdance Film Festival to critical acclaim,Dear Zacharywas praised for its editing and emotional weight;Varietyreflected: “The way Kuenne presents the material, with an aggressive style that lingers less than a second on most shots, it’s impossible not to feel emotionally exhausted.” The director donated all profits from the picture to a scholarship established in the names of Andrew and Zachary Bagby.
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