What Movies to Watch When You Need a Good Cry?

The Best Tearjerker Movies to Watch When You Need a Good Cry offers a heart-wrenching lineup of emotional films that tap into themes of love, loss, resilience, and human connection. From romantic tragedies like Titanic and Me Before You to gut-punch pet stories like Marley & Me and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, each film delivers a cathartic experience. True stories like Schindler’s List and The Pursuit of Happyness evoke powerful empathy, while emotional classics like The Green Mile and Life is Beautiful leave lasting impressions. These movies activate our mirror neurons, triggering deep emotional responses that help us release and process personal feelings, making them both painful and healing.

The Best Tearjerker Movies to Watch When You Need a Good Cry

If you’re in the mood for emotional films that leave a lasting impact, here are some of the best choices:

1. 1. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
   2. Marley & Me (2008)
   3. Schindler’s List (1993)
   4. The Green Mile (1999)
   5. A Star Is Born (2018)
   6. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

1. Titanic (1997)
2. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
3. Life is Beautiful (1997)
4. Me Before You (2016)

How to Choose the Right Emotional Movie for Your Mood

Different tearjerker movies evoke different emotions. Here’s how to choose the best one based on what you need:

•  Sad Romantic Movies: Titanic, Me Before You, P.S. I Love You
• Tragic True Stories: Schindler’s List, The Pursuit of Happyness, 12 Years a Slave
• Emotional Pet Stories: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Marley & Me

Why Do Some Movies Make Us Cry?

Crying during sad movies isn’t just about feeling sorrow—it’s a psychological response to compelling narratives and empathetic storytelling. Studies show that emotional films activate mirror neurons, causing us to experience the characters’ emotions as if they were our own.

How Movies Evoke Deep Emotions:

• Mirror Neurons: These brain cells help us relate to characters’ pain and joy.
• Emotional Catharsis: Crying releases pent-up emotions, reducing stress.
• Personal Resonance: Emotional movies often remind us of our own experiences of love, loss, and resilience.

This is why tearjerker films can feel so personal and therapeutic, allowing us to process emotions in a meaningful way.

Where to Watch These Sad Movies

Many of these heartbreaking films are available to stream online:

• Shorten
• Netflix: The Green Mile, The Pursuit of Happyness
• Amazon Prime Video: A Star Is Born, Titanic
• Disney+: Marley & Me, Life is Beautiful
• Hulu: Me Before You

Streaming availability can vary by country, so check your local platforms.