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What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

EmotionalCuteRealDramatic

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Juliette Lewis  •  Darlene Cates

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Johnny Depp  •  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Juliette Lewis  •  Darlene Cates

To the Wonder (2012)

RomanticDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

After falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Olga Kurylenko  •  Javier Bardem  •  Rachel McAdams

After falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Olga Kurylenko  •  Javier Bardem  •  Rachel McAdams

Atonement (2007)

EmotionalDramaticRomanticHeartbreaking

As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Wright
CAST:  Keira Knightley  •  James McAvoy  •  Romola Garai  •  Saoirse Ronan

As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Wright
CAST:  Keira Knightley  •  James McAvoy  •  Romola Garai  •  Saoirse Ronan

Cake (2014)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Anna Kendrick  •  William H. Macy  •  Adriana Barraza

After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Anna Kendrick  •  William H. Macy  •  Adriana Barraza

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

American Woman (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A young grandmother in a small Pennsylvania town raises her daughter's child after the girl disappears. All the while, a desperate search for her continues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Sienna Miller  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Aaron Paul  •  Will Sasso

A young grandmother in a small Pennsylvania town raises her daughter's child after the girl disappears. All the while, a desperate search for her continues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Sienna Miller  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Aaron Paul  •  Will Sasso

A Thousand Acres (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

The lives of an Iowa farmer's three daughters are shattered when he suddenly decides to bequeath them the family's fertile farm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Jessica Lange  •  Jason Robards  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

The lives of an Iowa farmer's three daughters are shattered when he suddenly decides to bequeath them the family's fertile farm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Jessica Lange  •  Jason Robards  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

Marley & Me (2008)

EmotionalFunnyHeartbreakingOriginal

A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life's important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Eric Dane  •  Kathleen Turner

A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life's important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Eric Dane  •  Kathleen Turner

Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Years after their teenage daughter’s death, Lois and Doug Riley, an upstanding Indiana couple, are frozen by estranging grief. Doug escapes to New Orleans on a business trip. Compelled by urgencies he doesn’t understand, he insinuates himself into the life of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  James Gandolfini  •  Melissa Leo  •  Joe Chrest

Years after their teenage daughter’s death, Lois and Doug Riley, an upstanding Indiana couple, are frozen by estranging grief. Doug escapes to New Orleans on a business trip. Compelled by urgencies he doesn’t understand, he insinuates himself into the life of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  James Gandolfini  •  Melissa Leo  •  Joe Chrest

The Painted Veil (2006)

EmotionalHeartbreakingRomanticIntense

A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Curran
CAST:  Edward Norton  •  Juliet Howland  •  Naomi Watts  •  Ian Renwick

A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Curran
CAST:  Edward Norton  •  Juliet Howland  •  Naomi Watts  •  Ian Renwick

The Ice Storm (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

Warrior (2011)

PowerfulDramaticEmotionalGripping

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

HeartbreakingEmotionalBeautifulCharming

A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Joan Allen  •  Jason Alexander  •  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Joan Allen  •  Jason Alexander  •  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

EmotionalGrippingBeautifulUplifting

A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Thomas Horn  •  Tom Hanks  •  Sandra Bullock  •  John Goodman

A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Thomas Horn  •  Tom Hanks  •  Sandra Bullock  •  John Goodman

The Goldfinch (2019)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In a rush of panic, he steals 'The Goldfinch', a painting that eventually draws him into a world of crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Crowley
CAST:  Ansel Elgort  •  Oakes Fegley  •  Aneurin Barnard  •  Finn Wolfhard

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In a rush of panic, he steals 'The Goldfinch', a painting that eventually draws him into a world of crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Crowley
CAST:  Ansel Elgort  •  Oakes Fegley  •  Aneurin Barnard  •  Finn Wolfhard

We the Animals (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry George
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Nick Nolte  •  Sophie Okonedo  •  Joaquin Phoenix

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry George
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Nick Nolte  •  Sophie Okonedo  •  Joaquin Phoenix

The Book Thief (2013)

DramaticThought provokingPowerfulIntense

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Percival
CAST:  Roger Allam  •  Sophie Nélisse  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Emily Watson

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Percival
CAST:  Roger Allam  •  Sophie Nélisse  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Emily Watson

Kauwboy (2012)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A lively young boy befriends and attempts to raise an abandoned baby jackdaw unbeknownst to his choleric and disapproving father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Boudewijn Koole
CAST:  Rick Lens  •  Loek Peters  •  Susan Radder  •  Ricky Koole

A lively young boy befriends and attempts to raise an abandoned baby jackdaw unbeknownst to his choleric and disapproving father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Boudewijn Koole
CAST:  Rick Lens  •  Loek Peters  •  Susan Radder  •  Ricky Koole

Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins
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