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True Crime (1999)

Tear-jerkerThought provokingSuspensefulTragic

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Monster's Ball (2001)

Thought provokingRomanticEmotionalTear-jerker

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

Now Is Good (2012)

Tear-jerkerRomanticBeautifulDramatic

A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ol Parker
CAST:  Dakota Fanning  •  Jeremy Irvine  •  Kaya Scodelario  •  Olivia Williams

A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ol Parker
CAST:  Dakota Fanning  •  Jeremy Irvine  •  Kaya Scodelario  •  Olivia Williams

The Elephant Man (1980)

TragicClassicDramaticTear-jerker

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Anthony Hopkins  •  Anne Bancroft  •  John Gielgud

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Anthony Hopkins  •  Anne Bancroft  •  John Gielgud

A Girl Like Her (2015)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

The Hanging Garden (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

William, a once obese and troubled teen, goes back to his family's home after being gone, without word, for ten years and finds it (and his family) haunted with his past. He had moved to the city and become a fit, well-adjusted gay man, but during his visit home, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thom Fitzgerald
CAST:  Ian Parsons  •  Peter MacNeill  •  Chris Leavins  •  Kerry Fox

William, a once obese and troubled teen, goes back to his family's home after being gone, without word, for ten years and finds it (and his family) haunted with his past. He had moved to the city and become a fit, well-adjusted gay man, but during his visit home, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thom Fitzgerald
CAST:  Ian Parsons  •  Peter MacNeill  •  Chris Leavins  •  Kerry Fox

1985 (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung

The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Keanu Reeves  •  James Russo  •  William Richert

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Keanu Reeves  •  James Russo  •  William Richert

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

The Aspern Papers (2019)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A young writer tries to obtain romance letters a poet sent to his mistress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Landais
CAST:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers  •  Vanessa Redgrave  •  Joely Richardson  •  Lois Robbins

A young writer tries to obtain romance letters a poet sent to his mistress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Landais
CAST:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers  •  Vanessa Redgrave  •  Joely Richardson  •  Lois Robbins

Oslo, August 31st (2011)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

Two Lovers and a Bear (2016)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalRomantic

Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Nguyen
CAST:  Dane DeHaan  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  Gordon Pinsent  •  John Ralston

Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Nguyen
CAST:  Dane DeHaan  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  Gordon Pinsent  •  John Ralston

The Glass Castle (2017)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

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

Sorry We Missed You (2019)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Ricky and his family have been fighting an uphill struggle against debt since the 2008 financial crash. An opportunity to wrestle back some independence appears with a shiny new van and the chance to run a franchise as a self-employed delivery driver. It's hard ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ken Loach
CAST:  Kris Hitchen  •  Debbie Honeywood  •  Rhys Mcgowan  •  Katie Proctor

Ricky and his family have been fighting an uphill struggle against debt since the 2008 financial crash. An opportunity to wrestle back some independence appears with a shiny new van and the chance to run a franchise as a self-employed delivery driver. It's hard ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ken Loach
CAST:  Kris Hitchen  •  Debbie Honeywood  •  Rhys Mcgowan  •  Katie Proctor

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

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

Life as a House (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

Reviving Ophelia (2010)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

No one listens when a teenager suspects that her cousin is in an abusive relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Roth
CAST:  Jane Kaczmarek  •  Rebecca Williams  •  Nick Thurston  •  Lola Tash

No one listens when a teenager suspects that her cousin is in an abusive relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Roth
CAST:  Jane Kaczmarek  •  Rebecca Williams  •  Nick Thurston  •  Lola Tash
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