When it comes to stress-relieving techniques, a few are commonly recommended: exercise, meditation, a good night’s sleep. But did you know that having a solid cry sesh could be equally as beneficial? Yes, it’s true. As reported by Harvard University, scientists believe crying is an effective method for coping with stress and emotional pain. What’s more, suppressing your tears (and the emotions that come with them) can actually be detrimental to your health; studies show it can lead to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, as well as various mental health conditions.
One surefire way to let out some pent-up tears? Curling up with a cozy blanket and watching a sad movie. Whether you’re trying to get over a bad breakup, releasing stress from a rough week at work, or have simply found yourself in a funk, clicking play can be extremely cathartic. And, luckily, Netflix has no shortage of tearjerkers available to stream. So grab some tissues and scroll on to discover the best sad movies on Netflix that will make you cry, and as a result, maybe even feel a little better by the credits.
Sad movies on Netflix that will make you cry:
Marriage Story
One of the latest sad movies on Netflix, Marriage Story had the entire internet talking…and crying. The Oscar-winning Netflix film documents the crumbling marriage between a theater director and an actress and the toll it takes on both their personal and professional lives. The emotional performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will certainly pull at your heartstrings.
Million Dollar Baby
This 2004 drama stars Hilary Swank as a professional boxer who forms an unlikely bond with her trainer (Clint Eastwood). During a fight, she suffers a life-threatening injury that changes the course of their relationship forever.
Les Miserables
If you’re under the impression that all musicals are lighthearted, look no further than Les Miserables. Based on the iconic Broadway show and novel by Victor Hugo, Les Mis follows the life of Jean Valjean who, after being freed from a 19-year prison sentence, must navigate war-torn France and his newfound guardianship of a young orphan girl. Anne Hathaway gives a heartwrenching, Oscar-winning performance — and demonstrates her vocal chops.
My Dog Skip
If you’re looking for sad movies on Netflix that will make you cry, simply look for any movie that centers around a dog — they’re pretty much guaranteed to be tearjerkers. We’re sorry but not sorry to report that this 2000 film about the bond between a young boy (played by Frankie Muniz) and his pup is no exception.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
First, she gave us The Notebook, and then The Time Traveler’s Wife, further proving that Rachel McAdams exists solely to make us weep at an uncontrollable level. In this 2009 tearjerker, McAdams plays Clare, whose husband’s time-traveling abilities cause him to frequently disappear from her life.
Irreplaceable You
When Abbie is given a terminal cancer diagnosis, she decides to find a future mate for her fiance, Sam. The heartwarming yet deeply sad story is sure to result in more than a few tears.
Pieces of a Woman
Fair warning: this 2020 film involves intense childbirth scenes as well as infant loss. Needless to say, it’s completely heartbreaking, with a particularly stirring performance by Vanessa Kirby.
Remember Me
This 2008 film has everything you want in a dramatic romance: passionate love, family tragedy, and Robert Pattinson’s brooding glances.
The Lovely Bones
This Peter Jackson thriller is one of the best sad movies on Netflix that will make you cry. It follows 14-year-old Susie who, after being murdered, watches her family from heaven as they attempt to cope with her death.
The Pianist
Adrian Brody won a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of a Polish Holocaust escapee in The Pianist. If you’d like to experience the heartwrenching story in more than one medium, check out the memoir of the same name.
