Tearjerkers are a guilty pleasure of many. From cuddling up expecting a sob session, to the unsuspecting tear being shed, we can’t deny the power of a good cry. It becomes even more convenient with so many streaming sites at our disposal, making this as easy as picking up the remote control.
Today, we’ve put together our top picks of tearjerkers that are available on Netflix for your convenience. From stories of love, to family, to sickness, and more, there’s something here for everyone looking for the perfect cry sesh. Of course, with Reddit at our disposal, we had to get the word of the people too - and this is the verdict.
Marriage Story (2019)
If you’re looking for a story about brutal divorce, personal and creative turmoil, Marriage Story is the place to start. A stage director and his actor wife struggle through a grueling divorce that tears apart everything they thought they ever knew.
Directed and written by Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story is a harrowing look into what it's like when two people, admittedly, fall out of love. With amazing performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in the leading roles, the film doesn’t disappoint.
Lion (2016)
Five-year-old Saroo Brierley (Dev Patel) gets lost in India, eventually being adopted by an Australian couple. Years later, with only a handful of memories and his unwavering determination, Saroo sets out to find his family and return home.
Lion is a beautiful story that tells tales of adoption, belonging, poverty, culture, and an inseparable mix of joy and sorrow. If you’re looking for a film to draw parallels to, this is likely the one for you, exploring a range of themes to the point where there is something for everyone to shed a tear to, with stunning cinematography to match.
My Girl (1991)
Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) has reason to be morbid - her mother passed away, and her father runs a funeral home. Eventually turning into a hypochondriac obsessed with death, this poor 11-year-old girl has to deal with everything and more.
The film explores loss and death, friendship, love, and adolescence, all under the guise of Chlumsky’s brilliant acting. If you’re looking like a tearjerker that’ll make you think of your upbringing, My Girl is the film for you.
My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
Conceived as a donor for her ill sister, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) has decided she had enough - suing her parents for medical emancipation. Nothing is as it seems in this heartbreaking drama, exploring a family stretched to its limit.
With stellar performances from Breslin, Cameron Diaz, Sofia Vassilieva, and Alec Baldwin, the film doesn’t disappoint. It explores themes of illness, family, and ultimately, how to be a good sister, parent, and overall good person.
Room (2015)
Another story to evoke feelings of, well, sadness, is Room. A young woman, Joy (Brie Larson) held captive for years in a single room, eventually escapes with the help of her son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay). After their eventual escape, Jack is finally exposed to the real world, finally gaining freedom for both of them.
The story explores the trauma that doesn’t disappear after escaping, for both Joy and Jack. We watch the pair explore this new world in completely different ways, whilst bound together by a connection others could only dream of understanding.
Seven Pounds (2008)
Ben Thomas (Will Smith) is a man on a mission - guilt-ridden for accidentally killing his fiance, he sets out to change the lives of seven strangers. After meeting Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), she slowly starts to find out why Ben is the way he is, whilst also suffering from a deadly heart condition.
The movie ends in heartbreak - everyone finds out death doesn’t happen for nothing, and everyone deserves a healthy life. If you’re looking for a harrowing tale of regret and compassion, Seven Pounds deserves a watch.