There is no clear-cut description of what a good movie looks like. We all have unique preferences, but any movie that can evoke strong emotions is a winner in my book. A comedy movie is great when you’re craving hearty laughs, a thriller is recommended to experience an adrenaline rush, and something sad is relevant when you’re feeling melancholy and need to let it out.
Did you know that making a person laugh is harder than making them cry? Therefore, it’s not surprising that there’s an abundance of tear-jerkers out there. If you’re a sentimental person like myself, you have probably cried at some point watching superhero movies too. It’s awfully tragic when a sweet side character dies and the main character is devastated.
Allowing yourself a good cry from time to time is quite healthy honestly. When you’re up for a heartrending story, make sure your internet connection is going to make it through. I hate video buffering during my cry sessions because it ruins the mood; I want waterworks from my eyes, not smoke coming out of my ears.
Anyway, online streaming has been a breeze since I switched to Optimum – an internet provider for every lifestyle. So, check out Optimum Internet plans for yourself and thank me later.
Now let’s get back to the movies that can help you get a good cry this year:
Best Tear-jerkers for 2024
1. The Fault In Our Stars
2. Marley & Me
3. Lion
4. Five Feet Apart
5. All the Bright Places (2020)
6. Irreplaceable You (2018)
7. A Man Called Otto
8. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
9. La La Land
10. Coco
- The Fault In Our Stars
The Fault In Our Stars is a story about two terminally ill kids who find solace in each other. They’re both suffering from cancer and meet each other at a support group. It’s painful to see two teenagers making peace with the fact that they’re going to die, but it’s also touching how they make the best of the little time they have together.
- Marley & Me
Marley & Me is relatable for every pet parent who has suffered the loss of their furry friend. The movie follows a young couple that moves to Florida to start a new life. They buy their first house, find jobs, and decide to bring home a Labrador pup to test their parenting abilities before having children. It’s a rollercoaster ride watching him grow up and tragedy strikes when it’s time to say goodbye.
- Lion
Lion begins with a five-year-old boy who gets lost on a train and is transported thousands of miles away from home. He has to survive the harsh world on his own for a while until he is adopted by a foreign couple. After 25 years, he sets out on a mission to find his real family and first home.
- Five Feet Apart
Five Feet Apart is yet another tragic love story featuring two young patients, Stella and Will, with cystic fibrosis. Despite being total opposites, an unlikely friendship develops between the two, and gradually progresses into a deeper connection. They have to stay at least five feet apart at all times so they don’t kill each other with germs.
- All the Bright Places (2020)
All the Bright Places is based on a YA novel by Jennifer Niven. It focuses on two high schoolers: a girl struggling with grief, and a boy trying to cope with his mental illness. It’s beautiful and heartwarming how the two come together to give each other strength and see beyond their dark place.
- Irreplaceable You (2018)
Irreplaceable You is a movie that shows how unpredictable life can be and you should let yourself live instead of trying to plan and control every moment. It’s about a happily engaged couple who have known each other since childhood. One day the woman is diagnosed with last-stage cancer, and she decides to find a replacement to take care of her fiancé after her.
- A Man Called Otto
As the name suggests, this is a movie about a man called Otto who is old and grumpy at first glance. As the story unfolds, we come to see all the challenges he is facing as a devastated and lonely widower. His life turns around when a lively family moves in next door.
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook is a phenomenal movie on the subject of mental illness. The lead character accurately depicts what it’s like living with bipolar disorder. He meets his match in an eccentric young woman who suffers from depression.
- La La Land
La La Land is a lovely musical about two people in the struggling phase of their lives, yet they’re driven by passion. Their matching desires to make their individual dreams come true bring them together. As the two get closer to their goals, they drift apart and eventually become strangers. Nonetheless, the connection they had remains alive.
- Coco
Coco may seem like a colorful and fun animated movie for children, but it can easily reduce any adult to tears. This movie contains psychological references to grief and death that will leave you in awe. That being said, it highlights the importance of family and ends on a positive musical note.
Final Words
Most of the movies on the list are blessed with a happy ending, so you can smile after the good cry. The more realistic endings are not full of joy, but they do manage to convey a feeling of contentment or accomplishment.