The best films you can watch are those that leave a mark on your soul. Some of these stories can hit you so deeply that they make you reflect on your life and past experiences. Most creatives in Hollywood draw from their own experiences to tell compelling tales filled with human emotion that reflect our lives at some point or even make us long for something we’ve yet to have on our terms.
There are many cinematic experiences with the power to challenge our capacity to endure heartache. Some of these movies can help us deal with uncomfortable truths about ourselves, while others can leave us pondering the depths of our emotions and feelings about specific issues. The best movies are the ones that can make us laugh, cry, reflect, reflect, and even feel rage. These are the films that challenge our worldviews.
Some of these movies can break our spirits after a single view, leaving lasting impressions we might not want to revisit anytime soon. Have you seen any of these?
20 Marley & Me (2008)
Marley & Me is a wholesome story about the life of a man, his pet, and the family he forms along the way. The movie is directed by David Frankel and written by Scott Frank. This tearjerker features the talents of Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, and Alan Arkin.
The story is focused on the journey of a couple who adopt a lovable but mischievous Golden Retriever named Marley. We see life unfold as the family grows in size, and Marley eventually comes to old age to pass away. It’s something every pet owner has faced at some point, and it paints a truthful portrait of the meaning behind having an animal in our lives.
19 Precious (2009)
Precious is an award-winning drama that deeply touches upon the subject of abuse, especially among the black communities living in the suburbs. The film, written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher and directed by Lee Daniels, is an adaptation of the novel Push written by Sapphire. The heavy drama features a standout performance from Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo’Nique as her abusive mother.
It’s a raw tale full of tragedy reflecting on the struggles of a young, uneducated woman and the things she must endure only because she doesn’t know any better. The story is a testament to perseverance and how a single helping hand is needed to help someone overcome hardships.
18 Atonement (2007)
Atonement is a book designed to break your spirit, and the film goes one step beyond by making all the experiences more heartbreaking after realizing the happily ever after ending of the story is only the figment of the imagination of the wrongdoer. The movie, directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian McEwan’s novel, boasts an all-star cast with Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, and Saoirse Ronan.
It’s a story about unrequited love, betrayal, lies, and long-gestating consequences of a false accusation. The story hurts more when you realize all the lost chances the main couple never got to have after World War 2 swept away their brief romance and how the igniter of the conflict never got her due.
17 Irreplaceable You (2018)
Love is always the greatest motivator to make the most baffling decisions in life. Love is called the force that moves the world for a reason, as love makes us do the craziest things for those who love us back. Irreplaceable You is a movie directed by Stephanie Laing and penned by Bess Wohl. It’s a romantic drama starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michiel Huisman, and Christopher Walken.
In this story, we follow the touching journey of a young woman who, after being diagnosed with terminal Cancer, embarks on a quest to find a new partner for her fiancé, a man she’s been with since childhood. It’s a powerful story exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of saying goodbye, something we all get to do at some point in life.
16 Other People (2016)
One of the worst lies we tell ourselves daily is “I’m okay” or “I’m doing fine.” Despite making considerable advances in the field of mental health, we still choose to play the stoic part, even when our life is coming apart. Other People is a film written and directed by Chris Kelly, starring Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, and Bradley Whitford.
Struggling comedy writer David Mulcahey returns home to care for his ailing mother after she’s diagnosed with Cancer. Over a year, we see his relationship evolve as her mom accepts her fate while his dad fails to connect with him due to his sexual preferences. It’s a film that weighs in your soul, especially if you’ve cared for a sick family member and keep telling yourself everything is okay when it’s not.
15 Revolutionary Road (2008)
The story told in Revolutionary Road could very well be the life of any middle-class American family at any stage. Although the film is set in the 1950s, when the American dream was ripe for the pickings of a newly industrialized country, the film’s events could very well take place in the present day.
The movie, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe, is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Yates. Starring Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Shannon, it’s a heart-wrenching portrayal of a couple struggling with the weight of conformity, the baggage of unfulfilled dreams, and a failing marriage marked by the birth of children who are brought to the world only to keep the couple together.
14 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
What would you do if you ever had to care for someone because you were asked to? Would you go along with it? Could you grow a lasting relationship from such a unique situation? Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a film directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, based on Jesse Andrews’ novel.
It’s a coming-of-age drama starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, and Olivia Cooke. The story chronicles the bond between a high school filmmaker and a girl with leukemia as they cultivate an unlikely relationship, where the boy learns to care for others and let go of his selfishness. It’s a beautiful film exploring the depth of friendship and morality mixed with teen angst.
13 Dead Poets Society (1989)
Have you ever had a teacher that left a mark on your life for good? Not everyone gets to have such a blessed experience, but it’s certainly great when it happens. Dead Poets Society is a movie directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman, starring Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Sean Leonard.
The story is set in an elite all-boys prep school where John Keating, an extravagant English teacher, compels the students to live extraordinary lives with unorthodox methods. Each student takes their lessons to heart and begins pursuing their true passions, such as asking the unreachable girl out or pursuing artistic endeavors. It’s a beautiful film that showcases the power of a great teacher in life and how following individuality can lead to heartbreaking but valuable lessons.
12 Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Have you ever wondered about the importance of every choice you make? How can a single decision change your life forever? Sophie’s Choice is the type of movie that will have you reeling at the matter of choice and its moral implications when facing impossible odds. The film, directed by Alan J. Pakula, is adapted for the big screen by William Styron from his own novel. It features the acting talents of Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol.
A young writer is about to begin a new novel when he meets Sophie and Nathan, a couple he would befriend, only to learn they are holocaust survivors who have relocated to Brooklyn. Through flashbacks, we get a deep exploration of the suffering imposed on the common folk during the days of the final solution and the physiological scars left on the people who lived to tell the tale.
11 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
While most Hollywood films work as escapism, many reflect life and how brutal it can be for some people who try to get by every single day of life. The real-life story of Chris Gardner is an inspiring journey, as the single father must overcome a failing marriage and provide for his kid at a time when life tests his mettle as a man.
Directed by Gabriele Muccino and written by Steve Conrad, The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Thandie Newton. It follows the story of a man who sinks to the bottom and must bring himself back to the surface by facing homelessness while pursuing a career in stock brokerage. It’s an emotional ride that proves Will Smith has the acting chops to pull great dramatic performances.
10 Life is Beautiful (1997)
It’s always great when a foreign film leaves a mark with American audiences. Life is Beautiful is the breakout hit of 1997, written and directed by Roberto Benigni with the assistance of Vincenzo Cerami. The cast includes Benigni himself alongside Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini. It’s a heartrending tale of a father’s unwavering love and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp in the days of the Holocaust.
It’s a story that blends humor, drama, and tragedy as the man is separated from his wife and must protect his son at all costs, which he masterfully masks as nothing more than a game in the eyes of his son, with a great reward at the end of the road for enduring all the pain they go through while prisoners. It’s a story about sacrifice and the price we pay to safeguard those we love in the face of adversity.
9 Marriage Story (2019)
Marriage was a simpler contract between a man and a woman to love each other until death did them apart. Times have changed, and the dynamics of marriage are very different. That’s the point Noah Baumbach seeks to illustrate with Marriage Story. The film, written and directed by the filmmaker, features the talents of Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern.
It’s a complex story exploring the emotional toll failing marriages have on all the parties involved. The film follows a steady pace when we see each stage of the couple’s separation. From the moment they realize they no longer love each other to the entire portrayal of the legal woes of divorce. It’s a sad tale that reflects the reality of one too many people in modern times.
8 The Whale (2022)
Certain critical voices sought to diminish the impact of this movie due to superficial and empty reasons. However, The Whale is easily the best film Darren Aronofsky has made. The story written by Samuel D. Hunter is based on a play of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, and Ty Simpkins. It’s a deep exploration of depression and feelings of abandonment.
A morbidly obese man making a living as an online tutor is in the twilight of his life and wishes to make amends with the people he’s hurt over the years due to his life choices. He wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter and help others reach their full potential while asking forgiveness from his former wife for realizing his true nature as a homosexual man after marrying her. It’s a hard watch that can hit close home if you’ve ever struggled with depression.
7 Carol (2015)
Not many films chronicle the stigma it meant to be gay just 70 years ago. In the recent past, being in love with someone of the same sex was a taboo subject that brought shame to family circles. Carol is a movie directed by Todd Haynes with a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy from Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name. It features the acting talents of Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson.
The movie tells the story of the forbidden love between an aspiring photographer and an older woman in New York in the 1950s. It’s a gut-punching tale about societal constraints and the prejudices they must face constantly that threaten to tear apart their passionate yet clandestine affair. It can hit hard to those who still struggle to be open with their sexuality due to their surroundings.
6 Christine (2016)
One of the harshest facets of corporate America is the need to prove yourself worthy of the job you have. The need for validation is nothing new. If anything, it simply has become more widespread, with social media slowly displacing legacy media and more people than ever competing for attention. Such is the story of Christine Chubbuck, a Florida news reporter who tragically committed suicide live on air in the 1970s after being denied a promotion.
Directed by Antonio Campos and written by Craig Shilowich, the movie features the talents of Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, and Tracy Letts. The story of Christine is pretty sad, and it’s likely a reflection of the ongoing happenings in the entertainment industry. Christine was damn good at her job, but the need for ratings made her drift away from her intended path. When she seeks to play the game as instructed, she’s still overlooked in favor of less talented people, thus denying her the chance to advance her career.
5 Five Feet Apart (2019)
Imagine for a moment what must be living with a disease such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a progressive genetic disorder that damages organs and makes you vulnerable to any type of infection. Now imagine finding the love of your life while enduring the disease and being unable to be more than five feet closer to her due to your illness, ever. That’s the kind of story we get in the movie Five Feet Apart.
Directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Mikki Daughtry, the film stars Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, and Moises Arias. Two teenagers suffering from CF meet and fall in love, but they must keep a safe distance from each other at all times to prevent cross-infection. It’s an emotional journey as we can feel these lovers yearning for closeness while witnessing the challenges they have to face to defy the limitations of their condition.
4 One Day (2011)
Finding love is never easy. Humanity has learned to find meaning in each relationship, especially when there’s bound to be a longstanding commitment. One Day is a movie directed by Lone Scherfig, based on the novel by David Nicholls, who also wrote the screenplay. For this story, we have the acting talents of Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, and Patricia Clarkson.
It’s a story told across two decades, exploring the evolving relationship between Emma and Dexter, a couple of friends who meet on the same date each year. After each meeting, they fail to see how they desperately long for each other until finally caving in and finding fulfillment. Sadly, it’s not meant to be, as life has a funny way of ending things between them.
3 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Focus Features
Have you ever loved someone so much that you wish you could erase this person from your life and memories if they ever leave you? Such a premise is presented in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The movie, directed by Michel Gondry and penned by Charlie Kaufman, features the talents of Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo.
It’s a crippling story about unrequited love as former lovers Joel and Clementine undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories after a nasty breakup. It’s a painful movie exploring the realization that even our most painful memories are integral to who we are, which is why Joel and Clementine eventually end up together again.
2 Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
Picture a world where the news breaks about our imminent death. An asteroid is cruising through space and ready to blow the planet to smithereens, but the only thing in your mind is regret for not having a meaningful relationship to share your final moments. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World explores such a premise. The movie, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, stars Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, and Melanie Lynskey.
It’s a story exploring the final days of humanity before an asteroid collision from the single point of view of a character named Dodge, whose wife leaves him after the announcement of the asteroid is made. After her neighbor Penny delivers a letter from a former childhood sweetheart, Dodge embarks on a quest to find the love of his life, only to realize he’s likely had it alongside him all along.
1 Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Our number one spot goes to a remake of a Japanese film named Hachikō Monogatari. Titled Hachi: A Dog’s Tale for the American Market, this film, directed by Lasse Hallström and written by Stephen P. Lindsey, is the top tearjerker for the ages. The film stars Richard Gere, Joan Allen, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and it’s based on a real-life story of a loyal Akita dog named Hachiko.
Parker Wilson finds the Akita dog and welcomes him to his family. Hachinko becomes a beloved fixture in the family, even making a habit of walking to the train station to send Parker off and welcome him back after his return. When Parker dies, Hachinko waits for his return for years, faithfully and loyal to the end, with the kind of devotion only pet owners can describe. It’s a beautiful story that’s bound to make you tear up.
