Depressing movies and TV shows – page 4
Best films
New films
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: France, USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
The true story of Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in 1995 at the age of 43, suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body, except his left eye. Using that eye to blink out his memoir, Bauby eloquently described the aspects of his ...
Style:
inspirational, psychological, breathtaking, sincere, depressing ...
Plot:
disability, hospital, paralysis, death, coma, stroke, memory, writers, courage, patient, mute or deaf, communication problem ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 2000s, year 2007, y2k
Place:
france, paris france, europe, hong kong, nepal ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
This movie is a stark portrayal of life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in Needle Park in New York City. Played against this setting is a low-key love story between Bobby, a young addict and small-time hustler, and Helen, a homeless ...
Style:
disturbing, depressing, bleak, serious, rough ...
Plot:
addiction, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug use, drug, heroin addict, drug addict, heroin, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, death of pet, life philosophy, couple relations ...
Time:
20th century, year 1971, 70s
Place:
new york, manhattan new york city, usa, new jersey, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: Germany, Canada, USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Elizabeth is on the verge of losing her grip on life after she leaves her emotionally fraught home to start college. Quickly, her life takes a turn for the worse: She clashes with her roommate and decides her boyfriend, Rafe, is her sole salvation. ...
Style:
depressing, psychological, sexy, teen, sad ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
mental illness, depression, coming of age, college, teenage girl, suicide attempt, university, therapy, female nudity, borderline personality disorder, drug, adolescence ...
Time:
80s, 2010s, year 2001, 90s, 2000s
Place:
harvard university, austin texas
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical
Country: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, USA, UK, France, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma ...
Style:
disturbing, bleak, depressing, touching, emotional ...
Plot:
death sentence, factory worker, destiny, blindness, life is a bitch, tragedy, dancing, immigrant, secret, murder, hanging, tragic hero ...
Time:
90s, year 2000, 20th century, year 1964, 2000s
Place:
nebraska, usa, washington d.c., washington state
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, UK, Japan
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
Style:
atmospheric, neo noir, depressing, apocalyptic, visually stunning ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
apocalypse, distopia, dystopia, chaos, redemption, end of the world, dystopian future, heroic mission, pandemic, fertility, post apocalyptic, dying ...
Time:
future, near future, distant future, year 2006, 2000s ...
Place:
england, london, europe, washington state, seattle ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
Searching for escape in Tokyo's back alleys, a haunted English teacher explores love and lust with a dashing Yakuza, as their tumultuous affair takes her on a journey through the city's dive bars and three-hour love hotels.
Style:
erotic, depressing, psychological, bleak, emotional ...
Plot:
foreigner in japan, erotica, asian man white woman relationship, strong sexual content, female nudity, interracial sex, looking for sex, looking for love, sex, interracial love, fetish, identity crisis ...
Place:
tokyo, japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
A divorced writer from the Midwest returns to her hometown to reconnect with an old flame, who's now married with a family.
Style:
dark comedy, depressing, talky, black comedy, emotional ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, teens
Plot:
mental illness, high school, small town, emotional breakdown, drinking, hometown, divorce, depression, borderline personality disorder, thirtysomething life, hate crime, old love ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
minnesota, usa, minneapolis minnesota, new jersey, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
Stingo, a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie and her lover Nathan, he learns that she is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity ...
Style:
depressing, sad, serious, heartbreaking, crying ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, against humanity, nazi, concentration camp, relationships, writers, wartime life, passion, melancholy, obsession, tragedy ...
Time:
20th century, 1940s, year 1982, 1930s, year 1947 ...
Place:
poland, new york, middle east, usa, brooklyn new york city ...
Is relevant?
121K
Genre: Drama, Thriller, War
Country: Soviet Union
Duration: 142 min.
Story:
The invasion of a village in Byelorussia by German forces sends young Florya into the forest to join the weary Resistance fighters, against his family's wishes. There he meets a girl, Glasha, who accompanies him back to his village. On ...
Style:
bleak, harsh, thought provoking, rough, brutal ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
world war two, genocide, war crime, against humanity, brutality, holocaust, nazi, atrocity, occupation, children in wartime, massacre, teenage girl ...
Time:
1940s, year 1943, 20th century, year 1985, near future ...
Place:
germany, persia, europe, soviet union, russia ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Russia, Finland, Germany
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
Oleg is a young gifted paramedic. His wife Katya works as a nurse at the hospital emergency department. She loves Oleg, but is fed up with him caring more about patients than her. She tells him she wants a divorce. The new head of Oleg’s EMA ...
Style:
art house, depressing, disturbing, melancholic, sad ...
Plot:
husband wife relationship, paramedic, doctor, drinking, hospital, nurse, male objectification, married couple, ambulance, male pubic hair, unhappy wife, humanity ...
Place:
russia, soviet union
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Will Montgomery (Ben Foster), a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), to give notice to the families of ...
Style:
touching, sincere, depressing, sad, psychological ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
military, soldier, redemption, honest, character study, bereavement, human nature, officer, jihad, relationships, wartime, friendship ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
iraq, bosnia, usa, california
Is relevant?
142K
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.
Style:
surreal, psychological, avant garde, art house, experimental ...
Plot:
surrealism, baby, existentialism, nightmare, insanity, psychology, dream, loneliness, psychosis, factory, dark humor, eccentricity ...
Time:
70s, year 1977, 20th century
Place:
america, philadelphia
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
An unattractive 7th grader struggles to cope with suburban life as the middle child with un-attentive parents and bullies at school.
Style:
disturbing, cult classic, black comedy, teen, cynical ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
coming of age, misfit, dysfunctional family, bullying, childhood, humiliation, social outcast, female protagonist, school, youth, public humiliation, high school life ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, near future, year 1995
Place:
new jersey, seattle, usa
Is relevant?
395K
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker has a problem with drugs and alcohol, though so far he's managed to complete his flights safely. His luck runs out when a disastrous mechanical malfunction sends his plane hurtling toward the ground. Whip ...
Style:
psychological, tense, inspirational, emotional, heroic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
airplane, addiction, air disaster, aviation, courage, pilot, character study, airplane crash, stewardess, morality, airport, danger ...
Time:
year 2012, 2010s, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, orlando florida, atlanta georgia, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
An undercover cop in a not-too-distant future becomes involved with a dangerous new drug and begins to lose his own identity as a result.
Style:
psychedelic, psychological, philosophical, adult animation, bleak ...
Audience:
kids, teens, adult
Plot:
cyberpunk, drug abuse, dystopia, schizophrenia, conspiracy, disorder, addiction, trippy, society, fighting crime, consciousness, losing-it hero ...
Time:
future, year 2006, 2000s, near future, 21st century
Place:
california, texas, usa, san diego california
Is relevant?
286K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes ...
Style:
touching, depressing, emotional, dramatic, serious ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
drug addiction, drug lord, drug dealing, drug abuse, drug, drug traffic, drug cartel, rise and fall, drug use, friendship, addiction, gangster ...
Time:
year 2001, 70s, 80s, 20th century, near future ...
Place:
latin america, california, south america, usa, colombia ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Germany, Japan, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
A film about the life and career of the eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Style:
inspirational, depressing, touching, humorous, tragicomedy ...
Plot:
comedian, biopic, showbiz, wrestler, female nudity, sexism, character study, prank, life philosophy, human spirit, actor's life, rising to stardom ...
Time:
90s, 80s, 20th century, year 1999, 70s ...
Place:
new york, usa, north america, manhattan new york city, lithuania ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.
Style:
surprise ending, suspense, thought provoking, twist ending, disturbing ...
Plot:
death penalty, suicide, death, death row, death sentence, fighting the system, murder, professor, reporter, activist, investigation, journalism ...
Time:
year 2003, 2000s, 20th century, 90s, year 1994 ...
Place:
texas, austin texas, houston texas, usa, new york ...
Is relevant?
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Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Bob and his friends Dianne, Rick and Nadine have been drug addicts for years and live from one high to the next. Gus Van Sant attempts to show an intimate look into the lives of heroin addicts with his film Drugstore Cowboy.
Style:
cult classic, road movie, independent film, depressing, grim ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
drug abuse, addiction, heroin, dark humor, drug addiction, drug, junkie, friendship, on the road, drug addict, beat generation, coming of age ...
Time:
70s, year 1989, 20th century, year 1971
Place:
usa, portland oregon
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry.
Style:
black comedy, psychological, dark comedy, art house, depressing ...
Plot:
alienation, prison, kidnapping, stockholm syndrome, dysfunctional family, bowling, older man teenage girl relationship, relationships, dark humor, haunted by the past, gambling, blackmail ...
Time:
90s, year 1998, 20th century
Place:
new york state, new york, usa
Is relevant?
78K
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.
Style:
adult animation, surreal, philosophical, depressing, cerebral ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
sex, depression, sex scene, stop motion, loneliness, sex toy, relationships, existentialism, melancholy, infidelity, inferiority complex, sex shop ...
Time:
2010s, year 2015, 2000s
Place:
cincinnati ohio
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Belgium, France, Italy
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Sandra is a young woman who has only one weekend to convince her colleagues they must give up their bonuses in order for her to keep her job — not an easy task in this economy.
Style:
sincere, independent film, depressing, serious, cerebral ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
depression, injustice, unemployment, working class, female protagonist, solidarity, loss of job, workplace, employer employee relationship, guilt, poverty, moral dilemma ...
Time:
year 2014, 90s, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
france, belgium, ethiopia, europe
Is relevant?
128K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
An aging, booze-addled father takes a trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim what he believes to be a million-dollar sweepstakes prize.
Style:
road movie, black and white, depressing, humorous, meditative ...
Plot:
road trip, small town, dysfunctional family, aging, elderly, confronting the past, on the road, relationships, old age, obsessive quest, character study, honest ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
montana, nebraska, usa, california
Is relevant?
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219K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ...
Style:
depressing, psychological, realistic, cynical, philosophical ...
Plot:
depression, riches to rags, starting over, narcissism, suicide, family drama, relationships, tragedy, mental health, sisters, mission, high society ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 90s, 21st century
Place:
san francisco, new york, california, usa, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment.
Style:
depressing, philosophical, touching, independent film, psychological ...
Plot:
immigrant, life, professor, destiny, loneliness, self discovery, friendship, jazz, arrest, lawyer, midlife crisis, existentialism ...
Time:
year 2007
Place:
new york, connecticut, michigan, senegal, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
A Chicago weather man, separated from his wife and children, debates whether professional and personal success are mutually exclusive.
Style:
sincere, depressing, sexy, emotional, dark comedy ...
Plot:
weatherman, midlife crisis, family drama, dysfunctional family, hopes, relationship vs career, family problems, father son relationship, solitude, character study, father, unfulfillment ...
Time:
year 2005, 21st century
Place:
chicago, usa, new york
Is relevant?
390K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK, South Africa, Italy
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
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 ...
Style:
emotional, intense, sincere, rough, political ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
genocide, racism, hotel, against humanity, war, violence, politics, cruelty, civil war, war crime, refugee, un ...
Time:
20th century, year 2004, 90s, 2000s
Place:
rwanda, africa, south africa, congo, somalia ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
This is the story of Ryu, a deaf man, and his sister, who requires a kidney transplant. Ryu's boss, Park, has just laid him off, and in order to afford the transplant, Ryu and his girlfriend develop a plan to kidnap Park's daughter. Things ...
Style:
disturbing, neo noir, depressing, bloody, surprise ending ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night
Plot:
kidnapping, revenge, violence, vengeance, torture, loss of loved one, suicide, brutality, tragedy, murder, gory, organ donation ...
Time:
2000s, year 2003, y2k, 21st century
Place:
south korea, korea, asia
Is relevant?
20K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Style:
depressing, sentimental, touching, melancholic, intellectual ...
Plot:
alzheimer's disease, sex scene, writers, female pubic hair, writer's life, skinny dipping, love, biopic, mental illness, bisexual, adultery, making love ...
Time:
year 2001, 20th century, 50s, 90s, 1950s
Place:
england, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having ...
Style:
depressing, realistic, crying, sentimental, compassionate ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
dysfunctional family, therapy, suicide attempt, suicide, grief, coming of age, depression, psychiatrist, alienation, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, loner ...
Time:
20th century, year 1980, 70s, 80s
Place:
chicago, usa, illinois, houston texas, middle east ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
