Poignant movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant poignant movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out poignant, touching, emotional, sad, heartbreaking and realistic films and TV shows about / with storytelling, mentor, tragedy, redemption, depression, honest, bittersweet, destiny, loneliness and powerful ending plots mostly in Drama, Romance and Adventure genres shot in USA, UK, Australia and other countries.
2504
TOP 10 movies tagged as poignant: Blue Car (2002), Life Is Beautiful (1997), The Accused (1988), Schindler's List (1993), Never Let Me Go (2010), The Water Diviner (2014), Like Crazy (2011), Good Will Hunting (1997), Million Dollar Baby (2004), 25 Years of Innocence (2020).
Best films
New films
| Last Summer (2025) | 6.5 | |
| Guru Nanak Jahaz (2025) | 8.7 | |
| Madras Matinee (2025) | 7.9 | |
| Eternity (2025) | 7.0 | |
| Nilakanta (2026) | 8.8 |
List of poignant movies
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Gifted 18-year-old Meg has been abandoned by her father and neglected by her hardworking mother. Left to care for her emotionally disturbed younger sister, her world begins to unravel. She finds an outlet in writing poetry and support from her ...
Style:
disturbing, poignant, depressing, heartbreaking, contemplative ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, chick flick
Plot:
teenage girl, power relations, cheerleading, teachers and students, teacher student relationship, dysfunctional family, depression, innocence lost, family in crisis, character study, complex characters, bittersweet ...
Time:
year 2002
Place:
ohio, florida
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.
Style:
sentimental, inspirational, touching, poignant, thought provoking ...
Audience:
girls' night, kids
Plot:
childhood, autism, 9/11, asperger's syndrome, boy, child protagonist, orphan, acceptance, disability, coming of age, bereavement, single mother ...
Time:
september 11 2001, year 2001, 2000s, year 2011, 2010s ...
Place:
new york, manhattan new york city, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War
Country: Italy
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While ...
Style:
touching, inspirational, emotional, sentimental, poignant ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, family friendly, kids, adult
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, nazi, concentration camp, human spirit, life & death, life philosophy, self sacrifice, nazism, life lesson, destiny, ss ...
Time:
1940s, year 1997, 20th century, 90s, 1930s ...
Place:
italy, poland, europe, tuscany
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
After a young woman suffers a brutal rape in a bar one night, a prosecutor assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack.
Style:
disturbing, thought provoking, realistic, poignant, rough ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
courtroom drama, rape, injustice, sexual assault, rape victim, violence, gang rape, sexual abuse, violence against women, legal action, fraternity, legal ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 1988
Place:
massachusetts, boston, usa, washington d.c., washington state ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 195 min.
Story:
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
Style:
touching, emotional, heartbreaking, realistic, thought provoking ...
Audience:
date night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, genocide, nazi, wartime, war, concentration camp, storytelling, holocaust survivor, anti semitism, nazism, against humanity ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, 90s, ancient times, year 1943 ...
Place:
poland, germany, iran, persia, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
As children, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy spend their childhood at an idyllic and secluded English boarding school. As they grow into adults, they must come to terms with the complexity and strength of their love for one another while also preparing for ...
Style:
sad, melancholic, depressing, psychological, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
teens, date night, girls' night, chick flick, adult ...
Plot:
dystopia, boarding school, existentialism, distopia, childhood, cloning, sadness, friendship, transplant, couples, love story, love and romance ...
Time:
year 1978, 2010s, 50s, year 2010, 70s ...
Place:
england, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: Australia, USA, Turkey
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
In 1919, Australian farmer Joshua Connor travels to Turkey to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. Holding on to hope, Joshua must travel across the war-torn landscape to find the truth and his own peace.
Style:
inspirational, emotional, reflective, compassionate, sentimental ...
Plot:
world war one, redemption, war, missing person, courage, greco turkish war, family drama, parents and children, family relations, escapades, turkish history, wartime ...
Time:
year 1919, 1910s, 2010s, year 2014, year 1915 ...
Place:
turkey, istanbul turkey, australia, gallipoli, ottoman empire ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she's banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.
Style:
romantic, sexy, poignant, sensual, sentimental ...
Audience:
date night, teens, chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
long distance relationship, fall in love, love story, lovers, happy ending, forceful separation, couple relations, lovers apart, bittersweet, relationships, love and romance, immigration ...
Time:
year 2011, 70s, 21st century
Place:
united kingdom, usa, los angeles, london, england ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Will Hunting has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau, who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. ...
Style:
psychological, philosophical, emotional, sentimental, intellectual ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, chick flick, family friendly, date night ...
Plot:
mathematics, genius, professor, prodigy, life, life philosophy, psychology, philosophy, mentor, psychotherapy, university, life lesson ...
Time:
year 1997, 20th century, 90s, 2010s
Place:
boston, harvard university, america, persia, massachusetts ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Despondent over a painful estrangement from his daughter, trainer Frankie Dunn isn't prepared for boxer Maggie Fitzgerald to enter his life. But Maggie's determined to go pro and to convince Dunn and his cohort to help her.
Style:
emotional, depressing, touching, sad, bad ending ...
Audience:
girls' night, kids, family friendly, adult
Plot:
boxing, underdog, female boxer, female protagonist, determination, mentor protege relationship, athlete's life, female athlete, boxing trainer, strong female character, euthanasia, athlete and trainer ...
Time:
year 2004, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
los angeles, usa, europe, london, las vegas ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Poland
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
A story of Tomasz Komenda - a man, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison, for a crime he did not commit.
Style:
heartbreaking, poignant, sad, emotional, suspense ...
Plot:
convict, jail cell, rape victim, prison, murder, investigation, courtroom, victim, suicide attempt, true crime, prison rape, false accusation ...
Place:
poland
Is relevant?
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: Australia
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
When young urbanites Ian and Sam decide to go camping, they arrive at their isolated destination to discover another tent already set up, but no sign of its owners. With the other campers at large, Ian and Sam's discovery of a child wandering ...
Style:
slasher, disturbing, suspense, suspenseful, scary ...
Audience:
teens, toddlers
Plot:
serial killer, camping, rape, survival horror, backwoods, rape and murder, woods, dog, doctor, murderer duo, husband wife relationship, wilderness ...
Place:
oceania, australia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, India, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from an adrift rowboat.
Style:
touching, melancholic, unusual plot structure, sentimental, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, girls' night, kids
Plot:
lighthouse, lighthouse keeper, love, island, husband wife relationship, isolation, trying to get pregnant, missing child, adoption, miscarriage, motherhood, marriage ...
Time:
1920s, year 2015, victorian era, 20th century, year 1918
Place:
australia, new zealand
Is relevant?
38K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Spain, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
When his son dies while hiking the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees, Tom flies to France to claim the remains. Looking for insights into his estranged child’s life, he decides to complete the 500-mile mountain trek to ...
Style:
road movie, emotional, scenic, thought provoking, inspirational ...
Audience:
girls' night, adult
Plot:
road trip, travel, journey, pilgrimage, death of son, spiritual journey, dead son, self discovery, redemption, on the road, grief, wanderlust ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
spain, france, iberian peninsula, basque country, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Norway, Germany
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Eva Arctander is born with hypertrichosis, meaning that she is covered from head to toe with fine blonde hair. Her father is so ashamed of her that he hides her away from the world in their apartment. However, Eva’s nanny fights for her right to ...
Style:
poignant, atmospheric, touching, psychological
Plot:
father daughter relationship, physical appearance, isolation, life is a bitch, human nature, hopes, compassion, deformity, curiosity, death of mother, brutality, prejudice ...
Time:
edwardian era, 1910s
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Kyuta, a boy living in Shibuya, and Kumatetsu, a lonesome beast from Jutengai, an imaginary world. One day, Kyuta forays into the imaginary world and, as he's looking for his way back, meets Kumatetsu who becomes his spirit guide. That ...
Style:
anime, touching, breathtaking, intense, poignant ...
Plot:
mentor, training, beast, destiny, martial arts, furry, friendship, loneliness, fantasy world, orphan, japanese schoolgirl, good versus evil ...
Time:
2010s
Place:
japan, tokyo
Is relevant?
102K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Brazil
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
An aspiring dancer moves to New York City and becomes caught up in a whirlwind of flighty fair-weather friends, diminishing fortunes and career setbacks.
Style:
mumblecore, realistic, poignant, sexy, sweet ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
female friendship, friendship, coming of age, bittersweet, best friend, relationships, female protagonist, dancer, self discovery, direction and purpose, dark humor, profanity ...
Time:
year 2012, year 2013, 2010s, 70s, 21st century
Place:
new york, usa, sacramento california, paris france, france ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph ...
Style:
emotional, touching, psychological, sad, poignant ...
Audience:
family outing, teens
Plot:
disability, hospital, dignity, freak, melancholy, disfigurement, social misfits, cruelty, isolation, hopes, biopic, humanism ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, ancient times, 20th century, turn of the century ...
Place:
england, london, britain, europe
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
199K
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and make a pact to help him escape from an island in the Mississippi.
Style:
suspense, sweet, southern gothic, suspenseful, touching ...
Audience:
teens, teen drama
Plot:
coming of age, friendship, childhood, bittersweet, ex convict, first love, fugitives, teenage boy, love story, obsession, hopes, river ...
Time:
year 2012, year 2013, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
mississippi, arkansas, southern usa, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror
Country: USA, Spain, UK
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A boy imagines a monster that helps him deal with his difficult life and see the world in a different way.
Style:
touching, dark fantasy, emotional, psychotronic, compassionate ...
Audience:
kids, family friendly, family outing, teens
Plot:
bullying, childhood, loneliness, cancer, monster, imagination, terminal illness, boy, single mother, courage, teenager, depression ...
Time:
year 2016, 2010s
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
Weissensee is a German television series. The series is set in East Berlin in 1980 and 1987 and follows two families.
Style:
realistic, poignant, serious, compassionate, touching ...
Plot:
stasi, communism, forbidden love, spy, family feud, parents and children, dysfunctional family, prejudice, social differences, first love, adolescence, star crossed lovers ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
berlin germany, east germany, east berlin, germany, german democratic republic
Is relevant?
170K
Genre: Drama, Thriller, War
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
When his helicopter goes down during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Marine Sam Cahill is presumed dead. Back home, brother Tommy steps in to look over Sam’s wife, Grace, and two children. Sam’s surprise homecoming triggers domestic ...
Style:
touching, tense, melancholic, clever, suspense ...
Plot:
family drama, presumed dead, war, american soldier, adultery, marine, marital infidelity, brothers, released from prison, murder, dysfunctional family, twists and turns ...
Time:
year 2009, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
afghanistan, iraq, america, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 158 min.
Story:
An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.
Style:
inspirational, historical drama, epic, emotional, period piece ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, date night, adult
Plot:
redemption, rebellion, arrest, parole, historical character, broadway, dying man, historical event, prostitute, orphan, father daughter relationship, revolution ...
Time:
19th century, 2010s, year 2012, 1800s, 18th century ...
Place:
france, paris france, seattle, europe, london
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
1.0M
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, War
Country: France, Poland, Germany, UK, USA
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
The true story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he ...
Style:
emotional, sad, harsh, reflective, bleak ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, survival, genocide, nazi, classical music, wartime, war, nazism, anti semitism, hunger, nazi occupation ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, year 1939, 1930s, year 2002 ...
Place:
poland, germany, europe, eastern europe, central europe ...
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?
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: Australia
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
In 1931, three aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff and set off on a trek across the Outback.
Style:
touching, thought provoking, poignant, factual, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, girls' night
Plot:
child abuse, aborigine, australian outback, racism, kidnapping, australian aboriginal, children, survival, colonialism, indigenous people, culture clash, desert ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, year 2002, year 1931, 70s
Place:
australia, tasmania, oceania, new zealand, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together.
Style:
sexy, poignant, realistic, depressing, black and white ...
Plot:
addiction, alcoholic, alcoholism, alcoholics anonymous, alcohol abuse, rehabilitation, dysfunctional marriage, drunkenness, secretary, amor, recovery, love ...
Time:
year 1962, 60s, 20th century
Place:
san francisco, usa, texas, california, houston texas
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.
Style:
melancholic, thought provoking, sexual, dark comedy, sexy ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, kids, girls' night, teen drama ...
Plot:
midlife crisis, dysfunctional family, existentialism, age difference, obsession, loneliness, coming of age, older man younger woman relationship, dysfunctional marriage, youth, adultery, suburbs ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1999, year 2013
Place:
usa, america, los angeles, iran
Is relevant?
10K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: Bangladesh
Duration: 136 min.
Story:
A heartbreaking tale of a poor yet honest young man as lies, conspiracies and a horrible betrayal by his rich and influential employer leads his life towards uncertainty.
Style:
poignant, heartbreaking, emotional, tragic ending, melancholic ...
Plot:
love story, village life, class conflict, social injustice, betrayal, class struggle, moral dilemma, social realism, feudalism, island, wrongful imprisonment, poverty ...
Is relevant?
253K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
This is the story of three gentle persons: Paul Rivers an ailing mathematician lovelessly married to an English émigré, Christina Peck, an upper-middle-class suburban housewife, happily married and mother of two little girls, and Jack Jordan, an ...
Style:
mind bending, clever, gloomy, psychological, bleak ...
Plot:
guilt, tragedy, drug addiction, drug addict, life is a bitch, multiple storylines, grief, redemption, drug, loneliness, drug abuse, loss ...
Time:
year 2003, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, new mexico, persia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
