Heartbreaking movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant heartbreaking movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out heartbreaking, touching, emotional, realistic, serious and sad films and TV shows about / with storytelling, tragedy, mentor, life & death, death, bittersweet, loneliness, psychological drama, family relations and honest plots mostly in Drama, Romance and Biography genres shot in USA, UK, France and other countries.
1655
TOP 10 movies tagged as heartbreaking: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), Chernobyl (2019), Schindler's List (1993), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Room (2015), The Green Mile (1999), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Atonement (2007), Never Let Me Go (2010), Life Is Beautiful (1997).
Best films
New films
| Dear Jassi (2023) | 7.5 | |
| Madham (2026) | 9.9 | |
| Hazel's Heart (2025) | 5.5 | |
| City of Dreams (2023) | 6.8 | |
| Wild Heart (2023) | 6.8 |
List of heartbreaking movies
Genre: Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a ...
Style:
emotional, touching, heartbreaking, sad, sentimental ...
Audience:
teens, family friendly, family outing, kids, teen drama ...
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, concentration camp, war, children, friendship, childhood, nazi, nazism, gas chamber, boy, morality ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, ancient times, year 2008, year 1941 ...
Place:
germany, poland, europe, berlin germany, switzerland
Is relevant?
1.0M
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
A dramatization of the true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Style:
dark, atmospheric, harsh, realistic, thought provoking ...
Audience:
chick flick, boys' night
Plot:
radiation, nuclear power plant, nuclear holocaust, nuclear reactor, disaster, radiation poisoning, save the day, nuclear explosion, salvation, abandoned city, evacuation, nuclear threat ...
Time:
year 1986, 2010s, 80s, 20th century
Place:
chernobyl, ussr, soviet union, ukraine, europe ...
Is relevant?
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: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Style:
inspirational, emotional, sentimental, uplifting, motivational ...
Audience:
family outing, chick flick, teens, family friendly
Plot:
homeless, life, human spirit, rags to riches, life philosophy, success, single father, poverty, rise to the top, family drama, life is a bitch, biopic ...
Time:
80s, year 2006, 2010s, 20th century
Place:
usa, california, bay area, san francisco, america
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
477K
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Ireland, Canada, UK, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Jack is a young boy of 5 years old who has lived all his life in one room. He believes everything within it are the only real things in the world. But what will happen when his Ma suddenly tells him that there are other things outside of Room?
Style:
sentimental, heartbreaking, emotional, sad, thought provoking ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, date night, adult
Plot:
kidnapping, isolation, kidnapped, captive, room, mother son relationship, child born of rape, female protagonist, child protagonist, rape, boy, childhood ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, near future, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
ireland, persia, canada
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 189 min.
Story:
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cellblock's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, ...
Style:
touching, emotional, heartbreaking, sentimental, sad ...
Audience:
family friendly, date night, chick flick, girls' night, adult
Plot:
death penalty, prison, stephen king, death row, death sentence, convict, supernatural, false accusation, prison life, life philosophy, electric chair, execution ...
Time:
1930s, year 1999, 20th century, 90s, year 1935
Place:
southern usa, usa, louisiana, america, persia
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
The hopes and dreams of four ambitious people are shattered when their drug addictions begin spiraling out of control. A look into addiction and how it overcomes the mind and body.
Style:
psychological, disturbing, bleak, depressing, atmospheric ...
Audience:
kids, adult
Plot:
addiction, drug abuse, heroin, drug addiction, insanity, drug, junkie, loneliness, mental illness, depression, dream, subculture ...
Time:
year 2000, future, y2k, 20th century, 90s ...
Place:
britain, america, new york, usa, coney island brooklyn new york city ...
Is relevant?
325K
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, War
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.
Style:
touching, emotional, period piece, heartbreaking, sad ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, teens, adult
Plot:
world war two, wartime, redemption, tragic love, injustice, love story, unfulfilled love, sex scene, forbidden love, love and romance, false accusation, innocence ...
Time:
1930s, victorian era, 1940s, year 2007, 2000s ...
Place:
england, london, dunkirk, britain, 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: 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: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: Spain, Thailand, USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of ...
Style:
suspense, inspirational, heartbreaking, emotional, motivational ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night
Plot:
disaster, natural disaster, survival, catastrophe, ocean, tsunami, courage, forces of nature, destruction, danger, family in danger, vacation ...
Time:
year 2004, year 2012, 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
thailand, southeast asia, asia
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Family
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.
Style:
touching, emotional, sad, heartbreaking, sentimental ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, chick flick, family friendly, girls' night ...
Plot:
dog, friendship, loyalty, animal, pets, human animal relationship, life & death, loss of friend, loneliness, loss, death, friends ...
Time:
year 2009, 2000s, 1930s
Place:
japan, rhode island, usa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl's life. The ...
Style:
touching, sad, sentimental, heartbreaking, tear jerker ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, teens, teen drama
Plot:
cancer, terminal illness, family drama, sisters, parenthood, lawyer, relationships, mother daughter relationship, sick child, life is a bitch, hospital, leukemia ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
rhode island, usa, los angeles, montana
Is relevant?
276K
Genre: Drama
Country: Iran, France, Australia
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.
Style:
emotional, realistic, heartbreaking, crying, talky ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
divorce, muslim, poverty, alzheimer's disease, marriage, court, marital problem, hospital, religion, islam, justice, pregnancy ...
Time:
year 2011, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
iran, persia, nebraska, maghreb, middle east ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Style:
bad ending, depressing, heartbreaking, sad, romantic drama ...
Audience:
date night, girls' night, chick flick
Plot:
marriage, abortion, adultery, depression, passion, death of wife, destiny, under the surface, dysfunctional family, deadend life, mental illness, existentialism ...
Time:
1950s, 50s, year 2008, 20th century, 1940s ...
Place:
usa, new york, paris france, connecticut, california
Is relevant?
274K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
Christine Collins is overjoyed when her kidnapped son is brought back home. But when Christine suspects that the boy returned to her isn't her child, the police captain has her committed to an asylum.
Style:
psychological, heartbreaking, sentimental, tense, touching ...
Audience:
chick flick, adult
Plot:
kidnapping, investigation, fighting the system, serial killer, trial, missing child, disorder, missing person, police corruption, uncover truth, society, corruption ...
Time:
1920s, 2000s, 20th century, year 2008, year 1935 ...
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, canada, seattle
Is relevant?
13K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Young musician Zach Sobiech discovers his cancer has spread, leaving him just a few months to live. With limited time, he follows his dream and makes an album, unaware that it will soon be a viral music phenomenon.
Style:
heartbreaking, touching, compassionate, teen, tear jerker ...
Audience:
teens, kids
Plot:
cancer, terminal illness, teenager, star crossed lovers, dying, dealing with death, love and romance, hopes, dream, follow your dream, life is a bitch, first love ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
minnesota
Is relevant?
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?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
After his older brother passes away, Lee Chandler is forced to return home to care for his 16-year-old nephew. There he is compelled to deal with a tragic past that separated him from his family and the community where he was born and raised.
Style:
depressing, sad, heartbreaking, touching, independent film ...
Audience:
teens, family friendly, adult
Plot:
sadness, family drama, loneliness, suicide attempt, depression, loss, death, uncle nephew relationship, dysfunctional family, guardian, nephew, grief ...
Time:
2010s, year 2016
Place:
massachusetts, boston, nebraska, new england
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Belgium, Netherlands
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
The loss of their young daughter threatens to destroy the love and faith of two married musicians.
Style:
heartbreaking, touching, sad, sentimental, sexy ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
love story, musician, grief, terminal illness, love, depression, atheism, relationships, coping, cancer, passion, child cancer ...
Time:
year 2012, near future, 90s, 2010s, 2000s ...
Place:
belgium, scandinavia, europe, san francisco
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: France, Belgium, Spain
Duration: 180 min.
Story:
Adèle's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself.
Style:
erotic, sexy, sexual, emotional, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, pre-teens, adult, teen drama
Plot:
lesbian, lgbt, sexuality, lesbian love, coming of age, lesbian relationship, lovers, lesbian teen, lesbianism, love, sex, gays and lesbians ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 90s, 21st century
Place:
france, europe, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: France, Belgium
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
As adults, best friends Julien and Sophie continue the odd game they started as children -- a fearless competition to outdo one another with daring and outrageous stunts. While they often act out to relieve one another's pain, their game might ...
Style:
romantic, feel good, heartbreaking, sexy, emotional ...
Audience:
date night, teens, chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
lovers, friendship, youth, love hate relationship, game, love story, best friends in love, friends, relationships, childhood love, first love, music box ...
Time:
year 2003, 21st century
Place:
france, europe, belgium, paris france
Is relevant?
18K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hungary, Germany, Sweden
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Favoring pedigree dogs, a new regulation puts a severe tax on mixed breeds. Owners dump their dogs and shelters become overcrowded. 13-year-old Lili fights desperately to protect her pet Hagen, but her father eventually sets the dog free on the ...
Style:
tense, heartbreaking, suspenseful, suspense, disturbing ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, teen drama
Plot:
dog, revenge, animal attack, human animal relationship, teenager, redemption, brutality, friendship, dog attack, children, girl dog relationship, betrayal by friend ...
Time:
year 2014
Place:
hungary, eastern europe, europe, budapest, madrid ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: Russia
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A small child is trapped in a tug-of-war battle between his frivolous, but loving mother and an emotionally abusive neurotic grandmother, who wants to "shelter" her beloved grandson at all cost.
Style:
emotional, depressing, rough, heartbreaking, serious ...
Plot:
parent child relationship, child abuse, power relations, funeral, dysfunctional relationship, grandmother, poverty, money, doctor, sick, domineering mother, birthday ...
Is relevant?
150K
Genre: Drama
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested.
Style:
touching, heartbreaking, sad, depressing, tear jerker ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
alzheimer's disease, memory loss, illness, supportive spouse, mother daughter relationship, columbia university, family bonds, terminal illness, family drama, relationships, psychology, memory lapse ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, year 2015, future, 21st century
Place:
new york, usa, manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
In a small Tokyo apartment, twelve-year-old Akira must care for his younger siblings after their mother leaves them and shows no sign of returning.
Style:
touching, depressing, atmospheric, gloomy, bleak ...
Audience:
kids, teens
Plot:
poverty, childhood, children, young kid, child abandonment, dysfunctional family, brother brother relationship, innocence lost, responsibility, neglect, jailbait, family relations ...
Time:
year 2004, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
japan, tokyo, east asia, asia, california ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: France, Germany
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A woman struggles to interact with her family and find her place in society after spending fifteen years in prison.
Style:
touching, realistic, sincere, psychological, heartbreaking ...
Plot:
family drama, redemption, prison, character study, physician, job seeking, honest, parenthood, complex characters, loss of son, sibling relationship, estrangement ...
Time:
year 2008, 90s, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
france, europe, paris france
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: France, Belgium, Singapore
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Put in charge of his young son, Ali leaves Belgium for Antibes to live with his sister and her husband as a family. Ali's bond with Stephanie, a killer whale trainer, grows deeper after Stephanie suffers a horrible accident.
Style:
sexy, sentimental, independent film, sad, touching ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
depression, disabled person, disability, sex, illegal fistfight, orca, ex boxer, amputee, relationships, family drama, opposites attract, redemption ...
Time:
2010s, y2k, year 2012, 21st century
Place:
france, cote d'azur, south of france, french riviera, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The story focuses on a middle-school math teacher Olive and her relationship with Henry which spans 25 years over the four parts. It is based on Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Style:
meditative, realistic, sincere, atmospheric, heartbreaking ...
Plot:
small town life, maturity, dysfunctional family, couples, couple relations, elderly, psychology, life philosophy, parents and children, family problems, family relations, relationships ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
maine, usa, new england, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Norway, Denmark, Sweden
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Anders is a recovering drug addict in an Oslo rehab clinic. On the 30th August, he is given a day’s leave to attend a job interview in the city centre.
Style:
depressing, touching, gloomy, sad, melancholic ...
Plot:
suicide, drug addict, suicide attempt, depression, addiction, emptiness, hopes, drug addiction, character study, complex characters, old friend, job interview ...
Time:
2010s, year 2011, 21st century
Place:
oslo norway, scandinavia, europe, california
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
