It is natural to rewatch a movie that is made brilliantly. But there are times when even an acclaimed movie cannot be watched again. Heart-breaking movies that involve the death of a character or pet, graphic movies, or films with a disturbing plot are some reasons why even good movies become daunting if needed to be rewatched. Here’s a list of 20 intense, emotional, and disturbing movies—warranting a one-time watch.
1. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel in the titular role, The Passion of the Christ is one of the most compelling movies on the crucial hours before Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The film recounts in harrowing detail the torture that Christ went through. The movie was so powerful in its depiction that it won over the hearts of many Christians and was an instant hit. The Oscar-nominated movie can stir strong emotions on a rewatch.
2. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Based on a novel by Hubert Selby Jr., Requiem for a Dream is a mind-bending movie directed by Darren Aronofsky. Four drug-addicted characters in the film start spiraling into increasingly bizarre hallucinations that blur the line between imagination and reality. Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, and others, the movie received praise but was also a touchy watch, with many cinemagoers leaving in between. Burstyn’s performance was particularly praised, and it is a movie best watched with caution.
3. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Most people think that animated movies cannot handle serious topics. But that could not be further from the truth. Grave of the Fireflies is consistently ranked as one of the best movies that cannot be watched again. The reason? It deals with a brother-sister duo who gets orphaned during World War II and then struggles to survive the harsh conditions. The sister’s death is a gut-wrenching scene that can shake even the strongest person.
4. Life is Beautiful (1997)
Directed by Roberto Benigni, Life is Beautiful is another emotional roller-coaster of a film. The Italian classic takes inspiration from Rubino Romeo Salmoni’s book and Benigni’s father’s life. During World War II, an Italian Jewish bookshop owner’s (Guido) life changes when he is taken to a concentration camp with his young son. Heartbreakingly, Guido begins to amuse his son by making him believe the capture is a game. Sure to bring tears to one’s eyes.
5. My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
Starring Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, and others, My Sister’s Keeper is a heart-breaking film based on a novel by Jodi Picoult. When a couple’s young daughter, Kate, is diagnosed with acute leukemia, the parents decide to conceive a daughter, Anna, purely to keep Kate alive. But as Anna continues to live a life of hospitalizations, painkillers, and injections, she decides to reclaim her identity and file a lawsuit for bodily autonomy. A tear-jerking watch.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
Another movie centered around the Holocaust is Steven Spielberg’s classic black-and-white movie, Schindler’s List. The crucial historical drama is based on the real-life story of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who brought back hundreds of Jewish people from death by saving and employing them. Interestingly, one of Schindler’s rescued people wanted a film on Schindler’s life, and it was brought to Spielberg's attention. A heart-breaking movie that won multiple awards and showcased the damage of war.
7. Marley & Me (2008)
Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, Marley & Me is one of those bittersweet movies that has a beautiful tale but also includes a tragedy. Directed by David Frankel, the movie is about a couple that decide to adopt a puppy as a test run before becoming parents. The lovable pup, Marley, grows up to be naughty but stands by his family throughout all the seasons of life. Marley’s death is enough to make this movie a one-time watch.
8. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Directed by Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave is an emotional movie based on the famous memoirs of African-American Solomon Northup. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, the film follows Solomon as he is kidnapped by conmen and sold into slavery. The movie has extreme scenes of torture as Solomon is cruelly treated at a Louisiana plantation for 12 years. Co-starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Lupita Nyong’o, the movie was a critical and commercial success, bringing back the dark past of slavery.
9. Precious (2009)
Starring Gabourey Sidibe as Precious, the movie is directed by Lee Daniels and is based on a novel by Sapphire. The movie’s premise is gut-wrenching. When Precious grows up at the hands of an abusive father, she ends up pregnant and illiterate. Yet, her inner fire to defy all odds and live a normal life outshines her. She faces various challenges as she decides to get admitted into an alternative school. Various people painstakingly help her, which is truly emotional.
10. Midsommar (2019)
Starring Florence Pugh and directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar is one of the most bizarre folk horror movies. The story revolves around an American couple, Dani and Christian, who head to Sweden to attend a midsummer festival. But they are caught unawares when the idyllic destination turns out to be a cultish nightmare. The movie is highly acclaimed, but scenes like the impregnation scene are so trauma-inducing that the movie is best suited as a one-time watch.
11. Room (2015)
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, Room is based on a novel by Emma Donoghue and stars Brie Larson. The movie won several awards and revolves around a young woman, Joy, who has been held captive by a man, Nick, for many years. She lives in a squalid shed and is abused routinely. When Joy gives birth to Jack, she decides to fight for her and Jack’s freedom. The movie is disturbing as there are many such cases in real life.
12. Steel Magnolias (1989)
Starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and others, Steel Magnolias starts as a cozy movie that revolves around the lives of a group of women in a small Southern town. The movie covers the beauty of community life and festivals but begins to turn dark when one of them dies. The scene at the cemetery, where Field’s character weeps for her daughter, is extremely heart-wrenching. A beautiful yet intensely emotional film.
13. A Star is Born (2018)
Even though the film’s story has been made multiple times, the 2018 version, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, is a tear-jerking watch. Also starring Lady Gaga, the film is about a successful singer, Jack, who ruins himself by drinking. He meets a young singer, Ally, at a bar and is impressed by her talent. As Ally begins to shine under Jack’s tutelage, Jack starts to spiral down. Cooper and Gaga deliver an impressive performance, but the movie is heartbreaking.
14. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Very few movies represent the harsh reality of marriage and relationships. Anatomy of a Fall is one of those. Directed by Justine Triet and starring Sandra Hüller, the French legal drama has some of the most intense scenes between a married couple that often stay behind closed doors in real life. When writer Sandra’s husband, Samuel, dies under mysterious conditions, she has to prove her innocence in court—revealing a sordid family life. A tough watch.
15. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
In this noted Western movie, Kurt Russell stars as a small-town sheriff, Franklin Hunt, who decides to save three people kidnapped by a cannibalistic Native American tribe. The film is set in the 1890s, and as Hunt leads a posse to rescue them, the movie has many gory scenes that are difficult to digest. Directed by S. Craig Zahler, the movie has an intense atmosphere but is extremely graphic, making it difficult to rewatch.
16. The Road (2009)
Directed by John Hillcoat and starring Viggo Mortensen, The Road is a post-apocalyptic movie based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy. The movie is about a father and son who undergo various challenges to survive in a harsh wasteland. It includes both gore and heartbreak, which makes the film heavy. The movie also has tender moments of the father-son bond as Viggo’s character does his best to protect his son from cannibalistic gangs. A bleak movie nonetheless.
17. The Green Mile (1999)
Starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, and others, The Green Mile is based on a novel by Stephen King. The movie takes place in flashbacks during the Great Depression. Paul (Hanks) was a death row officer who witnessed miracles when a mysterious man, John (Duncan), bore healing powers. The movie is highly sentimental as John is wrongfully convicted of a crime. Filled with powerful scenes, especially when John is executed, makes the film gut-wrenching.
18. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Starring Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, and others, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a renowned movie that has crushed the hearts of many viewers. Based on a novel by John Boyne, the film is set in Nazi-occupied Poland, where a young boy, Bruno, forms a friendship with Shmuel, who lives in a concentration camp. The movie is a classic tale about friendship and the brutality of war. Its last scene is extremely tragic and is, therefore, a tough watch.
19. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale stars Richard Gere. The movie is a remake of a 1987 Japanese movie and is based on a real-life story. A professor, Parker (Gere), commutes daily to Providence and finds a lost dog. Hachi becomes Parker’s pet and waits every day at the station for his owner’s return. But when Parker dies of a heart attack, Hatchi heart-breakingly continues to wait for his return, unaware that his owner has died. A painful movie.
20. A Walk to Remember (2002)
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Starring Mandy Moore and Shane West, A Walk to Remember is a romantic movie directed by Adam Shankman and based on a Nicholas Sparks’ novel. It revolves around a rebellious teenager, Landon (West), who makes fun of a shy and awkward girl at school, Jamie (Moore), until he falls for her. Tragically, Jamie has leukemia, and the two share wonderful moments together until Jamie’s life is cut short, and Langdon realizes the value of life. An emotional watch.
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