The influence movies have in stirring emotion can be nothing short of amazing. Many are produced to make you want to be heart-stirred all the more than others. These 20 movies happen to do that—a perfect narration for a tale of love, loss, or an altogether human experience done to an unrelenting extreme. Whether it's beautiful first love, pain due to separation, or the complexity of family life, these films engage the audience to witness them feel every emotion from the inside out.
1) Call Me by Your Name (2017)
In the Italian countryside, Call Me by Your Name is the passionate and complicated bond of 17-year-old Elio with his father's research assistant, Oliver. The movie captures young love and heartbreak, enhanced in a breathtaking landscape set to the score of Sufjan Stevens. Raw and vulnerable in his appearance, Timothée Chalamet delivers a most memorable performance during its final sequences, to where love, loss, and acceptance blur into a mighty end.
2) Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
This beautifully made period movie is about a painter and her subject living on a remote French island as they fall into an illicit love affair. Minimal dialogue and breathtaking visuals depict the fragility and intensity of their romance in the hauntingly beautiful landscape. Director Céline Sciamma gradually constructs a narrative that talks about social constraints and the fleeting nature of love.
3) The Spectacular Now (2013)
The Spectacular Now is a tender coming-of-age tale that traces the lives of troubled high school student Sutter and a shy girl Aimee as they find romance, experience loss, and learn about themselves. Unflinching with any pretense usually found in high school romances, the film engages in more profound subject matters like alcoholism and insecurity as ways to lose one's sense in such challenges. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley act so truthfully that they add layers to what feels like a realistic story, making it quite poignant in its discussion of young love and how emotional scars forge us.
4) Good Will Hunting (1998)
This is the story of Good Will Hunting, which tells the life of Will, a janitor at MIT with a troubled past who is given the chance to turn his life around through therapy and an intense friendship. Robin Williams offers a powerful Oscar-winning performance as Will's therapist, who gives him the wisdom and compassion to confront his fears and traumas. The movie has resonated not only with the inspiring storyline but with its raw self-acceptance, healing, and power of genuine connection, so viewers are emotionally invested in Will's journey.
5) Brokeback Mountain (2005)
This landmark film narrates the tragic love of two cowboys, Ennis and Jack, despite social constraints. The cinematography on the mountains and tender, delicate performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal have made it a timeless romance that clings long after the curtain call. The movie shattered boundaries with its sensitive description of forbidden love, and audiences were heartbroken about what was left unfulfilled between them.
6) Stepmom (1998)
In Stepmom, two women, played by Julia Roberts, and Susan Sarandon, fight through family dynamics, illness, and co-parenting to become stepmothers and biological mothers. Their fight changes into a profound understanding, which makes this movie bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming. The film touches on the side of family, loss, and forgiveness as the two women work to create memories for the children.
7) Titanic (1997)
James Cameron has masterfully created one of the most epic tearjerkers in cinematic history—a sweeping romance against the backdrop of the infamous Titanic shipwreck. The film's climactic ending, with sweeping visuals and a heartwrenching score, evokes deep emotional responses from the audience for fans of epic tragedies.
8) The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
The Fault in Our Stars, shows how two teenagers are connected because of their incurable illness, fall for each other, and understand one another better. They know and show life truthfully, embracing its loss and love despite it. The chemistry between lead actresses Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort and the performance of unfiltered acting in the film make it as heartbreaking as it can get—though there is one place from where it starts, reaching your heart emotionally on screen.
9) The Hate U Give (2018)
This movie is compelling, with the story of Starr, a young girl who witnessed the tragic death of her friend at the hands of a police officer when talking about racial injustice and police violence. The Hate U Give calls for change and testimony to resilience, where voice and identity are emphasized. Coupled with the raw portrayal of a society in pain, the film was provided with a deep emotional pull by Amandla Stenberg's riveting performance, which eventually crossed borders.
10) What Maisie Knew (2013)
The modern adaptation from Henry James tells the story of a young girl named Maisie who is caught amidst her parents' tumultuous separation and divorce. The capture is made through Maisie's wide innocence at eye level, showing heartbreak and confusion amidst adult disputes.
11) Lion (2016)
Lion is an unforgettable true story about Saroo, a little Indian boy who, through circumstance, gets separated from his family and eventually ends up with an Australian couple. Many years later, using Google Earth, he goes on an emotional quest to find his birth family. Dev Patel's performance and the way the film plays with identity and belonging make it such a profoundly moving experience that stays long after the film has finished.
12) Marley & Me (2008)
This moving family saga about their dear but troublesome dog, Marley, is an intense expression of the bond between humans and their pets. The movie is about the joy, chaos, and, heartbreak of loving a pet, leaving the audience, especially pet owners, very moved. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson warm up and bring humor to Marley's journey, which is a tearful but heartwarming ride.
13) Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
Hachi: A Dog's Tale is based on a true story. The film chronicles the life of a loyal Akita dog named Hachi, who waits at the train station every day, not knowing he will never come back. This makes one of the most emotionally impactful films related to animals ever made. It is a tearjerker that captures pets' unconditional love for their human's long afterlife.
14) Never Let Me Go (2010)
Never Let Me Go is set in a dystopian future where clones are bred for organ donation. It explores the love triangle that develops among them as they face their fate. It is hauntingly beautiful as it unfolds the story of mortality, humanity, and loss with a meditative, slow-burning pace that leaves viewers with profound sadness and questions about life and love.
15) The Best of Me: Tears of Joy Edition (2014)
The Best of Me: Tears of Joy Edition is based on Nicholas Sparks' novel. It is a love story about former high school sweethearts who meet again with unresolved pain and lost dreams. Their chemistry and desire for a second chance portray an emotional rollercoaster, especially in the edition "Tears of Joy," which brings out bittersweet aspects of love and fate.
16) Moonlight (2016)
This Academy Award-winning film traces the life story of Chiron, a lowly, unconfident, and black young man who struggles in society with questions of identity and sexuality. Moonlight is a powerful, soft silence of love, acceptance, and self-discovery that has come to this storytelling through fantastic cinematography and performances.
17) Take This Waltz (2011)
This tragic love affair stars a married woman who doubts love, happiness, and fulfillment because she falls in love with someone else. In this drama by Frank Darabont, the exploration of complex relations and what longing means is breathtakingly delivered in the role of Michelle Williams. A raw description of heartbreak and self-discovery keeps a lot to reflect on long after the movie is over.
18) The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile, based on Stephen King's novel, is an emotional prison drama that follows the lives of guards on death row and an inmate with mysterious powers. Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan perform outstandingly, highlighting the story of humanity, redemption, and sacrifice.
19) Beautiful Boy (2018)
This is a biographical drama about a father's struggle to help his son get out of drug addiction and the burden it creates for both of them. Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet's performances are heartbreaking as they show the painful and complicated dynamics of addiction within a family. It's a very empathetic film that illuminates resilience and hope.
20) Les Misérables (2012)
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This musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel perfectly captures the human spirit's struggles, sacrifices, and endurance within the confines of a revolution and hardship. The outstanding performances of Les Misérables, together with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, leave its audience emotionally charged to be weeping along with the characters' tragedy.
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