Movies have the amazing ability to evoke all sorts of emotions in viewers. They make us laugh [1], make us think, and sometimes make us cry, too [2]. When it comes to sad, heart-wrenching stories [3], Netflix definitely has a great selection of movies [4] that will break your heart in the best way. Whether you're looking for a tragic historical romance or contemporary dramas, Netflix has got you covered! There are plenty of comedy-dramas or bittersweet movies out there, but if you're really looking for something that will give you a good cry, we've rounded up a selection of some of Netflix's best sad movies.
West Side Story
It's based on Romeo and Juliet, so you know this heart-wrenching musical about teenage sweethearts from different gangs can't end happily — and the songs will only break your heart more.
Watch it now. [5]
Irreplaceable You
When a young woman receives a terminal diagnosis, she makes it her mission to find her fiancé a new love before she dies.
Watch it now. [6]
Cold Mountain
During the Civil War, a wounded soldier desperately tries to get home to his love, who is holding down a farm with the help of a plainspoken country woman.
Watch it now. [7]
The English Patient
Near the end of World War II, a badly burned, dying pilot reveals his past of romance and exploration in Africa to his nurse in Italy.
Watch it now. [8]
The Other Boleyn Girl
You already know how this one ends: Anne Boleyn overtakes her sister Mary and wins the heart of Henry VIII, but their stubborn tempers and enemies at court lead to tragedy.
Watch it now [9].
Pearl Harbor
In this sweeping war drama, a pair of best friends and fighter pilots face down the attack on Pearl Harbor, America's entry into World War II, and their love triangle with a beautiful, capable nurse.
Watch it now. [10]
Seven Pounds
An IRS agent tries to help lift the lives of seven strangers — all while carrying the heavy burden of a devastating secret himself.
Watch it now [11].
Always
In a twist on a Ghost-style tragic romance, a firefighter pilot dies in the line of duty and becomes a guardian angel to his widowed wife and a rookie pilot, but things get complicated when the rookie and his widow begin to fall for each other.
Watch it now. [12]
Dallas Buyers Club
When a homophobic man is diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s, he begins smuggling drugs in hopes of extending his lifespan. He finds an unexpected business partner in a drag queen and fellow AIDS patient, as both battle the disease.
Watch it now. [13]
Milk
Based on a true story, Milk follows the campaign of Harvey Milk, an openly gay politician in 1970s San Francisco whose openness about his sexuality makes him a target among others in the community.
Watch it now. [14]
Mudbound
In the 1940s American South, two families — one black, one white — attempt to make a living on their farms while confronting the complexities of racism and prejudice.
Watch it now. [15]
Lion
After being separated from his family and adopted as a young boy, a man returns to India in hopes of reuniting with his birth family.
Watch it now. [16]
Carol
A young shopgirl enters a forbidden romance with an older woman in the 1950s, but their relationship struggles to survive in the face of personal and social obstacles.
Watch it now. [17]
Blue Valentine
A marriage between two passionate souls devolves into despair in this dark drama.
Watch it now. [18]
The Dark Knight
The second instalment in the Christian Bale [19]/Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy is also the most tragic, as Bruce Wayne struggles to hold onto his soul and those he loves while fighting the unstoppable Joker.
Watch it now. [20]