Movies about grief may not be easy watching experiences, but the best stories of this kind can help us to deal with such difficult and universal issues. Grief can take many forms in a story, with most of the best movies on the subject dealing with personal loss and the dark cloud that can hang over a person in the aftermath. However, just as there are many different ways for people to experience grief, there have been many different approaches to the subject in movies.
Most people associate the theme of grief with morose and tragic dramas. Certainly, there are a lot of those types of movies that have dealt with the subject in a meaningful way. However, there are also a number of horror movies that have used grief as the foundation of their stories. From thrillers to family-friendly adventures to action movies, grief can be explored in any number of ways, but it is only the most notable movies that have something worthwhile to say on the subject.
You are watching: 22 Best Movies About Grief That Make Me Cry Just Thinking About Them
22
First Man (2018)
Director Damien Chazelle
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First Man
PG-13
Drama
Biography
9/10
Release Date
October 12, 2018
Runtime
141 Minutes
Director
Damien Chazelle
Writers
Josh Singer
Cast
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-
Jason Clarke
-
Christopher Abbott
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Ryan Gosling stars in this biopic as Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. While the movie details the immense danger of the mission and Armstrong’s dedication to it, it is also an exploration of the loss that motivated him, giving new insight into the iconic figure.
21
The Grey (2012)
Directed By Joe Carnahan
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The Grey
R
Drama
Action
Adventure
Thriller
8/10
10/10
Release Date
January 27, 2012
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Joe Carnahan
Writers
Joe Carnahan, Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Cast
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-
Liam Neeson
-
James Badge Dale
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Liam Neeson stars in this brutal thriller as a hunter who is stranded in the frozen tundra along with several survivors of a plane crash as they brace the elements while being hunted by a pack of wolves. While it might seem like a strange movie to discuss grief, Neeson’s widower character exemplifies finding the will to fight after succumbing to such a loss.
20
Demolition (2016)
Directed By Jean-Marc Vallee
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Demolition
R
Drama
Comedy
Documentary
Release Date
April 6, 2016
Runtime
100 minutes
Director
Jean-Marc Vallee
Writers
Bryan Sipe
Producers
Ellen H. Schwartz, Jason Reitman, John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, Molly Smith, Russell Smith, Sidney Kimmel, Thad Luckinbill, Helen Estabrook, Jon Schumacher, Nathan Ross, Trent Luckinbill
Cast
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-
Jake Gyllenhaal
Davis Mitchell
-
Naomi Watts
Karen Moreno
-
Heather Lind
Phil Eastwood
-
Chris Cooper
Chris Moreno
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Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this drama about a man who has recently lost his wife and seeks to start over by literally tearing down the life he had before and starting over. Gyllenhaal’s performance captures the feeling of needing to escape reality when overcome with grief, as well as the idea of ridding yourself of reminders of the loss.
19
Monster’s Ball (2001)
Directed By Marc Forster
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monster’s ball
R
Drama
Romance
Release Date
June 7, 2001
Runtime
113 minutes
Director
Marc Forster
Writers
Milo Addica
Producers
Lee Daniels, Mark Urman, Michael Burns
Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
Hank Grotowski
-
Heath Ledger
Sonny Grotowski
-
Halle Berry
Leticia Musgrove
-
Sean Combs
Lawrence Musgrove
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Halle Berry won an Oscar for her powerful performance in this story of two people from very different worlds who come together following respective losses and grieve together. It is a harrowing and difficult look at people sharing pain as well as the difficulty in a relationship shaped out of such pain.
18
Arrival (2016)
Directed By Denis Villeneuve
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Arrival
PG-13
Sci-Fi
Documentary
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
8/10
24
7.8/10
Release Date
November 10, 2016
Runtime
116 Minutes
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Writers
Eric Heisserer, Ted Chiang
Cast
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-
Michael Stuhlbarg
-
Forest Whitaker
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Denis Villeneuve’s beautiful sci-fi movie stars Amy Adams as a linguist who is recruited to help establish communication with extra-terrestrials who have recently arrived on Earth. Within Arrival‘s complex story, there is a message about how the loss of a loved one can be painful, but the time spent with them should never be regretted, even though it hurts in the end.
17
Big Fish (2003)
Directed By Tim Burton
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Big Fish
PG-13
Adventure
Documentary
Drama
Fantasy
Release Date
December 25, 2003
Runtime
125 minutes
Director
Tim Burton
Writers
Daniel Wallace, John August
Producers
Arne Schmidt, Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
Cast
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-
Ewan McGregor
Ed Bloom (senior)
-
Albert Finney
Ed Bloom (young)
-
Billy Crudup
Will Bloom
-
Jessica Lange
Sandra Bloom (senior)
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Tim Burton directs one of his best movies with this tale of a man who prepares to say goodbye to his dying father, a man who has spent his whole life telling elaborate tall tales of his life, making it difficult to connect with him. The rare movie about grieving someone who is still alive, Big Fish deals with the idea of not knowing someone you’ve spent your whole life with but making peace with the person they want to be seen as.
16
A Ghost Story (2017)
Directed By David Lowery
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A Ghost Story
R
Drama
Documentary
Fantasy
Romance
Release Date
April 24, 2017
Director
David Lowery
Writers
David Lowery
Cast
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-
Augustine Frizzell
-
Liz Franke
-
Barlow Jacobs
-
Rooney Mara
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Casey Affleck stars in A Ghost Story as a man who is killed in a car accident and comes back as a ghost, silently observing his wife as she deals with life without him. Seeing grief through the eyes of the person who was lost is a unique approach, but the scene of a grief-stricken Rooney Mara eating an entire pie in despair is a grounded and authentic moment of depression.
15
Ordinary People (1980)
Directed By Robert Redford
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Ordinary People
R
Drama
10/10
Release Date
September 19, 1980
Runtime
124 Minutes
Director
Robert Redford
Writers
Judith Guest, Alvin Sargent, Nancy Dowd
Cast
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-
Donald Sutherland
-
Mary Tyler Moore
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Robert Redford directed this Oscar-winning drama about a family coping with the loss of a child and how it has gradually torn the rest of them apart. It is a devastating and realistic look at mourning and how these family members cope with it separately from each other, despite the fact that they are all sharing the same pain.
14
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Directed By Richard LaGravenese
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P.S. I Love You
PG-13
Drama
Romance
6/10
Release Date
November 15, 2007
Runtime
126 Minutes
Director
Richard LaGravenese
Writers
Steven Rogers, Richard LaGravenese
Cast
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-
Hilary Swank
-
Gerard Butler
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Hilary Swank stars in P.S. I Love You as a woman who is dealing with the loss of her husband, only to discover that he has left behind a series of messages for her in order to help her on her path of healing. It is a rare rom-com that can be funny, charming, and romantic while still dealing with such a sad story and the memories people can make together.
13
Captain Fantastic (2017)
Directed By Matt Ross
Captain Fantastic
R
Drama
Adventure
Comedy
Documentary
Family
Release Date
July 2, 2016
Runtime
114 minutes
Director
Matt Ross
Writers
Matt Ross
Cast
-
Viggo Mortensen
-
George MacKay
-
Sami Isler
-
Annalise Basso
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Viggo Mortensen gives a wonderful performance as an eccentric father raising his brilliant children in the wilderness, but must travel with them into “regular society” for his wife’s funeral. It is an entertaining and thought-provoking movie about parenting while also commenting on how people grieve in their own ways.
12
Rabbit Hole (2010)
Directed By John Cameron Mitchell
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Rabbit Hole
PG-13
Drama
Release Date
December 16, 2010
Runtime
91 minutes
Director
John Cameron Mitchell
Writers
David Lindsay-Abaire
Producers
Bill Lischak, Gigi Pritzker, Leslie Urdang, Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, Linda McDonough, Daniel Revers, Dean Vanech
Cast
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-
Aaron Eckhart
Howie Corbett
-
Nicole Kidman
Becca Corbett
-
Dianne Wiest
Nat
-
Miles Teller
Jason
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Nicole Kidman earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as a woman who loses a child in an accident and finds a sense of comfort in connecting with the young man who caused the accident. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking look at human connection in very isolating circumstances as well as the different forms grief can take.
11
In The Bedroom (2001)
Directed By Todd Field
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In the Bedroom
R
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
November 23, 2001
Runtime
130 minutes
Writers
Robert Festinger
Producers
Graham Leader, John Penotti, Ross Katz, Ted Hope
Cast
See All
-
Sissy Spacek
Ruth Fowler
-
Tom Wilkinson
Matt Fowler
-
Nick Stahl
Frank Fowler
-
Marisa Tomei
Natalie Strout
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When a young man is killed in a violent altercation, his parents and the woman he loved are left behind to pick up the pieces of their lives. Filled with incredible performances, In the Bedroom is not only about the pain of losing someone but also how grief can shatter the relationships that are left behind.
10
The Descendants (2011)
Directed By Alexander Payne
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The Descendants
R
Drama
Comedy
6/10
7.7/10
Release Date
December 9, 2011
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Alexander Payne
Writers
Jim Rash, Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne
Cast
See All
-
Amara Miller
-
Shailene Woodley
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The Oscar-winning The Descendants stars George Clooney as a man dealing with the impending death of his comatose wife while struggling with the revelation that she was having an affair. It is a funny yet heartbreaking look at how grief is not a simple thing, and there can be conflicting emotions when saying goodbye to a loved one.
9
Up (2009)
Directed By Pete Docter
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Up
pg
Adventure
Family
10/10
8.8/10
Release Date
June 11, 2009
Runtime
96minutes
Director
Pete Docter
Writers
Pete Docter
Cast
See All
-
Ed Asner
-
Bob Peterson
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Pixar’s Up follows an old man who sets out on an adventure following the passing of his beloved wife, accidentally taking a friendly boy scout along with him. The animated movie is a fun adventure for all ages, but Up‘s opening sequence has gone down as one of the saddest cinematic moments, highlighting how empty a life can feel after losing a loved one.
8
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Directed By Martin McDonagh
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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
R
Drama
8/10
7.7/10
Release Date
November 10, 2017
Runtime
115minutes
Director
Martin McDonagh
Writers
Martin McDonagh
Cast
See All
-
Clarke Peters
-
Caleb Landry Jones
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Oscar winner Frances McDormand stars in this dark comedy-drama about a mother whose rage over the murder of her teenage daughter leads her to rent billboards in her hometown calling out the ineffective local police. Three Billboards‘ story takes a look at how grief can be manifested into anger and questions whether that is cathartic or poisonous.
7
Pig (2021)
Directed By Michael Sarnoski
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Pig
R
Thriller
Drama
9/10
8.5/10
Release Date
July 16, 2021
Runtime
92 minutes
Director
Michael Sarnoski
Writers
Michael Sarnoski
Cast
See All
-
Nicolas Cage
-
Julia Bray
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Nicolas Cage stars in this dark drama as a widower living in isolation with his truffle-hunting pig. When his prized pig is taken, he is forced to confront his old life and go in search of it. While the movie’s premise seems to set Cage up for a wild revenge thriller, Pig is instead a thoughtful look at how people can retreat from the world when they’ve experienced a great loss, but also a reminder that “We don’t get a lot of things to really care about.”
6
Small Things Like These (2024)
Directed By Tim Mielants
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Small Things Like These
PG-13
Drama
History
8/10
9.8/10
Release Date
November 8, 2024
Runtime
96 Minutes
Director
Tim Mielants
Writers
Claire Keegan, Enda Walsh
Cast
See All
-
Cillian Murphy
Bill Furlong
-
Michelle Fairley
Mrs. Wilson
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Set in Ireland in 1985, Cillian Murphy stars as a working-class family man who is confronted with horrific injustice in his community, which causes him to confront his own trauma. Murphy’s reserved and quiet performance brilliantly shows grief boiling underneath the surface for years in a society that tells him to bury it deep and not talk about it.
5
Midsommar (2019)
Directed By Ari Aster
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Midsommar
R
Mystery
Drama
Horror
6/10
26
6.9/10
Release Date
July 3, 2019
Runtime
147 minutes
Director
Ari Aster
Writers
Ari Aster
Cast
See All
-
Julia Ragnarsson
-
Rebecka Johnston
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Florence Pugh stars in this intense horror movie as a young woman dealing with a devastating loss when she decides to accompany her boyfriend and his friends on a trip to visit a Swedish community for their annual festival. While the Swedish cult ritual is the true terror, the experiences are heightened by this young woman living in constant trauma of what happened.
4
Hereditary (2018)
Directed By Ari Aster
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Hereditary
R
Horror
Documentary
Mystery
Thriller
7/10
14
7/10
Release Date
June 8, 2018
Runtime
2h 7m
Director
Ari Aster
Writers
Ari Aster
Cast
See All
-
Toni Collette
-
Milly Shapiro
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Ari Aster delivers another horror movie built on grief, which follows a family torn apart by resentment and blame following a tragic accident, only for a sinister presence to take hold of them. While there are some terrifying images of supernatural horror, Hereditary is the most difficult when examining the grounded pain of this family.
3
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Directed By Nicolas Roeg
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Don’t Look Now
R
Horror
Thriller
Drama
Release Date
November 18, 1973
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Nicolas Roeg
Writers
Daphne Du Maurier, Allan Scott, Chris Bryant
Cast
See All
-
Julie Christie
-
Donald Sutherland
-
Clelia Matania
-
Hilary Mason
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The haunting thriller stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as grieving parents who travel to Venice and find themselves descending into a surreal nightmare. Don’t Look Now‘s ending is an iconic shocker, but the movie leading up to that is a nuanced and layered look at the aimless nightmare of grief.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment