Top 10 non-romance films that will make you cry

For those looking for a list of cry-worthy movies that isn’t full of romances and teen dramas, here are my top 10 picks of non-romance films that will make you weep.

Everyone needs to have a cry once in a while and watching a sad or thought-provoking movie can often be a great way to do this. The trouble with such films, however, is that what people find upsetting is often incredibly subjective. For example, I’ve known people to cry only at happy, feel-good films, or at movies that address something very close to their hearts. It isn’t always the films with the darkest, most depressing subjects that make us cry. Sometimes it is simply a beautiful soundtrack, a small victory, or a thought-provoking exchange. 

However, from my experience, there are certain films that are guaranteed to make most people tear up. From coming-of-age dramas to sci-fi thrillers and mysteries, these are 10 non-romance films that will make you cry your eyes out.

Disclaimer: some of these films do contain romantic relationships, but do not fit strictly into the romance genre. This is because the primary plot of these films does not centre around a love story.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 

The 1946 drama/fantasy ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ features James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who attempts to end his life on Christmas day. We see the unfortunate events leading up to this, the many injustices George has suffered over the course of his life, and the sacrifices he has made for others. As George is about to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel Clarence appears to save him, and shows him what his hometown would look like if he had never been born. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ will make you laugh and cry, and its message will stay with you forever. 

2. Never Let me Go (2010) 

‘Never Let me Go’ is a sci-fi film based on the titular novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. With incredible performances from Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley, this heartbreaking movie follows three young children as they grow up in a strange boarding school, unaware of the tragic fates that await their adult selves. ‘Never Let me Go’ is guaranteed to move you to tears as it navigates love, loss, and hopelessness in a bleak dystopian future that is perhaps not as far-off as it seems.

3. Dancer in the Dark (2000) 

Lars von Trier is known for making films with a deeply melancholic tone, and ‘Dancer in the Dark’ is no exception. However, the despair and sympathy we feel for this film’s protagonist, Selma Jezkova, makes ‘Dancer in the Dark’ perhaps the most upsetting of all his works. Played by Björk, Selma is an immigrant and single Mother with a degenerative eye condition. Slowly turning blind, Selma struggles to save enough money to pay for an operation for her son, who has the same condition. This film's tragic finale is one of the most tear-jerking moments I’ve ever seen on screen. 

4. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) 

The 1993 American drama ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ follows Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape, a boy forced to look after his mentally challenged brother Arnie and his morbidly obese, depressive Mother. This film is incredibly touching as it deals with sensitive topics in a heartwarming, but often upsetting manner. When Gilbert falls in love with traveler Becky, played by Juliette Lewis, he is forced to reconsider his place in the world. With its depiction of real-life sorrow and suffering, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ is as sad as it is hopeful. 

5. Léon: The Professional (1994) 

‘Léon: The Professional’ is an action/drama about the strangely touching friendship between 12-year-old Mathilda and her neighbour Leon, who is a professional hitman. When Mathilda’s family is murdered, Leon reluctantly takes her in, and she quickly becomes his protégée. With great performances from both Jean Reno and Natalie Portman, ‘Léon: The Professional’ is not only a brilliant film, but surprisingly emotional. Plus, its ending is bound to make you cry. 

6. The Elephant Man (1980)

The 1980 historical drama ‘The Elephant Man’ is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man living in London in the late 1800s. Exhibited at a freak show as the ‘Elephant Man,’ Merrick was subjected to abuse and mistreatment for the majority of his life. David Lynch’s film adaptation of his life is nothing short of heartbreaking as it exhibits the kind, gentle nature of a man yearning to be accepted and treated as a normal person. Incredibly thought-provoking and at times difficult to watch, ‘The Elephant Man’ will make you weep. 

7. Arrival (2016) 

‘Arrival’ is not necessarily a sad film, but an incredibly poignant one, and definitely sits under the ‘will make you cry but also think’ category. This sci-fi thriller follows Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguistics expert hired to interpret the language of an alien species that has recently arrived on Earth. ‘Arrival’ isn’t really about the aliens, however. Instead, this film raises unfathomably complex questions about time and the human ability to choose. Its soundtrack is also extremely powerful, including contemporary classical pieces like Max Richter’s ‘The Nature of Daylight.’

8. The Lovely Bones (2009) 

The mystery/drama ‘The Lovely Bones’ may have been negatively received by critics upon its release in 2009, but this film is, in my opinion, uniquely captivating. Susie, played by Saoirse Ronan, is murdered at the age of 14. However, she continues to watch over her family and attempts to lead them to her killer, who has claimed the lives of many young girls like her. Played out through the lens of child-like innocence, ‘The Lovely Bones’ is a heart-rending portrayal of grief and death that manages to be both moving and sensitive, and is undeniably one of the saddest non-romance films out there.

9. My Girl (1991) 

‘My Girl’ is a 1991 coming-of-age film that focuses on the strong friendship between Vada and Thomas, two young children attempting to navigate the various complexities of everyday life. Vada lives in the town’s funeral home and is both fascinated and terrified by the idea of death, a difficult topic that is dealt with excellently in this movie. Understated but powerful, ‘My Girl’ is guaranteed to make you cry. The friendship between Vada and Thomas is particularly endearing, and very intelligently portrayed. 

10. Life is Beautiful (1997) 

No list of films that will make you cry would be complete without the 1997 Italian comedy-drama ‘Life is Beautiful.’ Set during the Holocaust, this beautiful film chronicles a Jewish Father's attempts to shield his young son from the horrors surrounding them in a concentration camp. Funny, charming, but ultimately heartbreaking, ‘Life is Beautiful’ invokes an intense emotional response in those who watch it. The human ability to find happiness in the darkest of places shines through in this thought-provoking Italian masterpiece, showing us that a non-romance film can be infinitely more moving and upsetting than a sickly sweet love story.

If you enjoyed this, you can read more Films To Watch Before You Die lists here.