The Biggest Tearjerker Movies Of All Time

Ranker Community
Updated September 21, 2023 55.4K votes 5.0K voters 101.7K views
Over 5.0K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Biggest Tearjerker Movies Of All Time
Latest additions: Sitting in Bars with Cake, The Child in Time, A Good Person
Most divisive: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

This is a CrowdRanked list of the saddest movies of all time: tearjerkers. Does just reading the names of these sad movies make you want to reach for the Kleenex box? Did you just glance around to make sure no one noticed your eyes getting red? Don't worry: these are some of the biggest tearjerker movies of all time. Everyone thinks that these are sad films. Rank the biggest tearjerkers by voting on the top jearjerker movies or making your own list of the films that really bum you out.

What are the biggest tearjerker movies ever made? There are plenty of good ones, and memorable ones on this list, so if you can't weepy eyed over some of these movies, well, there are probably other ones that will do it for you. Or you are dead inside. These emotional movies will strike at the heart of your emotions, causing your heart to wrench and tears to flow from your eyes. Vote on the saddest tearjerkers ever and re-live the moments you spend watching these really sad films. 

Ranked by
  • The Green Mile
    1

    The Green Mile

    Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan
    1,197 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Frank Darabont
    In the poignant drama The Green Mile, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) supervises death row in a 1930s Southern prison. Among the inmates, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a gentle giant with mysterious abilities, arrives for a ghastly crime he didn't commit. As Paul delves into John's enigmatic character, he discovers an extraordinary secret that challenges his beliefs. Adapted from Stephen King's novel, this film uniquely intertwines fantasy and period drama elements. Garnering four Academy Award nominations, it remains a compelling exploration of justice and humanity.

    Available On:

  • The Fox and the Hound
    2

    The Fox and the Hound

    Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey
    737 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens
    In the heart of Disney's animated feature, The Fox and the Hound, we follow Tod (Mickey Rooney), a red fox kit, and Copper (Kurt Russell), a hound dog puppy. The two forge an unlikely friendship that defies their natural instincts. As they grow, societal expectations force them onto diverging paths, testing their bond. This family-friendly drama, with its narrative rooted in loyalty and friendship, won acclaim for its storytelling. It is a compelling exploration of nature versus nurture, where characters are pitched against the world's harsh realities.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Old Yeller
    3

    Old Yeller

    Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk
    753 votes
    • Released: 1957
    • Directed by: Robert Stevenson
    Old Yeller, a classic Disney film from the late 50s, spins a tale of friendship and survival in the Texas frontier. The story revolves around young Travis Coates (Tommy Kirk) who, while his father is away on a cattle drive, becomes the man of the house. His life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with a stray dog named Old Yeller (Spike). Initially reluctant to accept this new member into their family, Travis soon realises Old Yeller's unwavering loyalty and courage. As they navigate through wild animal attacks and unpredictable hardships, an unbreakable bond forms between the boy and his dog. Notable for its vivid portrayal of frontier life, Old Yeller remains one of Disney's most endearing live-action films.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Schindler's List
    4

    Schindler's List

    Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
    1,080 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Steven Spielberg
    Schindler's List, a poignant war drama directed by Steven Spielberg, unfolds through the life of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), an unlikely hero during the Holocaust. In Nazi-occupied Poland, businessman Schindler becomes an unexpected savior, employing Jews in his factories to spare them from concentration camps. Stern (Ben Kingsley), his accountant, and Goeth (Ralph Fiennes), a sadistic camp commandant, play significant roles in this stark narrative. The film won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. It's a gripping account of humanity's resilience amidst the darkest times.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • My Girl
    5

    My Girl

    Anna Chlumsky, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Aykroyd
    918 votes
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: Howard Zieff
    In the heartwarming drama My Girl, precocious 11-year-old Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) navigates the trials of adolescence in 1972 Pennsylvania. Living with her widowed mortician father, Harry (Dan Aykroyd), Vada's world is colored by death and grief. Her best friend, the sweetly allergic Thomas J. Sennett (Macaulay Culkin), offers a ray of joy in her life. As Vada grapples with first love, loss, and growing up, she learns valuable lessons about life. The film beautifully captures the innocence and confusion of childhood amidst profound themes of mortality and transformation.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
    6

    The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

    David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Rupert Friend
    875 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Mark Herman
    Set during World War II, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas unfolds through the innocent eyes of Bruno (Asa Butterfield), an eight-year-old boy. The son of a Nazi commandant (David Thewlis), Bruno's life takes an unexpected turn when his family moves from bustling Berlin to a desolate countryside. Here, he befriends Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a boy his age, behind the barbed wires of a concentration camp. Directed by Mark Herman and based on John Boyne's novel, this drama explores friendship amidst war's brutality.

    Available On:

    subscription