Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the best, most heartwrenching movies in which characters are grieving a death.
This list contains information on the best films about grief, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best films about grief come in many forms. Some movies about grieving death are about losing a spouse while other good movies about grief are about the death of a child. Many of the best grief movies feature award-winning actors.
What films will you find on this top movies about grief list? Ghost has to be near the top. Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze star as a couple whose afterlife romance inspired movie-goers in 1990. Whoopi Goldberg even won an Academy Award for her performance as the match-making medium in the film. Ordinary People is another good movie about grief.
In the Bedroom examines how grief can quickly turn into revenge. Other good films about grieving death include The Door in the Floor, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and The Lovely Bones.
Do you have a favorite movie about grief? Give the best films a thumbs up and please add any good features we may have missed.
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4719Ghost
Demi Moore, Whoopi GoldbergReleased: 1990
Directed by: Jerry Zucker
Ghost is a 1990 American romantic fantasy/crime thriller film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi... more on Wikipedia2
339What Dreams May Come
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr.Released: 1998
Directed by: Vincent Ward
What Dreams May Come is a 1998 American fantasy drama film, starring Robin Williams, Cuba... more on Wikipedia3
308Ordinary People
Mary Tyler Moore, Donald SutherlandReleased: 1980
Directed by: Robert Redford
Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film that marked the directorial debut of actor... more on Wikipedia4
3514P.S. I Love You
Gerard Butler, Hilary SwankReleased: 2007
Directed by: Richard LaGravenese
P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese. The screenplay... more on Wikipedia5
3210Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck, Michelle WilliamsReleased: 2016
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan
Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film directed and written by Kenneth Lonergan.... more on Wikipedia6
2810Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Sandra Bullock, Tom HanksReleased: 2011
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a 2011 American drama film adaptation of the novel of... more on Wikipedia7
239Gladiator
Russell Crowe, Joaquin PhoenixReleased: 2000
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Gladiator is a 2000 American-British epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott,... more on Wikipedia8
2412Moonlight Mile
Jake Gyllenhaal, Susan SarandonReleased: 2002
Directed by: Brad Silberling
Moonlight Mile is a 2002 American romantic drama film written and directed by Brad Silberling.... more on Wikipedia9
2818The Lovely Bones
Rachel Weisz, Mark WahlbergReleased: 2009
Directed by: Peter Jackson
The Lovely Bones is a 2009 supernatural drama film directed by Peter Jackson and stars Mark... more on Wikipedia10
2312The Descendants
George Clooney, Shailene WoodleyReleased: 2011
Directed by: Alexander Payne
The Descendants is a 2011 American drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by... more on Wikipedia11
2111A Single Man
Julianne Moore, Jon HammReleased: 2009
Directed by: Tom Ford
A Single Man is a 2009 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Christopher... more on Wikipedia12
2112John Wick
Keanu Reeves, Willem DafoeReleased: 2014
Directed by: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch
John Wick is a 2014 American action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.... more on Wikipedia13
2014Catch and Release
Jennifer Garner, Juliette LewisReleased: 2006
Directed by: Susannah Grant
Catch and Release is a 2007 romantic comedy film released by Columbia Pictures. It is the... more on Wikipedia14
148The Sweet Hereafter
Ian Holm, Sarah PolleyReleased: 1997
Directed by: Atom Egoyan
The Sweet Hereafter is a 1997 Canadian drama film written and directed by Atom Egoyan, adapted... more on Wikipedia15
1813The Babadook
Essie Davis, Daniel HenshallReleased: 2014
Directed by: Jennifer Kent
The Babadook is a 2014 Australian psychological horror film, written and directed by Jennifer... more on Wikipedia16
137In the Bedroom
Marisa Tomei, Sissy SpacekReleased: 2002
Directed by: Todd Field
In the Bedroom is a 2002 American drama film directed by Todd Field, and dedicated to Andre... more on Wikipedia17
1713Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part I
Emma Watson, Daniel RadcliffeReleased: 2010
Directed by: David Yates
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is a 2010 fantasy film directed by David Yates... more on Wikipedia18
1510Rabbit Hole
Nicole Kidman, Sandra OhReleased: 2010
Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell
Rabbit Hole is a 2010 American drama film starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne... more on Wikipedia19
115Jackie
Natalie Portman, Peter SarsgaardReleased: 2016
Directed by: Pablo Larraín
Jackie is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Noah... more on Wikipedia20
1410Monster's Ball
Halle Berry, Sean CombsReleased: 2002
Directed by: Marc Forster
Monster's Ball is a 2002 American romantic drama film directed by German-Swiss director Marc... more on Wikipedia21
106A Ghost Story
Casey Affleck, Rooney MaraDirected by: David Lowery
A Ghost Story is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by David Lowery. The movie... more on Wikipedia22
1311Reign Over Me
Adam Sandler, Liv TylerReleased: 2007
Directed by: Mike Binder
In Reign Over Me, two former college roommates Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) and Alan Johnson... more on Wikipedia23
119We Bought a Zoo
Scarlett Johansson, Matt DamonReleased: 2011
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
We Bought a Zoo is a 2011 American family comedy-drama film loosely based on the 2008 memoir... more on Wikipedia24
107Gone Baby Gone
Casey Affleck, Michelle MonaghanReleased: 2007
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Gone Baby Gone is a 2007 American neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Ben Affleck,... more on Wikipedia25
97Things We Lost in the Fire
Halle Berry, David DuchovnyReleased: 2007
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Things We Lost in the Fire is a 2007 drama film directed by Susanne Bier and written by Allan... more on Wikipedia
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