Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the greatest films that are relentlessly bleak and depressing, with characters struck down by nonstop psychological torment.
These films are depressing, but they're also remarkable. After all, what's better than depressing movies when you need to sit down and have a solid cry? The best utterly depressing movies are about heartbreaking tragedies in every form. This is a list of the most depressing movies of all time including everything from The Hours to Blue is the Warmest Colour to The Lovely Bones. Some movies seem tragic even if no one actually dies.
What films will you find on this list of good movies that are utterly depressing? Requiem for a Dream follows a group of friends who will stop at nothing to fulfill their dangerous drug addictions. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn all gave devastatingly real performances in this Darren Aronofsky film. 12 Years a Slave is one of the most depressing movies ever made since it focuses on the real-life horrors of slavery in America. Melancholia is unique in its examination of depression as the world comes to an end. Other good depressing movies featured on this list include Room, Revolutionary Road, and Manchester by the Sea.
Do you have a favorite depressing film? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any crushing classics that are missing.
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5,361606Schindler's List
Liam Neeson, Ralph FiennesReleased: 1993
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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5,102599The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Asa Butterfield, Jack ScanlonReleased: 2008
Directed by: Mark Herman
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4,128552The Green Mile
Tom Hanks, Gary SiniseReleased: 1999
Directed by: Frank Darabont
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1,425346Hotel Rwanda
Nick Nolte, Joaquin PhoenixReleased: 2004
Directed by: Terry George
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1,497372The Pianist
Adrien Brody, Thomas KretschmannReleased: 2002
Directed by: Roman Polanski
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1,924506The Color Purple
Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi GoldbergReleased: 1985
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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2,19159212 Years a Slave
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael FassbenderReleased: 2013
Directed by: Steve McQueen
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1,351354Sophie's Choice
Meryl Streep, Kevin KlineReleased: 1982
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
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1,429383Boys Don't Cry
Hilary Swank, Chloë SevignyReleased: 1999
Directed by: Kimberly Peirce
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2,684794The Lovely Bones
Rachel Weisz, Mark WahlbergReleased: 2009
Directed by: Peter Jackson
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1,981579Grave of the Fireflies
Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi YamaguchiReleased: 1988
Directed by: Isao Takahata
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3,014918Requiem for a Dream
Jennifer Connelly, Jared LetoReleased: 2000
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
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1,778529My Sister's Keeper
Cameron Diaz, Alec BaldwinReleased: 2009
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
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671162I Am Sam
Sean Penn, Dakota FanningReleased: 2001
Directed by: Jessie Nelson
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987272Life Is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni, Horst BuchholzReleased: 1997
Directed by: Roberto Benigni
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1,647499What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprioReleased: 1993
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
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1,168335Beaches
Bette Midler, Mayim BialikReleased: 1988
Directed by: Garry Marshall
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2,198699Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Mariah Carey, Lenny KravitzReleased: 2009
Directed by: Lee Daniels
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1,933627What Dreams May Come
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr.Released: 1998
Directed by: Vincent Ward
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953290Mystic River
Emmy Rossum, Sean PennReleased: 2003
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
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1,198388The Elephant Man
Anthony Hopkins, John HurtReleased: 1980
Directed by: David Lynch
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982316Seven Pounds
Will Smith, Rosario DawsonReleased: 2008
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
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1,735608Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood, Morgan FreemanReleased: 2004
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
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1,498527The Pursuit of Happyness
Will Smith, Thandie NewtonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
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760255To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Duvall, Gregory PeckReleased: 1962
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
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