The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
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.
- 1Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
A German businessman's journey to save over a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust unfolds in this unbelievable true story. The film's harrowing portrayal of the Nazi atrocities and its powerful black-and-white cinematography evoke an immense sense of loss and sorrow, making it one of the most poignant films on this dark period in history.
- 2David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Rupert Friend
- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Mark Herman
In the midst of World War II, a lonely 8-year-old boy forms an unlikely friendship with a Jewish child through the barbed-wire fence of a concentration camp. The film's powerful story, exceptional performances by Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon, and its exploration of innocence amidst unimaginable cruelty make it an unforgettable cinematic experience.
- 3Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: Frank Darabont
A gentle giant with supernatural powers forms an unlikely bond with a death row prison guard, as they navigate the complexities of life and death in a 1930s penitentiary. Starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan, the Stephen King adaptation explores themes of injustice, empathy, and redemption.
- 4Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Roman Polanski
A gifted musician's struggle for survival and the power of music in the midst of war-torn Warsaw captures hearts and minds. The film, based on a true story, depicts the harrowing experiences of Władysław Szpilman, who witnesses his family being taken away to concentration camps while he remains behind and endures unimaginable suffering.
- 5Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol
- Released: 1982
- Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
A young writer becomes entangled in the lives of a Holocaust survivor and her lover, leading to an unforgettable decision that will haunt them forever. The film's heart-wrenching portrayal of Sophie's impossible choice between her two children during the Holocaust makes it an enduringly tragic tale about love, loss, and sacrifice.
- 6Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix
- Released: 2004
- Directed by: Terry George
A brave hotel manager risks everything to protect over a thousand refugees during a brutal genocide in Africa. Based on true events, the film highlights the devastating consequences of ethnic conflict and international indifference during Rwanda's 1994 crisis.
