15 Recommendations for Tear-Jerking Films, Full of Sad Stories that Drain Tears

Kapanlagi.com - Entertainment from movies can not only be obtained from stories full of happiness. Sometimes, tearjerker movie recommendations are also needed. Moreover, there are many fans of this kind of movie.

If you need movie recommendations that make you cry with sad stories, here is a list that is right for you to check out. The sad stories come from family to friendship.

Don't forget to prepare tissues beforehand, KLovers! If you are ready to feel the tightness in your chest, just check out the tearjerker movie recommendations below.

1. Recommendations for Tearjerker Films

Poster HACHIKO (Credit: imdb.com)

1.HACHIKO (2009)

For most people, pets are considered as family members.Dogs are one of the animals that are considered as humans' best friends.The depiction of the friendship between a dog and a human is clearly portrayed in the movie HACHIKO.This film is an adaptation of a legendary story from Japan that tells the loyalty of a dog named Hachiko.

It is worth noting that this film has two versions, Japanese and American.In the American version, the film tells the story of a dog named Hachi who always accompanies his owner, Professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere).

One day, Professor Parker has an accident, he falls and loses consciousness while teaching in class.He then passes away. However, Hachi, who is unaware that his owner has passed away, continues to wait for him at the station.This tearjerker film recommendation is guaranteed to make your heart filled with sadness and sorrow.

2.MARLEY & ME (2008)

Still revolving around the friendship between a dog and a human, the next tearjerker film recommendation is titled MARLEY & ME.This film tells the story of John (Owen Wilson) who adopts a dog named Marley.

Marley continues to accompany John, until he eventually gets married and has children.The presence of the dog makes the family feel warmer.Unfortunately, a dog's lifespan is not as long as a human's, so Marley cannot always be with John. Yes, this story may sound simple, but it is guaranteed to evoke sympathy from the audience.

3.LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (1997)

If you're really looking for a recommendation for a tearjerker film, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL is worth a try. The story is based on a dark history in Europe. In general, this film tells the story of Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) and his son Giosue Orefice (Giorgio Cantarini), who enter a Nazi concentration camp.

Your emotions will be stirred as you watch their story. The father is forced to lie because he doesn't want to make his son sad and afraid, even though their lives are just a gamble.

2. Recommendations for Tearjerker Films Full of Sad Stories

Poster GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (Credit: imdb.com)

4.GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988)

Another recommendation for a tearjerker film about a family's story is GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. The characters in this film are a young man named Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko. They had a stable life before the war broke out. They lost both of their parents and their home due to World War II.

They then live with another family. Unfortunately, they do not receive good treatment. They decide to leave and live in an unfitting old building. All their struggles are filled with sadness.

5.MIRACLE IN CELL NO 7

MIRACLE IN CELL NO 7 is a recommended tearjerker film from South Korea. This film tells the story of a special needs father who is separated from his young daughter. After the father gets trapped in a case of harassment and murder that he did not commit.

Your emotions will be stirred every time you see the loving relationship between the father and daughter. Not only that, you will also be presented with scenes of the father's cellmate who often behaves comically.

6.STAND BY ME (2018)

STAND BY ME is a film from South Korea that also contains onions. This film tells the story of an old man's struggle to make his grandchild happy in his final days.

The old man's name is Kim Hak-su (Lee Soon-jae) and his two grandchildren are named Kim Deok-goo (Jung Ji-hoon) and Kim Deok-hee. Deok-goo can be said to be a child who grew up in an imperfect family. His father passed away, while his mother was expelled by his grandfather for stealing his father's life insurance money.

3. Recommendations for Tearjerker Films that Drain Tears

Poster ONE WAY TRIP (Credit: imdb.com)

7. ONE WAY TRIP (2015)

ONE WAY TRIP is a tearjerker film recommendation that you shouldn't miss. This film tells the story of Sang-woo (Suho) who wants to have fun with his three friends before serving in the military.

Sang-woo, along with Ji-gong (Ryu Jun-yeol), Doo-man (Kim Hee-chan), and Yong-bi (Ji-soo), rent a car for their two-day-two-night trip. Problems arise during the journey when they witness a man beating his girlfriend. Instead of helping, they get involved in legal trouble and what happens next? Watch this film yourself to find out the quite heart-wrenching plot twist.

8. PARASITE (2019)

Actually, PARASITE is a thriller film. However, the story you will encounter in it is also equally heart-wrenching. In general, this film tells the story of two families with a social gap, poor and rich. Their story begins when Kim Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) gets a job as a tutor in the rich family's house. As his job goes smoothly, he brings the entire family to work for that family. However, this story doesn't go as smoothly as it initially seemed. The end of this film is filled with blood and tears that will make your chest tight.

4. WEDDING DRESS (2010)

Poster WEDDING DRESS

The next sad and tear-jerking film is WEDDING DRESS. This Korean film was released in 2010 and falls under the drama genre. The story revolves around a single mother named Go Eun who has a beautiful daughter named So Ra. As a single mother, she strives to give the best for her child. Go Eun herself works as a wedding dress designer.

However, it's not just their story that will make you emotional, but the heartbreaking part is when Go Eun is diagnosed with terminal cancer. With limited time, Go Eun wants to create an unforgettable memory for her daughter, a wedding dress. The dress is hoped to be worn by her daughter in the future.

5. BETTER DAYS (2019)

Poster BETTER DAYS

BETTER DAYS is a Chinese film that has a sad and tearful story. It revolves around the romance, teenage, and psychological genres, and highlights the story of two main characters named Chen Nian and Liu Bei Shan. The synopsis of BETTER DAYS tells the story of two teenagers who become victims of bullying.

Chen Nian felt desperate after experiencing bullying, while Liu Bei Shan faced a similar situation. Their similar experiences brought them closer and they fought to support each other. The situation becomes more complicated after the death of Hu Xiaodie.

6. HOPE (2013)

Poster HOPE

Film with a sad story that will make you cry is HOPE. This Korean film became a topic of conversation as it was based on a true story that happened in 2008, a case of sexual abuse against an 8-year-old girl. The synopsis of HOPE focuses on Im So Won, who went to school but unfortunately faced a tragic fate.

This cheerful character unexpectedly experienced sexual abuse by a stranger. The incident caused So Won to suffer severe injuries to her anus, stomach, and required the use of special medical equipment. Meanwhile, So Won also experienced severe trauma towards men, including her father. Since then, her father has been wearing a clown costume to interact with So Won.

7. LA LA LAND (2016)

Poster LA LA LAND

The next sad and tearful film is LA LA LAND. This film is a romance genre. The story highlights two people falling in love. They are named Mia and Sebastian. Mia is pursuing her dream as an artist. Meanwhile, Sebastian wants to become a jazz musician.

Fate brings them together but also presents them with complicated situations. At first, their relationship goes well and they support each other. As time goes by and they both struggle to achieve their dreams, their busyness causes Mia and Sebastian to break up. Years after their separation, Mia now lives happily with her new family with David. This film tells a romance story that makes you emotional.

8. BROKEN WINGS (2022)

Poster BROKEN WINGS

The next sad and tear-jerking film is BROKEN WINGS. This Indonesian film was released in 2022 and highlights the heartbreaking story of a married couple named Aji and Nani. Their married life starts off happily but ends in sorrow.

Aji, who works as a member of Densus 88, becomes a victim in a tragedy involving terrorists. Meanwhile, Nani is heavily pregnant while her husband is on duty. Nani's worries become a reality when Aji leaves for his assignment.

9. A LETTER TO GOD (2011)

Poster SURAT KECIL UNTUK TUHAN

SURAT KECIL UNTUK TUHAN is an Indonesian film with a sad and tearjerking story. It revolves around a teenager named Cantika, or affectionately called Keke, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, which means her life is not going to last long.

With all her strength, Keke tries to show that she remains strong. She undergoes chemotherapy to quickly recover her health condition. However, the treatment eventually causes Keke to lose her beautiful hair. Despite facing this fact, the presence of people around her is able to give Keke strength. The film SURAT KECIL UNTUK TUHAN contains a story that will make you cry but is full of valuable messages.

10. THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS (2008)

THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a Western film with a sad and tear-jerking story. The story highlights the emotional connection between two young boys. It is set during World War II, which also shows the brutality of Nazi persecution. Bruno meets a friend named Shmuel, who is wearing a striped pajama-like outfit.

Apparently, Shmuel comes from a Jewish family and is separated from his parents. Bruno helps him find his parents, which puts their lives at risk. Bruno witnesses the cruel torture of Jewish people. He, disguised as one of them, also becomes a victim.

So, those are some tear-jerking film recommendations that you can watch. Don't forget to prepare some tissues, KLovers!

(kpl/gen/ans)