Every dedicated movie enthusiast has likely experienced an array of diverse emotions while watching movies. However, I would argue that none compares to the heart-wrenching sadness that’s left in the wake of some movies. Here are my top 19 of such brutal movie endings:
Titanic (1997)
Titanic is a beautiful love story. And that’s exactly what I think makes its ending much more tragic. The $2.3 billion-grossing blockbuster takes us through a truly captivating romance between lead characters Rose and Jack, one that ultimately ends in Rose watching her lover sink into the icy depths of the Atlantic.
The Green Mile (1999)
The tale of racial injustice and blatant inhumanity told by The Green Mile was already heart-wrenching enough. But the real tragedy was saved for its ending, which shows the emotionally moving execution of John Coffery, a man who seems hardly capable of the crimes he had been accused of.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List depicts the horrors of the Holocaust, and its ending is nothing short of gut-wrenching. Oscar Schindler, a Nazi who was exceptionally empathetic to the Jewish plight during World War 1, breaks down in the closing scene, regretting that he could have saved more lives.
Marley & Me (2008)
When Marley & Me was released in December 2008, it set the Christmas Day box office with almost $15 million in ticket sales. This outstanding commercial success also means that a lot of tears were shed in cinemas as the movie closed with John having to say goodbye to his devoted Labrador Retriever, who was about to get euthanized.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
The Fault in Our Stars is an adaptation of a John Green novel. It explores the poignant love story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers with cancer, who find romance in the unlikely setting of a cancer support group. Hazel can barely withstand the emotional burden of Gus’ death at the end of the film, and neither could I.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
In Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, a deep and special bond of friendship is formed between Maggie, a female boxer, and her devoted trainer. Things take an unexpected turn in the final act, when Maggie is rendered paralyzed and her coach helps her commit suicide out of affection.
Old Yeller (1957)
Old Yeller always leaves me in tears, no matter how many times I see it. The movie ends with the enthralling bond created between a boy and his loyal dog being shattered, as the latter contracts rabies and has to be put down.
Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, which won the 2015 Oscar for Best Visual Effects, is a story of the beautiful love shared by a father and his daughter. I couldn’t prevent myself from getting teary-eyed as the final scene portrayed the reunion of a relatively unaged Coop and his daughter, who thanks to time dilation was now on her deathbed.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies is a poignant animated film set in Japan during World War II. The film explores the tragic fate of the siblings Seita and Setsuko, who struggle to survive amidst the devastation and horrors of war, culminating in an emotionally charged ending that always leaves me reaching for some tissue.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain tells a story of forbidden love between two cowboys and the challenges they face in a society that doesn’t accept their relationship. The film has a particularly devastating ending, with Jack, one of the cowboys, getting brutally murdered for his sexual orientation.
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King is an animated classic filled with both joy and heartache. The death of Mufasa and Simba’s grief-stricken reaction never fails to bring tears to my eyes. This powerful scene explores the loss of a loved one and the weight of responsibility
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button explores the unconventional life of a man who ages in reverse. The poignant conclusion, as Benjamin dies an infant in the hands of the love of his life, definitely leaves one with an aftertaste of heart-wrenching sadness.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which is based on John Boyne’s novel, is genuinely one of the saddest films I’ve had to sit through. The movie explores the innocent friendship that developed between two boys amid the horrors of the Holocaust. Eventually, they both face a dreadful fate.
My Girl (1991)
If you ever need a good cry, I invite you to see My Girl. The movie tells the tragic tale of Vada, a young girl who loses her mom two days after her birth. Vada finds comfort in her friendship with her best pal, Thomas J. However, Thomas suffers a fatal bees’ attack and Veda is left to navigate through her pain and grief.
Blue Valentine (2010)
Blue Valentine is a really bleak take on the theme of romantic love. The film follows the life of a couple, played exquisitely by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, who find themselves stuck in a failed marriage. The couple’s separation at the end of the movie, though expected, was nevertheless heartbreaking to watch.
Life is Beautiful (1997)
Life is Beautiful is a masterful blend of comedy and tragedy set during the Holocaust. Guido’s sacrifice and the heart-wrenching separation from his son in the final moments of the film have the effect of leaving one utterly devastated, yet hopeful for the power of love.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Although A.I. Artificial Intelligence falls squarely in the sci-fi genre, it is a very sentimental movie. The Steven Spielbergn-directed film is about David, a little robot that had been programmed to love and who wants nothing but to be a real boy. In the end, David fulfills his lifelong wish of seeing his mother but is left alone in an uncertain future.
The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook tells a timeless love story that transcends time and obstacles. The emotional final scene, which shows an elderly couple passing away after sharing a life of romance, is a guaranteed tearjerker.
Beaches (1988)
Beaches is one of those movies I keep coming back to despite the waterworks it inspires. The film tells a powerful story about the genuine love shared between two friends, Hilary and C.C. This beautiful friendship however ends with Hilary succumbing to a heart disease and leaving her daughter in the care of her best friend.
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