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Watching movies is one of the great ways to spend our free time. The variety of genres allows us to “move” to certain places, feel different emotions and simply escape our reality. Some movies are great for being a “noise” in the background, while others really get us involved. If you are the type of person that doesn’t find it easy to pick a movie worth watching because you simply feel lost in all the variety, the good people of the internet can really save you by sharing their own suggestions on the topic.

Having this in mind, Reddit user u/akambe asked people to share “what movie is so good you'd recommend it to all your friends, but so emotionally traumatic that you'll never watch it again?” The post with 391k views soon became a never-ending list of movies that left people in shock and surprise, from old movies that depict historic events, such as the Holocaust, to dramas that remind us of how short life is and what’s truly important. This question led to a discussion of why people find certain things in these movies touching or even traumatizing: a strong character portrayal, emotionally hard movie scenes, unexpected plot twists, or the mix of it all. 

Do you see your choice on the list? If not, what movie did you watch that left you speechless and that you probably won’t watch again? Feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments down below!

More Info: Reddit

#1

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Came here to say this.

This movie... no words. Still haunts me. Still f***s me up, takes me back there, breaks my heart.

They hired the lead actor, Asa Butterfield, for his innocence. He knew nothing about the holocaust. They didn't tell him anything about the holocaust or the gist of the story, he was just playing a little boy who played with another little boy through a fence. They maintained that brilliant innocence of his throughout the movie. THAT'S what makes the ending of this movie just so very soul wrenching. I'm still so very moved by this film.

kaelyyna , The Movie Planet Report

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denzoren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have read the book (didn't see the movie) and I just had to sit there when I was finished and just....I had to process what happened.

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#2

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I just watched this for the first time about a month ago. I held it together fine until Oskar broke down crying because he couldn't save more people. Then came the waterworks.

drowninginteger , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any holocaust movie is difficult to watch...but it's a great movie

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#3

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again The last line gets me thinking everytime; "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?"

JesusWearsVersace , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have watched this movie countless times. Good movie and the soundtrack is great.

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#4

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I love Stephen King and tried to read this book...big nope. Then watched the movie and I'm forever traumatized by John saying he's afraid of the dark...among other sad scenes in this movie. Dropping tears just typing this comment. F**k.

Composer_Academic , SceneScreen Report

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#5

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I thought I was going in to see a cool fantasy flick... And it turned out to be a movie dealing with trauma, abuse, and coping mechanisms

Still a great film, but so gut-wrenching

JDazzleGM , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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Libstak
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this movie, would watch it again anytime, there are deeper spiritual nuances in the storyline, it's not just about coping mechanisms, that's not what I got from it at all.

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#6

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I'm never, EVER, gonna watch that s**t again. It's from Studio Ghibli, the same from Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro). An absolute masterpiece for sure, but don't expect to find happy little creatures in it.

V02D , Madman Anime Report

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Minnie-me
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely loved the realness of the war in this storyline. Heart-wrenching for a cartoon.

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#7

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Dude the f*****g curb stomp is still clear in my mind and it's been years

BeanpoleAhead , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's an amazing movie with deep meaning... hard to watch but it has a positive message that people change so i wouldn't put it here....

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#8

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again It hit me HARD mate!

DarkSorceress_007 , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unpopular opinion but i find it a little boring even though Robin Williams is of course amazing

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#9

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again This movie is unspeakably tragic. But its also profoundly beautiful. The love that the family had for each other gets me every time. Roberto Benigni was perfection in this role!

mgeezysqueezy , Miramax Report

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cassiushumanmother
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I watched it several times. It's poetic, tragic and besides the horror able to give you some smiles, that's quite a piece of art. My favorite one about the Holocaust, with Shindler's list (who is in this list too of course lol, i had not seen it yet)

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#10

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Very well made; almost everything about that movie is incredible but it’s so emotionally intense and has such graphic subject matter that I’ll never watch it again. It’s one of those movies you see because it’s great but once you’ve seen it you’re like “Ok, cool. Mark that one off the list” and never touch it again

SomeGuyinaHood1e , GustavdeskMovies Report

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cassiushumanmother
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should be far higher on the list, that's a really disturbing and violent one on so many levels.

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#11

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again That ending montage made me physically ill.

Only movie that's ever done that to me.

Gargle_Marbles , DeFilmBlog Report

#12

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Like just knowing it happened brings me so much pain

ok-ash , MoviemanTrailers Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know why i watch it every time it's on tv!!! I can't help it but I'm so depressed afterwards.....

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#13

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again My childhood literally ended after finishing that movie.

ElvenNeko , MovieStation Report

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glowworm2
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also known as the king of the "Never Trust a Trailer" movies, which makes it look like a whimsical fantasy movie like Harry Potter.

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#14

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Its the most beautiful movie and I think everyone should watch it at least once, but I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it since Robin Williams died. I actually haven't watched anything he's in since he died.

Leather_Mango , MARCOS EC Report

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Jennie-Lind Normand
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A group of us randomly decided on seeing this in the theatre, it was a 'compromise' when none of us could decide on the other features playing and we all ended up loving this movie so much! Robin was a brilliant comic, but his performance in this movie was just amazing

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#15

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I can't bring myself to watch it again. The anger and hopelessness I felt for that man and those people is beyond compare

VibinWithDoggo , MaxMedia Studios Report

#16

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I watched the very first bit of it when I was in officer training and thought it was a comedy. A few months later I sat down and watched the whole thing. It's not a comedy...

Titanomicon , Warner Bros. Entertainment Report

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glowworm2
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because of R. Lee Ermey screaming at the soldiers in the beginning isn't it?

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#17

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again It made me depressed for days.

IrianJaya , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

#18

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again For a kid's movie it's so emotionally crushing right from the get go and then you have the tragic murder of the 10-year-old voice actress for Ducky that just adds more sadness to that film.

-eDgAR- , Movieclips Report

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Stevie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man I didn't know her father killed her and her mum in a murder–suicide. Now I am really depressed.

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#19

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again I was 18 when I first saw it for the last time. Joaquin Pheonix's line about people seeing a story about genocide on the news and not caring was a crushing "weight of the world" moment for me.

dumbamericanqueer , Movieclips Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a sad truth.... we get used to death around us and don't care! You can see it even now with the crazy numbers of Corona cases around the world...

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#20

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal in that. He did character studies to get his role to be believable.

houseofprimetofu , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

#21

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again It was such a beautiful film, so very emotional and then it just broke me. Watched it once in the movie theater and never again after.

makikoigami , DeFilmBlog Report

#22

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again That scene where they're sleeping in the bathroom was hard.

edgarpickle , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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denzoren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I watched this once. I can't watch it again. It was too sad and too real. The performances were great.

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#23

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Steel Magnolias, especially now that I have kids. I can't even think about Sally Field's breakdown without tearing up.

evelynnross , Movieclips Report

#24

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Man, I rarely cry during movies, but I teared up with that movie. The symbolism is absolutely beautiful.

Pyxos , SearchlightPictures Report

#25

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again My favourite bit of trivia about that film is when Stephen King watched the ending, he apparently said that he wished he had thought of it.

Usedbeef , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

#26

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again That was a truly visceral experience.

crackosaurusrex , Movieclips Trailers Report

#27

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Incredible movie but I'll never watch it again. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a sociopath too well; so much so that I struggle to watch him in other things now.

lowerrr , Movieclips Trailers Report

#28

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again watched this with a girl on a netflix and chill date cus we'd both heard good things, but had no idea what it was about. There was no chill, and no second date.

CommercializedPan , Trailer Chan Report

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#29

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Nicolas Cage is amazing in it (Won an Oscar for it!), but as a recovered alcoholic, that film hits WAY too close to home. Good film though.

Kryodamus , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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François Carré
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mentioned this film a few days ago in another post and got downvoted to hell, I don't know why.

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#30

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again soul crashing. can’t bring myself to watch it 2nd time. but must see. alcohol fueled domestic violence abusive families all over the world are the same. it was so on point.

dudettte , Quinn Phillips Report

#31

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Saw the screener with my film class and had no idea what to expect. Needless to say I was completely blown away and have re-watched it quite a few times since.

Jim Carrey’s performance is phenomenal.

shogun101 , Movieclips Report

#32

Amazing performance by Bjork and brutally sad. I bought a copy of the DVD after seeing the movie because I loved it so much. I lent the disc to several friends and looked at it many times myself, but could just never summon the energy to watch it again.

Trump_Card_Played Report

#33

Watched it when it first came out. Loved it. Can’t put myself through it again though. It’s so hard going and heartbreaking.

Chemical_Robot Report

#34

This movie showed how a man can be fully socially functional while suffering from major depression. That aspect hit me the hardest.

iam_saikat Report

#35

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Really disturbing. Don't think I've ever really gotten over it.

haliella , triviatrailers Report

#36

I got really invested in it when I was watching it for the first time, and I've had an absolute fear of cults since I was a kid. I don't find the film scary at all, but by the end of it, I was just completely frozen.

I've watched it since then cuz I love it but I have to take like months to prepare myself to watch it again lmao

killtoryscum Report

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Flash Henry
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could watch that movie over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over forever

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#37

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again That. F*****g. Movie.

Things it shows:

children should not be exposed to pornography

Children who are being questioned to see if they were abused should only have that questioning done by a specially trained expert and possibly with potentially a trained advocate present because it’s too easy to lead them to a conclusion they think the questioner wants to hear, especially if they think they are in trouble

(note: I edited this due to the several very good points several people said about parents shouldn’t be present, some people are also saying best practice is one on one with that trained forensic questioner.)

basically everyone in that story ended up f****d up

Wunderbabs , Movieclips Trailers Report

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cassiushumanmother
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved it, Mads was excellent as usual, you can feel the tension during all of it, mostly through him.

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#38

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again It's such a beautiful movie and so damn sad. I've recommended it to lots of people but it's hard to find.

Ghostrider_119 , Movieclips Classic Trailers Report

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#39

I've actually put myself through watching this movie multiple times because it's so good but, wow, traumatizing. For anyone on the fence about it, it does have a satisfying conclusion.

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#40

40 Movies People Praise As Great But Too “Emotionally Traumatizing” To Be Watched Again Wonderful movie, but even more devastating than Grave of the Fireflies, in my opinion.

Mimameird , Film Forum Report

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V33333P
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. This film made me throw up after I saw it. I've never been more affected by a film in my life

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Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.