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Sometimes a certain mood finds you - the sort where you aren't quite sad or indifferent but ready and willing to take something profound into yourself. Of course, no comedy would cater to this mood, and no action film would have that depth in it that you are looking for, but a sad movie might be just the thing that the doctor has ordered. So, if we've described your needs exactly, then this is the right list that you've stumbled upon - our selection of the best sad movies on Netflix right now.

Why Netflix? Well, with such vast quantities of great sad movies, we've narrowed down the selection to just those available on the Netflix streaming platform since it is probably the most widely used one today. And boy, do they have a nice selection of tear-jerkers and heart-breakers! From romantic dramas like About Time and Remember Me to incredible instant-classic movies like Roma and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, everyone will find a film to wet their eyes and satiate the need for profoundness.

So, cleanse your mind and get ready for it to be filled with the bittersweet stories depicted in these sad movies. While the submissions are in no particular order here, we've supplied the uppermost ten movies with short descriptions so you'd know what you are getting yourself into. If you'd like, give the saddest movies your vote and share this tear-jerking list with your friends who have been way too happy recently. The key is balance, after all!

#1

About Time

About Time

2013 | 2 hours 3 minutes | Directed by Richard Curtis
 

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

About Time is a science fantasy comedy-drama about a young man who has the ability to travel through time. His main goal is to alter his past to better the future, but we all know how that goes - usually awry or painfully. So, our young man Tim discovers that by traveling time he still won't be able to escape the sorrows and the hardships of the thing called life. About Time is a beautifully filmed sentimental story that might just squeeze a tear out of you.

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#2

The Theory Of Everything

The Theory Of Everything

2014 | 2 hours 3 minutes | Directed by James Marsh
 

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior

The Theory Of Everything is a biographical romantic drama film detailing the life of the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. The movie itself was adapted from Jane Hawking's 2007 memoir Travelling To Infinity: My Life With Stephen, so you know that at least a better half of the story is completely true. The most important part of the story here is the relationship between Jane and Stephen and their intertwined lives. The Theory Of Everything is a solid movie that seemingly has everything just right - a guaranteed good watch.

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#3

Remember Me

Remember Me

2010 | 1 hour 53 minutes | Directed by Allen Coulter
 

Starring Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Caitlyn Rund
 

Remember Me is a coming-of-age romantic drama centering on two new lovers. Both Tyler and Ally have sad prehistories - the suicide of a brother and the murder of a mother. With tragedy as the story's backbone, you would expect Remember Me to be quite grim, but nonetheless, you get involved with the characters and feel for them up until a very unexpected plot twist right in the end.

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#4

Roma

Roma

2018 | 2 hours 15 minutes | Directed by Alfonso Cuaron
 

Starring Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey

Roma is a drama film set in the 1970s in Mexico City. The main protagonist here is a Mixteco housekeeper of an upper-middle-class family, Cleo, and the plot follows a year in her life that's full of complications, ups and downs, and a very heartbreaking conclusion. Roma is, in fact, a semi-autobiography of Alfonso Cuaron himself and his upbringing in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Shot only in black-and-white, Roma doesn't lack in the department of cinematography whatsoever; in fact, the beautiful views will definitely mesmerize you throughout its run but never overwhelm the beautiful, life-like, and bittersweet story of Cleo.

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#5

Marriage Story

Marriage Story

2019 | 2 hours 17 minutes | Directed by Noah Baumbach
 

Starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Greer

Marriage Story is a drama film that follows an actress and a theater director going through a divorce. It's a very compassionate look into the circumstances and two people's decision to end their relationship but stay a family even though the original plan has fallen to pieces. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson do a stellar job in portraying the scorned couple, and although seemingly no events take place in Marriage Story, you cannot help but get immersed into their world and invest yourself into their feelings.

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#6

Philomena

Philomena

2013 | 1 hour 38 minutes | Directed by Stephen Frears
 

Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark

Philomena is a drama film based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith, which in turn is based on the real story of Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her adopted son. Somehow, Philomena manages to be a real tear-jerker and a great vessel for ironic humor at the same time, but that's exactly what makes this movie life-like and excellent.

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Scott T Brynildsen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incredible movie that made me pissed off. Since it's based on a true story, that made me even more angry.

#7

Pieces Of A Woman

Pieces Of A Woman

2020 | 2 hours 6 minutes | Directed by Kornel Mundruczo
 

Starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn 

Pieces Of A Woman is a drama film centering on a young woman's tragedy. It all starts with a complication during home childbirth, falls into relationship-breaking year-long mourning, and leads to a subsequent court case against the midwife. Pieces Of A Woman is a deeply personal story and no easy watch; however, an excellent witness to Vanessa Kirby's talent and Kornel Mundruczo's skills at directing.

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#8

A Single Man

A Single Man

2009 | 1 hour 39 minutes | Directed by Tom Ford
 

Starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode

A Single Man is a period romantic drama film based on Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel of the same name. The movie also marked the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford. The story itself follows an English professor who, after the death of his boyfriend, finds his life in the '60s Los Angeles depressing and quite unbearable. Most of the reviews singled out the stellar performance by Colin Firth, who, undoubtedly, contributed to the overall success of the movie and the eerie feeling of the film staying with you for some time.

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve watched this movie early in this year. Everyone is excellent!

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#9

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993 | 1 hour 58 minutes | Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
 

Starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a coming-of-age drama based on Peter Hedges's 1991 novel of the same name. The story follows 25-year-old Gilbert, who works as a grocery store clerk and takes care of his obese mother and intellectually disabled younger brother, so ingeniously played here by young Leonardo. What's Eating Gilbert Grape might seem a bit sentimental at times, but it doesn't lessen the feel of it being a real-as-life story elevated to new heights by completely stellar performances of its cast.

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Joanie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite films. The entire cast is phenomenal!

#10

Tell Me Who I Am

Tell Me Who I Am

2019 | 1 hour 26 minutes | Directed by Ed Perkins
 

Starring Andrew Caley, Alex Lewis, Marcus Lewis

Tell Me Who I Am is a documentary film that focuses on twin brothers Alex and Marcus. After losing his memory in an accident, Alex relies on his brother to tell him about his past. However, Alex soon taps into a harrowing secret that Marcus has kept since their childhood. The story they share is both deeply sad and somehow beautiful, and you won't come out of this movie the same as you were before.

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#12

Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

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#14

The Pianist

The Pianist

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#16

Nights In Rodanthe

Nights In Rodanthe

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#17

Milk

Milk

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived in SF from 1976 to 2016, so I remember the assassin itself. It happened just NINE DAYS after everyone drank the poisoned Kool-Aid In Jonestown.

#18

Before I Fall

Before I Fall

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#19

Caught By A Wave

Caught By A Wave

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#20

Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby

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#21

Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List

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#26

The Pursuit Of Happyness

The Pursuit Of Happyness

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Linda Lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This movie had my heart pounding several times. I'm watching it again.

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#27

A Little Princess

A Little Princess

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved the book so much that I eventually spent nearly $100 in the 1980s buying a really nice edition of it and it’s companion The Secret Garden.

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#29

Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds

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#30

The Impossible

The Impossible

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw this…it’s excellent but takes a certain amount of stick-to-it-ness because in so much of the film the characters are unknowingly at cross-purposes with each other.

#33

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

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#34

Charlie St. Cloud

Charlie St. Cloud

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#35

The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now

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#36

Secretariat

Secretariat

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#37

Gran Torino

Gran Torino

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#38

Irreplaceable You

Irreplaceable You

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#39

The Florida Project

The Florida Project

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this movie so much! I love that the kids are leading carefree lives and that the adults largely let them do so! I love that the characters interact with each other in truly believable ways and that they care for each other (mostly) in ways that make sense. The last time it was available on Netflix I watched it at least once a month until it left, and I look forward to seeing it some more the next time it shows up.

#42

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife

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#44

The Little Prince

The Little Prince

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#48

Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine

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#50

Blue Is The Warmest Color

Blue Is The Warmest Color

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Note: this post originally had 110 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.