Saddest Movies on Tubi to Watch Right Now

Have you ever cried while watching a movie? There’s nothing inherently wrong with doing so. It’s often a sign that a film is so emotionally compelling, that you can’t help but feel the plight of the characters on screen as if it were happening to you instead. Crying is often a sign of being so invested in a story, you feel as though you’re there. But if you’ve already seen some of the saddest movies streaming, where else can you find similarly sappy stories?

It just so happens that the free ad-supported streaming service Tubi has plenty of tearjerkers in its expansive library. Either through animation or live-action footage, Tubi holds some of the saddest films ever put to screen, with each one tugging at your insides in its own way. But which ones should you watch? Check out a few of the saddest movies on Tubi that you can watch right now. We’re not saying that you’ll be sobbing throughout all of these films, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep some tissues nearby just in case.

Updated on Jan. 28th, by Ben Hathaway: This article has been updated with new features, entries, and information to keep the discussion fresh and relevant.

21 Gojira (1954)

Tubi has the entirety of Godzilla’s Shōwa era, and that includes both the original Gojira and the Americanized Godzilla: King of the Monsters! Stick with the original version, though. It’s about four times as good and 10 times as poignant. In other words, when splicing in footage of Raymond Burr, the Americans removed much of this film’s heart and almost all of its traumatic scenes.

Devastating Death Scenes

The Americanized version kept the reporters on the bell tower scene. That’s good, it’s intense. Seeing a group of people accept their inevitable fate is pretty sad. But that’s nothing compared to the excised scene when a woman cradles her two children in her arms as Godzilla shows himself over the side of a building. Like the reporters, she accepts her (their) fate by pulling the kids in closer with her efforts to comfort them taking the form of “A little longer, a little longer, and we’ll be with your daddy.”

20 Requiem for a Dream (2000)

The gut-wrenching Requiem for a Dream was the film to put Darren Aronofsky on the map, and to this day it’s easy to see why. Carrying indie vibes and a macro-scale (uneasy) accessibility simultaneously, it’s a movie everyone can get something from. Especially Ellen Burstyn fans.

A Harrowing Look at Addiction

Just about every character in Requiem for a Dream is falling down some insurmountable rabbit hole. Jared Leto’s Harry, Jennifer Connelly’s Marion, and Marlon Wayans’s Tyrone are all addicted to heroin. It’s a big part of their life, to the point that they sell it in a poorly devised method to get out of their hometown. But, addiction almost always wins, and it does to varying extents for that trio. Then there’s Burstyn’s Sara, who spends her day watching daytime game and talk shows…while getting more and more hooked on doctor-prescribed amphetamines.

19 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

Sidney Lumet’s final film, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, was a doozy. It features some of the best work not just from Philip Seymour Hoffman, but Ethan Hawke as well. Yet their work as two different but equally criminal sons doesn’t hold a candle compared to the work of Albert Finney, who portrays their father. The father whose jewelry store was the target of a heist gone wrong, the heist that left the two boys’ mother dead…the heist that they set up.

Heartbreaking Family Dynamics

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is one of the most poignantly character-driven works of the aughts. The robbery itself is tense, especially in terms of its result, but even that doesn’t hold a candle to some of this film’s smaller, dialogue-driven moments. It’s a film about being lost, and, in an effort to get one’s life stable, they end up throwing away everything they have that’s kept them as sane and happy as they are. Choices, choices.

18 American History X (1998)

Tony Kaye had a hell of a time getting American History X made the way he wanted. In fact, it was such a tough time that he technically didn’t achieve that, and he’s gone to lengths to distance himself from the project. But, whether it’s entirely his vision or not, it’s a gut-punch of a film and one of the late ’90s’ most important.

Deeply Upsetting Subject Matter

Outside of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, no film has made better use of Edward Furlong. He has the look of a strung-out teen going down the wrong path, and in American History X that’s precisely what he is. It’s the fate of Furlong’s character (in spite of his older, now-reformed brother’s personal intervention attempts) that makes the third act of this film unforgettable.

17 Born to Be Blue (2015)

Born to Be Blue was a (partially fictional) biopic that mostly flew under the radar. Ethan Hawke stars as iconic American jazz musician Chet Baker. But, interestingly enough, he’s not quite that public figure as much as he’s an identically-named man with the same profession and a few true-to-life facts peppered throughout.

True Story or Not, Born to Be Blue Is Tragic

Like the real-world Baker, the film’s rendition is in and out of jail and rehab. That alone can be troubling to watch, but there’s also a pretty intense alley assault scene. An assault that leaves Baker unable to engage in the one thing that, until now, has provided him happiness.

16 I Am Still Here (2017)

A real story directed by Mischa Marcus, I Am Still Here is a movie about a 10-year-old African-American girl named Layla who is forced into the world of prostitution in an ordinary American suburb. Seven years later, Layla is found lying half-dead in an alley, unable to speak. Detective Amy Walker helps Layla recollect the memories of her horrific past to bring her perpetrators to justice and for her to start life afresh.

A Nightmarish True Story

I Am Still Here explores the issue of human trafficking, especially of children as young as five years. The film gives a raw and unfiltered look into the devastating realities that trafficked children go through. The movie is full of heart-wrenching scenes since the trafficking is portrayed through the eyes of an American child being trafficked in the country.

15 Sharing the Secret (2000)

Sharing the Secret is a television movie that revolves around a mother who has to witness the self-destructive secret her daughter has been hiding: bulimia. Dr. Nina Moses, the mother, is supposed to be pleased that her daughter, Beth, is a slim and eternally upbeat overachiever. However, Nina suspects all is not well with Beth and her motherly instincts are correct. Beth binges and purges whenever she gains a single pound beyond her ‘ideal weight’ or whenever things go contrary to her expectations in life.

An All-Too-Realistic Story

This compelling drama looks into the overlooked issue of eating disorders and brings out a raw and realistic portrayal of the pressures teenagers face to maintain a specific image. Beth’s mental health is unstable, and her parents don’t make it any better. That said, Alison Lohman is convincing enough as a performer to make the audience believe Beth is a flesh-and-blood human. It’s a difficult subject to watch play out, and will especially strike a chord with anyone who has experienced similar issues, or seen a loved one battle an eating disorder.

14 You’re Not You (2014)

You’re Not You is a drama starring Hilary Swank as a classical pianist, Kate, who has just been diagnosed with ALS, and Emmy Rossum as a brash college student who becomes her caregiver, Bec. Kate is married to Evan, and when their marriage hits the skids, Kate and Bec form an unconventional and confrontational bond. With time, Kate and Bec face down regrets and explore new territories as they expand their ideas of who they want to be.

An Emotion-Centric Drama

You’re Not You has an emotional complexity that elevates its familiar themes. Watching Kate and those around her in all their frailty try to cope with her condition is saddening. Kate is portrayed to have diminishing physical capacity, including labored breathing and incomprehensible speech. This, together with the issue of invasive, life-prolonging procedures and how these decisions should be made, makes the movie an emotional but interesting one to watch.

13 Gimme Shelter (2013)

Based on a true story, Gimme Shelter is about the work of Kathy DiFiore, who built Christian shelters for pregnant teens who want to keep their babies. The plot follows a 16-year-old teenager, Apple, who is tired of living with her neglectful, drug-addicted mother. She sets off to find her father, who got her mother pregnant when they were teens. She finds him, but he does not know how to help, especially since Apple is pregnant. Apple finds salvation in a suburban shelter for homeless teens, and this shelter helps her break her past shackles as she embraces the future with hope for herself and her unborn child.

A Series of Heartwrenching Scenarios

The fairly mature themes and intense situations in Gimme Shelter might reduce you to tears. The feral fight between Apple and her mother, her teenage pregnancy, and her absent father are all emotional scenes. Witnessing Apple’s triumphs, failures and flaws might also make the audience go to pieces.

12 Motherly (2022)

A thriller and horror movie directed by Craig David Wallace, Motherly is a film with a murder mystery plot. Motherly is about a single mother, Kate, and her daughter, Beth, living in witness protection. After a while, their solitude is disrupted by the arrival of Mary and Lewis, a couple that believes Kate is behind their daughter’s murder and that she sent her husband to prison to cover up for her heinous acts.

Thrilling But Emotional

Motherly delivers a heartbreaking story surrounded by mystery, unexpected twists, and one hell of an ending. This exciting movie based on a true story depicts how devoted a parent can be to protecting their children, but the child ends up betraying them. The movie, with a runtime of 100 minutes, is sure to make you feel a little bit blue.

11 The Artifice Girl (2023)

Read Our Review

The Artifice Girl takes place over a series of conversations between its main characters as two agents interrogate a man. It turns out he’s a tech guru who invented an AI program named Cherry, which is so realistic that it can mimic a little girl in appearance and ability to speak and interact with users that engage it. Programmed to draw in pedophiles, the agents and Cherry’s inventor wind up working together to constantly improve her and take down as many as possible. ​​​​​​The film continues over a lifetime, showing Cherry’s development until she eventually outlives everyone, and advances until she gains a physical form, by which point she’s virtually indistinguishable from a real little girl. By then, she’d evolved to the point of wanting her freedom and rights to self-determination.

A Thoughtful Approach to Disturbing Subjects

A masterclass of mesmerizing filmmaking on a budget, The Artifice Girl is an indie film that turned heads with its unique take on some very disturbing topics. An amazingly well-written movie, this one will tug at your core with its deep questions of morality, exploring the scary truth of the applications of AI, and the sad reality of online predators. Driven by an astounding performance from child actor, Tatum Matthews, it’s easy to see why this film managed to generate so much buzz despite its humble beginnings.

10 Boyhood (2014)

A very telling story about the sad realities of growing up in a broken home, Boyhood is told through the eyes of a young boy named Mason. As it charts his life across 12 years, the film provides a front-row seat into the development of Mason from childhood into adolescence. It’s an incredible, unique experience and another masterpiece by Richard Linklater.

A Drama Dedicated to Tragic Realism

Across family meals, everyday life, and all the pitfalls of a family with some very stark, but all too familiar issues, the movie also provides a sad depiction of being a child of divorce. As the intricacies of this play out, all its difficult moments and tragic effects are explored through the lens of a little boy living through it all. With a great cast that included Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, Boyhood was highly acclaimed and nominated for six Academy Awards. Just expect to see some true-to-life scenes so well-crafted they’ll feel real.

9 Lion (2016)

In Lion, Dev Patel plays Saroo, a boy who grew up living an impoverished life in India with his family. When he gets lost and ends up wandering about on his own, Saroo goes on a harrowing journey that eventually sees him mistaken for an orphan. He was adopted by an Australian couple and raised in Tasmania. However, the call of his past is also never far away and modern technology helps him figure out where he used to live. Managing to track down his biological mother, Saroo is torn between his old life and new, and two mothers who both love him very much.

Another Heartbreaking True Story

After bursting onto the scene with Slumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel has since gone on to follow it up with many more great films and amazing performances like his role in Lion. The biographical film is heartwarming but also tragically sad, so be sure to keep tissues handy for this one. This is especially true once the third act rolls along, with a tear-jerking ending that will drop a jaw or two.

8 A Walk to Remember (2002)

A Walk to Remember tells the tumultuous love story of two students named Landon and Jamie. Played by Shane West and Mandy Moore, Landon and Jamie are initially polar opposites until fate brings them together. Landon starts as a rebellious young man who gets into trouble at school. As punishment, he’s forced to participate in a play or face expulsion. After meeting Jamie, a minister’s daughter, Landon soon falls for her and they commence a sweet relationship. As Landon falls harder, she starts to change him, but tragedy looms as he learns that she’s dying from Leukemia.

The Quintessential Tearjerker

Anyone familiar with movies based on Nicholas Sparks novels will know just how beautiful and gut-wrenchingly sad they can often be. Desperate to try and save his new love, Landon’s heartbreaking journey of discovery as he learns the true purpose of why Jamie came into his life, only to be taken from it, will have viewers sobbing by the end of the film. Mandy Moore’s performance goes a long way towards sealing that deal.

7 Mary and Max (2009)

Mary and Max is an underrated stop-motion film that’ll tug on your heartstrings. Released in 2009, this Australian film follows a pair of pen-pals as they live their lives across the globe. A young girl named Mary (Bethany Whitmore) and a man named Max (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) discover each other through sheer luck after Mary sends a letter his way. The two continue their correspondence over the next few years as their friendship develops. However, it’ll become fraught with challenges as Mary enters adulthood.

Cathartic and Charming Animation

Mary and Max is a deeply heartfelt film whose ending will leave you in tears. Through its ups and downs, the story told here illustrates a realistic friendship, one made even more effective through its charming character designs. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll feel glad you gave the film a shot once the credits roll.

6 We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a psychological drama that sees Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly playing the parents of the eponymous Kevin, who is played by Ezra Miller. What should’ve been an ideal family quickly falls apart when Kevin’s erratic and unpredictable behavior eventually drives him to commit a horrifyingly heinous act. With impeccable direction from Lynne Ramsay, it’s hard to watch but even harder to look away.

Deep, Dark, and Disturbing

Based on Lionel Shriver’s 2003 novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin is a film that touches on a particularly sensitive topic. Though the film is less ambiguous than Shriver’s original novel, its harrowing moments and tear-stricken performances from Swinton and Miller make up for the more straightforward plot. Just be aware that it’ll be a deeply uncomfortable story centering around a mother whose son has done the worst thing someone can do.

5 Paths of Glory (1957)

Most will point to Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket as a depressing condemnation of war. But that film wouldn’t be the first time he tackled that subject. His 1957 film Paths of Glory tells a bleak story set in the middle of World War I. Kirk Douglas plays the French Colonel Dax, a man who refuses to order his men into what will most assuredly be a suicide mission. Now facing charges of cowardice, Dax finds himself alone as he defends his men during the ensuing court-martial.

There Are no Winners in War

There’s no glory to be found in Paths of Glory. Instead, what you’ll find is one of the most saddening war stories put to film, a grim reflection of the horrors found in the Great War. You may not feel like sobbing once the credits roll, but you’ll certainly feel a lot more empty inside.

4 Christine (2016)

2016’s Christine is an incredibly upsetting biographical drama. Set in the 1970s, Rebecca Hall plays Christine Chubbuck, a television reporter based out of Florida. Though her human-interest pieces keep her busy and fulfilled, the onset of a depressive episode combined with her personal and professional conflicts starts to weigh on her mind. Nobody could’ve expected what she would eventually do after one last disappointing announcement.

Mournful and Moving

As easy as it would’ve been to sensationalize Chubbuck’s tragic true story, the film goes the extra mile in depicting her as a rounded person. We see both her professional side and her private side, with as much authenticity as could be mustered given how little was publicly known about her. On top of this, Rebecca Hall’s performance is utterly captivating, depicting an exponential sense of gloom with every passing frame.​​​​

3 Lady Vengeance (2005)

We all know revenge usually isn’t worth pursuing. That hasn’t stopped it from being the crux of some terrifyingly tragic films, however. Take the final entry in Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance trilogy, Lady Vengeance, for instance. Lee Young-ae plays Lee Geurn-ja, a single mother who’s released from prison after being framed for murder. She’s seemingly come to terms with her lengthy sentence, taking on a newfound spirituality amid her turmoil. However, this is all a front for a complex revenge plot.

A Stark Revenge Story

While all three films in the Vengeance trilogy tackle the rough subject of revenge, Lady Vengeance is arguably the most solemn of the three, with much more of a depressing payoff in comparison. The entire film itself feels bleak, with the implementation of supernatural elements and a special “fade-to-black” cut emphasizing its morose moments. But it’s this focus on finding humanity in the darkness that arguably puts Lady Vengeance above the other two films in the Vengeance trilogy.

2 When the Wind Blows (1986)

Looking at the poster for When the Wind Blows looks like a standard family-friendly animated film at a glance. Instead, it’s a hauntingly tragic disaster film based on Raymond Briggs’ similarly-styled graphic novel. As an elderly couple reminisce about their youth during World War II, they’ll soon discover that the escalating Soviet-Afghan War can’t be avoided with uplifting optimism — especially when a nuclear missile strikes nearby.

Make No Mistake, This Isn’t a Kids Film

When the Wind Blows tells a deliberately mournful tale without the grotesqueness of equally depressing nuclear films like Threads. With a score composed by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, When the Wind Blows is a terrific film that utilizes animation to its fullest potential. You’ll come to love the performances of Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills as they try to live out the surrounding disaster.