The 20 Saddest Melodramas That Will Bring You to Tears

Sad movies help the viewer to discharge his emotions, to look at life’s terrible situations and events described in the film from a new angle. Melancholic movies will keep you in suspense until the last minute, because the ending is often unpredictable. Below are some of the saddest melodramas that will bring you to tears.

The Notebook

• IMDB Rating – 7.8
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA / 2004
• Budget: $29,000,000
• World Box Office: $115,533,700
• Director: Nick Cassavetes
• Starring: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gina Rowlands, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen, David Thornton, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly, Tim Ivey

Noah and Ellie are a couple in love living in South Carolina. They enjoyed life and each other and had an unforgettable summer. But Ellie’s parents did not approve of the relationship, for the couple were from different social backgrounds. Soon World War II separated them altogether, leaving only a trail of memories.

And now a few years later, Elly is married to a famous businessman, and Noah is still alone. Restored his old house, he lived with the memories of years past. When a girl from the newspaper learned that Noah is alive, she decided at any cost to find him. Ellie wasn’t sure if she could get it all back, but she decided to try at all costs.

According to the director, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams for a long time could not find common ground on the set.

Me Before You

• IMDB Rating – 7.4
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: UK, USA / 2016
• Budget: $20,000,000
• Worldwide box office: $208,314,186
• Director: Thea Sharrock
• Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Brendan Coyle, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Vanessa Kirby, Stephen Peacock

Lou Clark lives an ordinary life – she clearly remembers how many steps she has to take to walk to the bus stop, she knows she likes working at the coffee shop, and she hates her boyfriend. Stability is important to her, but she’s living the Groundhog Day. Lou has no idea yet that very soon she will have to say goodbye to the warm place in the cafe and deal with a dozen problems.

After the accident, Will loses the will to live and is ready to put an end to everything himself. But very soon Lou bursts into his life and changes it forever. Thoughts of demise will have to be put aside, and soon forgotten altogether.

The film is based on the story of the book “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes.

Pride & Prejudice

• IMDB Rating – 7.8
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: UK, France, USA / 2005
• Budget: $28,000,000
• World Box Office: $120,191,768
• Director: Joe Wright
• Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew McFadyen, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethan, Jenna Malone, Cary Mulligan, Talula Riley, Tom Hollander.

Events unfold in eighteenth-century England. Parents have one task on their agenda: to successfully marry off their daughters. What a joy it was when the influential and sophisticated Mr. Bingley bought the house next door. Almost all of his friends are charming, stately men. They immediately notice young girls and start courting them.

Elizabeth is the exact opposite of her sisters. She always went against the rules. That is why she chooses Mr. Darcy, an arrogant and capricious brute, as her beau. A real fire of hate and love flares up between them. How it ends is up to the two of them.

In the United States, the ending of the film has been recognized as the greatest finale in the history of cinema.

Atonement

• IMDB Rating – 7.8
• Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Detective, War
• Production: UK, France, USA / 2007
• Budget: £ 20,000,000
• World Box Office: $129,266,061
• Director: Joe Wright
• Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Sirsha Ronan, Harriet Walter, Romola Garay, Brenda Blethyn, Patrick Kennedy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juno Temple, Daniel Mays

1935, England. Briony Tallis was 13 years old at the time. At such a young age, the girl had a vivid imagination, and even wrote plays. She is aware of the fact that her older sister Cecilia likes the maid’s son, Robbie. Brioni accuses the boy of raping her older sister.

Because of her fault, the lives of several people immediately change dramatically. Later it turns out that all the accusations are lies, and the main culprit goes unpunished. What to do with the broken destinies that have lost the happy years of their lives because of Brioni?

James McAvoy called the film’s script the best he had ever read.

A Walk to Remember

• IMDB Rating – 7.3
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA / 2002
• Budget: $11,800,000
• World Box Office: $47,494,916
• Director: Adam Shankman
• Starring: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah, Lauren German, Klein Crawford, Al Thompson, Paz de la Huerta, Jonathan Parks Jordan, Matt Loots

Landon is a typical high school bully. He got his good looks and sense of humor. That is why he is successful with the female sex and can’t stand quiet girls. That’s what Jamie was – a straight-A student with only school and homework on her mind. She did not know how to communicate with the opposite sex.

After another bad joke on the quiet girl, Landon, as a corrective, is sent to the school theater. Now he realizes that his inherent qualities won’t help. Jamie volunteers to save the young man.

She agrees to help, but makes one humorous condition. She asks Landon to promise that he will not fall in love with her. He laughs and agrees, but soon enough he wonders if he can fulfill it.

The plot is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks of the same name.

Seven Pounds

• IMDB Rating – 7.6
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA / 2008
• Budget: $55,000,000
• World Box Office: $168,168,201
• Director: Gabriele Muccino
• Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Elpidia Carrillo, Robin Lee, Joe Nunez, Bill Smitrovich, Tim Kelleher

Ben is an IRS agent. To atone for his past and try to right his wrongs, he embarks on a journey. Already in his new place he meets seven strangers. Among them is Emily.

The girl is terminally ill and, according to doctors’ prognoses, she does not have long to live. Forgetting the original purpose of the trip, Ben loses his head and falls in love with the girl. Now his task is to unravel the mystery of fate and right his wrongs.

Originally, the role of Ben was supposed to take Tom Hanks.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

• IMDB Rating – 8.3
• Genre: Melodrama, Sci-Fi, Drama
• Production: USA / 2004
• Budget: $20,000,000
• World Box Office: $72,042,875
• Director: Michel Gondry
• Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Jerry Robert Byrne, Elijah Wood, Thomas J. Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Adams, David Cross, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson

Joel is modest and melancholy by nature. His life is filled with routine and gray colors. But one day he suddenly changes his usual route to work by taking a train heading in a different direction.

He arrives at the sea and, walking down to the beach, meets a blue-haired girl. On his way home, he spots the girl on the train. As he gets to know her, he feels they have a lot in common.

He has the feeling that he used to know Clementine, but cannot remember under what circumstances and how long ago they met. What was his surprise when he found out that not long ago they were a happy couple.

The idea for the film was given to the director by his friend, the artist Pierre Wismuth.

One Day

• IMDB Rating – 7.0
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA, UK / 2011
• Budget: $15,000,000
• World Box Office: $59,389,433
• Director: Lone Scherfig
• Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Tom Mison, Jody Whittaker, Tim Key, Rafe Spall, Josephine de la Boumet, Patricia Clarkson, Ken Stott, Heyda Reed

Emma is an ordinary girl who wants to make the world a better place. Dexter – wants the world to belong only to him. They meet only once – at a college graduation in early summer. After getting to know each other, they become friends.

The next time they meet a year later and with the same result. Two years later, events repeat themselves. It will take them many years to finally consider their happiness in each other and get rid of their status as good acquaintances.

The only scene in which the actors of the main characters did not wear a wig is where they walk around naked.

I Still Believe

• IMDB Rating – 6.5
• Genre: Drama, melodrama, biography, music
• Production: USA / 2020
• World Box Office: $16,064,280
• Director: Andrew Ervin, John Ervin
• Starring: K.J. Apa, Britt Robertson, Nathan Parsons, Gary Sinise, Shania Twain, Reuben Dodd, Nicholas Bechtel, Melissa Roxbur, Terry Serpico, Tanya Christiansen

When Jeremy met Melissa, he knew right away that she was the girl of his life. Melissa immediately reciprocated. But the couple’s happy days didn’t last long. Soon Melissa is diagnosed with a terrible cancer diagnosis.

Jermie supports her and tries to drive away terrible thoughts from her beloved. After proposing and getting her consent, they go on their honeymoon.

The disease begins to progress and the cancer spreads to the girl’s other organs. Jeremy decides to stay with her until the end and believes in a miracle. A movie about love that will make all viewers cry from the heart.

The actors of the main characters have already starred together in “A Dog’s Life” (2017).

Five Feet Apart

• IMDB Rating – 7.2
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA / 2019
• Budget: $7,000,000
• Worldwide gross: $91,522,094
• Director: Justin Baldoni
• Starring: Haley Lou Richardson, Cole Sprouse, Moises Arias, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Parminder K. Nagra, Claire Forlani, Emily Baldoni, Gary Weeks, Cynthia Evans, Brett Austin Johnson

The pair of lovers are bound to be within one meter of each other. All touching and intimacy is strictly forbidden.

But great love knows no boundaries. And the stronger and stronger the feelings are, the greater the desire to break all the rules. But what will be the consequences of violations and how it will turn out for the main characters. The dramatic film will bring out the emotions of even the toughest.

The final plot of the movie and the book of the same name are different. In the book, the main characters have a different ending.

A Star Is Born

• IMDB Rating – 7.6
• Genre: Melodrama, music, drama
• Production: USA / 2018
• Budget: $36,000,000
• Worldwide box office: $436,188,866
• Director: Bradley Cooper
• Starring: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, Anthony Ramos, Rafi Gavron, Greg Granberg, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams

Jackson Maine is a musician. He used to be talented and successful, but for the past few years everything has been falling apart. One day he meets Ellie. No one has heard of her yet, but Jackson sees her as a true talent.

He begins to promote the young singer and a romance begins between them. But the more fame the girl acquires, the harder it becomes for the musician to perceive Ellie’s success. Jackson can no longer put up with it and a new chapter begins in his life.

Bradley Cooper said in one interview that Jackson was a reflection of him. He also struggled for a long time with drugs and alcohol to regain all that he had already lost.

The Light Between Oceans

• IMDB Rating – 7.2
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: UK, New Zealand, USA, India, Australia / 2016
• Budget: $20,000,000
• World Box Office: $25,975,621
• Director: Derek Cienfrance
• Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Florence Clery, Jack Thompson, Thomas Unger, Jane Menelos, Harry MacDonald, Anthony Hayes, Benedict Hardy

Tom is the lighthouse keeper. He has only recently returned from the war. His life blended into one day and consumed with its routine. Everything changed after he met the lovely Isabel. A true love was born between the couple, which managed to transform them.

After the wedding, they begin life on a small, cozy island, to the shore of which a boat with a baby once docked. The couple considered this event a message from fate and decided to raise the baby as their own child. This decision led to a series of troubles.

The film was shot in Tasmania. The locals thought that the filming would help attract tourists to their town.

The Fault in Our Stars

• IMDB Rating – 7.7
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA / 2014
• Budget: $12,000,000
• World Box Office: $307,166,834
• Director: Josh Boone
• Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolfe, Willem Dafoe, Lotta Verbeek, Ana Dela Cruz, Randy Kowitz, Tony Saladna

Hazel had cancer, but even after remission, her life didn’t get any happier. She didn’t even notice that anything had changed. The support group the girl attends gives her the gift of fate – an acquaintance with Augustus.

A sympathy arises between them, which later develops into pure love. Now they can look at life differently and feel its charms for real. This is probably the saddest film in the selection.

Actress Shailene Woodley before the filming made a short haircut, and the hair gave the organization Children With Hair Loss, which produces wigs for children who lost their hair due to illness.

About Time

• IMDB Rating – 7.8
• Genre: fantasy, fantasy, drama, melodrama, comedy
• Production: UK, USA / 2013
• Budget: $12,000,000
• World Box Office: $87,100,449
• Directed by: Richard Curtis
• Starring: Donal Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nye, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie, Lydia Wilson, Lindsey Duncan, Richard Cordery, Josh McGuire, Will Merrick

Tim is a young and ambitious lawyer. When he turned 21, he discovered a gift in himself – the ability to travel through time. Later, his father told him that all the men in their family had this ability.

The boy decides to use his gift to its fullest, and so to charm the girl he loves, he is ready to travel through time and try to make a perfect acquaintance and a date.

In South Korea, the film was watched by almost 4 million people.

The Vow

• IMDB Rating – 6.8
• Genre: Drama, melodrama
• Production: USA, Canada / 2012
• Budget: $30,000,000
• World Box Office: $196,114,570
• Director: Michael Saxey
• Starring: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Sam Neal, Scott Speedman, Jessica Lang, Jessica McNamee, Wendy Crewson, Tatiana Maslany, Lucas Bryant, Joey Klein

The honeymoon of a couple in love ends tragically – they are involved in a car accident. Leo gets away with minor injuries, but his wife Paige slips into a coma. From that day on, the man never leaves her bedside and believes that she will wake up.

When Paige wakes up, Leo realizes that she has lost her memory and sees him as a complete stranger. Now his task is to get Paige’s memory back and win her love all over again.

Julia Roberts was supposed to get the lead role in this movie.

La vita è bella

• IMDB Rating – 8.6
• Genre: War, comedy, drama, melodrama
• Production: Italy / 1997
• Budget: $20,000,000
• World Box Office: $228,847,384
• Director: Roberto Benigni
• Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Sergio Bini Bustric, Marisa Paredes, Horst Buchholz, Lidia Alfonsi, Giuliana Loggiodice, Amerigo Fontani

The action takes place in Italy during World War II. A father and son are imprisoned in a concentration camp. The wife desperately goes after them.

During the terrible events, the father decides to distract the child. He makes up a story for his son and says that everything that is happening to them now is just a game. And in order to win the big and real tank, the son must follow one single rule – not to be seen by anyone in the camp.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award. It is the most moving and heartbreaking film to the point of tears about the terrible deeds during the war.

Titanic

• IMDB Rating – 7.8
• Genre: Melodrama, story, thriller, drama
• Production: USA, Mexico, Australia / 1997
• Budget: $200,000,000
• World Box Office: $1,843,478,449
• Director: James Cameron
• Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Francis Fisher, Gloria Stewart, Bill Paxton, Bernard Hill, David Warner, Victor Garber

On the liner’s maiden and final voyage, two different destinies meet. Rose, a wealthy heiress, who is about to marry at marriage. And Jack, who came aboard by chance, having won a ticket in a card game.

Despite their different social statuses, a real fire of feelings flares up between them. It would seem that nothing can prevent such a pure and great love. But the ocean decides otherwise. The film enters the top of the saddest melodramas.

During the filming of the movie, Kate Winslet got hypothermia due to too cold water.

Never Let Me Go

• IMDB Rating – 7.1
• Genre: fantasy, thriller, drama, melodrama
• Production: UK / 2010
• Budget: $15,000,000
• World Box Office: $9,455,232
• Director: Mark Romanek
• Starring: Cary Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Izzy Meikle-Small, Charlie Rowe, Ella Purnell, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins, Andrea Riseborough, Donal Gleeson

The action takes place in Great Britain. The three main characters spent their childhood isolated from the outside world and society – in an orphanage. Only when they become older do they learn the whole truth – how and why they ended up in that place and what their purpose was.

Keira Knightley did not immediately agree to star in the film – it was necessary to persuade the actress Cary Mulligan.

Brokeback Mountain

• IMDB Rating – 7.7
• Genre: Western, Melodrama, Drama
• Production: USA, Canada / 2005
• Budget: $14,000,000
• World Box Office: $178,062,759
• Director: Ang Lee
• Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Randy Quaid, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, David Harbour, Kate Mara, Graham Beckel

Against the backdrop of picturesque places develops a story of the unusual love of two characters. One is a cowboy, the other an assistant to an influential rancher. A hot summer day has prepared a momentous meeting for them.

After getting acquainted, they realize that they can no longer live without each other. But even reciprocity has not made their relationship happy – ahead of them there are a lot of problems and difficulties, which will have to cope with, helping and supporting each other.

Heath Ledger in one interview said that he was not afraid of the unusual role, as he has no prejudices and judgments of such.

Legends of the Fall

• IMDB Rating – 7.5
• Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Western, War
• Production: USA / 1994
• Budget: $30,000,000
• World Box Office: $160,638,883
• Director: Edward Zwick
• Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond, Henry Thomas, Carina Lombard, Tantou Cardinal, Gordon Tutusis, Paul Desmond, Christina Pickles

World War I changed and crippled the lives of many people. The Ludlow family is at the center of the plot. The lives of three brothers and their father are radically changed by a charming girl. All their lives the brothers have been friendly and inseparable, but now the war has its own plans for each.

What road fate will now lead the guys do not know yet. But each will have to go through violence, resentment and betrayal. Despite all the twists and turns in life, Tristan has always remained at the center of all events.

The director worked on this project for almost 17 years.

Other sad melodramas that will make you cry