Our Top Ten Movies That Break Your Heart and Make You Bawl

We’re very held together at Her.ie and it takes a really really sad movie to break our hard exteriors. Here are our favourite sad films that will prompt an almighty sob-fest!

Beaches (1988)

This bawl-inducer will break your heart if only for Bette Midler’s empowering ballads. Beaches is the story of two little girls who, despite their differences, build powerful friendship across thousands of miles. While Hillary pursues her career as a lawyer, CC takes to the stage as she tries to crack Broadway in a film that is jam-packed with stories of love, jealousy, friendship and loss. Don’t forget the tissues.

 

Marley and Me (2008)

This one gets us everytime! This film tells the story of John and Jenny Grogan, a couple who purchase a pup named Marley. However, taking care of the Labrador is not as easy they thought and Marley turns out to be one of the boldest dogs known to man. From breaking blinds, defecating on beaches and jumping on the postman this dog breaks all the rules. However, throughout his life, the family grows to love his friendship and loyalty. The tears will flow when Marley gets ill and the family has to make an impossible decision.

 

My Girl (1991)

My Girl is a classic heartbreaker that pulls at our heart strings every time it’s on. When our boyfriend comes home to find us blubbering into a box of tissues and stuffing our face with a packet of Munchies, My Girl is the most likely reason why. The movie tells the story of Vada Sultenfuss, an undertaker’s daughter, who forms an unlikely friendship with Thomas J. Sennet (Macaulay Culkin). Jam-packed with all the pre-teen woes you could imagine the film takes a turn for the worst after a tragic accident. Is there a line in any movie that is more heartbreaking than “Where are his glasses? He can’t see without his glasses.” The answer is no.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

This movie tells the story of two friends Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie Burke (Anna Sophia Robb) who come up with an imaginary world to escape the bullies at school. The two friends are the rulers of their magical Kingdom of Terabithia and they become closer through the stories they tell one another. When a tragic event threatens to bring an end to the Kingdom, we couldn’t help but cry.

 

Stepmom (1998)

This film starring Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts is a mixture of humour, drama and utter tragedy. The movie is about a divorced couple, Jackie (Sarandon) and Luke Harris, who are struggling to raise their children. When Luke introduces the kids to his girlfriend Isabel (Roberts), they give her the cold shoulder. Isabel struggles to find even ground with the kids and indeed Jackie but it takes a cancer diagnosis for everyone to resolve their differences.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

This late eighties comedy-drama is a story about a close-knit group of women who support one another through difficult times. Annelle Dupuy is hired by Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) to work in her home based beauty salon where she meets M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field) and her daughter Shelby (Julia Roberts), who is preparing for her wedding later that day. The women show their strength when one of them falls ill.

A Walk To Remember (2002)

This 2002 film staring Mandy Moore (Jamie Sullivan) and Shane West (Landon Carter) shows a romance between a high-school bad boy and a pastor’s daughter. Their romance develops into love but when Jamie reveals a devastating secret the pair are vow to make the most of their time together. This one always has Her.ie in tears for hours!

The Notebook (2006)

This film is the definition of romance. Most girls are familiar with the tale of Noah and Allie who fall in love in the 1940’s. Although circumstances drive them apart, they always find one another. Between the passion and the terribly sad ending, this film is bound to bring on the tears.

The Lion King (1994)

A lion cub loses his dad in a stampede organised by his evil uncle. Need we say more?

Stand by Me (1986)

After reading a newspaper article about the death of his friend, Lachance recounts a childhood journey to find the body of a missing boy in Oregon. The story of the best friends jerks at our hearts and always brings on the tears. 

Do you have a favourite to add to the list?