We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the most overwhelming films they’ve seen. Here are the results that will take your emotions high, low, and all over the place.
1. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
“It will reduce you to a pile of snivels and sobs. Just a lump of weeping mass and raw exposed emotion. From that though, you will encounter a sense of strength and purpose. It’s brutal and absolutely heartbreaking.” –tedp4f2055d5e
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
“By the end I was speechless, blown away, and emotionally unstable.” –jenniferrr
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
“An incredible movie about the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina told from the eyes of a 5-year-old girl. One of the most beautiful, emotional, and inspirational movies I have ever seen.” –Mairesequin
4. La La Land (2016)
“I’ve seen La La Land twice and it has emotionally wrecked me each time. The characters’ pursuits of their dreams leaves me both extremely motivated and devastated at the same time.” –carao2
5. Marley & Me (2008)
“Never have I ever cried so hard. It really makes you realize just how much we consider pets members of our families.” –SassMaster
6. The Color Purple (1985)
“I cried so much. At certain moments, you feel so powerless, so angry, so sad, because you see things that are so horrible and so unfair that really happened at the time. It broke my heart.” –hannahcanela
7. I Am Sam (2001)
“The movie is about how one special needs man fights to get his daughter back from social services. It is heart-wrenching and shows the importance of family and how you really don’t need a lot in life to feel full.” –kristam4b19b4f7f
8. Schindler’s List (1993)
“The impact is impossible to describe, but it did leave me in awe at the strength and fragility of humanity and hope.” –kellyd43b5fb356
9. The Namesake (2006)
“I was astounded by how much I cried and learned. I thought the film wonderfully portrayed the tribulations of immigrants in America, as well as the relationships between first-generation Americans and their immigrant parents.” –lissam4a7e65054
10. Inside Out (2015)
“It’s so difficult to write about Inside Out because it’s so much more than a children’s movie. It will break you down with tears you didn’t even know you were holding in for years.” –alewrites
11. Interstellar (2014)
“No other movie is so emotionally demanding. It will break your heart, inspire you, and take you to the ends of the universe.” –gradyknight
12. Room (2015)
“I started crying about halfway through and didn’t stop until almost 30 minutes after the movie ended. My emotions changed multiple times, but the tears remained steady.” –maddieb476c1832b
13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
“It helps you realize that life is worth living, and that the best moments are the little moments that you spend with the ones you love. You are not a sad story.” –anonymousid20
14. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
“I have watched this film several times and ugly cried EVERY. TIME. The emotion that Will Smith conveys through his performance captures me and tugs at my heartstrings every single time.” –zainaba48616c770
15. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
“This movie ripped out my heart, tore it to shreds, and laughed at me during the process. It made me laugh and cry. It was a rollercoaster of emotions.” –iamchobani
17. The Impossible (2012)
“The Impossible is a true story about a family that is separated from each other during the 2004 Thailand tsunami. The whole story is an emotional rollercoaster and your predictions for the end are ever-changing. Every time I watch it I bawl my eyes out. The acting is phenomenal and the special effects are outstanding.” –Emilyshannon
18. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
“I can’t recommend this brilliant, poignant, and increasingly relevant movie enough, but be prepared to have your heart ripped out and shown to you.” –zaneh46fdd21dd
19. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
“By the far most tear-jerking film I’ve ever watched. Had me emotionally devastated for a week.” – treethesri
20. Pay It Forward (2000)
“I first watched it in eighth grade and have been in awe of the power one person can have ever since. With the increasing division in the United States, I look to this movie as an inspiration for how my actions alone can have an impact.” –alkeresztesy
21. My Name Is Khan (2010)
“This movie truly pulls on the heartstrings, and also pertains to some of the topics currently plaguing the country. It explores religion, disabilities, racism, and so much more. A true must see.” –elianny1626
22. Dead Poets Society (1989)
Buena Vista Pictures
“It never fails to make me sob. Noteworthy characters, plot line, and poetry that connects to every viewer. I’m gonna cry thinking about it!” –kyliegadams
23. Toy Story 3
“The ending made me curl up in a ball with my childhood stuffed panda and cry for a good 30 minutes. Once, while just telling someone about the ending I started sobbing.” –carissaa4f06e196d
Note: Submissions may have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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