When we are emotionally connected to something, we never let it go. In the huge categorical film industry, some movies grasp your heart and stay with you forever like an emotional connection. Here is a list of the 15 most emotional movies of all time that you feel forever connected to:
15. Marriage Story (2019)
Marriage Story is written and directed by Noah Baumbach with the leading star cast of Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver. The story of a stage actress and director whose silent discomfort leads to the breakdown of their lifelong vows.
The film received great critical acclaim but limited box office success due to its relatively quicker release on Netflix. It is counted amongst the best performances of Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver.
14. The Notebook (2004)
An American romantic drama directed by Nick Cassavetes. The movie is based on the first published novel by the famous Nicolas Sparks.
It stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple from the 1940s. The story is periodically read from a notebook to the present day in the film and touches a great love story.
Seventeen years after its release, this complete emotional package is considered a cult classic and easily counts among the top romantic dramas of Hollywood.
13. Me Before You (2016)
A romantic yet provocative drama. It is a novel adaptation of the 2012 famous novel of the same name by Jojo Moyes.
A successful banker is left paralyzed after an accident. While feeling disqualified as a human being, he meets “Louisa” (Emelia Clerk) his caretaker hired by his parents, and slowly starts falling in love with her.
The movie received mixed reviews due to its vexed depiction of the disability rights movement but grossed over $208 million at the box office. The film also won the People’s Choice Award in the Favorite Dramatic Movie category.
12. Remember Me (2016)
Remember Me is a coincidental American romantic drama directed by Allen Coulter. The story of a traumatic boy who meets a strange girl and finds instant peace in his life just up to the point when he finds out a hidden secret about her.
Apart from the mixed reviews based on the last shocking scene (a turning point for the audience), the movie is considered one of the best portrayals of teenagers and the tragedies they suffer.
11. Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Definitely, Maybe is a tragic-comedy written and directed by Adam Brooks with a star cast of Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, and Elizabeth Banks.
The story of a divorced father explaining to his daughter his past relationships and the causes of his solitude. Along the way, he learns his life-changing lesson from his daughter and the real meaning of love.
A rom-com with plenty of comedy yet deep emotional scenes.
10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
An original emotional sci-fi thought-provoking movie directed by Charley Kaufman with the amazing star cast of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
The story of two seemingly unattached souls whose journey starts from a train. Little do they know that both of them have a deep connection that they don’t remember any longer.
The movie won plenty of awards along with an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
9. The Ugly Truth (2009)
The Ugly Truth is an American romantic comedy directed by Robert Luketic with the lead cast of Gerard Butler and Kathrine Heigl.
The story revolves around a TV producer, Abby (Kathrine), who is forced by circumstances to work with someone opposite to her personality, Mike (Gerard). Despite their differences, they soon develop chemistry that changes both of them completely.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, the movie grossed over $205.2 million, beating Geo. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in theaters.
8. Eat Pray Love (2010)
An in-depth representation of what we seek and what we find. Eat Pray Love is an American biographical romantic drama written by Elizabeth Gilbert and directed by Ryan Murphy. The movie is based on a 2006 memoir of the same writer, which has sold over 12 million copies and has been translated into 30 languages.
The film depicts an international epic journey of self-discovery by Elizabeth (played by Julia Roberts) across Italy, India, and Indonesia. The film grossed over $204.6 million at the box office with a meager budget of just $60 million.
7. One Day (2011)
One Day is a novel based on a romantic drama directed by Lone Scherfig, and written by David Nicolls with the star cast of Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
Chris and Emma (the leading characters) decide to meet each other on 15th July of each year to catch up. Both enjoy each other’s company a lot yet they don’t plan to live together. From start to end, each of their meetings is engaging and beautifully emotional.
6. Collateral Beauty (2016)
Collateral Beauty is an American emotional drama directed by David Frankel with the phenomenal cast of Will Smith and Kate Winslet.
It follows the story of a business executive, Howard Inlet (played by Will Smith), who is depressed after the tragic death of his young daughter. His businessmates want him out of the company because of his depressed mental state and hire three professional actors to manipulate him into being declared mentally unfit.
What follows is an interesting journey where the three actors themselves get emotionally connected with Howard.
5. Seven Pounds (2008)
Seven Pounds is an American tragic drama directed by Gabriele Muccino and written by Grant Neiporte with the star cast of Will Smith, Woody Harrelson, and Rosario Dawson.
The story revolves around an IRS agent who feels guilty for mistakenly killing seven people including his fiancée. To emote his guilt, he embarks on a journey of helping seven strangers.
The search for redemption through a guilt-conscious thought process is what makes this film an emotional masterpiece.
4. Five Feet Apart (2019)
A great movie about unconditional love and affection. Five Feet Apart is an American romantic drama directed by Justin Baldoni. The movie is inspired by the life of Claire Wineland, an American activist, author, and social media influencer, who suffered from cystic fibrosis.
It is a heart-touching story of two patients who, suffering from the same disease, meet in the hospital. Their unbound chemistry leads both of them to gradually fall in love with each other.
3. The Truman Show (1998)
The Truman Show is an American psychological drama directed by Peter Weir with the star cast of Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, and Laura Linney. It is a truly unique movie with a refreshing story.
It follows the story of an insurance salesman who starts noticing something unusual about his life and the people around him, realizing the fact that his entire life has been a part of a reality TV show with professional actors all around him.
The movie was nominated in three categories at the Academy Awards.
2. Titanic (1997)
Titanic is an American epic romance and disaster movie written and directed by the legendary James Cameron. The movie stars two famous actors Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet, whose careers changed completely following the mega-success of the film.
The story focuses on the life of Rose and Jack, two people belonging to two different classes of society who meet each other on a ship named Titanic. The two fall in love with each other on that long fateful journey. Their love story takes a tragic turn when the “unsinkable” ship hits an iceberg and starts sinking. With “women and children first” announcements going all around, this love story quickly turns into a story of survival and human suffering.
The film has won a record 11 Oscar awards (a feat shared by only two other films) and created history at the box office. It enjoys a cult following to this day and is considered a masterpiece.
1. Silver Lining Playbook (2012)
Silver Lining Playbook is a novel based on an American psychological romantic drama directed and written by David O. Russel with the leading cast of Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
The story revolves around a mentally ill young man (Cooper) who is sent to a mental health center after ferociously attacking his wife’s lover. He looks forward to winning back his wife’s love after his release but falls for a widow Tiffany (Jennifer) who also happens to be in a state of emotional turmoil.
Jenifer Lawrence won an Oscar Award for her performance in this film.
Honorable Mentions
We can’t resist mentioning these great emotional films as well:
- Atonement (2007)
- Society of the Snow (2023)
- The Help (2011)
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Did we miss any worthy title on our list of the most emotional movies of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
