(Credits: Netflix)

Crying over a movie might not sound like an idea for fun, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. A good tearjerker film can leave you feeling lighter, and you would never guess that.

Watching an emotional film and weeping afterwards, like you’ve released something, is the ultimate stressbuster. Sure, you have light-hearted comedies for that, but sometimes what one sad film releases cannot be done by a comedy. Luckily, Netflix has plenty of films that do just that.

The trick is finding the ones that actually earn the tears you are about to shed. And please don’t think we are suggesting the manipulative, over-the-top sob stories. We have got you the ones that sneak up on you with characters who feel real and moments that feel painfully familiar. Those are the films that stick with you, even after you’ve wiped your eyes and turned the lights back on.

There’s also something comforting about knowing you’re not the only one getting emotional. These are movies people have cried over for years, and rewatching them on Netflix now almost feels nostalgic. Different stories, different tears, but the same lump in the throat.

So if you are in the mood to lean into your feelings, here are five Netflix films that are guaranteed to choke you up.

Five movies to watch on Netflix for a good weep

Seven Pounds (Gabriele Muccino, 2008)

At first, Seven Pounds plays like a mystery. It starts with Will Smith playing this guy, Ben Thomas, who seems to be popping up in strangers’ lives for no reason. He is checking in on them, helping them whenever he can and sometimes in oddly intense ways. Initially, you are just confused. You keep asking, ‘Why is he doing this?’ But the answer in the film will shock you, and then it will be impossible for you to hold your tears back.

But what makes it choke you up is not just the revelation of his plan but the small, intimate moments along the way. The way he listens to Rosario Dawson’s character with quiet empathy, or how his face breaks when he sees a glimpse of hope in someone else’s life. It is about a man who cannot forgive himself but tries to leave pieces of grace behind for others.

Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach, 2019)

There are plenty of divorce dramas on Netflix, but none of them feel as raw as Marriage Story. Watching Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) open up in the movie is like watching two friends fight in front of you. It makes you uncomfortable watching how messy it is, and this one in particular is heartbreakingly real. What stings most are not the courtroom scenes but the smaller ones. For example, in the movie, Charlie still fixes Nicole’s gate without being asked, or Nicole laughs at one of his jokes even while they’re fighting.

This shows that sometimes when a couple has a chemistry that is very pure, it’s hard for two people to get detached by something as small called a divorce. That’s what makes Marriage Story so unforgettable. It doesn’t just show a marriage ending; it shows the stubborn traces of love that never quite go away, thus leaving you with tears you didn’t see coming.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 2019)

Have you ever thought that a film showing hope demands more from you than a film that is marked as a sad one from the start? Because in the sad film, you already know it’s coming, but the one with hope keeps you yearning, but does not always give you what you want. Something similar happens in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which is based on a true story; it follows William Kamkwamba, a Malawian boy who refuses to accept that his village will starve. While the adults around him give up under the weight of famine and despair, William tinkers with scraps and books, chasing an idea that everyone else dismisses.

The moment his windmill finally turns is a release, and not just for him, but for you as a viewer; you feel the utter joy of the victory. First, you are a part of the weight of his family’s suffering, the hopelessness that nearly broke them, and then the sudden rush of pride and joy. It’s the kind of Netflix film that reminds you of the resilience of the human spirit, and that’s what makes the tears flow.

Dead Poets Society (Peter Weir, 1989)

If you have ever had a teacher who changed the way you see the world, Dead Poets Society will hit hard. We have all heard of this film recommended by people over and over again for years. There is a high chance that many of you might have watched it already. And why not when you can see Robin Williams’ John Keating not just teaching poetry but also teaching his students how to seize life? To see themselves beyond the rigid walls of validation. Watching those boys discover their voices is joyful, but the tragedy that follows makes the lessons echo even louder.

The final scene with the desks and the “O Captain, my Captain” is famous for a reason. It is the kind of cinematic moment that makes your chest tighten, because it’s not just about the characters standing up for their teacher but about all the moments in your own life when someone gave you courage. Overall, it makes it impossible not to cry when you realise how rare it is to have a teacher like that.

Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Sant, 1997)

On the surface, Good Will Hunting is about a genius janitor with a gift for maths. We hear many such stories on a daily basis. But what makes this one different is that beneath the genius janitor is a story about wounds that never heal until someone truly sees you. Matt Damon’s Will pushes everyone away until Robin Williams’ Sean, a therapist carrying his own scars, forces him to confront his pain. Their scenes together are some of the most moving in cinema. Look at that, two Robin Williams recommendations in a row.

The moment Sean repeats, “It’s not your fault,” over and over until Will breaks, is almost unbearable to watch. It’s a simple, raw, and painfully real movie. It isn’t just about a genius being discovered but about a broken young man finally being told that he deserves love and healing.