Tissues at the ready! Most tear-jerking film of all time revealed – and it’s head and shoulders ahead of any rival movie

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Movie lovers have chosen the saddest films ever made, and the winner might surprise you – it’s not the popular choices like The Notebook or Ghost.

When movie lovers were asked about the most emotionally impactful scenes in film history, Titanic topped the list, even surpassing beloved classics like Casablanca and Gone With The Wind.

A survey by the Freeview channel Great Romance asked movie fans which films were most likely to bring them to tears. The results showed that Titanic was by far the most tear-jerking movie.

The 1997 movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio follows the romantic relationship between Rose, a woman from a wealthy family, and Jack, an artist. They fall in love aboard the Titanic’s very first journey.

The famous movie features an older Rose telling the story of how Jack sadly died when the ship sank.

Forty-one percent of moviegoers—almost two-fifths of those surveyed—admitted the blockbuster made them cry.

Almost half of female viewers (47%) cried during the movie, and about a third of male viewers (34%) admitted to getting teary-eyed during the more emotional parts.

The Notebook, featuring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, came in second place, with 20% of viewers saying it made them cry.

Oh my gosh, “The Notebook” just destroyed me, and apparently, I wasn’t alone! I read that way more women cried during it than men – like, 26% of us were sobbing compared to only 15% of guys. It just proves how beautifully and heartbreakingly the movie tells Noah and Allie’s story, right? I mean, it’s a love for the ages, and it gets to you! I definitely contributed to that 26%!

Over 10% of people in Britain reported that the 1990 film Ghost, featuring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, made them cry more than any other movie.

Okay, so I was digging through these audience attention span stats, and it’s shocking. Apparently, even movies everyone thinks are amazing don’t hold up! Like, Gone With The Wind? Only 10% of people actually pay full attention! And Casablanca, a total classic, is at 9%! It’s crazy because even newer, beloved films like Love Actually are right there with it, also at just 9%. It makes you wonder what we’re really paying attention to when we watch these things, honestly!

Other popular choices included Pretty Woman (chosen by 8 percent of respondents), as well as Notting Hill, Dirty Dancing, and PS I Love You (each at 6 percent).

A survey of 2,000 movie lovers revealed that women are twice as likely as men to cry during a film.

Kate Gartland, Great Romance’s marketing director, noted the lack of truly moving romantic dramas recently. She believes a powerful love story is something special that people cherish forever.

It’s not surprising that Titanic is number one – and we at Great Romance aren’t surprised either, as it shows people still love a good, classic story.

‘There’s no shortage of that on our channel.’

In 2024, scientists discovered which movies are most effective at making people cry, triggering the release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins and oxytocin, often called the ‘love hormone’.

As a lifestyle expert, I always tell people not to hold back tears! Crying is actually a really healthy way to work through your feelings. It’s not just emotional release, either – you can actually feel better afterward. When we cry, our brains release endorphins and oxytocin – think of them as natural mood boosters and feel-good chemicals. So, letting those tears flow can genuinely lift your spirits, according to eye specialist Tina Patel.

It also fosters a sense of closeness, explaining why you might feel more connected to someone after sharing an emotional movie experience.

To help you find movies that will make you cry and boost your emotional wellbeing, researchers have studied which films are most likely to bring on the tears.

Feel Good Contacts, a team of eye health experts, studied more than 4,000 Reddit comments about movies that make people sad.

Researchers determined the top 10 saddest movies by counting how many ‘upvotes’ – similar to ‘likes’ – they received.

Data suggests that the 1988 Japanese animated film Grave of the Fireflies is the saddest movie ever made, receiving 1,390 upvotes and countless reports of viewers crying.

A Reddit user described the film Grave of the Fireflies as a deeply moving and realistic story, despite being animated. They said it’s the saddest movie they’ve ever seen.

I’ve been completely captivated by this Japanese animated film. It beautifully, and heartbreakingly, shows what World War II did to a brother and sister in Japan. It’s not just about the war itself, though; it really dives into how they dealt with losing everything, how they found the strength to keep going, and what it means to be human even in the face of such terrible hardship. It’s a deeply moving story that has really stayed with me.

Coming in at number two with 730 upvotes is the 2016 film Manchester by the Sea, starring Casey Affleck. The story follows Lee, who becomes the guardian of his teenage nephew, Patrick (played by Lucas Hedges), after his brother dies. This loss forces Lee to return to his hometown and deal with painful memories from his past.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen a lot, but this… this was truly awful. People were using words like devastating, harrowing, and crushing to describe it – honestly, ‘heart-wrenching’ doesn’t even begin to cover how deeply upsetting it was. It really left a mark on everyone involved.

The list also included the 2022 film Aftersun, featuring Paul Mescal, as well as the timeless classic The Green Mile.

According to Dr. Patel, watching a sad movie can actually be good for your health because it encourages crying, which has several benefits. Sharing that movie with someone else can make it even more effective.

When people cry, whether male or female, they often feel better afterward. Tears triggered by emotion release natural chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins, which can reduce both physical and emotional discomfort.

It also encourages self-soothing, which is a way to understand and deal with your feelings when they change.

Leo Newhouse, a social worker at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, points out that popular culture has long recognized the benefits of crying – not just for emotional release, but potentially even for physical enjoyment.

Anyone who’s ever been moved to tears by a classic movie like West Side Story or Titanic probably understands this perfectly.

Crying isn’t just emotional release; it also helps us connect with others. Even as babies, crying is a way of signaling to those around us that we need help and comfort.

When someone we care about is upset, we usually offer them support. Tears can actually strengthen our connections with others and help us get through difficult times.

According to Dr. Grace Tworek, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, sharing experiences, talking openly, and expressing emotions can strengthen bonds between people, especially when things are comfortable and we’re going through things together.

‘It can be a way that we bond to one another by creating an atmosphere of human connection.’

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2026-04-21 05:32