The 1990s was a decade full of incredibly iconic movies, with some of the best of them leaving viewers crying by the time the credits rolled. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as many sad movies end up being great because of how they can move the viewer. Some of the best movies of all time are incredibly heartbreaking yet moving, showing the importance of crafting an impactful narrative.

Although they are sad, this does not take away from the viewing experience of watching these films but rather is a part of it. Such тιтles also stand up decades later, with timeless narratives that are still changing cinema through their legacy. This is incredibly important, as these films still compete with some of the all-time best tragedy movies, including sad movies that can be watched on Netflix.

10

тιтanic (1997)

The Tragic Film Based On The тιтanic’s True Story

One of the most recognizable movies of all time, тιтanic tells the infamous story of the тιтular sinking ship. It does so through the testimony of a woman who survived the sinking, detailing the happiness she felt with the love of her life quickly followed by the tragedy and death that came when the ship went down. It is heartrending to watch, made even more painful by the happiness that came before and the historical details.

There is an instantly recognizable scene from this film that involves Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack Dawson, sacrificing himself to save the life of the film’s main character, Rose DeWitt Bukater. He does so by offering her a door to float on as they escape the boat, so she may live and leaving him to freeze. It is forever heartbreaking, showing the love he has for her and the love that is lost when he inevitably dies.

9

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Filled With Heart, This Homeward Bound Features Doomed Animal Protagonists

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a film notorious to kids who grew up in the 1990s for its incredibly sad narrative. It follows a group of pets including a bulldog named Chance, a golden retriever named Shadow, and a cat named Sᴀssy. The group is separated from their owners when they move to San Francisco, and decide to go on a long journey to find them again.

The film is full of trials for this group, including a moment in which Chance has his muzzle injured by the quills of a rogue porcupine. This is nothing compared to the saddest part of the film, which shows Shadow injuring his leg and insisting the group go on without him. Shadow’s goodbye is a moment that has made viewers cry for decades, as the death of a beloved character is never easy, especially when that character is a cute dog.

8

My Girl (1991)

My Girl Is A Painfully Real Coming Of Age Story

Being a film that deals with themes of grief and loss, My Girl was always going to be a sad movie. My Girl showcases the troubles of an 11-year-old girl named Vada, who is always grappling with her mother having died in childbirth. This is made worse by the fact that her father works in a funeral parlor, leading to her being obsessed with death and the idea that she could die at any moment.

The only thing that seems to help is her friendship with a young boy named Thomas, played by a young Macaulay Culkin. In what is perhaps one of the most painful twists possible, Thomas is killed by his allergies when he steps on a beehive, leading to an emotional gut-punch of an ending. The grief in this film is visceral and real, only made more painful when the protagonist is so young.

7

Sleepers (1996)

An All-Star Cast Makes Sleepers Hit Even Harder

Sleepers is a film with a great group of actors, including mᴀssive stars such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, and Minnie Driver, to name a few. It is based on the novel of the same name, revolving around a group of children that end up getting in trouble with the law. However, the abuse they suffer at the hands of the guards changes their lives forever.

This abuse is one of the main focal points of the film, setting the characters up for the rest of their lives. Because this film is filled with such great actors, the acting in Sleepers only elevates the drama as it unfolds, allowing the viewer to connect and empathize with the characters in a way that feels personal. Sleepers is a sad movie throughout, carrying the heavy burden of the main characters’ trauma.

6

The Iron Giant (1999)

Iron Giant Is A Classic Animated Tearjerker

Standing among the greats as one of the best animated movies of all time, The Iron Giant covers the heartbreaking story of a giant alien robot and a child named Hogarth. Set against the compelling backdrop of the 1950s Cold War, the film takes a look at the paranoid reaction to the discovery of this robot. Hogarth tries to defend the Giant from the U.S. government, the leaders of which attempt to destroy it to supposedly save the country.

Despite the Giant’s loving and peaceful nature, it flies into a rage once it is led to believe that Hogarth is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. This leads to a nuclear missile being launched to destroy the Giant and therefore the town, and to save them all, the Giant flies off with the missile, inevitably leading it to be destroyed. In this film, the villain ultimately gets what he wants, leaving Hogarth to grieve before it is shown that the robot is slowly rebuilding itself.

5

Philadelphia (1994)

Philadelphia Is Another ’90s Staple Based On A True Story

Loosely based on a trial that actually happened, Philadelphia recounts the painful story of corporate lawyer Andrew Beckett in the city of Philadelphia. After it is revealed that he is a homoSєxual man with AIDS, he is fired from his firm. The trial that resulted from this discrimination makes up the basis of the film, showing in excruciating detail the horrible treatment that gay people faced back then, and in many ways still face today.

There is a certain hopelessness that is present throughout the film, as it feels like, no matter what happens, this court case is a losing battle. Not only that, but the film ultimately ends with Andrew’s death, succumbing to his disease. Philadelphia is a painful reminder of the horrors the LGBTQ+ community has experienced throughout the years, making the film that much more compelling.

4

Leaving Las Vegas (1996)

Nicolas Cage In A Career-Defining Performance

Leaving Las Vegas is a film that is tragic from the very beginning, sad even in the film’s most basic premise. After losing his entire family, Nicolas Cage’s character Ben Sanderson decides to go to Las Vegas to essentially drink himself to death. He feels as though he has nothing left, and the film doubles down on that despairing feeling at what seems to be every point throughout the story.

This tragedy doesn’t just extend to himself, but to the characters he interacts with as well. Horrible things happen to his love interest, Sera, seemingly for the sake of showing how terrible life can really be. This all culminates in Ben’s death, showing that he accomplished what he set out to do at the beginning of the film, as sad as it may be.

3

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

One Of Keanu Reeves’ Best Is A Lose Shakespeare Tragedy Adaptation

Focusing on a pair of friends named Mike and Scott, My Own Private Idaho drifts along their lives as male prosтιтutes traveling from place to place. The film is mostly driven by the actions of the characters rather than some overarching plot, and Scott eventually leaves to inherit his family’s fortune, leaving Mike alone in the world. This comes about as Mike is taken advantage of by those around him and then abandoned by Scott, the person who is closest to him.

Mike’s story especially is one that is incredibly heartbreaking, with every positive thing in his life eventually crumbling around him. Scott leaves after Mike tells him how much he cares about him, and Mike never really finds a better life for himself. The movie simply ends with Mike being carried into the car of a stranger after having his things stolen, with his fate left up to interpretation by the viewer.

2

The Green Mile (1999)

Stephen King’s Original Story Has Broken Hearts For Decades

Several of Tom Hanks’ most impactful movies came about in the ’90s, including one where he is arguably not the star. Although The Green Mile was originally written by acclaimed horror author Stephen King, it is not a typical horror story. Rather, it is a crime drama about an officer and the death row inmates he supervises, one of whom is a man named John Coffey. Despite being sentenced to death, John never committed the terrible crime he is accused of in the first place.

Even though he is an innocent man, the justice system fails John. He is ultimately executed, something that occurs despite the officers knowing he is innocent. The ending of the film is tragic and poignant at the same time, showing the failings of a system that does not care about those it has incarcerated, even if they are wrongly convicted. Additionally, Michael Clarke Duncan (John) was the actor to get an Oscar nomination for this film, rather than Hanks.

1

Schindler’s List (1993)

This Best Picture Winner Does Not Shy Away From The Horrors Of The Holocaust

Directed and produced by legendary filmmaker Stephen Spielberg, Schindler’s List sets out to tell the true story of the тιтular Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson. This man was best known for his work sheltering victims of the Holocaust, sending refugees to work in his factories, and saving their lives despite being a member of the Nazi Party himself. At the end of the film, Schindler is forced to flee despite the help he has offered, as he would be captured by the Russian military otherwise.

The film is gut-wrenching because of its harsh subject matter, displaying the horrors of the Holocaust in great detail. It does not shy away from the atrocities committed during this time, and though the message is ultimately a hopeful one, the film is still dedicated to showing things as they were. Because of this, the real-life nature of the film, and the dedication to portraying things realistically, Schindler’s List is certainly one of the saddest movies to have been released in the 1990s.