If you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy feeling sad, so watching a tearjerker might not seem like the best way to brighten your mood. However, according to a recent study, researchers have found that watching a tragic movie makes people think about their own close relationships, and as a result, they feel a boost in their own personal happiness. “Tragic stories often focus on themes of eternal love, and this leads viewers to think about loved ones and count their blessings,” explained lead author of the study Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick.
Next time you’re looking for a tearjerker to watch, try checking out one of these must-see flicks:
Life is Beautiful (1997)
This Italian film has subtitles that you follow along with, but don’t let that deter you from watching it. It tells the story of a father and his son who are sent to a Nazi death camp, and while there, the father turns it into a game for his son to protect him from the horror happening all around him.
Sob Factor: The love this father has for his son, even in the most dire of circumstances, is sure to make you grab for the Kleenex.
Beaches (1988)
Cici (played by Bette Midler) and Hilary (played by Barbara Hershey) meet on a sunny day at the beach and begin a friendship that lasts a lifetime. Through ups and downs, good and bad relationships, and careers, they face whatever comes their way together.
Sob Factor: The loyalty and devotion these two have for each other is truly inspiring and a testament to the power of friendship. If you have a best friend who you couldn’t imagine life without, this film is guaranteed to make you feel a little verklempt.
Marley & Me (2008)
This film, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, tells the tale of a family and their lovable but mischievous dog Marley. In the midst of all his capers, Marley worms his way into their hearts and teaches them valuable lessons about love and the important things in life.
Sob Factor: Like all cute little puppies, Marley eventually gets older, and watching his slow decline as he ages can really trigger the tears in any dog lover, especially people who’ve lost a pet of their own.
The Notebook (2004)
A poor young man named Noah falls in love with a wealthy young woman named Allie, and after being separated for a time because of his lower social status, they eventually find their way back to each other and begin a lifelong passionate romance. As they get older and Allie’s memory fades, Noah still keeps the romance alive, reading to her their love story that he’s written down in a notebook.
Sob Factor: Watching the love between Noah and Allie grow even deeper throughout the years tugs at your heartstrings, and you can’t help but cry.
Titanic (1997)
From the outside, it would appear that Rose (Kate Winslet) has it all: her family has good social standing, and she’s soon to be married to a wealthy young man. On the inside though, she’s suffocating, and while traveling on the ill-fated RMS Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), the free-spirited poor artist who is a breath of fresh air to her. The two fall madly in love, and even in the midst of a sinking ship, they “never let go.”
Sob Factor: If you haven’t already before the end, the tragic conclusion of this beautiful romance will have you crying your eyes out by the time the credits roll.
I Am Sam (2001)
This film, starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Dakota Fanning, tells the story of a mentally retarded man who is fighting for custody of his seven year old daughter Lucy. The authorities take Lucy away, so Sam hires a lawyer to help him get Lucy back. Along the way, he teaches his cynical cold-hearted lawyer some valuable lessons about the importance of love and family, proving that “love is all you need.”
Sob Factor: This film has you rooting for Sam right from the start, and to think he could have to face life without the very thing he loves most, his daughter, is enough to make the tears start flowing.
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a classic tearjerker to make you appreciate the good things in life. And whether you’re trying to rehab a broken heart or just feel like having a good cry, watching these great movies will surely do the trick.