Netflix is home to some incredible feel-good movies, but when you're in the mood for something a bit more somber -- whether you're looking for something serious, tragic, or gritty -- they certainly don't disappoint. Netflix has plenty of dramas, romances, thrillers, and documentaries that are guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings.
These films are diverse: do you want to travel far away to a war-torn country, or do you want to experience something closer to home, like a riveting documentary about LGBTQ+ identity in America? Buckle up, because these films grab hold of your heart and never let go.
10 Dear John (2010)
Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Dear John follows the ups and downs of a soldier (Channing Tatum) and a woman (Amanda Seyfried) he meets while on leave. Set during the events of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dear John is a drama that keeps you rooting for its protagonists, even after tragedy after tragedy seems to befall the characters. Struggles with separation, cancer, and death pick away at the protagonists’ relationship, but a message of love, forgiveness, and trust echoes throughout the film’s run.
9 Seaspiracy (2021)
The breakout sensation Seaspiracy hooked audiences around the world when it was released on Netflix in 2021. Filmmaker Ali Tabrizi walks audiences through this nautical tale of overfishing and environmental destruction. While the film has been criticized for some factual errors, it is undeniable that what’s happening to life in our oceans is a travesty — one that threatens the future of our entire planet and economy.
The facts Seaspiracy gets right are shocking, and some of the images in this documentary are downright chilling. This is definitely one movie that can refocus a person’s view on some of the biggest issues facing humanity today.
8 Brain On Fire (2016)
Based on the true story and memoir by Susannah Cahalan, Brain on Fire tells the story of a seemingly healthy journalist who suddenly finds herself suffering from hallucinations and schizophrenia-like symptoms. Sent to a hospital for treatment, no one is really sure what is going on inside Susannah’s (Chloe Grace Moretz) head.
Watching Susannah fall from her organized everyday life into illness is hard to watch, but for viewers who are interested in psychology, neuroscience, or the mind, this film offers a great exploration into the unknown. Don’t believe the low Rotten Tomatoes score here: if the science of the brain interests you, Brain on Fire is sure to strike a chord.
7 Marriage Story (2019)
This Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson-led drama follows the story of a divorcing couple who have recently made the move from New York to Los Angeles. Leaving behind their semi-successful Off-Broadway theater troupe, the pair grapple with who will get custody of their son, which sets the stage for an ugly, prolonged legal battle.
Driver’s character Charlie, despite his desperate attempts, struggles to maintain his relationship with his son. Combine this with the fact that Johansson’s character Nicole is a truly good mother, and audiences will soon see why Marriage Story is a tragic can’t-miss hit. And if you harbor any ill will against Driver for the character of Kylo Ren, don’t worry: his acting outside of Star Wars is fantastic.
6 Pray Away (2020)
This fascinating documentary follows the story of former leaders of the ex-gay movement, which primarily consisted of LGBTQ+ people within the Christian faith pushing for fellow gay, lesbian, and trans people to renounce their sexuality or gender identity. Having denounced their former actions, they shed light on the ongoing practice of gay conversion therapy in America, which many survivors say is a form of abuse.
The documentary also tags along with a Christian who has detransitioned to their gender assigned at birth, making for an engrossing watch. The film is sometimes difficult to watch, as many of the people interviewed or shown in archived footage reveal an intense self-hatred toward themselves.
5 All The Bright Places (2020)
Tragedy follows tragedy in this romantic drama starring Elle Fanning as a teenager still grappling with the death of her sister in a car accident. Pushed to the brink, she’s saved from a would-be suicide attempt by a boy named Finch (Justice Smith).
The two soon find themselves partnered together on a school project, and their relationship develops from there. All The Bright Places isn’t all sunshine and roses from then on, though. Only watch this film if you’re ready to delve into some dark places — but if it’s sad you’re after, All The Bright Places delivers.
4 A Silent Voice (2016)
An anime with a big heart, A Silent Voice, as the name suggests, follows the bumpy relationship between a deaf girl Shoko (Saori Hayami), and her former bully Shoya (Miyu Irino). Ultimately a tale of redemption, A Silent Voice is nevertheless an incredibly sad film along the way.
Its characters feel alone in the world, contemplate suicide, and struggle to move on from the identity that society has imprinted on them. Director Naoko Yamada has made some other great films, but none hit the same emotional tones as A Silent Voice.
3 Tell Me Who I Am (2019)
Another great documentary, Tell Me Who I Am tells the story of a young man named Alex who gets partial amnesia as the result of a motorcycle accident, aged 18. As his memory begins to come back to him, things start looking up. But the documentary takes a dark turn when his twin brother Marcus refuses to fill in certain details from their childhood.
Believing the truth too hard for his brother to handle, Marcus’s fake history begins to crumble, revealing a reality too grim to be real. Tell Me Who I Am is a shocking tale of deceit and abuse that is so unbelievable that it’s impossible to look away, no matter how sad the truth really is.
2 Beasts Of No Nation (2015)
A fictional film about a very real issue, Beasts of No Nation follows a young boy named Agu (Abraham Attah) as he escapes from his village following a massacre by government troops. A civil war has broken out in this unknown West African nation, and Agu soon finds himself fighting as a child soldier for the rebel faction. It’s here that he meets the Commandant (Idris Elba), an African warlord with few morals.
This tragic tale shines a light on the ongoing kidnapping and recruitment of child soldiers around the world. Attah’s performance as Agu is also phenomenal, painting a shocking portrait of the injustices of civil war. Nominated for several awards, it certainly deserves the Oscar it never won.
1 Good Time (2017)
Uncut Gems filmmakers Benjamin and Joshua Safdie struck gold even earlier with Good Time, a Robert Pattinson-led thriller about a brother willing to do whatever it takes to help his family. When a bank heist goes wrong, criminal Connie Nikas (Pattinson) must come up with $10,000 fast to get his mentally disabled brother out of jail.
A gritty film jampacked with suspense, action, and desperation, Good Time takes viewers on a psychedelic odyssey across New York (yes, some LSD plays a big role in this movie). The cinematography and color grading in this film is astounding, and the twists and turns that crop up along the way are sure to please many.
