There are some movies that hit viewers right in the feels from the very first scene and never let go. Viewers always have different reasons for the level of immersion, emotional investment, and overall impact a movie has. Sometimes it's the compelling storyline, the brilliant performances, the musical score, or the special effects.
Whatever the reason, some movies are a real emotional roller-coaster ride, taking audiences to great heights and dropping them in the next minute. Here are a few of the most gut-wrenching, inspirational, and satisfying movies, designed to rip one's heart out and illuminate one's soul at the same time, every time.
7 Forrest Gump (1994)
It's not really the story of Forrest, and that's the secret of why this movie touches so many so deeply. It's also the story of the 20th century in the United States, a time that many also would say was like a roller coaster with its dizzying ups and downs.
Forrest is the simple witness that takes the viewer through a turbulent period of history, spanning the 1940s through to the 1980s and ending about the same time this movie was released, in the mid-'90s. The viewers go on this journey with him, and although it's a challenge, it's also very rewarding.
6 The Abyss
James Cameron knows how to build an epic movie that brings the viewer to tears, whether it be through fear, joy, or sadness. The Abyss is an experimental film in a lot of ways, mixing a variety of genres that include horror, drama, adventure, and science fiction.
These sets will blow anyone's mind, along with the ethereal soundtrack by Alan Silvestri, and the mechanics of where the action takes place is just as inhospitable as any strange planet. Despite all the details in the plot, the personal drama of the characters was still interesting, and the viewers experience their highs and lows along with some life-changing visuals.
5 Kiss Of The Spider Woman
The ride here is thanks to some of the greatest and most immersive performances ever, courtesy of Raul Julia and William Hurt. There's also the delicate subject of the story itself, which was taboo for any other productions at the time.
Kiss of the Spider Woman tells a few stories at the same time, and all of them are bitterly real and painfully tragic. But even in the midst of loss and death, a glimmer of hope always exists. It's an examination of humanity's worst impulses and somehow, at the same time, its most inspiring qualities.
4 The Fisher King (1991)
"Forgive me." The main character repeats this mantra as a joke, but this is one of the most heartbreaking things anyone can say, and that's what this movie is really about. It's easy to get caught up in Terry Gilliam's world of magical realism and medieval legend, set in modern New York and featuring a washed-up radio disc jockey.
It's tough to watch what all of these characters go through, and something about the tone and portrayal evokes deep empathy with all of them, even when their wounds are self-inflicted. Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams give brilliant performances, both of which will tug at the heartstrings, and were both nominated for Academy Awards.
3 Children Of Men (2006)
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Perhaps a content warning should be mentioned here, seeing as this looks a little too much like real life lately, but maybe that's exactly what this is about. Children Of Men starts on the lowest note possible, at what seems like the closing years of humanity, with a mysterious virus killing off all the world's children and the fertility of the adults now destroyed.
It seems like all hope is lost, but against all odds, a woman becomes pregnant and the main character, Theo Faron, has to escort her to safety. There are several emotionally devastating scenes that follow as Faron takes responsibility for the last baby on Earth as the only hope for humanity.
2 The Color Purple (1985)
A famous Oscar snub, with various nominations but no wins, it might have been the unrepentant portrayal of slavery and colonialism that made the Academy blush. The Color Purple doesn't hold back with its portrayal of certain marginalized groups or historic facts, which is why it is so emotionally trying but also rewarding to watch.
The opening scene of the movie introduces teenage Celie, a victim of her stepmother's sexual abuse, and her life doesn't improve when she's passed off to an equally abusive husband. The story is both devastating and uplifting thanks to a stellar cast, consisting of names like Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey.
1 Superman (1978)
The emotional shock value of this movie isn't what it used to be, but at the time, the combination of music, special effects, and the novelty of a movie about a superhero moved many people to real tears. It wasn't just the amazing score either, but that was a great start. People who grew up in that era still joke about how John Williams' soundtracks taught them how to have feelings.
Fans had been waiting years to see a real superhero movie, and that goofy Batman thing from the 1960s didn't count. Christopher Reeve's stellar portrayal, which also brought many to tears, was a pleasant surprise in what many thought would be a simple lighthearted action movie.