From Fleabag to One Day, here are a few movies and series to watch that will give you that much-needed emotional catharsis.
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Sometimes, all you need is a good cry. We often ask ourselves why we make ourselves go through the hurt and pain of reading or watching things that are upsetting. Well, it’s perhaps because it helps us have an outlet for our emotions. We get to feel so many things—and isn’t that so beautiful? Wasn’t that what Barbie wanted for herself, too? “That felt achy…but good,” she says in Barbie (2023). Those moments are just parts of life. It means we’re human—we’re humans who are suckers for a good, emotional story.
Crying over a movie or series is spectacularly normal, and sometimes the best stories are the ones that get us tearing up and ~feeling things~. The emotional release, the catharsis that letting out our emotions brings about, is powerful, and can often change our perspective or give us insight. And to some, they might just enjoy a good cry. If you’re into any of that, then boy, do we have a curated watchlist for you.
From coming-of-age stories to heavy, heart-wrenching romance dramas, these movies and series will not leave you with a dry eye. Human connection, love, and all of the joys and pains are laid bare in these stories, and hopefully, whenever you’re in need of a movie or series that tugs on your heartstrings or reduces you to tears, you’ll check this list out.
FLEABAG (2016-2019)
At this point, those of us chronically online know about Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and The Priest’s (Andrew Scott) star-crossed relationship. “It’ll pass.” (For many of us, it did not.) But if you don’t, all you need to do is watch the show. It’s a wild ride. Apart from the comedy, snark, and fourth-wall-breaking wit of Waller-Bridge’s hit series Fleabag, it’s a great watch because it’s a hard-hitting, realistic, and emotionally-resonant journey of love and grief, womanhood, and finding something to hold onto.
ONE DAY (2024)
If the book and the 2011 film wasn’t enough to make people cry, Netflix comes in with an even more heartbreaking adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel. One Day follows the decades-long, tumultuous relationship between friends Dex (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod), told through episodes set every July 15th of each year. It’s a classic tale of two people who belong together but are constantly pulled apart by bad choices and the most unfortunate of circumstances.
NORMAL PEOPLE (2020)
Normal People, based on Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name, is a romance drama about two complicated people with a complicated relationship. Starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the miniseries follows all-star student-athlete Connell and studious, outspoken Marianne throughout their years in school and the struggles they face afterwards. It’s similar to One Day in that it’s a love story that will make you feel that hollowness in your chest after it ends, but are heartbreaking in quite different ways.
PAST LIVES (2023)
This drama snuck up quietly but steadily into the public consciousness, becoming a quick audience favorite and an award-nominated film soon after it was released. In the film, Nora (Greta Lee) reconnects with childhood friend Haesung (Teo Yoo), who she’s known for over two decades. The two reflect on their history and relationship, as well as on the inevitability of change and the lives they lived (and could live). Past Lives is a story of moments and memories, of intimacy and connection, and it’s regarded as one of the best dramas in recent history, listed in publications like Collider and IndieWire.
MY AMANDA (2021)
Alessandra de Rossi and Piolo Pascual (and their insane chemistry) star in de Rossi’s directorial debut film about two friends with a close bond that is questioned whether it enhances or complicates their lives and the relationships they build. Love, intimacy, and platonic friendship take center stage in this realistic rollercoaster that asks plenty of questions and leaves you with a craving for deep connections or an appreciation for the people whom you have them with.
LOVE YOU TO THE STARS AND BACK (2017)
There’s always space in the movie watchlist for a classic Pinoy rom-com, no matter the theme of the list. Love You To The Stars And Back (2017), starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, brings together all our well-loved romance tropes and delivers a sweet, charming and funny story on journeys and escapes through an interesting sci-fi touch.
MOVE TO HEAVEN (2021)
This South Korean drama presents the unique lives of “trauma cleaners” as they navigate their own personal struggles as well as the stories of the dead whose lives they get a glimpse of. After his father’s death, the young Geu-ru (Tang Jun-sang) takes over the trauma cleaning company while under the care of his new guardian, ex-convict Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon). The two get called to clean up the homes of people who die alone or tragically. All the nuances of death, loss, and grief are explored in this series, and it’s a touching portrait of human connection. And since we can’t resist—yes, Move to Heaven will move you to tears.
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (2007)
There are few people in the world who haven’t been destroyed by Bridge to Terabithia. We seek to change that. This 2000s classic based on Katherine Paterson’s 1977 kids’ book starts out as a fun jaunt following two new friends who find a magical place that they make their own. Terabithia becomes Jess (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb)’s sanctuary as they navigate their childhoods. Themes of friendship, the freedoms and challenges of youth, and loss make up this tearjerker, and it’s definitely a must-watch for all ages.
MAID (2021)
Maid is a drama miniseries starring real-life mother and daughter Margaret Qualley and Andie Macdowell. Qualley plays Alex, a young mom trying to care for her and her 2-year old daughter Maddy after leaving her abusive partner. Macdowell plays Alex’s mother with bipolar disorder. Alex tries to navigate a difficult life, dreaming for something better for her and Maddy. Maid is a heavy watch about family, poverty, and struggle, but powerful nonetheless.
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY (2012)
Presenting a stark contrast to the rest of this list, Antoinette Jadaone’s Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay is an indie mockumentary about Lilia Cuntapay, a familiar face with an unfamiliar name in Philippine cinema. Lilia is a queen of Filipino horror, often appearing as an extra in popular horror films over the last few decades. This movie gives us a glimpse into the work that goes on behind the scenes as well as into the life of someone who often goes under the radar. Comedic, lighthearted, and heartwarming, this film is a tribute to Lilia and an ode to the intrinsic, unique connection between life and art.
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