Netflix's Marriage Story is a complete and utter emotional rollercoaster and it is gripping from start to finish. Both Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson brought tremendous performances to this movie, which was deeply grounded in the reality of a divorce and the impact it has on family life.
It was truly heartbreaking to see the emotions that each character went through and how love can quickly turn to hate and then back to mutual respect again. It's incredibly dramatic and tense, and it is very relatable, with issues that many people have experienced in life. But it's not the only bitterly heartbreaking film that exists.
Cafe Society (2016)
Another film that is sure to cause emotion from viewers is Cafe Society. It is a brilliant movie wrapped up in the Hollywood world, with a writer and a producer both falling in love with the same woman, played brilliantly by Kristen Stewart.
Of course, both men can't end up in a relationship with her and because of this, there is obvious heartbreak to be endured. With one of her suitors being an upcoming writer struggling to make his mark and the other being a major producer, it really does tell a lot about personality vs success.
The Squid And The Whale (2005)
This movie was written and directed by Noah Baumbach, who just so happens to be the man behind Marriage Story, which is why the films are both very enjoyable. Just as Marriage Story looks at divorce, so does this film, which is actually loosely based on the real-life divorce of his parents and how it impacted his life.
Rather than focusing on the adults in this situation (which it does, at points), the movie opts to see things from the children's perspectives. It's a unique way of looking at a tricky subject, and certainly draws an emotional response from the audience.
The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)
While The Fundamentals Of Caring doesn't focus on love and divorce, that doesn't mean it's not a gripping movie that is packed with emotion. The movie is primarily a comedy, but it has serious heart and there are a lot of great lessons to be learned here.
The film puts Paul Rudd in the position of being a caregiver for a disabled teenager. They end up on a road trip together and while they eventually bond, there are plenty of tough life lessons along the way, with the movie looking at some serious moral issues.
Love, Simon (2018)
Love, Simon is another very important movie that should be viewed by everyone at some stage. Focusing on Simon Spier, a gay high school boy who is closeted and not at the point in his life where he feels comfortable telling people.
However, when he begins to get blackmailed by someone who knows his true feelings, he has to deal with the pressure, while also experiencing love for the first time online. It's a really powerful movie that has a brilliant blend of positive and negative moments, and it is certainly gripping, just as Marriage Story is.
The Wrestler (2008)
When people think about wrestling, they often go to the over the top action and characters that come with it, such as The Undertaker or Hulk Hogan. However, this emotional movie is grounded more in the reality of how the sport can tear families apart, lead to drug abuse, and not always be as glamorous as it might seem.
Mickey Rourke is at his absolute best in this film and he really brings an unbelievable performance to the movie. From his difficult relationship with his daughter to the fact it's unclear whether or not he actually dies in the end, The Wrestler really is an emotional film that packs a punch.
A Star Is Born (2018)
This romantic musical is another film that brings two creative souls together and puts them on an emotional journey together. It showcases what two lost souls can achieve when they come together, and seeing them both pick up their lies to then be happy is uplifting.
However, things don't end in this manner and it leads to heartbreak, which helps keep this movie realistic. Featuring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, showcasing amazing chemistry and some catchy music, there's little not to love here.
La La Land (2016)
While La La Land very much relies on the musical aspect, that doesn't mean that there's not tons of heart here. The way that the romance takes place might be more over the top due to its musical nature, but it doesn't provide the usual happy ending that people expect.
Audiences watch the movie expecting things to end happily ever after, and the fact that it doesn't creates a real surprise and provides true emotion. They try to make things work, but ultimately want very different things and their careers take the primary focus, as happens to many couples.
Boyhood (2014)
Boyhood is one of the most unique movies ever made in the sense that it was filmed over 12 years with many real-life aspects influencing the overall story of the film. The fact it all feels real makes the highs really enjoyable, but the lows really upsetting.
The emotional changes of the characters helps to create a balanced movie that is very dramatic and easy to engage with. Rather than focusing too heavily on the divorce aspect, this movie looks at life after and how a family can grow, despite being split, which actually makes this film a good follow-up watch from Marriage Story.
Wonder (2017)
While Marriage Story is a little heavy for the entire family to enjoy, Wonder targets a family audience. However, this doesn't mean the film holds back in delivering some really important lessons, with some incredibly emotional moments.
The film follows a family, in particular, a young boy, Auggie, who has Treacher Collins syndrome. It follows his struggles with fitting in and dealing with bullying, and it is an incredibly important film that everyone should watch about how big an impact simply being kind can have.
Blue Valentine (2010)
When it comes to break-up stories, few do it better than Blue Valentine. It's a fantastic movie that shows a relationship come to an end by using flashbacks to show a true reflection of their relationship. It isn't all perfect or all a disaster and then there's a big snap. In other words, it's got ups and downs as a real relationship does.
The fact that it is grounded in reality is really what makes it easy to connect to the couple and the story in general. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams really do deliver here, as well, as two characters who sadly just want different things in life.