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I've got plenty of people I can do something with -- just none I can do nothing with. ~ Widower Joe Warr (Clive Owen) in The Boys Are Back
Movies and DVD rentals that dramatize others coming to terms with their pain may serve as a valuable tool to help you and your family members better understand and move through the grieving process.
Getting in touch with the painful feelings of grief and releasing blocked or pent-up emotions by having a good cry can be cleansing and stress-reducing. Movies can be an effective tool in addressing certain grief issues, especially when your selections are made consciously and deliberately.
Before you see or rent a movie, take time to read the film's description and reviews to help you decide whether watching it will support you at this point in your grief journey. Pay attention to whatever feelings and reactions come up for you while watching it, and let yourself cry if you need to. If you're not comfortable doing this alone, ask a trusted friend or family member to watch the movie with you, and discuss it together afterward.
In this spirit, this list of movies for those in mourning is offered, categorized by the aspect of grief primarily addressed in a given film or DVD. To read Amazon’s description of movies and reviews, click the movie title. (Note that the films listed here are those produced between 1941 and 2012. You’ll find links to lists of more recently produced films here: Films - Videos.)
As always, if you've a film you'd like to recommend, please let us know in the Comments section below.
Anticipatory Grief
Brian's Song (1971) with James Caan, Billy Dee Williams
Love Story (1971) with Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal
November Christmas (2010) with Sam Elliott, John Corbett
The Descendants (2011) with George Clooney, Judy Greer
Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) with Jack Lemmon, Hank Azaria
Wit (2001) with Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd
Understanding Different Grieving Patterns in Your Family
Angel in the Family (2004) with Meredith Baxter, Ronny Cox
Beaches (1988), with Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey
Boynton Beach Club (2005) with Joseph Bologna, Dyan Cannon
Departures (2008) with Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue
Eye of the Dolphin (2007) with Carly Schroeder, Adrian Dunbar
Finding Neverland (2004) with Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
In America (2002) with Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton
Little Women (1994), with Wynona Ryder, Susan Sarandon
Marvin's Room (1996), with Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton
Moonlight Mile (2002) with Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman
My Girl (1991) with Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
November Christmas (2010) with Sam Elliott, John Corbett
Ordinary People (1980) with Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore
Rabbit Hole (2010) with Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Steel Magnolias (1989), with Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine
Straight from the Heart (2003) with Teri Polo, Andrew McCarthy
Terms of Endearment (1983), with Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
The Descendants (2011) with George Clooney, Judy Greer
Loss of A Child
An Unfinished Life (2005) with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez
November Christmas (2010) with Sam Elliott, John Corbett
On a Clear Day (2005) with Peter Mullin, Brenda Blethyn
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
World's Greatest Dad (2009) with Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara
Loss of a Spouse, Partner or Significant Other
A Single Man (2009) with Colin Firth, Julianne Moore
An Unfinished Life (2005) with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez
Loss of a Spouse, Partner or Significant Other
A Single Man (2009) with Colin Firth, Julianne Moore
An Unfinished Life (2005) with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez
Bonneville (2008) with Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates
Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger
Love Story (1971) with Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal
My Life (1993) with Michael Keaton, Nicole Kidman
Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger
Love Story (1971) with Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal
My Life (1993) with Michael Keaton, Nicole Kidman
P.S. I Love You (2008) with Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) with Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
The Descendants (2011) with George Clooney, Judy Greer
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
The Sixth Sense (2000) with Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osmont
Up (2009) with Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai
Loss of A Parent
Big Fish (2004) with Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney
Death at a Funeral (2007) with Matthew Macfadyen, Peter Dinklage
Departures (2010) with Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue
Eye of the Dolphin (2007) with Carly Schroeder, Adrian Dunbar
Garden State (2005) with Zach Braf, Natalie Portman
In Her Shoes (2005) with Cameron Diaz, Shirley MacLaine
My Girl (1991) with Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
The Descendants (2011) with George Clooney, Judy Greer
The Savages (2007) with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Two Weeks (2006) with Sally Field, Ben Chaplin
Loss of A Sibling
In America (2002) with Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton
Little Women (1994) with Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne
Ray (2004) with Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Walk the Line (2006) with Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
Mystical Experiences
A Rumor of Angels (2000), with Vanessa Redgrave, Ray Liotta
Up (2009) with Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai
Loss of A Parent
Big Fish (2004) with Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney
Departures (2010) with Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue
Eye of the Dolphin (2007) with Carly Schroeder, Adrian Dunbar
Garden State (2005) with Zach Braf, Natalie Portman
In Her Shoes (2005) with Cameron Diaz, Shirley MacLaine
My Girl (1991) with Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Sunshine Cleaning (2009) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
Sunshine Cleaning (2009) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
The Savages (2007) with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Two Weeks (2006) with Sally Field, Ben Chaplin
Loss of A Sibling
In America (2002) with Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton
Little Women (1994) with Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne
Ray (2004) with Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Walk the Line (2006) with Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
Bridge to Terabithia (2007) with Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb
Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal
Brian's Song (1971) with James Caan, Billy Dee Williams
The Bucket List (2007) with Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman
Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) with Jack Lemmon, Hank Azaria
Wit (2001) with Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd
Loss of An Animal Companion
Marley and Me (2008) with Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson
My Dog Skip (1999) with Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane
Old Yeller (1957) with Fess Parker, Dorothy McGuire
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974) with Stewart Peterson, Beverly Garland
Traumatic Loss
In The Bedroom (2002) with Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek
Missing in America (2006) with Danny Glover, Ron Perlman
Rabbit Hole (2010) with Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart
Reign Over Me (2007) with Adam Sandler, Jonathan Banks
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Suicide Loss
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Sunshine Cleaning (2009) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Guilt
A Rumor of Angels (2000), with Vanessa Redgrave, Ray Liotta
Departures (2008) with Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue
Moonlight Mile (2002) with Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman
Ordinary People (1980) with Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore
Philadelphia (1993) with Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
The Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis
Spiritual Reaction to Loss
Shadowlands (1994) with Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger
The Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis
Wide Awake (1998) with Joseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder
Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal
Brian's Song (1971) with James Caan, Billy Dee Williams
Catch and Release (2007) with Jennifer Garner, Timothy Oliphant
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1999) with Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell
Midnight Cowboy (1969) with Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005) with Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend
Nicholas' Gift (1998) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Alan Bates
Philadelphia (1993) with Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) with Judi Dench, Tom WilkinsonMidnight Cowboy (1969) with Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005) with Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend
Nicholas' Gift (1998) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Alan Bates
Philadelphia (1993) with Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
The Bucket List (2007) with Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman
Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) with Jack Lemmon, Hank Azaria
Wit (2001) with Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd
Loss of An Animal Companion
Marley and Me (2008) with Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson
My Dog Skip (1999) with Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane
Old Yeller (1957) with Fess Parker, Dorothy McGuire
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974) with Stewart Peterson, Beverly Garland
Traumatic Loss
In The Bedroom (2002) with Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek
Missing in America (2006) with Danny Glover, Ron Perlman
Reign Over Me (2007) with Adam Sandler, Jonathan Banks
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Suicide Loss
Remember Me (2010) with Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin
Sunshine Cleaning (2009) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Guilt
A Rumor of Angels (2000), with Vanessa Redgrave, Ray Liotta
Departures (2008) with Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue
Moonlight Mile (2002) with Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman
Ordinary People (1980) with Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore
Philadelphia (1993) with Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
The Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis
Spiritual Reaction to Loss
Shadowlands (1994) with Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger
The Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis
Wide Awake (1998) with Joseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder
A Rumor of Angels (2000), with Vanessa Redgrave, Ray Liotta
Always (1989), with Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter
City of Angels (1998), with Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan
Dragonfly (2002) with Kevin Costner, Lisa Banes
Ghost (1990), with Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze
Northfork (2003) with James Woods, Nick Nolte
The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004) with Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn
The Sixth Sense (1999) with Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment
Titanic (1997) with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
Truly, Madly, Deeply (1996), with Juliet Stevenson, Alan Rickman
Untamed Heart (1993), with Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei
Waking the Dead (2002) with Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly
Writing As A Way of Expressing Grief
About Schmidt (2002) with Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis
Finding Neverland (2004) with Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
Finding Professional Help
Ordinary People (1980) with Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore
From Surviving to Transcending Grief
A River Runs through It (1992), with Robert Redford, Brad Pitt
Angela's Ashes (2000) with Andrew Bennett, Joe Breen
An Unfinished Life (2005) with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez
Brian's Song (1971), with James Caan, Billy Dee Williams
Corrina, Corrina (1994) with Whoopi Goldberg, Ray Liotta
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), with Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell
Good Will Hunting (1999) with Robin Williams, Matt Damon
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
If Only (2004) with Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Paul Nichols
In America (2002) with Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton
Life (1999) with Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence
Life As a House (2001) with Kevin Cline, Kristin Scott Thomas
Message in a Bottle (1999) with Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn
Nicholas' Gift (1998) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Alan Bates
On a Clear Day (2005) with Peter Mullin, Brenda Blethyn
Shadowlands (1994) with Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger
Simon Birch (1998) with Ian Michael Smith, Oliver Platt
The Boys Are Back (2009) with Clive Owen, Laura Fraser
The Secret Life of Bees (2008) with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson
Up (2009) with Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai
Whose Life Is It Anyway (1991), with Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes
Related:
- 5 Movies & Shows That Showcased Grief In A Hauntingly Beautiful Way
- 10 Best Movies About Grief, Ranked
- 11 Best Hallmark Movies About Grief and Death
- 20 Movies That Accurately Portray Grief
- Cinema therapy: can movies help us process grief or get over a breakup?
- Dan Levy's 'Good Grief' Gives Grief A Home for The Holidays
- Film Review: "After The Rain"
- Film Review: "Life Itself," About Roger Ebert's Life and Death
- Film Review: "Nomadland": A Poetic Meditation on Grief
- Film Review: "The Lion King"
- Films - Videos
- 'From Scratch' and 9 Other Shows About Dealing with Grief
- Here Are The Best Shows To Watch If You’re Grieving
- How Many Movies About Grief This Year? All of Them
- Movies Are An Unexpected Grief Healing Tool
- "Pig": One of the Most Honest Movies About Mourning Ever Made
- Reel Therapy = Good Medicine
- Reel Therapy: How Movies Inspire You to Overcome Life's Problems
- Think Before Recommending Books and Movies After A Death
- 'Til Death Do Us Part
- Why Movies That Focus on Grief Are So Important
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