# Most depressing movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509 "2019-01-27T23:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/1 "2019-01-27T23:50:22Z")
I think the most depressing movie I’ve seen is [_Johnny Got His Gun_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067277/) (1971). I love the ‘Merry Christmas! I am the boss, and this is champagne’ scene. But despite the surreal aspects, it’s a bit of a downer. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/2 "2019-01-27T23:52:09Z")
Yep. Also, I nominate The Road. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/3 "2019-01-27T23:53:24Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Also, I nominate The Road. That one sounded too depressing to even watch. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/4 "2019-01-28T00:10:25Z")
_The Plague Dogs_ (adapted from the novel) Told from the dogs’ point of view, a pair of dogs escape from a research facility that was also experimenting with Bubonic plague. Although the dogs aren’t carrying the disease, the news leaks and hysteria ensues leading to a military manhunt (doghunt?) for the animals. The dogs make a couple failed attempts to find shelter and a new human master before being driven by the army to the coast where the terrified dogs try to swim away and drown. Yay! There are basically zero moments of levity or relief, just unrelenting shit going on. ---
**Author:** ![HaroldDix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HaroldDix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HaroldDix)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/5 "2019-01-28T00:13:28Z")
The Road. Hands down. No question. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/6 "2019-01-28T00:24:02Z")
I thought ‘Spongebob Squarepants, the Movie’ was pretty damn depressing. Probably not for the reasons you’d think. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/7 "2019-01-28T00:25:16Z")
Another vote forThe Road. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/8 "2019-01-28T00:25:24Z")
_[Harry and Tonto](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071598/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)_ is right up there. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/9 "2019-01-28T00:29:41Z")
Dear Zachary ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/10 "2019-01-28T00:33:02Z")
‘Wanda’. Came out in '70 or '71. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/11 "2019-01-28T00:36:12Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > _[Harry and Tonto](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071598/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)_ is right up there. That’s my #1 all-time… My #2 all-time is “La Strada” and “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” is a Top 5. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/12 "2019-01-28T00:42:45Z")
Threads, of course. A far more realistic portrayal of nuclear war than The Day After. The trailer below gives no indication as to how horrifying this film is. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vgT4Y30DkaA/maxresdefault.jpg "Threads (1984) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgT4Y30DkaA) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/13 "2019-01-28T00:44:17Z")
[Osama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_(film)). The final scene is the most heartbreaking in all of film. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/14 "2019-01-28T00:48:02Z")
**On The Beach Leaving Las Vegas The Road** ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/15 "2019-01-28T00:50:19Z")
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri I thought it was going to be a Coen Brothers zanyesque film ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/16 "2019-01-28T00:55:07Z")
**Schindler’s List** ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/17 "2019-01-28T00:57:52Z")
One of the most depressing that I’ve seen is commonly thought of as one of the best movies of all time–[_Tokyo Monogatari_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Story). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/18 "2019-01-28T01:13:08Z")
It’s really hard to top (bottom?) _Johnny Got His Gun_, but here’s a few that haven’t been mentioned _Midnight Cowboy_ - small-time hustlers can’t make it in New York City _Testament_ - it’s an American _Threads_ without the actual bomb _Ladybug Ladybug_ - another not-quite nuclear attack, this one focusing on schoolchildren ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/19 "2019-01-28T01:19:41Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Yep. > > Also, I nominate The Road. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Dear Zachary I’ll repeat those and my list is: Dear Zachary - I will never watch this again. The Road - 'nuff said Graveyard of the Fireflies - I’m not crying, you’re crying! Hereditary - I won’t say anything because I’ve said enough. I was traumatized by this movie. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/20 "2019-01-28T01:19:48Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Threads, of course. A far more realistic portrayal of nuclear war than The Day After. The trailer below gives no indication as to how horrifying this film is. > > [https://youtu.be/vgT4Y30DkaA](https://youtu.be/vgT4Y30DkaA) Threads isn’t nearly as realistic as some say it is (not saying it doesn’t beat The Day After). Too often, many think “more depressing = more realistic” when it comes to nuclear disaster movies. EMPs killing everything electronic and lost-lasting radiation poisoning resulting in the “degradation” (deformities, mental disabilities) of huge chunks of the population are things that aren’t that scientifically accurate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509.md?page=2)