# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/61 "2019-01-28T18:19:41Z")
[Silent Running.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067756/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) Gorgeous SFX and cinematography, but damn it’s a downer. That damn song by Joan Baez doesn’t help either. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/62 "2019-01-28T18:44:58Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Snoopy, Come Home. Snoopy’s original owner is sick and in the hospital and Snoopy travels to go visit her encountering discrimination along the way. He is briefly kidnapped by a mean girl. The sick girl wants him to leave Charlie Brown and come live with her. He refuses but she is so heart broken he changes his mind. He tells Charlie Brown he is leaving him, but when he gets to her apartment they find out dogs are banned in the building. He returns to Charlie Brown, who is resentful that Snoopy chose the sick girl over him. It certainly has one of the most depressing songs ever… > [@It Changes](#): > > Why must we pay for hellos that we say? > Pay when we sigh an adieu? > Just when you’re sure, and you’re safe and secure > That’s when it happens to you > It changes. ---
**Author:** ![arara123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@arara123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arara123)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/63 "2019-01-28T18:50:16Z")
‘Betty Blue’ - [Betty Blue (1986) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090563/) Great film, super-depressing ending. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/64 "2019-01-28T18:52:44Z")
Pretty much any movie based on a Eugene O’Neill play, but most especially _Long Day’s Journey into Night_ (three hours with a dysfunctional family) and _The Iceman Cometh_ (four hours of pipe dreams being crushed). ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/65 "2019-01-28T19:01:05Z")
This may be tempered by having seen it as a child, but Fanny and Alexander. I’m of two minds about A Home at the End or the World. It is one of my favorite movies, and there are a lot of moments of joy or wonder, but there is a running undercurrent of dealing with deep trauma, and the ending isn’t exactly happy, except in a sort of poetic way. The Reader. Especially because it keeps teasing a potential redemption or forgiveness theme, but never quite manages it. It probably would have been less sad if it just committed to a depressing theme. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/66 "2019-01-28T19:13:50Z")
Some good nominations here. _Life is Beautiful_ (1997) The _Wages of Fear_ (1953) or the 1977 “remake” _Sorcerer_. ---
**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 28, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/67 "2019-01-28T19:14:27Z")
> [@arara123](#): > > ‘Betty Blue’ - [Betty Blue (1986) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090563/) > > Great film, super-depressing ending. Yes, then ending is depressing; but the rest of the film is funny, beautiful, etc. I saw it in the theatre when it was released in the states. (Funny thing, about that: First date with a girl I’d met. I didn’t know about the beginning…) I was having a lot of fun watching the film. Great music, great characters, lots of laughs… and then came the ending. I was like, 'Wait… When did _that_ happen? :eek: ’ I wouldn’t call it a depressing movie. _Vagabond_ is closer. FWIW, if anyone hasn’t seen it yet, watch the theatrical release of _Betty Blue_. The director’s cut _does_ provide some more information; but I don’t think it’s really necessary, and I thought the additional scenes really bogged the movie down. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/68 "2019-01-28T20:10:21Z")
Depressing: Glengarry Glen Ross, They Shoot Horses Don’t They and my wife would say Lonely are The Brave For my money though it’s Glengarry Glen Ross hands down. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/69 "2019-01-28T20:14:16Z")
_Bad Lieutenant_ ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/70 "2019-01-28T21:42:55Z")
One that I recently watched: An American Crime. Depressing story that is even more depressing when you learn it is based on a real story. Humans are terrible. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/71 "2019-01-28T21:50:39Z")
Since “Requiem for a Dream” has already been mentioned, I’ll throw out just about any of Clint Eastwood’s directorial efforts. “Mystic River”. “Billion Dollar Baby”, and “Grand Torrino” are all worth seeing _once._ ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/72 "2019-01-28T21:51:53Z")
I’m going to nominate [Irreversible](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290673/). That one is horribly depressing with its extremely light and airy ending. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/73 "2019-01-28T21:55:27Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > _Life is Beautiful_ (1997) I was thinking about “Life is Beautiful”, but 1) there are so many happy scenes in the first half, and 2) it ends (very ending) on an upbeat. I nominate “Gallipoli”. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/74 "2019-01-28T22:03:13Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > I’m going to nominate [Irreversible](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290673/). That one is horribly depressing with its extremely light and airy ending. This to me is the perfect example of a film which is worth seeing but only once. It took me about three months to watch it on dvd. I’d put it on, watch 5 minutes then switch it off. What is of note is that it is supposed to be that horrible. The camera shifts and pitches, flips over and trys to make you feel sick. The soundtrack also contributes. There are some gruesome and appalling scenes. It is a masterclass in a “horr(ible)or” movie. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/75 "2019-01-28T22:32:01Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > **Schindler’s List** This remains the one and only movie I have ever walked out on in the theater. I just couldn’t take it anymore, and I have never seen the film in it’s entirety since. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/76 "2019-01-28T22:50:50Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > This to me is the perfect example of a film which is worth seeing but only once. > > It took me about three months to watch it on dvd. I’d put it on, watch 5 minutes then switch it off. > > What is of note is that it is supposed to be that horrible. The camera shifts and pitches, flips over and trys to make you feel sick. The soundtrack also contributes. There are some gruesome and appalling scenes. > > It is a masterclass in a “horr(ible)or” movie. My thoughts pretty much. Extremely glad I saw it but don’t need to again. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/77 "2019-01-29T01:01:25Z")
Manos: Hands of Fate ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/78 "2019-01-29T04:53:38Z")
The original **The Out-of-Towners**. This alleged comedy has nothing to recommend it. ---
**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 29, 2019, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/79 "2019-01-29T04:56:40Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Manos: Hands of Fate The movie itself isn’t depressing as much as the realization that your time/life has nothing better going on other that to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509/80 "2019-01-29T05:46:31Z")
World, meet Kim Ki Duk, controversial, misogynistic, frightening and the director of some of the greatest films I’ve seen. His characters rarely smile, much less laugh and sometimes don’t even speak (_The Isle, The Bow, Moebius, 3-Iron_, but are somehow more real than the majority of on-screen characters. Dip your toes in with _Samaritan Girl_ or _3-Iron_ and work your way up to _The Isle, Pieta_ and _Moebius_. Warning: _The Isle_ contains the infamous ‘fishhook’ scene and real animal cruelty and the central theme of _Moebius_ is an involuntary castration. Triiva: I didn’t realize at first, but the lead actress of _The Isle_ Jung Suh went to do a completely different role in the brillant _Green Chair._ Edit: Never make a Ki Duk film a single feature. You’ll need to watch else after to clear your mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-movie/828509.md?page=5)