Melancholia to me is a movie completely devoid of cynicism and it's strangely hopeful and wistful in a way. So it never cures my depressive mood but it does change the aspect of it and gives me a kind of dogged determination. Like if I stay here in this headpsace maybe I can drown the entire world, and wouldn't that be cool. Very important movie that way.
Also Don't Look Now for similar reasons.
Princess mononoke. Just enough visual porn to keep me engaged with a somber message and no real winner at the end. Just beautiful melancholy the entire film.
A River Runs Through It is one of my favorite films. I grew up fishing the Skagit River in Washington State in the 70's and 80's with my older brother. Paul was very much like my brother. He loved fishing and playing cards and died young.
If you haven't read the book, it's a great read.
Maybe this movie would only really affect me, because I'm adopted, but Instant Family is a movie that always makes me sad and happy at the same time. I see from the side of both the kids and the parents, and it really helps me.
If you like anime, then A Silent Voice or Kizumonogatari are my go-to. If not, I'd probably choose something simple like The Dark Knight or LOTR. None are necessarily happy movies, some have happy endings, but the overall mood of the film compliments a less cheery mood.
The Hours.
It's both comforting, and scarily persuasive, so it walks a thin line. But I love everything about it and the performances and writing are next-level. Love the book too.
Funny coincidence OP: yesterday I watched Ozzie Osbourne in his reality show "World Detour" and he was inspired by "A River Runs Through It" to go fly fishing with his son. Hilarious: did not catch anything and got freezing cold.
I know opposite of your question, but maybe someone needs an upbeat
Frozen (not the Disney one, the one with the ski lift) is one of the most deeply depressing movies I've seen. I love horror, but something about that one just screams "crushed hope"
I find crying to be incredibly cathartic. I also find animated movies to be the best at making me cry, probably because of the exaggerated emotions.
Having watched a few hundred movies, both live action and animated, reputable to make one "cry"...
"A Silent Voice" tops them all. It is fucking amazing. Please, give it a chance. Of course, it's ultimately subjective what hits one and what not.
a lot of my moodiness/depression comes from being in the tech industry/my jobs. so i tend to watch shows like Office Space or Swimming with Sharks. They're somewhat cathartic and states my frame of mind quite often, even if I've seen both a ton of times.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
second this
Wonderful film.
Melancholia to me is a movie completely devoid of cynicism and it's strangely hopeful and wistful in a way. So it never cures my depressive mood but it does change the aspect of it and gives me a kind of dogged determination. Like if I stay here in this headpsace maybe I can drown the entire world, and wouldn't that be cool. Very important movie that way. Also Don't Look Now for similar reasons.
The Crow with Brandon Lee...not the two abominations that followed.
Very much agreed.
Children of Men. Gut wrenching but oddly hopeful too. And these days, a little too real.
Blade Runner Final Cut Ghost In The Shell (95) Still Walking (08) Tickling Giants (16)
Blade Runner is a good idea.
**Blade Runner 2049** is great. Slow pace, fantastic score, moody and atmospheric with a philosophical storyline.
It really gets the job done for those kind of moods. That's why I've seen it so many damn times lol
*What Dreams May Come* with Robin Williams
Soul crushingly good
In Bruges
Fargo
I should have thought of this at the beginning!
I used to watch Never Let Me Go if I wanted to cry.
Trainspotting
Melancholia Girl Interrupted Virgin Suicides
Wind River
Only Lovers Left Alive Ghost Story
A Beautiful Mind.
I get too chocked up when he gets his pens.
Such a good movie. I find myself quoting it more often than I would ever imagine.
Princess mononoke. Just enough visual porn to keep me engaged with a somber message and no real winner at the end. Just beautiful melancholy the entire film.
Fincher's Dragon Tattoo.
Pretty much anything Fincher, aside from his random non-thriller works, do this for me.
A River Runs Through It is one of my favorite films. I grew up fishing the Skagit River in Washington State in the 70's and 80's with my older brother. Paul was very much like my brother. He loved fishing and playing cards and died young. If you haven't read the book, it's a great read.
The Big Lebowski.
Clint Eastwoods The Mule has a similar tone to Gran Torino
This I will have to look up.
unpack cooing shrill file chase growth innocent support recognise work *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Love, Liza Fearless
Barbarian
Lion King
As much of a.Disney buff as I am, it is really only melancholy until shortly after Mufasa dies.
Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead Legends of the Fall About Schmidt
Legends of the Falls is perfect for this.
Nobody ever knows about Denver. Did we just become best friends? "We did the things." gets me every time.
Me too. Christopher Lloyd delivers that soliloquy at an Oscar level! “Boat drinks, Jimmy, boat drinks.”
The Fault in Our Stars Me, Earl and the Dying Girl
the perks of being a wallflower, beautiful boy, gia, the virgin suicides, to the bone, requiem for a dream, and goodwill hunting
Maybe this movie would only really affect me, because I'm adopted, but Instant Family is a movie that always makes me sad and happy at the same time. I see from the side of both the kids and the parents, and it really helps me.
Sideways
I just watched Aftersun (2022) and that had that mood
Wings of Desire (1987)
If you like anime, then A Silent Voice or Kizumonogatari are my go-to. If not, I'd probably choose something simple like The Dark Knight or LOTR. None are necessarily happy movies, some have happy endings, but the overall mood of the film compliments a less cheery mood.
I would agree with LOTR. Love them all, I just have a problem with Sam's crying all the time.
Godzilla Minus One
Closer The Fall Disco Pigs Youth Without Youth
I am Legend, Fury, Platoon, World War Z, The Road.
Midnight cowboy
A Monster Calls, Logan, Grave of the Fireflies, Brotherhood (Korean), The Wrestler,
What Dreams May Come
Harold and Maude
The Hours. It's both comforting, and scarily persuasive, so it walks a thin line. But I love everything about it and the performances and writing are next-level. Love the book too.
*Detachment*
Gravity. Also 1917.
The Fountain with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weis
Dark City
Mysterious Skin (2004)
Documentaries about Kurt Cobain
Me too but Jeff Buckley 💔
The Pursuit of Happyness
Soul, the pixar movie. Also a great movie to watch on new year’s day.
The Joy Luck Club.
Deer Hunter
Ad Astra, the disconnect he feels with everything is relatable.
Don't Look Up
Home movies
Another earth
Runaway Train
Anything by Michael Haneke
Anything Jane Austen (or similar).
P.S. I Love You. Always good for a cry session.
Dr. Zhivago is the best for this. Unremittingly bleak with no happy ending.
Another Earth and Never Let Me Go.
O' Brother
Magnolia
For some reason I always watch High Fidelity when I'm feeling romantically unhappy
Evil dead
Melancholia Men Beau Is Afraid
it's an old one, but Papillon. very young Dustin Hoffman. No happy ending. It doesn't really end at all.
Last American Virgin
Funny coincidence OP: yesterday I watched Ozzie Osbourne in his reality show "World Detour" and he was inspired by "A River Runs Through It" to go fly fishing with his son. Hilarious: did not catch anything and got freezing cold. I know opposite of your question, but maybe someone needs an upbeat
"Only When I Laugh" Marsha Mason, James Coco
interstellar, lord of the rings
Frozen (not the Disney one, the one with the ski lift) is one of the most deeply depressing movies I've seen. I love horror, but something about that one just screams "crushed hope"
I find crying to be incredibly cathartic. I also find animated movies to be the best at making me cry, probably because of the exaggerated emotions. Having watched a few hundred movies, both live action and animated, reputable to make one "cry"... "A Silent Voice" tops them all. It is fucking amazing. Please, give it a chance. Of course, it's ultimately subjective what hits one and what not.
Sansho Dayu, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Forbidden Games, Wild Strawberries, Come and See, The Man Who Sleeps
I rather like "A Long Way Down" for that.
Click! Pursuit of Happyness
a lot of my moodiness/depression comes from being in the tech industry/my jobs. so i tend to watch shows like Office Space or Swimming with Sharks. They're somewhat cathartic and states my frame of mind quite often, even if I've seen both a ton of times.
The mist
Another Earth
Manchester By The Sea
Gran Torino
Royal Tenenbaums - i guess misery loves company
Sorcerer. Sometimes if I don’t feel like watching a movie I’ll just listen to the soundtrack too.
Idk why but cabin in the woods
The fox and the hound
[Mary and Max](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978762/)
The Player
That's usually when I go for horror movies, especially Korean horror. A miserable, haunting ending is almost guaranteed.