2024 has been an excellent year for movies of all genres – there have been some great blockbuster films that finally brought audiences back to the theaters, and plenty of more subtle indie hits that are now gathering steady acclaim for the 2025 Oscars and awards season. But throughout all of this, 2024’s catalog has been filled with moving stories that have stirred audiences’ emotions and made us cry. Several of these films have even been among the highest-grossing movies of 2024.
There’s no clear recipe for how to make the audience cry, but rather it comes from authentic, human stories that project an important message through their characters. This isn’t easily done, and in many ways, making the audience cry is a clear indicator that any drama has achieved its goal fairly well. It proves that there’s some compassion and universality in the story, which is all that anybody could hope for.
10 Emilia Perez
Directed By Jacques Audiard
Emilia Perez is one of 2024’s most critically acclaimed films, securely on its way to a nomination at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film centers around the owner of a Mexican drug cartel who hires a powerful lawyer to help them undergo their gender confirmation surgery, transitioning to a woman and leaving her family behind. It’s a very powerful story about purpose and identity that’s told through several bold musical numbers and gripping performances from Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon.
9 Suncoast
Directed By Laura Chinn
Suncoast is undeniably one of the year’s most underrated projects, following a young girl whose brother is taken to a specialized care facility to spend the rest of his days. There, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with an older man as the two bond over their grief and dysfunctional families. It’s an extremely touching and moving story that speaks to the universal nature of grief, proving that friendships can be found in the most unlikely of places.
8 Blitz
Directed By Steve McQueen
5/10
Blitz
During the London Blitz of World War II, a diverse group of Londoners navigates the chaos and destruction of the German bombardment. Their intertwined stories of survival, resilience, and camaraderie capture the spirit of a city under siege.
- Release Date
- November 1, 2024
- Cast
- Elliott Heffernan , Saoirse Ronan , Paul Weller , Harris Dickinson , Benjamin Clementine , Kathy Burke , Stephen Graham , Leigh Gill , Mica Ricketts , CJ Beckford , Alex Jennings , Joshua McGuire , Hayley Squires , Erin Kellyman , Sally Messham
- Character(s)
- George , Rita , Gerald
Steve McQueen’s Blitz is an arresting drama that takes place during the Second World War, following a young mother who reluctantly evacuates her son to the English countryside to avoid the Nazi air strikes in London. The film explores his tumultuous journey, as he escapes from the train and tries everything in his power to make his way home. The tangible bond between Saoirse Ronan and Elliott Hefferman is what really sells the film, with Blitz’s emotional ending delivering that final gut-punch.
7 The Greatest Hits
Directed By Ned Benson
The Greatest Hits
The Greatest Hits is a 2024 film directed by Ned Benson. The story follows Harriet, who discovers that certain songs can transport her back in time, reliving romantic memories of her former boyfriend while navigating a new love interest in the present. She grapples with whether to change the past.
- Release Date
- April 12, 2024
- Runtime
- 94 Minutes
- Director
- Ned Benson
- Writers
- Ned Benson
- Studio(s)
- Far Hills Pictures , Groundswell Productions , Searchlight Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Searchlight Pictures
The Greatest Hits is an incredibly fun, creative story that centers around a young woman named Harriet who discovers that she can travel backwards in time by listening to songs that she associates with specific moments. It’s an incredibly original take on otherwise over-explored territory, tweaking the typical time-travel concepts for a more romantic, sentimental story of love and loss.
6 Inside Out 2
Directed By Kelsey Mann
7/10
Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. – literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
- Release Date
- June 14, 2024
- Runtime
- 96 Minutes
- Cast
- Amy Poehler , Maya Hawke , Kensington Tallman , Liza Lapira , Tony Hale , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Ayo Edebiri , Lilimar , Grace Lu , Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green , Adèle Exarchopoulos , Diane Lane , Kyle MacLachlan , Paul Walter Hauser , Yvette Nicole Brown , Ron Funches , James Austin Johnson , Yong Yea , Steve Purcell , Dave Goelz , Kirk R. Thatcher , Frank Oz , Paula Pell , June Squibb , Pete Docter , Paula Poundstone , John Ratzenberger , Sarayu Blue , Flea , Bobby Moynihan , Kendall Coyne Schofield
- Character(s)
- Joy , Anxiety , Riley , Disgust , Fear , Anger , Sadness , Envy , Valentina , Grace , Bree , Ennui , Mom , Dad , Embarrassment , Coach Roberts , Bloofy , Pouchy , Lance Slashblade , Deep Dark Secret , Mind Cop Frank , Foreman , Mind Cop Dave , Mom’s Anger , Nostalgia , Dad’s Anger , Forgetter Paula , Fritz , Margie , Jake , Forgetter Bobby , Hockey Announcer
- Director
- Kelsey Mann
- Writers
- Meg LeFauve , Dave Holstein , Kelsey Mann
Inside Out 2 is not only one of Disney’s most engaging and powerful stories in many years, but it also broke records by becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The story follows Riley, the young protagonist from the original film, as she enters her pubescent years and has to deal with all the complicated emotions that come with it. Inside Out 2’s record-breaking commercial performance was a huge achievement that cannot be overstated, and it couldn’t have happened to a more sincere, touching movie.
5 We Live In Time
Directed By John Crowley
8/10
We Live in Time
A witty chef and a recent divorcee have a chance encounter that changes their lives. As their love story unfolds, they build a life together, but a hidden truth threatens to unravel their relationship, bringing humor, drama, and emotional depth to their journey.
- Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
- Character(s)
- Almut , Tobias , Simon Maxon , Adrienne Duvall , Skye , Sanjaya , Buffy Jones
- Director
- John Crowley
- Writers
- Nick Payne
We Live In Time follows two fascinating, complex characters named Tobias and Almut, who fall in love despite their unconventional meet-cute and ultimately work through the challenges of parenthood and terminal illness together. It’s a heartbreaking story about the importance of remaining true to yourself and always prioritizing the things that matter, even if outside factors can sometimes blur those lines. The film features two astounding performances from Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, who bring these characters to life in fiercely intimate ways.
4 His Three Daughters
Directed By Azazel Jacobs
His Three Daughters is a 2023 drama film directed by Azazel Jacobs. The story centers on three sisters, portrayed by Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne, who reunite in their childhood home to care for their terminally ill father. As they navigate the emotional complexities of their father’s final days, the sisters confront unresolved issues and deep-seated family tensions. The film explores themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
- Release Date
- September 20, 2024
- Runtime
- 101 Minutes
- Character(s)
- Rachel , Christina , Katie , Benji
- Director
- Azazel Jacobs
- Writers
- Azazel Jacobs
His Three Daughters may be the critics’ choice for the most gripping and emotional film of the year, but it’s also the kind of story that resonates strongly with general audiences. The movie follows three sisters who move in with their father as he enters his final days of life, confronting old conflicts and working through their own personal traumas in an attempt to make his passing easier. The ending of His Three Daughters is one of the year’s most crushing scenes, commenting on the nature of regret and the passing of time.
3 I Saw The TV Glow
Directed By Jane Schoenbrun
6/10
I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow is a horror film by writer-director Jane Schoenbrun, released in 2024. A young man named Owen is introduced to a late-night TV show that reflects their reality. As the two begin to bond over the series, it suddenly is canceled, causing Owen’s view of reality to shatter.
- Release Date
- January 18, 2024
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
- Cast
- Justice Smith , Brigette Lundy-Paine , Danielle Deadwyler , Fred Durst , Helena Howard , Ian Foreman
- Director
- Jane Schoenbrun
- Writers
- Jane Schoenbrun
- Studio(s)
- Smudge Films , Fruit Tree
- Distributor(s)
- A24
I Saw The TV Glow isn’t a typical drama, but it’s this subversion of expectations and dedication to visual style that makes it so easy to fall in love with. The movie follows two social outcasts who bond over a mysterious late-night TV show that nobody else seems to understand, as they learn more about each other in the process and begin to question their own identities. It’s a gripping and engaging story the whole way through, but its final moments are absolutely heartbreaking as Justice Smith’s lead character breaks down in a visceral, sadly relatable crisis of identity.
2 Wicked
Directed By John M. Chu
9/10
Wicked
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 160 Minutes
- Cast
- Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd
- Character(s)
- Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda’s Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife
- Director
- Jon M. Chu
- Writers
- Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum
- Studio(s)
- Marc Platt Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
Wicked may not seem like an overly emotional movie on the surface, but John M. Chu’s musical is filled with touching moments and moving commentary on the importance of friendship and standing up for yourself that really hit home for many audiences. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s tender performances turned what could have been a regular musical into a very touching narrative of forgiveness.
1 Sing Sing
Directed By Greg Kwedar
9/10
Sing Sing
Based on actual events, Sing Sing is a drama movie that tells the story of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility and a group of prisoners within that decide to stage their own musical production within the prison’s walls.
- Release Date
- July 12, 2024
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
- Cast
- Colman Domingo , Clarence Maclin , Sean San Jose , Paul Raci , David Dap Giraudy , Patrick Preme Griffin , Mosi Eagle , James Big E Williams , Sean Dino Johnson , Cornell Nate Alston , Camillo Carmine LoVacco , Dario Peña , Pedro Cotto , Miguel Valentin
- Character(s)
- John Divine G Whitfield , Himself , Mike Mike , Brent Buell
- Director
- Greg Kwedar
- Writers
- Clint Bentley , Greg Kwedar
- Studio(s)
- Marfa Peach Company , Edith Productions , Black Bear
Sing Sing tells the story of a real-life theater group in Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where prisoners can express themselves through art in a way that perhaps they couldn’t in life. The film sheds light on some extremely difficult issues, but ultimately, it’s Greg Kwedar’s intricately written screenplay about accepting yourself and overcoming social obstacles that really hits home with this film.