Finding the right tear-jerker can depend on your mood and what makes you cry—from gut-wunching tragedy to bittersweet stories of connection.

Quick picks that reliably pull at the heartstrings

• The Green Mile: A moving courtroom drama with themes of compassion and humanity.
• Grave of the Fireflies: A devastating animated film about siblings surviving war.
• Life Is Beautiful: A tender, tragicomedy about a father protecting his son’s innocence.
• Schindler’s List: A harrowing historical drama about humanity and survival.
• The Notebook: A romantic drama that pairs memory, love, and loss.