10 Netflix Original Movies With Heartbreaking Endings

Netflix now offers a wide variety of original movies, covering all sorts of genres, and many of them have unhappy or bittersweet endings. While it’s risky to leave audiences feeling down, these kinds of endings can also be incredibly powerful and stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

Many of Netflix’s most highly-rated original films end on a sad note. These movies have earned significant praise from critics, with some becoming huge international successes, and others being lesser-known favorites. A few have even been nominated for Academy Awards. If you’re looking for a film that will pull at your heartstrings, these are great choices.

Jay Kelly (2025)

The newest movie on this list is Jay Kelly. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, it features George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and others. The film follows a renowned actor (Clooney) who journeys through Europe with his staff, contemplating his past as he prepares to receive a significant award.

George Clooney and the entire cast deliver outstanding performances, earning both him and Adam Sandler Golden Globe nominations. The film explores Jay’s history, including his difficult relationships with his daughters, a result of prioritizing his work over family.

The movie concludes with Jay accepting an award, accompanied by a look back at his career highlights. But the montage shifts to show his children performing for him – moments he largely overlooked. In a poignant final moment, Jay, visibly moved, looks directly at the audience and asks, “Can I relive that? I want another chance,” realizing the precious moments he didn’t fully appreciate.

The Call (2020)

Netflix has a ton of great movies that often get missed by viewers. This is particularly true for foreign films that don’t receive major award attention, and that’s the case with The Call.

This South Korean film centers on Seo-yeon and Young-sook, two women connected by phone calls across time. Initially, it appears Seo-yeon is aiding a troubled Young-sook, but she soon discovers Young-sook is a ruthless killer.

Honestly, I thought Seo-yeon was in the clear when things calmed down, but then came the mid-credits scene and wow. It completely flipped everything. Turns out, her life had been wiped clean, and she wasn’t safe at all – she was a prisoner of Young-sook, about to be tortured. It was a brutal ending to a movie that kept you guessing until the very last second, and it really left me reeling.

All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

Knowing that the 2022 film All Quiet on the Western Front was both based on a novel and a remake of earlier movies, we had some idea of what it would be like. However, that didn’t lessen the impact of its powerful ending.

Okay, so this movie really gets into the story of Paul Bäumer, a young German guy who, along with his buddies, eagerly signs up to fight in World War I. It quickly becomes clear he—and they—were totally unprepared for how brutal and awful the war actually is. The film builds to this moment where they find out the armistice – basically, the agreement to stop fighting – is going to take effect at 11:00 AM. It’s a really powerful setup.

Shortly after, Paul’s friend Kat is killed in his arms. Their commanding officer, motivated by anger and resentment, immediately orders another attack for 10:45 AM. During this pointless battle, Paul is killed just seconds before 11:00 AM, ending the story with a devastating finale.

His Three Daughters (2024)

The impressive cast of His Three Daughters – including Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, and Natasha Lyonne – immediately signals that this film delivers strong performances and a compelling story.

The story of His Three Daughters focuses on three sisters who reconnect while caring for their father as he nears the end of his life. It explores the complicated relationships between them, forcing them to confront difficult issues. Ultimately, the father removes his medical equipment and shares a final conversation with his daughters.

He shares a heartfelt, detailed message of love for each of his siblings, speaking directly to them with personal memories. The emotional moment brings them to tears, but the scene takes a devastating turn when they realize he wasn’t actually speaking – he passed away peacefully in his chair before he could say any of it.

To The Bone (2017)

Before starring in Emily in Paris, Lily Collins gave what many consider her best performance in the film To the Bone. The movie centers on Ellen, a woman battling anorexia who initially refuses to accept help with her recovery.

I was really invested in Ellen’s journey, and it was hopeful to see her finally agree to try the group home. She still had a tough time, but she seemed to be making progress. Honestly, I was starting to think things might actually work out for her, but then it all fell apart. She relapsed, ran away from the center, and went right back to where she started. It was heartbreaking.

At home, Ellen’s mother still bottle-feeds her, just like when she was an infant. It’s heartbreaking to watch her struggle repeatedly, but it highlights how incredibly challenging it is to overcome an eating disorder like anorexia, and her future remains uncertain.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

When Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was released on Netflix, it quickly became popular. The film earned nominations for prestigious Academy Awards and starred the incredibly gifted Viola Davis, along with Chadwick Boseman in what would be his last film performance.

As a film buff, I was completely gripped by this movie! It throws you right into the middle of a really intense and messy recording session with this incredible blues singer and her band. There’s this one band member, Levee Green, played by Chadwick Boseman, who’s desperate to make a name for himself and land a solo record deal. A producer actually likes his music and wants to buy the songs, which is amazing, but there’s this heartbreaking catch – they already have a contract with another Black artist and can’t sign him. It completely shatters Levee, and Boseman portrays that breakdown with such raw emotion.

The tension finally explodes with Levee tragically stabbing a member of his band. The scene is heartbreaking – he’s left weeping over the body. Then, we jump forward in time, and it’s devastating to see one of Levee’s songs being played by a white band. It really drives home the film’s core message: the crushing oppression faced by Black artists and the ultimate tragedy of their struggles. It’s a powerful, gut-wrenching sequence that stays with you long after the credits roll.

All The Bright Places (2020)

The movie All the Bright Places has a straightforward story, which is one of its strengths. It follows Theodore Finch, played by Justice Smith, and Violet Markey, played by Elle Fanning, two unhappy teenagers who connect with each other in Indiana.

Violet feels immense guilt after her sister, Eleanor, tragically died in a car accident. Feeling hopeless, she considers ending her life, but then meets Theodore. Together, they journey across Indiana, and their developing relationship offers Violet a path toward healing.

The movie takes a surprising turn when Theodore is revealed to have died by suicide, found drowned in the swimming hole he and Violet used to visit. While it initially feels sudden, a closer look shows hints that Theodore was secretly battling personal issues.

Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021)

Sad endings are difficult to watch in any movie, but they feel even more heartbreaking when they’re based on a true story. That’s definitely true with Tick, Tick…Boom!, which follows the journey of playwright Jonathan Larson as he strives for success on Broadway.

Andrew Garfield gave a career-defining performance as Jonathan Larson, captivating audiences as he repeatedly faced setbacks before ultimately achieving his dreams. Many viewers already knew Larson as the creator of Rent, the famous Broadway musical that ran for years.

Many people didn’t know that Jonathan Larson tragically died of an aortic dissection the very night before his musical, Rent, opened. It’s heartbreaking to think of how much he believed in this project and never lived to see its incredible success.

If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)

The animated short film, If Anything Happens I Love You, received a lot of praise upon its release, and rightfully so. It even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.

Despite being just over 10 minutes long, the animated short If Anything Happens I Love You is incredibly moving and stays with you long after it ends. It tells the story of a couple drifting apart after a tragic loss, with shadowy figures representing their hidden feelings. Through flashbacks, we see their journey raising their daughter.

The film’s final flashback shows the daughter leaving for school while shadowy figures desperately try to prevent her. Because it’s a memory, they fail, and we learn she was tragically killed in a school shooting. Her last text message to her parents forms the film’s title, making for a deeply emotional and devastating scene.

20th Century Girl (2022)

At first glance, 20th Century Girl doesn’t appear to be a sad movie. It’s about a high schooler named Na Bo-ra who promises to look after the boy her best friend, Yeon-du, likes while Yeon-du is away.

When Yeon-du is gone, Bo-ra develops feelings for him, creating a difficult situation when Yeon-du comes back. Surprisingly, Yeon-du accepts what happened and encourages Bo-ra’s happiness. They become a couple, but eventually, he stops reaching out to Bo-ra.

She thinks he’s no longer interested and starts to move on with her life. Then, the movie flashes forward to show an adult Bo-ra discovering he tragically died, suddenly making their past connection clear. The reveal is completely unexpected and incredibly impactful.

2026-02-01 22:36