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My late grandma only liked to watch family comedies with an invariable happy ending, and in my early youth, when I began to seriously get interested in cinema, I sincerely didn't get this. Of course, she passed by some masterpieces! I sincerely tried to suggest this or that film to her - truly powerful and masterfully shot, and every time I was damn upset when she refused over and over.
Now I understand. Having lived through WWII and the difficult post-war years, a painful divorce and losing relatives, she didn't want to have the same emotional experiences while sitting in a movie theater or in front of the TV. Even if the film was a real masterpiece. And netizens in this viral online thread essentially agree with her, listing really big movies that, nevertheless, you don’t want to watch again.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Schindler’s List. A masterpiece, but I don’t need my soul shattered twice.
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The original thread appeared in the AskReddit community just a couple of days ago, but has already racked up over 12K upvotes with around 9.1K various comments. No, there are not that many films listed by netizens, but the discussion itself was vivid and memorable.
Any truly outstanding film is not only emotions while viewing, but also, as they say, an "aftertaste." And this aftertaste can be actually very different.
#4
The green mile.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 days ago
It's also an absolutely EXCELLENT book. They did a really good job of translating it to a movie (Shawshank Redemption is the only other Stephen King book-to-movie that is a great translation) but if you enjoy reading, the book is fantastic. It's not one of Stephen King's "scary monster" books; it's written to show humanity, courage, and the willingness to accept life's mysteries and be changed by them.
#6
Life is Beautiful with Roberto Benigni makes me ugly cry. It's an absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful movie about love and sacrifice and I just don't know if I can do it again.
Earlier, at the dawn of cinema, it was perceived exclusively as pure entertainment - well, five-minute "films" with a catchy plot, often absurd and sometimes just cringy, were not perceived any other way.
The theater was a place where serious dramas were played out, where genuine masterpieces were shown, where true connoisseurs used to take their seats. And cinema was just a stupid show for every day, as they wrote then. Who said "looks like TikTok nowadays?.."
And only then, with the development of technical capabilities, did the chance arise to really create large-scale masterpieces, demonstrate outstanding acting, and evoke truly strong emotions in viewers. Cinema has seriously supplanted theater as a real art. And it remains so to this day - you just need to know which films to watch.
#7
Pan's Labyrinth.
Beautiful film in every way and I've never seen a film in theatres either before or since where everyone was dead quiet and remained in their seats for several minutes once it ended. I think it would be impossible to get the same experience on a rewatch.
#8
Hachi: a dog's tale, its an incredible story, but seeing that movie broke something inside of me, cried for hours.
#9
The 2022 version of All Quiet on the Western Front. It is a fantastic movie but I don't have any desire to see it again.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 days ago
I read the book decades ago and loved it, and reluctantly saw the movie when it came out. All I can say is that the movie is NOTHING like the book in spirit and the book is much better. The movie is fine if you've never read the book, and I was able to enjoy the movie well enough. But it really, REALLY misses some of the deeper meanings and subtleties about the hells of war that the book has.
"In fact, 'powerful' but incredibly difficult-to-watch films exist in any genre, from drama to comedy, from biopics to cartoons," says Dmytro Kosygin, a film director and cameraman from Ukraine, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here.
"Yes, even in cartoons. Either separate scenes - like in Inside Out, Coco, or many of Don Bluth's late cartoons. Or entire films - like, for example, Grave of the Fireflies by Isao Takahata."
"If the screen shows really difficult life situations, tragic moments, or simply reflects the unsightly reality of the surrounding world, not every person is actually able to bear it. Especially if we do not encounter something similar everyday, or, on the contrary, have experienced it before."
#10
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Really great movie but severely destroyed me after having a recent tough breakup when I watched it a few years ago. Also Jim Carry really delivers in a more serious role here.
#11
Boy In The Striped Pajamas.
#12
The Father. Anthony Hopkins' best performance.
My mother's Alzheimer's mirrors his so much that I can't watch it again.
"There are many films on this list that are incredibly difficult to watch, after which tears literally well up in your eyes. Some of them people can't even finish watching. Not because they are bad or senseless - it's just that the world they show is too far from perfect. And outstanding directing or acting only emphasizes this."
"And yes - most of this list can indeed be found in the IMDb Top-250, which only means that these are real pieces of art," Dmytro sums up. "It's just that art can be completely different. And the emotions it evokes are also very different."
#13
The Whale. Great story and acting, but don’t want to experience that again.
#14
Big Fish.
Amazing movie, great cinematography, good story. But i bawled like a damn baby at the end and now that my dad has passed, I won't watch it again.
#15
Marley and Me. Great movie but absolutely would not recommend to anyone
Edit: After reading the comments I have to reiterate DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE! Do not even think about this movie.
Yes, now, many years and hundreds of films later, I do understand my grandma much better, her reluctance to watch "difficult" movies and once again experience those difficult emotions. In any case, the films presented in our selection are truly outstanding, so please feel free to scroll this list to the end, and maybe add your own ideas of similar movies for you in the comments below.
#16
Three Billboards Outside Ebbings, Missouri.
I saw it in theaters and was really invested. So invested. I was really wanting a conclusion.
... House lights go up. I literally said "what the f**k???" very loudly along with some other people. The fact there will never be a conclusion literally makes the movie 10/10, but I can't set myself up like that again.
#19
Misery.
Once was more than enough for me.
#20
The Elephant Man. I cried at that movie. It was just a very brutal film emotionally.
#21
My wife feels that way about *The Pianist.*
Excellent movie, but she will never ever subject herself to that again.
#22
The Road.
Un rewatchable now that I'm a Dad.
#24
Dear Zachary: A letter to a son
It was absolutely soul crushing. F**k that woman and f**k the judicial system that let that s**t happen.
#25
Wind River. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen, and I would prefer never to see it again. At the same time, I will recommend it to anyone who will listen. Sharing the trauma.
#27
Uncut Gems. Clearly a very good movie. But I’m never putting myself through that again, no thank you.
#29
Prisoners.
Denis Villeneuve thriller about a child being abducted.
Jake Gyllenhall and Terence Howard are at their best. Paul Dano is amazing
Hugh Jackman is a force of Nature, there scene where he is interrogating someone and allegedly goes off script to smash a sink.
Had me on the edge of my seat for the entire run through but could never watch it again, just because of how uncomfortably tense In was
that said, 11 years on, nothing has ever made me as tense as going into the cinema and watching this.
#32
I don't know if I would say quite a 10, but Oldboy isn't getting rewatched. .
#33
Wolf of Wallstreet. Amazing movie, but 0 wolfs seen….
Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey 2 days ago
Yes, no wolves shown and I thought wall would be a stronger supporting role.
#34
I watched Melancholia at exactly the wrong time, and it threw me into an existential crisis.
Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey 2 days ago
I saw this at The Angelika in The Village(NYC) and when the event in movie started a subway went below us.. The roar was just perfect timing. Fantastic. It was a matinee and I was there first. Then an old man came, then two younger, black, women. All sat somewhere behind me.. the old man started making these displeasure sounds towards the women.. he stopped when film started.. but just a generally odd experience.
#36
Dancer in the Dark.
#37
I really loved Midsommer, especially the ending. But I don't want to take the gorey, cringey ride to get to that pay off again.
What do you think ?
Queeqec 3 hours ago
Same. Not sure if all of them made it to the rest of the world. Outside the USA that is.
Load More Replies...
CP 2 days ago
I am not a good barometer for this list. I will get in a "hard to watch" movie mood and rewatch some on this list. A few personal ones missing from this list that are hard watches, City of God, Sleepers, any Lars von Trier. I like how this list stuck with hard too watch emotional films and not hard to watch gory films. It is good to distinguish between the two.
A C 1 day ago
Oh gosh yes I remember Sleepers! Once was enough, very powerful IMO.
Load More Replies...
MP Deco 1 day ago
how could "Saving Private Ryan" NOT make this list?? devastating....will NEVER watch this heartbreaking movie ever again....
Dorma Hughes 1 day ago
As a mother of military men, never watch this movie.
Load More Replies... Donald 2 days ago
I'm not one to get worked up over a film but Come and See was the most disturbing 140 minutes of film I've ever watched.
CP 2 days ago
That is the one on this list I knew nothing about and want to see!
Load More Replies...
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 hours ago
I just saw a short film called “If Anything Happens, I Love You.” Beautiful, but absolutely heartbreaking, especially since it’s about one of my greatest fears.
marianne eliza 1 day ago
Paradise Road, about women prisoners of the Japanese on WWII. And Easy Rider. The ending.
Surly Scot 2 days ago
Bone Tomahawk, wasn't prepared for the cave scene. Thought I was watching some boring Western, holy heck did it flip it on its head and take me for a ride.
Roberta Surprenant 2 days ago
For me it would be What Dreams May Come, excellent film but HEAVY.
Jeanne 2 days ago
I agree. Another one is The Lovely Bones. I highly recommend it, yet it’s a hard subject.
Load More Replies...
jeff stone 2 days ago
Sleepers. Watched in the cinema, amazing acting but wow, I've never seen a cinema so quiet after it finished
jeff stone 2 days ago
Sleepers, the only film I've ever watched in the cinema and no one spoke after it
StrangeOne 19 hours ago
The Butterfly Effect. It was really disturbing in so many ways. Those kids grew up f****d up, for terrible reasons beyond their control. It wasn't an enjoyable film to sit through in the theatre, especially pregnant. It was when the little girl and her mom were blown up from the bomb in the mailbox that sent me out the door ugly crying and screaming. I hear the other part of the movie was more uplifting? and got better.
Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) 1 day ago
I was kind of hoping some of these would be movies that are absolutely garbage, not just ones that gave people string emotions. Oh, well, guess I was wrong!
Jostanquecla 1 day ago
Hostiles, Warrior, Mother!, Blue valentine, There will be blood, pieces of a woman, You were never really here, The passion of the Christ, I care a lot, The crucible.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 1 day ago
Mississippi Burning. Saving Private Ryan. Tears Of The Sun. Casualties Of War. Each brilliant, each disturbing in its own way because of the realism. And a fkn freaky Australian horror movie by the name ''Long Weekend'' (2008 version) Absolutely freaked me out; still can't get some of the images out of my head.
somnomania (she/her, queer) 1 day ago
i feel like a lot of these are people who don't like crying. crying is good! emotions are good! art is designed to make you feel things, so the ones that make you do that are good.
The Doom Song 2 days ago
For me it is Marley and me, and red dog. I cried so hard I just can't even think about watching either movie again
Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey 2 days ago
"Daughter from Danang" 2002 ‧ Documentary. Sometimes what you're looking for is what you get. Sad.
ginshun 2 days ago
I'll say I've seen most of these, and like most of them. As somebody else said, I am maybe not the best choice to judge, as I've re-watched many of them. They are mostly just a bunch of movies that don't hold back, in multiple ways. Grave of the Fireflies would be the first that comes to mind when somebody asks about a really good movie that you will never watch again. It's not even violence with that movie, it's just soul crushingly depressing. Goes beyond not wanting to watch it again. It's like you can watch it, and acknowledge that it is a great film, but just be like WTF just happened, and really wish you hadn't watched it in the first place.
That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd 2 days ago
Watched Boy in the Striped Pajamas in junior high, and both Schindler's List and The Green Mile in high school. they were all excellent films, all of them so well made and beautiful, but I would never watch them again.
Tucker Cahooter 2 days ago
Many of these I haven't watched, but interestingly I didn't see well known ones where there was a twist at the end (e.g. The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects) which might have ruined a rewatch since you know what happens
ginshun 2 days ago
That's not what this list is. It's not movies that have a twist the ruins the second watch through, it's movies that are excessively violent, emotional, raw, gritty, etc, or just all of the above. Like most agree that it's a good movie, but you don't want to put yourself through the trauma of watching it a second time. Not many happy endings to be found on this list.
Load More Replies... Queeqec 3 hours ago
Same. Not sure if all of them made it to the rest of the world. Outside the USA that is.
Load More Replies... CP 2 days ago
I am not a good barometer for this list. I will get in a "hard to watch" movie mood and rewatch some on this list. A few personal ones missing from this list that are hard watches, City of God, Sleepers, any Lars von Trier. I like how this list stuck with hard too watch emotional films and not hard to watch gory films. It is good to distinguish between the two.
A C 1 day ago
Oh gosh yes I remember Sleepers! Once was enough, very powerful IMO.
Load More Replies... MP Deco 1 day ago
how could "Saving Private Ryan" NOT make this list?? devastating....will NEVER watch this heartbreaking movie ever again....
Dorma Hughes 1 day ago
As a mother of military men, never watch this movie.
Load More Replies... Donald 2 days ago
I'm not one to get worked up over a film but Come and See was the most disturbing 140 minutes of film I've ever watched.
CP 2 days ago
That is the one on this list I knew nothing about and want to see!
Load More Replies... and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 hours ago
I just saw a short film called “If Anything Happens, I Love You.” Beautiful, but absolutely heartbreaking, especially since it’s about one of my greatest fears.
marianne eliza 1 day ago
Paradise Road, about women prisoners of the Japanese on WWII. And Easy Rider. The ending.
Surly Scot 2 days ago
Bone Tomahawk, wasn't prepared for the cave scene. Thought I was watching some boring Western, holy heck did it flip it on its head and take me for a ride.
Roberta Surprenant 2 days ago
For me it would be What Dreams May Come, excellent film but HEAVY.
Jeanne 2 days ago
I agree. Another one is The Lovely Bones. I highly recommend it, yet it’s a hard subject.
Load More Replies... jeff stone 2 days ago
Sleepers. Watched in the cinema, amazing acting but wow, I've never seen a cinema so quiet after it finished
jeff stone 2 days ago
Sleepers, the only film I've ever watched in the cinema and no one spoke after it
StrangeOne 19 hours ago
The Butterfly Effect. It was really disturbing in so many ways. Those kids grew up f****d up, for terrible reasons beyond their control. It wasn't an enjoyable film to sit through in the theatre, especially pregnant. It was when the little girl and her mom were blown up from the bomb in the mailbox that sent me out the door ugly crying and screaming. I hear the other part of the movie was more uplifting? and got better.
Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) 1 day ago
I was kind of hoping some of these would be movies that are absolutely garbage, not just ones that gave people string emotions. Oh, well, guess I was wrong!
Jostanquecla 1 day ago
Hostiles, Warrior, Mother!, Blue valentine, There will be blood, pieces of a woman, You were never really here, The passion of the Christ, I care a lot, The crucible.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 1 day ago
Mississippi Burning. Saving Private Ryan. Tears Of The Sun. Casualties Of War. Each brilliant, each disturbing in its own way because of the realism. And a fkn freaky Australian horror movie by the name ''Long Weekend'' (2008 version) Absolutely freaked me out; still can't get some of the images out of my head.
somnomania (she/her, queer) 1 day ago
i feel like a lot of these are people who don't like crying. crying is good! emotions are good! art is designed to make you feel things, so the ones that make you do that are good.
The Doom Song 2 days ago
For me it is Marley and me, and red dog. I cried so hard I just can't even think about watching either movie again
Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey 2 days ago
"Daughter from Danang" 2002 ‧ Documentary. Sometimes what you're looking for is what you get. Sad.
ginshun 2 days ago
I'll say I've seen most of these, and like most of them. As somebody else said, I am maybe not the best choice to judge, as I've re-watched many of them. They are mostly just a bunch of movies that don't hold back, in multiple ways. Grave of the Fireflies would be the first that comes to mind when somebody asks about a really good movie that you will never watch again. It's not even violence with that movie, it's just soul crushingly depressing. Goes beyond not wanting to watch it again. It's like you can watch it, and acknowledge that it is a great film, but just be like WTF just happened, and really wish you hadn't watched it in the first place.
That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd 2 days ago
Watched Boy in the Striped Pajamas in junior high, and both Schindler's List and The Green Mile in high school. they were all excellent films, all of them so well made and beautiful, but I would never watch them again.
Tucker Cahooter 2 days ago
Many of these I haven't watched, but interestingly I didn't see well known ones where there was a twist at the end (e.g. The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects) which might have ruined a rewatch since you know what happens
ginshun 2 days ago
That's not what this list is. It's not movies that have a twist the ruins the second watch through, it's movies that are excessively violent, emotional, raw, gritty, etc, or just all of the above. Like most agree that it's a good movie, but you don't want to put yourself through the trauma of watching it a second time. Not many happy endings to be found on this list.
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