Some films are calming and pleasant to watch repeatedly, but on the other hand, there are films that shatter you in a way that you cannot even imagine watching them again. Such films leave an imprint: they are amazingly made, sob-inducing, and cannot be forgotten. You will be in awe of them… but probably not in the slightest of thinking of hitting the “play” button again.
10. Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler’s portrayal of Howard Ratner is just insane. The Safdie brothers build a universe that is so energetic and anxiety-inducing that you will find yourself involuntarily experiencing Howard’s succession of bad decisions and growing debt. It’s an amazing, gripping work of art at the very top of its genre, but the anxiety caused by it is so overpowering that a single viewing will tire you out to the extreme.
9. We Need to Talk About Kevin
Tilda Swinton gives a haunting performance as a mother coming to terms with the unthinkable: her son’s violent, unforgivable actions. The film digs deep into guilt, fear, and the horror of maternal helplessness. It’s brutally effective and emotionally scarring, a movie you’ll respect more than enjoy.
8. American History X
Edward Norton’s performance as a recovered white supremacist is indelible and chilling. The raw examination of hate, redemption, and cycles of violence that the movie attempts is strong but brutal. Its last shots are a gut blow that lingers long after the credits roll, ensuring it’s a one-and-done watch for all but the toughest.
7. No Country for Old Men
The Coen brothers’ dark masterpiece probes fate, morality, and senseless violence. Anton Chigurh, Javier Bardem’s creation, is raw nightmare material, cold, relentless, and pitiless. The film’s unflinching examination of evil’s senselessness unsettles you even as you are awed by its perfection.
6. Melancholia
Lars von Trier’s apocalypse epic is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg are two sisters who are facing the inevitable demise of all things, and it’s as despairing as it gets. A gorgeous, haunting study of depression and resignation, it’s genius… and utterly soul-destroying.
5. Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck’s understated, fractured performance holds this heartbreaking exploration of sorrow together. It’s a loss story with no quick ending or redemption, just the wrenching continuity of memory. The film’s integrity is what makes it superlative, but it’s what makes it almost impossible to see twice.
4. Hereditary
Ari Aster’s first horror film isn’t about demons or ghosts; it’s about loss, trauma, and how families unravel. Toni Collette shines in a performance that can’t be forgotten, and the film’s spiral into madness is both horrifying and heart-wrenching. It’s an emotional masterclass in horror that leaves you rattled to your very foundations.
3. Midsommar
Another Ari Aster mind-melter, Midsommar takes place in bright, endless daylight but feels like a slow-motion nightmare. Florence Pugh’s Dani finds solace and horror in a mysterious Swedish cult. What unfolds is a disturbing, grief-fueled breakdown wrapped in folk horror beauty. You’ll never forget it… or willingly watch it again.
2. Requiem for a Dream
Darren Aronofsky’s unrelenting portrayal of addiction is one of the most harrowing films ever made. Its descent from hope to despair is so raw that it feels like an emotional assault. By the time the credits roll, you’ll be speechless, and probably in need of something lighthearted to recover.
1. Grave of the Fireflies
No film punches as hard as Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies. Studio Ghibli’s animated tragedy is the story of two brothers trying to survive in the midst of World War II. It’s touching, devastating, and excruciatingly real. Once you’ve seen it, it remains in your mind for good, but it’s something you’ll never want to experience again.
These movies are unforgettable works of film, brash, stunning, and heart-wrenching. They remind us just how potent movies can be… but also how hurtful. See them once, feel it all, and then perhaps give your heart a very long holiday.