A recent analysis of IMDb reviews has revealed Grave of the Fireflies as the most heart-wrenching film of all time. The study, conducted by QR Code Generator, examined reviews of popular films to determine which elicited the strongest emotional reactions from viewers.
The Japanese animated war drama Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata, led the rankings with words like “sad” and “cry” used in reviews 134 times—223.5% more than the average film in the study. The 1988 movie, which deviates from Studio Ghibli’s usual lighthearted style, tells the tragic story of two siblings struggling to survive after the bombing of Kobe, Japan, during World War II. With an IMDb rating of 8.5, it has become a standout classic, acclaimed for its powerful portrayal of the devastating effects of war.
In second place is The Fault in Our Stars, a teen romance about two young cancer patients, Hazel and Gus, whose love story moved viewers to use upsetting language 120 times, 189.7% above average. The 2014 adaptation of John Green’s bestselling novel remains a cult favourite and has a rating of 7.7 on IMDb.
Third on the list is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a 2008 World War II drama about an unlikely friendship between the son of a Nazi officer and a Jewish boy held in a concentration camp. IMDb reviewers used emotional language 82 times to describe this film, 97.9% above the average. The film holds a rating of 7.7.
The fourth spot goes to The Elephant Man, based on the true story of Joseph Merrick, a man who suffered from extreme physical deformities in 19th-century England. Directed by David Lynch, the 1980 film garnered 81 instances of tearful words in its reviews, 95.5% higher than average, and holds an IMDb rating of 8.2.
Will Smith’s Seven Pounds rounds out the top five. The 2008 drama follows a man who donates his organs to seven strangers, a story that led to 77 instances of emotional language, 85.9% above the study’s average. The film holds a rating of 7.6 on IMDb.
Also featured in the study is Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark, starring Icelandic singer Björk. This 2000 tragedy about a single mother losing her sight ranked sixth, with 76 uses of upsetting words, 83.4% above average.
Other films rounding out the top 10 include A Walk to Remember and The Iron Claw, both tied for seventh with 75 emotional references each, House of Sand and Fog with 74, Manchester by the Sea with 70, and Brokeback Mountain with 69.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, commented on the findings: “These results underscore the emotional power of cinema. Whether through tragic romances like The Fault in Our Stars or historical dramas like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, these films leave lasting impressions on their audiences.”
The study highlights how films from various genres can evoke profound emotional reactions, resonating with audiences long after the final credits.