6 Best Grief and Loss Processing Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 14, 2026

Grief demands emotional precision, and these films handle loss without flinching. Manchester by the Sea has a withdrawn man forced to face his past as guardian of his nephew, Rabbit Hole watches a couple grieve their young son in different ways, and A Monster Calls has a boy visited by a tree monster while his mother is dying. Nomadland, In the Bedroom and Ordinary People round out a list that rewards a box of tissues.

Nomadland (2020)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A woman embraces a nomadic life on the road after losing everything in the Great Recession.

Directed by Chloé Zhao · 1h 48m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Monster Calls (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A boy coping with his mother's terminal illness is visited by a tree monster who tells him hard truths.

Directed by J. A. Bayona · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.8

Grief handled with restraint instead of melodrama, which makes it land harder.

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Rabbit Hole (2010)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A grieving couple's marriage is strained as each processes the loss of their young son differently.

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell · 1h 31m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In the Bedroom (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A grieving couple's marriage is tested by the aftermath of their son's murder and their thirst for justice.

Directed by Todd Field · 2h 11m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ordinary People (1980)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 90% Metacritic 86

Robert Redford's directorial debut, in which a family unravels after the accidental death of one son.

Directed by Robert Redford · 2h 04m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars21 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Grief and Loss Processing Movies

Nomadland (2020)

A Monster Calls (2016)

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Rabbit Hole (2010)

In the Bedroom (2001)

Ordinary People (1980)

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