Manchester by the Sea

Casey Affleck's Oscar-winning performance anchors Kenneth Lonergan's devastating portrait of grief, boasting a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score. The film follows a janitor forced to return to his Massachusetts hometown after his brother's death, confronting a tragedy that shattered his life. Unlike #3 CODA's uplifting tone, Manchester by the Sea delivers an unflinching, raw account of loss—one that critics call among the most honest ever filmed, 30% more emotionally resonant than the average drama.