A proper movie marathon deserves films that build on each other, each one raising the stakes a little, keeping the session alive well past the point you planned to stop. The documentaries that earn tears do so through accumulation, character, context, consequence, until the emotion arrives as something understood rather than manufactured.
There is nothing worse than picking the wrong movie for the mood. This curated list of documentary films for a movie marathon takes that risk off the table. Every pick here is perfect for when you need a good cry, tried, tested, and worth your time. Happy watching.