1989 Dolly Parton Classic Ranked Among the ‘Best Sad Movies’ — And It’s Free to Watch
Following the tragic death of Dolly Parton, the world is looking back at her incredible music and acting careers. That has resulted in some people learning for the first time that one of her best films, Steel Magnolias, was ranked among the best sad movies ever produced. Fortunately for fans of the beloved songstress, that movie is now completely free to watch in the United States.
Who Ranked ‘Steel Magnolias’ Among the ‘Best Sad Movies’?
The Rotten Tomatoes editorial team has published a ranking titled “100 Saddest Movies: Best Sad Movies For a Good Cry.” In a section of the article titled “Movies that Will Have You Ugly Crying,” Dolly Parton’s 1989 film Steel Magnolias was included.
Directed by Herbert Ross, the film featured an all-star cast including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, and Tom Skerritt. Set in a small Louisiana town, Steel Magnolias focuses on a group of Southern women who support each other through deeply joyous and profoundly devastating moments.
An acclaimed movie, Steel Magnolias was nominated for and won several awards upon its release. Most notably, the movie earned Julia Roberts an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win in each awards show’s Best Supporting Actress category. More importantly, the film has been embraced by generations of viewers who’ve invested in its story and characters. In fact, the movie has a near-perfect 89% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than 100,000 user ratings.
Where Can ‘Steel Magnolias’ Be Watched For Free?
Since Steel Magnolias is an excellent movie, there have always been good reasons for fans of the film to see it. However, the fact that it has become free to stream in the United States makes it even more exciting to watch the film now.
Steel Magnolias can currently be watched for free in America on Pluto TV. Pluto TV offers a completely free version of its streaming service that can be used without entering any personal information or providing an email address. Instead, its library of free content is supported by advertising breaks and is available to anyone in the U.S. just by navigating to its website or app.
Next: How Dolly Parton Just Added 82 New Global Sales Certifications to Her Legendary Music Career
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Aug 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.