Are you looking for movies that can make you emotionally drenched? Well, here is a list of top recommendations for tragic and sad movies that are romantic as well.
There is something about romantic movies that makes you happy and cry at the same time. Love is not meant to feel like sunshine all the time, but sometimes it is just a cloudy, lonely day. Fortunately, there are many romantic movies that successfully capture the poignancy in romance, and watching these movies feels like a reality check. Let’s find some of the best romantic movies that can make you cry, and it is good, because crying can help you move on from bitterness in life. Here are some of the top recommendations for you.
- All The Bright Places
‘All The Bright Places’ arrived in 2020, and the cast has already grown so much. This is a heart-wrenching film, and there is no buildup for that poignancy, as you can feel it from the beginning of the movie. Tragedy is one of the main ingredients of this movie, where Elle Fanning played the role of Violet Markey, who is surviving the guilt of the death of her sister, who died in a car accident. Then she meets Theodore Finch, a character played by Justice Smith, a boy of her age who saves her from jumping from the same bridge where her sister died. There is emotional turmoil in this movie that feels very natural and relatable.
- A Star is Born
A Star is Born is not just a movie about music but a lot of love and poignancy. Perhaps this is the only movie where Lady Gaga acted, and it still feels good to watch, unlike Joker 2. Gaga played the character of Ally, and Bradley Cooper played the role of Jackson, her partner in the movie. The movie offers an epic romantic adventure that goes through music and lots of emotions. This is a remake of an older movie, and it perfectly managed to keep the idea of melancholy in it that can make audiences sob.
- Love, Simon
‘Live, Simon’ is one of the most therapeutic romantic movies that is not just about love but self-exploration. The central character, Simon, played by Nick Robinson, is someone who searched for the ‘blue’ in life as his concepts of love are different than others. He is a teenage gay person who has not come out yet, as he is finding himself, too. The most emotional part of the movie is when Simon’s mom, played by Jennifer Garner, confronts him about being gay. Moms know it all!
- Romeo + Juliet
Romeo + Juliet was released back in 1996, and it perfectly represented the Shakespearean theme by recreating the play in the format of a movie with a contemporary storyline. It is one of the saddest love stories of all time, where you can see Leonardo and Claire Danes, both at a young age, with impeccable chemistry. It is a story of teenagers who fell in love and then find out the tragedy of romance that comes with hardship and often leads to separation. Starting from a beach setting to a costume party, the movie offers everything, along with the aesthetics of the ’90s-era that can also make you nostalgic.
- Moonlight
Moonlight is not just a movie but a revolutionary project as it is the first LGBTQ movie and the first movie with an all-Black cast to win Best Picture, and it’s a must-see. Writer-director Barry Jenkins tells the story of one young, gay Black man’s journey to adulthood. This is a bold step indeed to showcase gay black romance on the big screen, which has never been attempted before. Growing up poor in Miami with a mother who struggles with substance abuse and addiction, we follow Chiron as he comes to terms with his identity, and he finds his feelings growing for his close friend Kevin. The journey of self-exploration is explained through three chapters, and there is tragedy in each of them.
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
The ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is one of the most gorgeous films based on two female protagonists who find five days of escape from reality. Set in circa-1770 France, Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is a painter who’s commissioned to secretly paint the engagement portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). Héloïse isn’t exactly hot on the idea of this marriage and, with Marianne, experiences a utopic five days of love and female-driven mysticism and seaside cinemascapes. After watching this movie, you might want to keep a book open to page 28, and you can find out the reason by watching this masterpiece.
- La La Land
La La Land is one of those movies that will not provide you a happy ending but a strong reality check that leaves with an impact and tears as well. Omitting the Hollywood fairy-tale ending, this movie showcases the real idea of romance that often does not get closure, and there is no doubt that Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have the best on-screen chemistry that is both enjoyable and emotional at the same time. While there are a lot of colors and vibrancy in this film, there is also ample poignancy that showcases the soft pain that comes along when you fall in love with someone.
- A Walk to Remember
‘A Walk to Remember’ definitely devastated the idea of romance for many, which comes with a very tragic ending. The movie was released in 2002, and from the beginning of the film, you get the idea of someone dying, as the romance shown here is too pure and too good to be true. Landon (Shane West) and leukemia-battling Jamie (Mandy Moore) are two love birds who redefined the meaning of true love, which is like wind, “you can’t see it, but you can definitely feel it”. The movie is more like fulfilling the last wishes of your significant other.
- Call Me By Your Name
Sufjan Stevens could not find the Mystery of Love, but you can by watching this movie that propelled the career of Timotheé Chalamet and helped him become a star in Hollywood. This movie will make you want to cancel Armie Hammer, but the gorgeous romance between him and Elio will definitely put you on the edge of your seat. There’s a lot of tension and angst in their romance with vulnerability in disguise. The story mainly revolves around a small villa in northern Italy, where the protagonists visit for an idyllic summer vacation, and then romance happens just like it always does. The movie ends with a heavy note of tragedy that leaves a lingering effect.
- Blue Valentine
‘Blue Valentine’ is a kind romantic movie where two people fall in love and then get disastrously separated, which perfectly justifies its title. The main characters are played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and their onscreen romance is just too good. Both of them are great at acting. Their natural embodiment of the chaotic couple seems quite relatable and engaging at the same time. The movie can make you question whether you truly want love in your life or not, if it leads to such devastating measures of sadness and pain in life. Perhaps, it is the true face of love that nobody showed.
- Titanic
Titanic was originally made as a disaster movie that showcased the great immersion of the gigantic cruise ship Titanic that sank in the deep ocean after colliding with an iceberg in 1912. James Cameron did a great job recreating the whole event, but the buildup gets even better with the onscreen chemistry between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. A disaster movie is definitely going to show you a lot of deaths and tragedy. But adding the romantic angle makes it even more saddening. Whether Rose had space to help Jack or not, their love would not be completed even if they survived in the classist society.
- Your Name (Kimi-no-Nawa)
This anime movie by Makoto Shinkai is one of the most beautiful sci-fi adventure-based rom-coms that made a huge success on the global Box Office. It is a gender-flipping, body-switching teen story where love is also a significant part of it. But the protagonists hardly get any chance to meet each other in person. These two teenagers swapped their bodies magically after a meteor event took place in Japan. It is sad, touching, funny and also romantic enough to make you yearn. Also, this is one of the most visually stunning anime movies that will keep you hooked till the end of the film.
- Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is one of those movies that was way ahead of modern Hollywood movies. Two of the most talented actors of the industry, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, played the lead characters, namely Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, who find themselves in a strange feeling of love when there was no concept or activism for LGBTQ rights. This movie is inspired by a short story by Annie Proulx, and it will definitely make you cry with the idea of lost love. It is poignant, relevant, and highly emotional for everyone.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This is a romantic, coming-of-age sci-fi movie that pretty much justifies its title with the twisted story. The subject matter lies in two dysfunctional-in-love exes, Clementine and Joel, played by Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey. They try to undergo a procedure to erase all memory of each other, and that turns into a complete disaster, as it is only the memories that they have to cling to. It’s wistful and hopeful in a decidedly still-sad way. This movie makes us realize that falling out of love is also okay, just like falling in love, and just because two people are not together anymore, it does not mean they have to wipe out all memories, since most of them can be cherished in a positive manner without cursing each other.
- Boys Don’t Cry
Yeah, Boys Don’t Cry! But this movie will definitely make you cry. Boys Don’t Cry became the first mainstream movie to center on a transgender man. Based on the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man who was brutally raped and murdered in 1993, the film was both critically acclaimed and generally well-received by the LGBTQ community when it was released. Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her portrayal of Brandon, whose relationship with Lana is the main focus of the film. While a lot of people from the community consider this movie a cult classic, a good number of people also hate the idea of casting a woman to play the role of a transgender man when they can simply cast a trans person.
- My Girl
My Girl is a coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film directed by Howard Zieff that was released in 1991. The main protagonists of this movie are Young Macaulay Culkin and Baby Anna Chlumsky, and their cuteness is overloaded on-screen. Anna played the character of Veda, who is obsessed with the idea of death since her mother died, and her dad’s business is based on it. However, she also finds that the meaning of living with her friend comes from her partner. This is considered a kid’s movie, but we can guarantee you that all adults will cry while watching this heavily tragic movie.
- Amour
It’s a film about a still-in-love couple in their eighties. So, in short, you know you’re going to cry! George (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva), decades into a loving marriage, remain totally devoted to each other. Facing mortality, they continue to love each other while keeping the promises they’ve made, including their promise that Anne, who’s suffered a stroke, will never go back to the hospital. If emotional movies about later-in-life love get you, this one will leave you actually destroyed.
- Fried Green Tomatoes
If you are looking for a glorious gay movie from the ‘90s, then Fried Green Tomatoes is a must-watch for you. This story is based on a queer context, but guess what, the ‘90s media advertised and labeled it as a movie based on “the story of female friendship.” It is hilarious to see how long society and the media tried to keep love a secret or taboo just because it is beyond their understanding. This movie definitely deserves to be in the list of sad-romantic movies that can make you cry, but there are more sad parts than the superficial showcase of romance in most movies.
- Cabaret
This cult movie, released in the 60s – 70s, blew the minds of most people with an unapologetic representation of society, men, women, and love. The story is set in circa-1930s Berlin, where a Cabaret dancer explores herself and the idea of love and relationships. While it might appear comedic at many points, the movie is a raw reflection of the emotions of men and women and how they treat their bonding. Liza Minnelli’s Sally Bowles is absolutely magnificent, and it does not require saying that she is the main character. In modern days, Sally would be the ‘Diva’ whom everybody preaches. Even though the subject matter is different, it feels like knowledgeable Sally started the wave of feminism long before the concept arrived.
- Irreplaceable You
‘Irreplaceable You’ is a kind of movie that will make you sad and feel good at the same time. While this movie carries a lot of tragedy and poignancy, there is also a subtle dose of optimism that reflects all the time. They say it is better to have lost love than not to love at all, and this movie is all about that. The central idea is based on Abbie, who is played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, and she is well aware of the fact that she does not have much time. She tries to find someone to love and care for the fiancé she’s leaving behind.
- Fault in Our Stars
Nicholas Sparks has a tendency to make his romantic movies more emotionally inclined with a hefty dose of tragedy, and that reflects through this movie as well, which was released in 2014. Starring a perfect cast of Shailene Woodley as a teen battling cancer, Ansel Elgort, who faces his cancer coming back, and two people with terminal diseases falling in love, this movie will play with your emotions while putting you in sadness and a great feeling of romance.
- The Vow
Channing Tatum is not just a great dancer and an action hero, but he has already made a name for himself with his performance in a rom-com. In this movie, Tatum acts against Rachel McAdams, and both of them survive a terrible car accident. However, the lady loses her memory of being with Tatum, and thus, he tries to win her heart again as she is his wife, and he has nothing else to do but pursue her. The most romantic part of this movie is that the story is inspired by real life. The vow of never leaving your side is completed in this movie.
- The Notebook
The Notebook is a cult romantic movie by Nicholas Sparks that is definitely a tear-jerker for all movie lovers. In this movie, you can find Ryan Gosling with Rachel McAdams, and their turmoil in the relationship feels quite relatable and engaging. Ryan plays the character of Noah, who builds a house for his love, and he proclaims, “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” This movie will always have a special corner for the rom-com lovers who offer a great sense of romance and loneliness.
- Atonement
Atonement will always remain as a timeless creation that showcases the purity of love through a sad-romantic story. The chemistry between Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy) is just too good to feel that they were just acting. They are the star-crossed lovers with a lot of ups and downs in their bonding, and that feeling is greatly relatable. Cecilia’s sister plays a major role in the story as her lie changes their lives forever. The character of the sister was played by young Saoirse Ronan, and she even won an Oscar for that amazing performance. You must watch this movie at least once in your life.
- Malcolm & Marie
‘Malcolm & Marie’ did not receive much attention after its release, but it is still one of the unique projects on poignant romance that was released back in 2021. One of the interesting facts about this movie is that it was completely written, shot, and produced during the pandemic period, and that does not even reflect in the movie. The lead characters of Malcolm and Marie are played by John David Washington and Zendaya, and their chemistry is quite good. Zendaya’s amazing acting performance makes this movie even better with its poignant subject, where the two of them find their relationship on the verge of ending.
- Up
‘Up’ was released back in 2009, and this animated movie by Disney Pixar has made more adults cry than the kids. This movie showcased the true meaning of unconditional love that grew between Ellie and Carl. However, love can’t stop aging, and at an old age, a person might have to carry the burden of not dying before their partner, and in this case, it is Carl who misses Ellie every single moment of his life. This unique story offers a deeply poignant take on love and how love defines us as people. A person lives eternally when remembered, and for Carl, Ellie will always be with him. This movie is about accepting grief and moving on, while most people think it is about the movie of a house that floats. You might need a lot of tissues for this movie.
- Remember Me
‘Remember Me’ was released in 2010, and it was definitely a better romantic story than the Twilight series. However, the deep sense of tragedy in this movie made audiences cry. It is one of the most emotionally devastating romantic films on this list that deserves more attention. The chemistry between Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin is too good to witness as they play characters who are at their blossoming phase in the relationship. Yet somehow, it leads to a tragic end that nobody would have expected. Watch this movie to cry a lot!
- Me Before You
‘Me Before You‘ is definitely worth watching for the mind-blowing and expressive acting skills of Emilia Clarke, who played the character of Louisa Clark. Louisa was appointed to take care of Will Traynor, played by Sam Claflin, and the duo shows some great chemistry. Sam is paralyzed, grumpy, and does not like to depend on others, and Clark, on the other hand, is a ray of sunshine who emits the happy color yellow just like her Bumblebee stockings. The iconic bonding between these from different poles does give you a feeling in your stomach until the very end. What movie would you like to find out more about?
- A Silent Voice
‘A Silent Voice’ was released in 2017, and this anime movie created a sensation with its intriguing concept that deals with bullying, along with vulnerability, empathy, romance, acceptance, and the treatment of people with special needs in society. The movie offers a beautiful ode to love and friendship while showcasing the dark side of bullying. But at the same time, it also shows how people can change and become their better selves because it is never too late.
