Movies About Forbidden Love Stories

From Spike Jonze, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara
Rated R

Her is a 2013 romantic science fiction film directed by Spike Jonze. It follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely, introverted writer, as he develops a relationship with a sophisticated artificially intelligent operating system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). As the two explore the mysteries of love, Theodore's life is upended. Through his relationship with Samantha, he gradually discovers the importance of genuine connection in an increasingly isolated, technology-driven world. The film explores themes of humanity, technology, and the human condition. Ultimately, Theodore and Samantha must come to terms with the limitations of their relationship, and the bittersweet reality of letting go.

From Hal Ashby, starring Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
Rated PG

Harold and Maude is a cult classic romantic comedy-drama directed by Hal Ashby and released in 1971. The story follows Harold (Bud Cort), a young man who attends funerals for fun, and Maude (Ruth Gordon), an eccentric elderly woman who Harold meets at one of the funerals. Despite their age difference, the two fall in love and Harold discovers a newfound appreciation for life. Through Maude, Harold learns to appreciate the beauty in the world and stops attending funerals. Their relationship, while seen as strange by others, allows them to find joy and happiness in the small moments of life. The film serves as a reminder that life is precious and to take the time to appreciate it.

From Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
Rated PG-13

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 American romantic fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. It tells the story of an artificial man named Edward, an unfinished creation who has scissor blades instead of hands. He is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter Kim. However, Edward's unique appearance and strange behavior cause the townspeople to fear and reject him. The film stars Johnny Depp in the title role, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, and Alan Arkin. The film follows Edward, an artificial man created by a scientist. After the scientist died, he was taken in by a kind suburban family and develops a romantic interest in their daughter, Kim. Although Edward is accepted by the family, the townspeople are fearful of him due to his strange appearance and behavior. Edward ultimately has to choose between staying with Kim or leaving the town and returning to the scientist's castle.

From Ang Lee, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid
Rated R

Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and based on the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx. The film tells the story of two young men, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who meet as sheep herders in Wyoming and embark on a forbidden, emotionally charged sexual and romantic relationship that lasts for years. Despite their deep love for each other, they are forced to keep their relationship a secret while leading separate lives due to the societal pressures of the time. The film explores the complex emotional and romantic themes of love and loss, loneliness, homophobia, and repression.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain
Rated R

The Reader is a 2008 drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and based on the 1995 German novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink. It stars Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, a former Nazi guard, and Ralph Fiennes as Michael Berg, a teenage boy who has an affair with her. The film tells the story of a passionate, but ultimately doomed love affair between an older woman and a teenage boy in post-war Germany. The boy, Michael Berg, meets Hanna Schmitz, an enigmatic older woman, on his way home from school. They begin a passionate affair, and Hanna decides to educate Michael in the ways of literature. However, soon after their affair ends, Michael learns the truth about Hanna's past. She had been a guard in a concentration camp in World War II and is now on trial for her crimes. Michael is called to testify in court, forcing him to confront his past and his feelings for Hanna. The film explores themes of guilt, responsibility, and morality and poses questions about the nature of justice and forgiveness. Ultimately, Michael must grapple with the fact that the woman he loves is a war criminal and decide how to reconcile this with his feelings for her.

From Michael Mayer, starring Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni, Jameel Khoury, Alon Pdut
Rated Not Rated

Out in the Dark is a 2012 romantic drama directed by Michael Mayer. The film follows the story of two young men, Nimr (Nicholas Jacob) and Roy (Michael Aloni), whose relationship is put to the test when they are forced to confront their different backgrounds. Nimr is a Palestinian student living in Tel Aviv and Roy is an Israeli lawyer. When Nimr's visa expires and he is at risk of deportation, the two men must find a way to be together and fight for their love. Along the way, they must overcome a number of obstacles, including homophobia, family pressures, cultural divides, and the threat of violence. Ultimately, they must choose between their love and their safety in a world that refuses to accept them.

From Kimberly Peirce, starring Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III
Rated R

Boys Don't Cry tells the true story of Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank), a young transgender man in search of a place to belong. After being kicked out of his small Nebraska town, he travels to the nearby city of Falls City, where he falls in love with a young woman named Lana (Chloe Sevigny). When Lana's ex-boyfriend, John (Peter Sarsgaard), discovers Brandon's gender identity, he violently attacks him and his friends. Despite Brandon's attempts to fight back, he is eventually murdered by John and his associates. Boys Don't Cry is a powerful and stirring exploration of identity, acceptance, and ultimately, the tragic cost of intolerance.

From Susanne Bier, starring Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, Paprika Steen
Rated R

Open Hearts is a romantic drama directed by Susanne Bier and set in Denmark. It stars Mads Mikkelsen as Joachim, a young and successful doctor who is engaged to the beautiful Cecilie (Sonja Richter). When Joachim and Cecilie are involved in a car accident, Joachim is left paralyzed from the waist down and Cecilie is left comatose. Joachim's recovery is complicated by his feelings for Cecilie's fiancé Niels (Nikolaj Lie Kaas). As Joachim learns to cope with his new physical limitations, he must also come to terms with his feelings for Niels. Meanwhile, Niels struggles to reconcile his love for Cecilie and his growing feelings for Joachim. Faced with a difficult choice, the three must confront their emotions and find a balance between their desires and the lives of those they love.

From Nikolaj Arcel, starring Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Trine Dyrholm
Rated R

A Royal Affair is a 2012 Danish period drama film directed by Nikolaj Arcel and starring Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander. Set in the 18th century, the film tells the story of the love affair between the British-born queen of Denmark, Caroline Mathilde (Vikander), and the German doctor Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mikkelsen), who was appointed the personal physician of the Danish king Christian VII (Mikkel Groenbaek). Struensee's progressive ideas soon clash with the traditionalist court, and the queen and her lover devise a plan to free Denmark from its autocratic rule and give the people more freedom. Along the way, they must grapple with their own feelings and the consequences of their actions. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and received critical acclaim, with many praising its high production values and performances.

From Richard Eyre, starring Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Andrew Simpson, Tom Georgeson
Rated R

From Craig Gillespie, starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid
Rated PG-13

From Martin Brest, starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber
Rated PG-13

From May el-Toukhy, starring Trine Dyrholm, Gustav Lindh, Magnus Krepper, Liv Esmår Dannemann
Rated Not Rated

From Gus Van Sant, starring Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck
Rated R

From Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jane March, Tony Ka Fai Leung, Jeanne Moreau, Frédérique Meininger
Rated R

From Adrian Lyne, starring Jeremy Irons, Dominique Swain, Melanie Griffith, Frank Langella
Rated R

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau
Rated PG-13

From Louis Malle, starring Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves
Rated R

From Simon Baker, starring Samson Coulter, Ben Spence, Simon Baker, Elizabeth Debicki
Rated TV-MA

From Sebastián Lelio, starring Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser
Rated R

From Rebecca Miller, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener, Camilla Belle, Ryan McDonald
Rated R

From André Téchiné, starring Emmanuelle Béart, Gaspard Ulliel, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Clémence Meyer
Rated Unrated

From Benedek Fliegauf, starring Eva Green, Matt Smith, Lesley Manville, Peter Wight
Rated Not Rated

From Drake Doremus, starring Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Mackenzie Davis, Amy Ryan
Rated R

From David O. Russell, starring Jeremy Davies, Alberta Watson, Benjamin Hendrickson, Elizabeth Newett
Rated Unrated