Movies About Heartbreak

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michel Gondry. The film follows an estranged couple, Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski, as they undergo an experimental procedure to erase their memories of each other. The film follows their journey throughout the process and explores the power of memory, regret and ultimately, love. The film stars Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood. The film was a commercial and critical success, earning numerous awards including an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It is widely considered to be one of the best films of the 2000s and is remembered for its unique visual style, smart script and powerful themes.

From Directors: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood, starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O'Neil
Rated Passed

Gone with the Wind (1939) is an epic historical romance set in the American South during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. The film follows the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of an Irish-American plantation owner in Georgia. Scarlett is determined to use every means possible to keep her family's plantation, Tara, intact, even if it means going against the wishes of her family and the southern ideals of the time. As the American Civil War rages, Scarlett's life is changed forever as she struggles to survive in a world of poverty, death, and destruction. The film follows Scarlett as she meets the dashing Rhett Butler, embarks on a tumultuous romance, and ultimately learns the true meaning of love and sacrifice. Despite the odds, Scarlett's determination and strength of character lead her to triumph in the end.

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

Her is a 2013 romantic science-fiction drama directed by Spike Jonze. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly, a lonely, introverted writer living in a near-future Los Angeles. After installing a new operating system on his computer, Theodore begins talking to an artificially intelligent system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). An intimate relationship soon blossoms between them, and Theodore finds himself falling in love with her. As their relationship develops, Theodore must grapple with his own emotions, insecurities and the limitations of technology. Through this, he discovers a newfound appreciation for life and learns to open his heart to the possibility of true love.

From Garth Davis, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Sunny Pawar
Rated PG-13

Lion is a 2016 film by director Garth Davis. The story follows five-year-old Saroo, who gets lost on a train and ends up thousands of miles away from home in Kolkata. After living on the streets and being taken in by a loving family, he is eventually adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, he sets out to find his birth family and reunite with them, setting off an emotional and life-changing journey. With the help of Google Earth and his unrelenting determination, Saroo eventually finds the place he had once called home. This inspirational true story emphasizes the power of love and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

From Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Greer, Azhy Robertson
Rated R

Marriage Story is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film follows Charlie and Nicole, a couple going through a grueling, emotionally-charged divorce. As the couple navigate the complexities of their separation, they are forced to confront their own conflicting desires and the challenges of parenting their young son. The film follows the couple as they struggle to come to an agreement, and explores the complexities of the divorce process and the power dynamics at play in family law. Along the way, Charlie and Nicole must confront their own feelings about their relationship, and ultimately discover what it means to truly be a family.

From John Hughes, starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Rated R

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by John Hughes. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy as teenagers from different high school cliques who spend a Saturday in detention. The film, set in an American high school in the suburbs of Chicago, touches upon themes of teenage angst, rebellion, and social stratification. The storyline follows five teenagers—a jock, a princess, a brain, a criminal, and a basket case—as they spend a Saturday morning in detention together, where they discover that despite their cliques, they have more in common than they thought. Through conversations, the teens reveal their struggles with family, friends, and social pressures, and ultimately learn to respect each other. The Breakfast Club was met with critical acclaim and is often cited as one of the greatest teen films of all time.

From Nick Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling
Rated PG-13

The Notebook is a 2004 romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The film follows Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams), two teenage sweethearts who are separated by class and circumstance. Years later, they are reunited by chance and fall in love again. Despite their past and their differences, they come to realize that they’re meant to be together and fight to stay together despite the obstacles they face. The film is a classic love story of a couple's undying devotion, and features many powerful scenes of emotion and romance.

From Abdellatif Kechiche, starring Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing
Rated NC-17

Blue is the Warmest Colour is a 2013 French romantic drama film about a 15-year-old girl, Adèle, who discovers her own sexuality through a tumultuous relationship with an older art student, Emma. The film follows Adèle's journey throughout her teenage years and early adulthood, as she learns more about herself and her desires, and as her relationship with Emma develops and changes. Despite facing criticism and controversy due to its explicit sex scenes, the movie was widely acclaimed by critics, winning the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It is considered to be one of the greatest films of the 21st century.

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

Brokeback Mountain is a romantic drama film that follows two young men, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who meet while working as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming in the 1960s. Despite the social and legal pressures of the time, they form a deep bond that eventually blossoms into a forbidden love. As they struggle to keep their relationship hidden, they are forced to live lives of lies, repression and regret. The film explores the complex emotions and challenges of their romance, as well as the consequences of living in a society that does not accept them.

From Rob Reiner, starring Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards
Rated PG

Flipped is a coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama directed by Rob Reiner. The film follows two 8th graders, Bryce and Juli, who have opposite views on love, as they both struggle to come to terms with their feelings for each other. The two were childhood enemies, but as they get older, Bryce can’t help but start to have feelings for Juli. On the other hand, Juli is convinced that Bryce still hates her, and keeps her distance. As the two navigate their adolescence and struggle with their growing feelings for each other, they come to understand the importance of friendship, family, and love. In the end, Bryce and Juli discover that their feelings for each other have "flipped," and learn to accept their feelings for each other.

From Sofia Coppola, starring Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
Rated R

Lost in Translation is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Sofia Coppola, and written by Coppola and her father Francis Ford Coppola. It stars Bill Murray as an aging actor, who forms a friendship with a young woman (Scarlett Johansson) in Tokyo. The two explore the city together and deal with their respective struggles in life. Through the course of their friendship, they come to find solace and understanding with each other. The film won numerous awards, including Best Picture at the 2004 Academy Awards and Best Director for Sofia Coppola.

From Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman
Rated PG-13

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a 2015 American teen comedy-drama film directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and written by Jesse Andrews, based on Andrews' 2012 debut novel of the same name. The story follows Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann), a high school senior who is forced by his mother to befriend a classmate, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), who is diagnosed with leukemia. Although initially reluctant, Greg eventually forms a friendship with Rachel, while Earl (RJ Cyler), his only friend, helps him make films in his spare time. As Rachel's health worsens, Greg and Earl make a film for her as a way of expressing their feelings about her impending death. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $10 million and being nominated for numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

From Claude Barras, starring Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, Paulin Jaccoud, Michel Vuillermoz
Rated PG-13

My Life as a Zucchini is an animated film directed by Claude Barras. The film follows the story of nine-year-old Icare, also known as Zucchini, who has to move to a foster home after his mother's death. At the foster home, Zucchini meets other children who have faced traumatic experiences in their lives. Through their friendship and understanding, Zucchini and the other children gradually learn to trust and depend on each other and heal from the traumas of their past. The film follows their journey as they struggle to overcome the challenges of their lives and find safety, security and happiness.

From Andrew Haigh, starring Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race, Laura Freeman
Rated Not Rated

Weekend is a British romantic drama film directed by Andrew Haigh and released in 2011. The film follows two men, Russell and Glen, who meet in a gay club in Nottingham and spend a weekend together exploring their feelings for one another. Through their conversations, they explore issues of identity, sexuality and social acceptance while spending time alone together. Ultimately, they must decide if their connection is one that should last beyond their brief time together. The film was critically acclaimed, receiving numerous awards and nominations, including a Special Jury Prize for Acting at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

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

The Reader follows the story of Michael Berg, a man in his late twenties whose life is changed when he encounters an older woman, Hanna Schmitz, on the streets of post-WWII Germany. After a brief affair, Hanna inexplicably disappears, only to resurface years later on trial for war crimes. As Michael watches the trial unfold, he discovers a dark secret from Hanna's past that will affect both their lives. Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Germany and its turbulent struggle for justice and reconciliation, The Reader is a powerful story of guilt, innocence and redemption.

From Zach Braff, starring Zach Braff, Peter Sarsgaard, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm
Rated R

From Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Javier Bardem, Maricel Álvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella
Rated R

From Derek Cianfrance, starring Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, John Doman, Faith Wladyka
Rated R

From Derek Cianfrance, starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Craig Van Hook
Rated R

From Scott Kalvert, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, James Madio
Rated R

From Gabor Csupo, starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick
Rated PG

From Mark Romanek, starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Izzy Meikle-Small
Rated R

From Tom Hooper, starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw
Rated R

From Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman
Rated R

From Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor
Rated NC-17