Movies have a habit of making viewers feel things they didn't even think were possible whether that be through laughter or tears. Reddit user illegitimate22 shared that they wanted a good cry and therefore needed romantic movie recommendations guaranteed to let out all that built up emotion.
Movies have a strange ability to capture exactly how people feel, making viewers feel less alone whilst also acting as a form of escapism. But, what are ten romantic movies Reddit users recommend when in need of a really good cry?
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name was Timothee Chalamet's breakthrough role where he played teenager Elio who was beginning to under his sexuality after meeting an older man named Oliver. The growing relationship between the pair is what the movie centers around, alongside themes of self-identity and internalized homophobia.
The ending left viewers heartbroken, including Bruh--by_Technoblad, who stated that the movie was "one of the most realistic, beautiful, and intimate movies [they'd] ever seen. The movie ultimately doesn't have a happy ending which is particularly why it left fans so emotional, it highlighted sexuality in a very real way that many could relate to, guaranteed to make even the strongest of viewers tear up.
Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually follows the lives of several people over the festive period, from a Prime Minister to an old-time rock and roll star trying to reach Christmas number 1. Although the movie focuses on many different relationships there is one storyline in particular that leaves fans in tears even now and that relationship is between Emma Thompson who plays Karen and her husband, played by Alan Rickman.
The seemingly happy couple are torn apart when he decides to entertain a much younger woman with Karen discovering his affair later in the movie. Reddit user SavingsPhotograph724 shared how "the Alan Rickman/Emma Thompson storyline is gut-wrenching" as it highlights how an affair can affect one's self-image and worth, making it one of the saddest storylines of Love Actually.
One Day (2011)
One Day is one of the most iconic friends to lovers but it all ends in a tragedy that resulted in fans grieving the loss of Emma for years. Reddit user principleofthethings explained how the movie "broke [their] already broken heart."
The whole movie centers around the relationship between Dexter and Emma, toying with viewers the whole way through but when Emma gets hit by a truck and subsequently dies, the viewer's dream of the two being a couple was cut short. The tragic ending reminds viewers just how short life can be so if something seems right then go for it instead of waiting for the right moment.
About Time (2013)
About Time is a tale of time travel resulting in viewers questioning what they would do if they could step back in time. Whilst the movie primarily centers around the relationship between Mary and Tim, it is the poignant father and son bond that caused a lot of emotion for viewers.
Reddit user [deleted] suggested that the scene where Tim "relives the memory with his dad by the beach one last time before he's gotta let his dad go forever, absolutely destroyed" them. It highlighted how many people wish they could go back in time to appreciate the time they had with loved ones, but despite its gut-wrenching moments, About Time is still a great unconventional romance movie that combines love with fantasy.
The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
The Bridges Of Madison County focuses on a photographer played by Clint Eastwood, who comes to town to take photos of bridges in the titular country. However, his stay soon turns into a love story with married woman Francesca played by Meryl Streep.
Reddit user, reeniedream stated that they thought "Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood [were] fantastic in it" and it was perhaps their obvious chemistry that left fans in an emotional state. The pair shared a bittersweet smile from across the road when Francesca decided her loyalty to her family was worth more than her chance at love. The movie was a moving portrayal of an unattainable love that viewers watched develop on-screen only to come to an end in the final scene of the movie.
Blue Is The Warmest Colour (2013)
Blue Is The Warmest Colour attracted a lot of controversies when it was released in 2013, but this 3-hour long movie still spectacularly showcases the ups and downs of love. The movie portrays how comfortable people become in relationships and how this can sometimes lead to the end of the road.
TheConqueror74 shared that the movie encourages viewers to watch the relationship between Adele and Emma but then ends with a scenario where "half of the relationship is still very much in love and can't move on". Blue Is The Warmest Colour had fans wanting to fall in love one minute and heartbroken the next due to the love between the two girls going from unconditional to unrequited, it highlighted the move from lovers to strangers and just how sad that can be.
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who undergo a procedure that deletes the couple's memories. The movie offers an alternative universe and prompts viewers to think about whether they would delete previous memories for the promise of inner peace.
User sammyboy24 shared that they had watched it after their 6-year relationship had ended which was "so f*****g painful". It challenges the idea that things viewers experience are also the things that make them so by erasing those experiences, fans would erase parts of themselves too. It makes for a very thought-provoking watch but also an agonizing one.
West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story puts a New York twist on Romeo and Juliet when two gangs continue to collide when one gang member falls in love with his rival's sister. The movie focuses a lot on gang culture and has many dark themes but ultimately it is a story of forbidden love.
Reddit user gogojack shared that "the part where the Jets and the Sharks hesitatingly come together to lift Tony's body and carry it away? Yeah...that's hard to watch". The coming together of 2 rival gangs highlighted how the worst of times can bring people together and resulted in the 2 gangs calling an end to their street war. This was a poignant watch that tackled toxic masculinity and gang culture in the wake of shared grief.
Her (2013)
Her is one of the best sci-fi romance movies to hit viewers' screens, it follows Theodore who goes to work and engages in the latest technological releases which is when his relationship with computer-generated Samantha begins.The movie sees Theodore slowly exiting the post-break-up blues and entering into a new relationship, the relationship between Theodore and Samantha was a controversial one, however, Her sought to highlight the impact being in love can have.
Reddit user noputa shared that they "didn't think this one would get to [them]" due to the relationship being between a man and a machine. But, ultimately fans were heartbroken after seeing Theodore's heartbreak when Samantha revealed she wasn't just in love with him, something many viewers could relate to.
Sleepless In Seattle (1993)
Sleepless In Seattle tells the story of love and loss when Sam's son Jonah convinces his dad to go on a talk show to talk about losing his wife, resulting in a sea of women sharing their interest in Sam. The movie has many will they, won't they, meet cues between Sam and Annie, the movie is a true love story but several emotive moments left fans crying into their pillows.
Reddit user LauraPalmersMom430 explained that the scene when Sam relays his grief regarding the loss of his wife was a really emotive scene for them. The user even stated that "if you can make it through that scene without crying then you have no soul". The film highlights the reality of grief and how difficult the grieving process can be especially when entering the world of dating after losing a loved one.