Tears are a matter of taste, and no one can guarantee them. So we picked ten films that are already out and in which love meets separation, illness, loss or war, that is, themes that are dramatic in themselves. They all differ in era: from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) to Past Lives (2023). No spoilers: only the setup and what the film is known for. None of them repeats our selection of love movies worth watching. The facts come from Wikipedia pages checked on October 18, 2026. We do not list age ratings: check them on the film’s page before watching.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Official trailer · “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964)Two lovers in the French town of Cherbourg are separated by circumstances. All the dialogue in this musical is sung rather than spoken, and the music was written by Michel Legrand. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Why watch: a bittersweet story about separation, presented as an opera without spoken dialogue.
Love Story
Official trailer · “Love Story” (1970)Harvard students, the wealthy Oliver Barrett IV and Jenny Cavilleri from a working-class family, fall in love, and then, as Wikipedia notes, tragedy strikes them. The screenplay was written by Erich Segal, who published a novel based on it at the same time. The film received seven Oscar nominations, and the American Film Institute ranked it ninth among the most romantic films. Why watch: a melodrama credited with reviving the genre in Hollywood.
Ghost
Banker Sam Wheat is killed, returns as a ghost, and through a fraudulent medium, Oda Mae Brown, tries to reach his girlfriend Molly. Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for a supporting role, and screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin won for the screenplay. Why watch: a mystical love story with a detective storyline.
The Bridges of Madison County
Official trailer · “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995)Iowa, 1965: housewife Francesca, while her family is away, meets a National Geographic photographer, and a four-day romance sparks between them. Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, and Clint Eastwood also played the male lead. Why watch: a grown-up, restrained story about choosing between duty and feeling.
Titanic
Official trailer · “Titanic” (1997)Characters from different social classes, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, fall in love during the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912. The film received 14 Oscar nominations and won 11, including Best Picture and Best Director. Why watch: an epic story in which love unfolds against the backdrop of a real disaster.
Moulin Rouge!
Official trailer · “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)British poet Christian falls for the star of the Moulin Rouge cabaret, the courtesan Satine. The lead roles are played by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The film competed at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and won Oscars for art direction and costume design. Why watch: a dazzling musical in which familiar songs become the language of feeling.
The Notebook
Official trailer · “The Notebook” (2004)Young Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams play a couple who fell in love in the 1940s, and an elderly man reads their story from a notebook in the present day. The film is based on Nicholas Sparks’s 1996 novel, and it premiered at a film festival in Seattle. Wikipedia notes that critics responded to the film in different ways, but over the years it has become a cult favorite. Why watch: a story of two eras, made as pure melodrama.
Brokeback Mountain
Official trailer · “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)The complicated relationship between two American cowboys, Ennis and Jack, lasts from 1963 to 1983. The film is based on a 1997 short story. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. Why watch: a restrained drama about love that lasts two decades.
The Fault in Our Stars
Official trailer · “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)A sixteen-year-old cancer patient, whom her parents make attend a support group, meets another patient there and falls in love. The film is based on John Green’s 2012 novel and stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort; in the US it was released on June 6, 2014. Why watch: a story about love that starts in a support group.
Past Lives
Official trailer · “Past Lives” (2023)Two childhood friends watch their paths diverge over 24 years and reflect on what their closeness meant. For Celine Song this is a directorial debut; the premiere took place at Sundance in January 2023, and the film received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Why watch: a quiet contemporary story about what could have been.
How to choose
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Musical | The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Moulin Rouge! |
| Classic melodrama | Love Story, Ghost |
| Grown-up film about choice | The Bridges of Madison County, Brokeback Mountain, Past Lives |
| Epic story | Titanic |
| Teen film based on a novel | The Fault in Our Stars, The Notebook |
If after such a film you want something lighter, move on to our selection of 15 love movies with comedies and a musical, or to the overview of Turkish series about love.
Tip. Watch films like these when you have nowhere to rush off to: some run for more than two hours, and Titanic runs 195 minutes according to Wikipedia. After a heavy drama, it is worth having something light at hand.
Frequently asked questions
Do people really cry after these films?
It depends on the viewer. We do not rate how strong the emotions are; we select stories where love goes through separation, loss or illness.
Are there spoilers in the selection?
No. We talk only about the initial situation and facts from Wikipedia pages, such as awards.
Where to start if you don’t want something very heavy?
Take The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or Moulin Rouge!: these are musicals where the drama is presented through music. The most restrained in style are The Bridges of Madison County and Past Lives.
Where can I watch these films?
Streaming catalogs change, so we do not list them. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Wikipedia)
- Love Story (1970 film) (Wikipedia)
- Titanic (1997 film) (Wikipedia)
- Brokeback Mountain (Wikipedia)
- Past Lives (film) (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 18, 2026.
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