There’s nothing better than an inspirational romance movie, and there’s nothing more heartbreaking than a dramatic film about a love that never quite made it. We love stories about all kinds of love, but especially the unrequited kind. What are the best movies about unrequited love? Vote up the best unrequited love movies below and see where your favorites rank! And if your heart still yearns, check out the best TV shows about unrequited love. The movies featured on this list feature a theme of heartbreaking, gut wrenching unrequited love. Most of these films would fall under a romance category; however, there are a few other genres included on this list as well, such as tragic or terminal romances. Maybe we love stories about unrequited love because it makes us feel better about our current love life situations; no matter what your interest in this category is there is sure to be a flick here you’ll love! This list features the best movies about unrequited love including, The Notebook, Romeo and Juliet, Like Crazy, Casablanca, West Side Story, Brokeback Mountain, The English Patient, and The Last of the Mohicans. Vote up the best films about unrequited love below or add one you love that isn't already on the list.
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This quirky romantic comedy-drama features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom Hansen, an aspiring architect turned greeting card writer who falls for his co-worker Summer Finn (played by Zooey Deschanel). Narrated through a non-linear timeline, we witness their relationship unfold and ultimately crumble as Tom accepts the reality that Summer does not share his feelings. The film poignantly captures the complexities of modern relationships and unrequited love.
Another John Hughes classic, this 80s teen drama follows Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald), a working-class girl who falls for wealthy Blane McDonough (Andrew McCarthy). Simultaneously, Duckie Dale (Jon Cryer), Andie's quirky best friend, harbors secret feelings for her but struggles with expressing his emotions. The film poignantly explores themes of social status and unrequited love through these complex relationships.
In Tim Burton's dark fairy tale, Johnny Depp stars as Edward Scissorhands, a gentle yet misunderstood being with scissors for hands who falls in love with Kim Boggs (Winona Ryder). Despite their deep connection, society's prejudice against Edward forces them apart – highlighting the bittersweet nature of unrequited love amidst societal judgment.
This iconic film stars Tom Hanks as the lovable, simple-minded Forrest Gump who falls in love with his childhood friend Jenny (played by Robin Wright). Throughout the movie, their lives intersect at various points, but Jenny's personal struggles and emotional turmoil prevent her from reciprocating Forrest's unwavering devotion. The theme of unrequited love is a central aspect of this classic tale that explores the power of friendship, perseverance, and the human spirit.
This romantic comedy stars Julia Roberts as Julianne Potter, a woman who realizes she is in love with her best friend Michael O'Neal (Dermot Mulroney) just days before his wedding to another woman. Desperate to win him back, Julianne devises schemes to sabotage the wedding – leading to hilarious antics and an exploration of what it means to truly love someone.
Set during World War II, this classic film tells the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a nightclub owner in Casablanca who encounters his former lover Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Torn between his feelings for Ilsa and his loyalty towards Victor, Rick must make a difficult decision that will forever impact their lives – emphasizing the sacrifices one makes for unrequited love.
In this quintessential 80s teen flick directed by John Hughes, Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) deals with her crush on popular jock Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), while also navigating family drama surrounding her forgotten birthday. As she yearns for Jake's attention throughout the movie, Samantha experiences the heartache associated with unrequited teenage infatuation.
Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, this lavish film adaptation directed by Baz Luhrmann stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who throws extravagant parties in hopes of winning back his lost love Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). Despite his efforts to convince her to leave her husband, Tom (Joel Edgerton), Gatsby's dream ultimately remains unfulfilled – illustrating the futility of chasing an idealized past.
Based on Stephen Chbosky's novel, this coming-of-age drama chronicles introverted Charlie Kelmeckis' (Logan Lerman) freshman year of high school as he befriends free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller). As Charlie navigates adolescence, he develops feelings for Sam but struggles to express his love due to their deep friendship – ultimately exploring the pain of unrequited affection.
Based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel, this romantic drama tells the story of young lovers Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), whose passionate romance faces numerous obstacles due to societal expectations and differing backgrounds. Despite their deep connection, they are separated for years before reuniting when it is too late – Allie is engaged to another man, leading to an achingly poignant portrayal of unfulfilled love.
This beloved fairy tale film directed by Rob Reiner features the love story of Westley (Cary Elwes) and Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright). Although they are deeply in love, circumstances force them apart, and Buttercup becomes engaged to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Throughout their journey filled with adventure and danger, Westley's unwavering devotion to Buttercup is a testament to the power of true love.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: In this unique sci-fi romance directed by Michel Gondry, Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) undergoes a procedure to erase all memories of his tumultuous relationship with Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet). However, as Joel relives their time together during the process, he begins to question whether erasing their past is truly worth losing the lessons learned from heartbreak.
James Cameron's epic romantic disaster film showcases the tragic love story between Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a poor artist, and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), an aristocrat on board the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Their passionate affair is cut short due to class differences and the ship's sinking – ultimately leaving their love unfulfilled.
This supernatural romance stars Patrick Swayze as Sam Wheat, a murdered man who returns as a ghost to protect his lover Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) from impending danger. Despite being unable to touch or communicate with her directly, Sam's spirit remains devoted to Molly throughout the movie – illustrating the lengths one will go for unrequited love.
Sofia Coppola's critically acclaimed film stars Bill Murray as aging actor Bob Harris and Scarlett Johansson as college graduate Charlotte, both feeling lost and disconnected during a trip to Tokyo. As they form a bond over shared experiences and loneliness, their connection remains platonic yet deeply emotional – illustrating the complexities of unrequited love in unexpected circumstances.
Set during the French and Indian War, this historical epic follows Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis), a white man raised by Native Americans, as he falls for Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe), the daughter of a British officer.Their passionate romance faces numerous challenges due to the ongoing conflict and cultural differences. The film's portrayal of unrequited love highlights the power of devotion amidst adversity and the sacrifices one must make for their beloved.
This romantic fantasy drama features Nicolas Cage as Seth, an angel who becomes infatuated with human surgeon Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan) after witnessing her grief over losing a patient. As Seth grapples with his newfound emotions and desires to become mortal for Maggie, he faces the harsh reality that their love may never be fully realized due to their contrasting existences.
Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this classic musical explores the tragic love story between Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood), members of rival New York City gangs. Their forbidden romance highlights the power of love amidst adversity but also showcases its devastating consequences when left unfulfilled.
In this romantic comedy, two women – Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) and Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) – swap homes for the holidays to escape their respective romantic troubles. While navigating new surroundings, they each find unexpected connections with local men, yet still grapple with unresolved feelings from past relationships. The film thoughtfully explores themes of healing from heartbreak and moving forward after experiencing unrequited love.
William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy has been adapted countless times on screen, notably in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 modernized version starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo Montague and Claire Danes as Juliet Capulet. The story of their forbidden love and the consequences it bears for both their feuding families remains a poignant reminder of the pain and devastation unrequited love can bring.
Ang Lee's groundbreaking film follows two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose passionate affair spans decades despite both men marrying women and leading seemingly heterosexual lives. Their secret relationship is fraught with longing and heartbreak as they struggle to reconcile their true desires with societal expectations.
This coming-of-age romantic comedy follows Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) and Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe) as they navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence while dealing with their conflicting feelings towards each other. As Juli's infatuation with Bryce evolves into genuine love, she must confront the reality that her feelings may never be reciprocated – capturing the essence of unrequited teenage affection.
In this visually stunning fantasy drama, Robin Williams stars as Chris Nielsen, a man who dies in a car accident and ventures through the afterlife in search of his wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra) who commits suicide following his death. As he navigates the realms of Heaven and Hell to reunite with her, their love endures despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
This epic drama set during the Russian Revolution tells the story of physician and poet Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif), who falls deeply in love with Lara Antipova (Julie Christie) while married to another woman. Their tumultuous affair is marked by political unrest and personal sacrifice, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion that underscores the pain of unfulfilled love.
Adapted from Robert James Waller's novel, this romantic drama stars Meryl Streep as Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride living in Iowa who falls for National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood). Their brief yet intense love affair is marked by deep longing and unfulfilled desires as they grapple with the consequences of their actions on their respective families.
Starring Cary Grant as playboy Nickie Ferrante and Deborah Kerr as singer Terry McKay, this classic romance tells the story of two strangers who fall in love aboard a cruise ship despite being engaged to others. They agree to meet six months later at the top of the Empire State Building, but fate intervenes – leaving them wondering if their love will ever come to fruition.
This critically acclaimed musical stars Ryan Gosling as aspiring jazz musician Sebastian Wilder and Emma Stone as aspiring actress Mia Dolan, who fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. As they face the harsh realities of balancing ambition with personal relationships, their romance ultimately ends – showcasing the bittersweet nature of unrequited love when ambitions take precedence over emotional connections.
Based on David Nicholls' novel, this romantic drama follows Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess) and Emma Morley (Anne Hathaway) as they navigate their evolving friendship and romantic feelings for each other over the course of 20 years. While their relationship is marked by missed opportunities and unspoken desires, the film offers an introspective look at how unrequited love can shape one's life journey.
Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, this adaptation follows the life of orphan Pip (Ethan Hawke) as he becomes infatuated with Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow), a beautiful but cold-hearted young woman raised by the eccentric Miss Havisham (Anne Bancroft). Despite his unwavering love for her, Estella remains emotionally distant – showcasing the heartache and frustration that comes with unrequited affection.
Adapted from Greg Behrendt's self-help book, this ensemble romantic comedy-drama follows various characters as they navigate complex relationships and miscommunications in modern dating culture. Throughout multiple storylines, we witness different forms of unrequited love – whether it be through one-sided crushes or failed attempts at rekindling past flames – offering a relatable and poignant exploration of the topic.
