Valentine’s Day is on everyone’s mind, but we’re still caught up with the idea of tragic love stories that rule over mainstream pop culture. Breaking hearts is but in their second nature by pushing for the star-crossed lovers agenda, only for us to drown in our pool of tears. For this year’s day of love, we’re taking you back to relive through some major heartbreak sadness with couples who didn’t make it to the end of line despite setting the bar unexpectedly high for love in general.
Tragic Love Stories That Still Make Us Cry
Jack and Rose in Titanic
The one story that still keeps giving. Whether Jack could’ve made it to the end or not, the point remains that if he had, the underlying message would’ve never reached the audience to the extent it has. Jack’s sacrifice not only saves Rose, but also the theme that the romantic saga sought to push.
Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
There are an ample number of Spider-Man renditions available for us to consume. However, the most heart-rending version of all is still The Amazing Spider-Man 2 which instantly brings us back to reliving the pain of the infamous fall that still breaks us as fans, but even more so haunts Andrew Garfield’s Peter who will never miss out on catching someone ever again.
Gatsby and Daisy in The Great Gatsby
Portraying the pomp and show of the Jazz age, this story was originally penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the twentieth century, and has found its footing in various modern-day adaptations over the years. In 2013, its relevance was further foregrounded in Bad Luhrmann’s feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy. This narrative pits as many setbacks as possible against the stellar couple who’re further pushed down the tragic hole by their own delusions, and let’s just say, it doesn’t fare well for them.
Hazel and Augustus in The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars was always meant to be a fated storyline with star-crossed lovers who were well aware of their terminal ends too. Meeting at a support group for the same reason, both Hazel and Augustus know what they’re getting into when they initiate their chains of warmhearted “Okay? Okay.” messages.
Throughout the entire film, the story focusses mostly on Hazel’s POV, making us feel for her character and the origins of her terminal disease. However, the end turns the table on her when she’s not the one being pulled out of the picture.
Also read: 10 Movies to Watch on Valentine’s Day: Silver Linings Playbook, Serendipity, One Day and Many More
Jack and Ennis in Brokeback Mountain
For this one, you already know how it’s going to end before the movie actually starts rolling into action. Based on Annie Proulx’s short story, the live-action adaptation stars Heath Ledger as Ennis and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack. While we may have moved into relatively more accepting world for every shape and nature of love, this particular love story is just as relevant today and pushes you to think with your heart more than an unforgiving mind.
Carl and Ellie in Up
Although the movie doesn’t necessarily cover every nuanced detail of the love story and the tragedy precedes the actual premise of the film. Carl and Ellie’s story is the primary building block of not only the relationship between him and Russell, but also his personality in general. The initial first few minutes of the animation quickly paces us through the couple’s life together and is possibly the most poignant and memorable segments of the movie as well.
Devdas
Joel & Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Much like the Before Sunrise trilogy, Joel and Clementine begin their love story on a train, but it definitely doesn’t end on a feel good note like the former. Once their relationship sours up, they undergo a medical procedure that rids them of their memories of the other. As we move forward with the couple, its makes us dwell on the idea too if erasing a particular someone’s memories is the final answer to escape pain or not. While me may think of these things on a more hypothetical level, Joel and Clementine’s journey confirms our fears and proves that we all we have is now with the person we love.
Watch the romantic film dipped in sci-fi details on Prime Video.
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Landon and Jamie in A Walk to Remember
This was The Fault in Our Stars for the early 2000s kids, and even if you still haven’t watched the film yet it’s quite likely that you’ve stumbled upon this quote on several occasions – “Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it.” One of many Nicholas Sparks stories, it may across as a cliche plot to many, but there’s no denying the fact that Landon and Jamie’s fate demands a ceaseless supply of tissues.
Prepare for the waterworks and watch it on Prime Video.
Romeo and Juliet
Okay, so these two are the motor that runs the trope of star-crossed lovers and it would’ve been a disgrace not to have included them in this list. Yet another direction of Baz Luhrmann, Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes breathed the rivalling families imagery with a new and youthful vision in 1996. Moral of the story – please don’t fake your death, because there’s a track record in place for this to not turn out the way as per the design in your mind.
The movie is streaming on Apple TV.
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Rockstar
It’s funny how quite a few of these tragic love stories feature Leonardo DiCaprio. Having realised that only after finishing the story, let’s now get on to asking for your heartbreaking favourites on this list. Do you have any other pair of star-crossed lovers whose fate had other vile things planned for them? Let us know your suggestions in the comments section below.