Tragic love stories are
the ones that you remember the best. It’s hard to tell if we’ve been
conditioned by the media, or maybe the media just reflects real life and we all
have a soft spot for some truly tragic love stories, but you can’t deny that
tragic love just gets you in the feels like nothing else. There’s just
something special about love stories that end way too soon or never get a
chance to fully get explored because of life circumstances. So today we thought
we’d indulge and talk about the most tragic movie couples. But be warned, there
are spoilers ahead.
1. Forrest and Jenny – Forrest Gump, 1994
They’ve
been good friends since childhood and their paths keep crossing
throughout their life. It’s almost as if they’re destined to be
together, but at the same time, we know that Forrest isn’t exactly
the best when it comes to communication and interpersonal
relationships. Yet when they do finally get married, it’s Jenny who
dies soon after due to sickness and leaves Forrest with their kid. As
if Forrest didn’t have enough struggles throughout his life.
2. Robert and Francesca – The Bridges Of Madison County, 1995
Robert
is a photographer with an assignment to take photos of Bridges of
Madison County, Francesca is a housewife whose husband and kids are
away on a trip. When the two meet we can see that they’re meant for
each other, they’re basically soulmates. But as life would have it,
they’ve met too late, and Francesca isn’t willing to sacrifice
her children and family for the sake of her own happiness. It’s the
saddest thing to see her sacrifice a chance at true love and
happiness to do the “right” thing.
3. Romeo And Juliette – Romeo + Juliette, 1996
I
mean Shakespeare is all about tragic love stories and drama, so it’s
no surprise that the 1996 modern movie adaptation made the list. You
know the story, two kids whose families hate each other, fall in love
and one thing leads to another. A story of forbidden love, family
feuds, miscommunications that lead to an untimely death.
4. Jack and Rose – Titanic, 1997
Jack
wasn’t even meant to be on that ship, he won the tickets in a game.
Rose is engaged to someone already. They’re from different worlds
yet their lives are changed forever when they meet each other. But
it’s Titanic so it’s doomed, not only because they’re from
different social classes but because no one stands a chance against
the iceberg.
5. Jamie and Landon – A Walk To Remember, 2002
A
classic case of cool boy meets a very uncool girl and despite
everything, they fall in love. Except she knows she’s sick and she
warned him not to fall in love with her. They have a very intense
relationship but in the end, she succumbs to leukaemia.
6. Ennis and Jack – Brokeback Mountain, 2005
It
could’ve been a beautiful love story, but in the 60s in America
being gay could get you killed. So instead it’s a tragic love story
in which everyone suffers including their families, no one is allowed
to be openly happy and the ending will break your heart.
7. Tom and Summer – 500 Days Of Summer, 2009
Summer
is everything Tom could’ve possibly dreamed of, she’s beautiful,
quirky, she likes his kind of music, she has this amazing perspective
on life that makes everything alright. And it’s glorious, but it
only lasts 500 days. Because life isn’t a fairytale and things end,
sometimes in very mundane ways.
8. Cindy and Dean – Blue Valentine, 2010
Blue
Valentine is another movie that explores love and shows us what
happens after the “happily ever after”. Not every relationship
can last forever, things that might initially attract you to someone
can become things that annoy you the most with years and people fall
out of love. That’s exactly what happens to Cindy and Dean.
9. Gus and Hazel – The Fault in Our Stars, 2014
It’s
pretty obvious from the start that there’s no way this can be a
happy ending. They’re teens with cancer, they don’t stand a
chance, especially Hazel. But throughout the movie you start to
believe that they can actually make it, that they get a chance at
being happy and normal for a bit, you get lulled into a false sense
of security only to be punched in the guts at the end.
10. Oliver and Elio – Call Me By Your Name, 2017
Oliver is a student spending the summer in Italy interning at Elio’s father’s villa. Elio is just spending his summer holidays with his family. There’s an obvious part between the two that they explore in the most beautiful and awkward way. A summer love story that will make you crave that awkward yet intense feeling of first love, and will rip your heart out in the end.
