Top 10 Most Tragic Movie Couples

“Blue Valentine” (2010)



Unlike many of the entries coming up on this list, this couple doesn’t contain any untimely deaths or forbidden love. Cindy and Dean seem like they are the perfect couple, but as the movie goes on, cracks begin to appear in the foundation of their relationship. The quirks they used to love about each other grow into flaws that they can’t overcome or look past. True love just isn't enough to keep them together, and that’s the real tragedy. This couple represents a very realistic outlook on love and relationships, and how they fade.

“Love Story” (1970)



These two are living proof that money doesn’t buy happiness. In spite of Oliver’s parents threatening to cut him off, he marries Jenny anyway. And though the two struggle with the lack of support, they live a happy and adventurous life, making plans to achieve Jenny’s ambitious life dreams. But everything is put on hold when Jenny is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Oliver is forced to watch Jenny deteriorate, and despite their best efforts to continue to make the most of their time together, it’s devastating to watch. Jenny eventually dies in Oliver’s arms in the hospital.

“The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)



Whether you read the book or not, considering that both Gus and Hazel suffer from cancer, we all went into this movie knowing that things would end tragically. And yet… we’d be lying if we said that there wasn’t a small part of us that held out hope for a happy ending. The two meet and initially bond because of their illnesses, but their love transcends their physical limitations as the two share the kinds of adventures together most of us will only dream of. Eventually, it’s Gus who succumbs to his illness, but even from the beyond, he somehow lets Hazel know that everything will be okay.

“West Side Story” (1961)



Well, when the characters are based on the couple that basically defined tragedy, what do you expect? But more on that later. In this relatively modern take on a Romeo and Juliet type story, Tony and Maria are on opposite sides of a gang war, but fall hopelessly in love nonetheless. When the feuding gangs learn of their forbidden love, they go to drastic measures to end the relationship. People are killed, lives are ruined, and ultimately, both gangs are left carrying the weight of what they did to their friends.

“The Bridges of Madison County” (1995)



In another story of forbidden love, Francesca falls into a brief whirlwind affair with Robert, a travelling photographer, while her husband and children are away. The two make plans to run away together, and Robert is, arguably, the guy Francesca should have ended up with, but she ultimately stays with her husband as to not adversely affect her teenage children. Though it may have been the right decision to stay with her family, you can’t help but feel a sense of longing and the endless possibilities of what could have been had she left with Robert.

“Forrest Gump” (1994)



Forrest and Jenny were best friends growing up, but they went down very different paths in adulthood. Forrest has a very exciting life full of adventure, while Jenny struggles through a very hard one. Yet, their paths continue to cross, over and over again, as the years go by; some might even argue that they were destined to be together. All of those kismet encounters can’t just be coincidence, right? But their timing was never quite right. Eventually they do get married, but only after Jenny gets an illness that leads to her death. For better or worse, Forrest’s mama was right: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

“A Walk To Remember” (2002)



In all fairness, Jamie does warn Landon not to fall in love with her. And yet, he does anyway, even after finding out that she has leukemia. In classic Nicholas Sparks fashion, Jamie and Landon are from two different social groups, but bond when they are thrust together by fate. Despite the obstacles in front of them, Jamie and Landon have a very happy life and even get married; but, as expected, Jamie dies of her disease very young, and Landon must go on without her. If you thought that being aware that things would end tragically would soften the blow, you’d be wrong. Admit it, this one made you cry too.

“Brokeback Mountain” (2005)



In yet another tale of forbidden love, Jack and Ennis meet while working as sheep herders, and their fast friendship quickly turns into something . . . much more than that. Throughout the course of this movie both men get married and have children while continuing their romantic relationship made up of stolen moments on fishing trips. The tragedy here is that being gay men in middle America in the ‘60s could be enough to get you killed. And the weight of the affair isn’t just brutal on Jack and Ennis, it bears down on their families as well. Eventually, Ennis ends their relationship in a huge fight, and it is the last time the two ever see each other. Jack is killed in an accident, leaving Ennis with nothing but memories.

“Titanic” (1997)



We all knew that this relationship was doomed from the start. Forget that they are from two completely different worlds and social classes, or that she was engaged to another man, they never stood a chance against the iceberg. Their relationship may only span a few days, but they share so much during that time, braving daring adventures and changing each other’s lives forever on the ill-fated ship. Funny thing is, Jack shouldn’t have even been there. He won his tickets in a card game the night before. When the ship starts to go down, their only concern is for each other, and they take turns rescuing each other, before Jack’s inevitable fate.

“Romeo + Juliet” (1996)



Who else could it be but the star-crossed lovers who basically defined tragic couples? Shakespeare's famous pair has been reincarnated in several movies over several generations, and has inspired many other stories, like the previously listed “West Side Story”. Arguably the most famous iteration of these lovers (after the original play, of course) is the modernized 1996 version. Though they are often looked to as the epitome of true love, in reality, they are just two young kids who barely know each other, impulsively run away from their feuding families, and eventually kill themselves due to a misunderstanding in their scheme. Leo just can’t catch a break, can he? But this is tragic love at its most potent.