Top 20 Movie Kisses That Made You Cry
#20: A Sweet Musical Kiss “The Sound of Music” (1965)
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When Maria first meets Captain von Trapp at the beginning of “The Sound of Music,” they don’t exactly start out on the right foot. She thinks he’s too strict and he thinks she’s too cavalier. But as the film goes on, they slowly start to come to an understanding. Eventually, they finally confess their feelings…through song of course. The kiss comes at the end of the song “Something Good”. While their intimate moment was satisfying on its own, it’s made better by the beautiful song about finally finding the person who loves you no matter what may have come before. Pair that beautiful sentiment with the enduring chemistry of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and you’ve got yourself a cry fest.
#19: Overcoming the Odds “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)
If there was ever a couple who had to go through way too much to finally be together, this would be it. Jamal and Latika have the entire world against them. However, their connection can’t be so easily severed. Even when a group of men cut Latika’s face for trying to meet Jamal, the two can’t be kept apart. After enduring so much pain and heartbreak, the two finally come together at the train station. Jamal then leans in and kisses Latika’s scar instead of her lips. Even though they also share a traditional peck, their first moment made us weep the most.
#18: Lost Love “Cast Away” (2000)
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There’s not a ton of romance in “Cast Away.” But the love that is there is the type that makes our hearts break. When Chuck crashes on a desert island at the beginning of the film, he leaves his girlfriend Kelly behind. Given that he spends four years stranded on the island without any indication he survived, it’s understandable that his love interest chose to move on. But that doesn’t make their reunion any less sweet. After Chuck is rescued, he goes to find Kelly. The two instantly share a passionate moment in the rain. However, since Kelly has a husband and kid, their romance has to end there. At least they shared one final kiss.
#17: Allie & Noah Reunite “The Notebook” (2004)
Since it’s one of the most famous scenes in one of the romantic genre’s saddest films, it gets us misty eyed every time. Noah and Allie once fell for each other hard. However, their relationship became strained over the years. When they finally meet up again, their exchange feels strained and painfully cordial. After Allie asks Noah why he didn’t write to her for years, the answer isn’t what she expected. The revelation that he sent her messages but they never reached her is enough to reignite their passion. Once their lips meet, we automatically feel the tears coming. We’re glad that Noah and Allie never accepted that their romance was over.
#16: The Truth Comes Out “Casablanca” (1942)
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When we first meet Rick at the beginning of “Casablanca,” he’s cynical because he believes his lover Ilsa deserted him. And after she returns with a husband, the lead is instantly incensed. But that anger turns to heartbreak when the truth comes out. When Ilsa met Rick, she thought her husband had been killed while escaping a concentration camp. Once she found out the man she married was alive, she had to put aside her new feelings and resume her relationship. The truth is enough to break down the walls between them and bring them together for an iconic kiss. Their expression of love is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.
#15: Poisoned Lips “Romeo + Juliet” (1996)
Although most of us knew how “Romeo + Juliet” would end going in, Baz Luhrmann still got us to shed tears in his 1996 classic. After believing Juliet has died, Romeo drinks poison. But his great love wakes up just before he drinks. It looks for a moment that Juliet might’ve woken up in time to save him. Unfortunately, she’s too late. As Romeo starts to fade, Juliet quickly tries to take in some poison by kissing Romeo one last time. But it doesn’t work. Thanks to the flash of hope that the two would make it earlier in the scene, the kiss became absolutely unbearable. When this timeless story reached its inevitable conclusion once again, we couldn’t help but sob.
#14: A Spiritual Kiss “Ghost” (1990)
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“Ghost” is one of those romantic movies that starts with a tragic incident and only gets sadder. At the beginning of the film, Sam is murdered. His girlfriend Molly tries to cope with his devastating loss during the story. For most of the movie, the ghost of Sam tries desperately to connect to his girlfriend and help her figure out the specifics of his death. Once the truth finally comes out and justice is served, Molly is able to see her boyfriend's spirit one last time.They share one last kiss goodbye before he goes to the afterlife for good. There wasn’t a dry eye left in this life or the next after this devastating moment.
#13: A Clear Goodbye “Lost in Translation” (2003)
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Throughout “Lost in Translation,” you’re left wondering if a romance will bloom between Bob and Charlotte. While nothing physically intimate happens between the two, they form an emotional connection that’s almost more intense than the average relationship. The two are both clearly lonely and need someone. That’s why it’s almost unbearable when we see that they have to part. After a strange goodbye, Bob sees Charlotte in the street and leaps at the chance to see her one more time. He hugs her, whispers a famous and unintelligible line in her ear, and kisses her one time. The knowledge they parted right after this tender moment had us reaching for the tissues.
#12: In Another Life “La La Land” (2016)
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Sometimes, even the most intense romances just don’t work out. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream of a happy ever after. Although Mia and Sebastian fall deeply in love with each other during “La La Land”, their artistic pursuits ultimately take them in very different directions. The duo spends years apart before they finally see each other during a performance. After making this brief connection, the two imagine what might have been if they stayed together. The sequence that unfolds is equal parts lovely and unrelentingly sad. Their fantasy ends with an imaginary kiss that can never be. When we see the happiness they could have shared, it’s hard to not get choked up.
#11: A Kiss MJ Will Forget “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)
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While “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is full of magic and great action, it also contains a strong romance between Peter and MJ. But their sweet relationship gets cut short in a heartbreaking scene. After a spell that was meant to make everyone forget that Peter Parker was Spider-Man backfires, the young hero has to ensure that no one on earth remembers who he is. That enchantment unfortunately means that MJ can’t remember that they ever were together. Knowing that she’ll forget him soon, the two share one last tearful kiss. We’re still unsure if they’ll ever get romantically involved again. As far as we know, the tragic kiss between this young duo might have been their last.
#10: Make a Wish “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
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Hazel Grace couldn’t exactly be described as an optimist, but we can’t blame her. Her cancer has left her with barely functioning lungs, which she has to deal with while also trying to survive being a teenager. But an unexpected connection with fellow cancer patient Augustus Waters gives her something to be hopeful about. Their bond is so deep, in fact, that he uses his wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet her favorite author. By the time they finally kiss at the Anne Frank House, we don’t know if we’re crying because of how much they’ve been through, or the fact that she’s finally happy. Either way, the tears start streaming, and they just don’t stop.
#9: Kiss of Death “Edward Scissorhands” (1990)
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You probably wouldn’t expect an unconventional retelling of Frankenstein’s monster to end up on this list. But the kiss shared between Kim and Edward is nothing short of incredibly emotional. The product of a dead inventor, the unfinished Edward is extremely out of place in Kim’s world. But that doesn’t stop her from falling for him. Unfortunately, by the time she acts on her love, the majority of the town has turned against the unusual boy. Their story can only finish tragically, then, and their first kiss ends up being their last. That’s enough to drive anyone to tears!
#8: Kiss at the Beach “Moonlight” (2016)
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This unforgettably moving story starts during main character Chiron’s younger years, as he gets hardened by life, his family and his environment. There seems a brief hope, however, when he shares a loving moment with his friend Kevin. But the tender scene is quickly replaced by a sad one, as Kevin beats Chiron up shortly afterwards. The stark juxtaposition between these two scenes is heartbreaking. And looking back, the turmoil to come definitely makes their beach kiss that much more significant. This movie takes you through a range of intense emotions, from hopeful to outright mournful. It’s no wonder, then, it won the Oscar for Best Picture.
#7: Sacrificial Kiss “The Darkest Minds” (2018)
The idea of having superpowers may seem great. But the trade-off that ninety-eight percent of people die of a disease before they get them… certainly makes the whole concept less appealing. And what’s more, in this film, the two percent “survivors” get locked up. That’s what happens to Ruby. But right when it seems things couldn’t get worse, a small light at the end of the tunnel named Liam comes into her life. We start to believe that the duo could be happy together. But then the carpet is yanked out from under us, as Ruby ultimately wipes all traces of herself from Liam’s memory while they kiss. We’d perhaps be less emotional if we knew more movies were coming, but sadly there’s no confirmed sequel.
#6: A Part of Each Other “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)
The chemistry between actors Kiki Layne and Stephan James makes their on screen love story so believable. But the writing allows you to really immerse yourself in it. Hearing the way Tish talks about Fonny sure hits hard. Theirs is a happy love, but a desperately sad situation. Still, there’s so much warmth between the two. And, when the pair finally shares a kiss on screen, we can’t help but feel like they’re truly meant to be. Throughout the years, their love grows and changes. Yet it always remains pure and wholesome, which makes their tragic circumstances all the more difficult to accept.
#5: Final Moments “The Notebook” (2004)
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To this day, Noah and Allie are one of the most beloved and well-known couples in romance movie history. And it’s not hard to see why. We watch the endearing pair fall for one another, but we also see how their love stands the test of time. A lifetime and dementia diagnosis later, they’re still a perfect match. There’s more than one tear-worthy embrace throughout this film, but their final kiss really takes the cake. In the end, Allie remembers Noah, and they’re both ready to see just how far their love can take them. Their story is fitting, but the ups and downs take us on a real journey to this point.
#4: The Engagement “A Walk to Remember” (2002)
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Nicholas Sparks adaptations are known to make viewers weep, and this movie is no exception. The popular guy falling for the nerdy girl is a classic trope, so it could feel cliché. But Landon and Jamie have a special story, as her terminal illness puts a time limit on things. Their love goes from being heartwarming and sweet to heartbreakingly tragic. Yet despite their doomed fate, the pair make the most of each moment together. Landon proposing to fulfill Jamie’s wish of getting married in the same church as her parents is proof of that. The kiss they share in that moment is tender, calm, incredibly bittersweet, and almost too painful to bear.
#3: Kiss of Appreciation “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)
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In a franchise this big, there’s always some plot point to keep up with. So, by the time Kylo Ren and Rey meet up in this movie, most viewers are already heavily invested in their individual stories and family backgrounds. And seeing the Jedi fight Darth Vader’s descendant had everyone on the edge of their seats. The last thing you might expect, then, is for this storyline to end in such a touching manner. But when Ben saves Rey’s life at the cost of his own, it’s an epic ending - with not a dry eye in the house.
#2: Reunion Revelation “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
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It’s no secret that many movie love stories end in heartbreak and tragedy. But this one takes the pain to a whole other level. The movie is set in a time where it’s dangerous to be openly gay. So when cowboys Ennis and Jack fall for one another, they’re forced to face a difficult reality. Their love is essentially forbidden, so they both marry women and start families. Despite this, they never stop loving each other. So when Jack shows up at his former flame’s home, they can’t help but share an intense kiss. Sadly, Ennis’ wife Alma sees the embrace, making for a movie moment that’s truly stacked with all kinds of emotion.
#1: Final Goodbye “Me Before You” (2016)
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The best romances are the ones where the couple make each other better people. And Louisa and Will definitely fit that bill. Will doesn't have much desire to live, while Lou wants to make the most out of every day. As his newly-appointed caregiver, then, she tries to bring him joy. Of course, they fall for each other in the process. And, through the love that they develop, Lou eventually chooses to stand by the decision that Will has made for his life, despite the pain it causes. Their goodbye kiss punctuates an already heart-wrenching storyline, making it impossible to hold back tears.