Romantic heartbreak is ever-present in media, which is why countless sad romance movies have become ingrained in the pop culture lexicon. Jack's infamous demise in Titanic, Romeo and Juliet's deaths in Shakespeare's famous play, and Jenny's succumbing to a terminal illness in 1970's Love Story represent some of the most melancholic moments in film history. Even if audiences are trained to root for a happy ending, a properly done gutwrenching romance can be just as satisfying.
Romance movies can be heartbreaking for several different reasons. Forbidden love, breakups, dire circumstances, and tragic deaths are all big elements in cinema's saddest romance movies. There is simply no shortage of devastating romance films that will keep viewers dabbing at their eyes for hours.
