Dating all the way back to ancient Greek tragedy and even earlier, unrequited love is a highly exploited trope in Hollywood and has been depicted in countless films over time, with varying degrees of longevity and success. A one-sided love story has the power to move and touch audiences, as their plights can oftentimes endear, frustrate, and amuse the masses. This style of storytelling is no stranger to the silver screen, with some of the most memorable and iconic films adopting this heart-wrenching, tear-jerking concept to greater effect than others.
Updated September 23, 2022: If you’re a fan of the unrequited love trope, you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content and films.
Whether it’s the all-consuming love of a literary great, the misguided efforts of a hopeless romantic, or the desperate pining for an unattainable crush, tales of unrequited love have always found a permanent home in Tinsel Town. Real love may not be like movie love, but since so many people experience the highs and lows of romance, let’s take a look at some of the best movies about unrequited love.
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12 Ghost World
United ArtistsMGM
Terry Zwigoff’s critically acclaimed dark comedy Ghost World centers on the lives of Enid and Rebecca, two teenage outsiders whose once solid friendship becomes strained when Enid takes an interest in an older man’s love life. Starring the talented Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as the duo and Steve Buscemi as a lonely middle-aged record collector, Ghost World is based on the Daniel Clowes comic book of the same-name. Enid makes it her mission to help the reclusive Seymour find a woman, but in the process develops a crush on the older man. Though not exactly a typical Valentine’s Day staple, Ghost World takes audiences on a journey of self-exploration and flawlessly depicts adolescent agonies.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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11 Love Actually
Universal Pictures (Worldwide) / Mars Distribution (France)
One of the most iconic film depictions of unrequited love, 2003’s Love Actually follows the lives of eight vastly different couples a month before Christmas as their stories inadvertently get woven together. Mark (Andrew Lincoln) is hopelessly in love with his best friend’s new bride Juliet (Kiera Knightley) and in his efforts to hide his feelings he comes off indifferent and seemingly cold towards her. When Juliet attempts to smooth over their relationship, Mark becomes inspired to declare his love for her via a boombox and large cue cards. Love Actually has become a modern-day Christmas classic and perfectly captures the heartbreaking realities of unrequited love.
10 Welcome to the Dollhouse
Sony Pictures Classics
Todd Solondz’s cruel 1995 coming-of-age comedy Welcome to the Dollhouse tells the story of the bullied and unpopular 11-year-old Dawn Wiener, a shy girl who constantly feels overlooked by her family and friends and who tries desperately to stand out and get their attention. When her geeky older brother forms a band and the handsome new student Steve Rodgers joins, Dawn is absolutely smitten with the high schooler despite everyone telling her she has no chance with the musician. The lauded independent film depicts Dawn’s growing obsession with Steve and chronicles the embarrassing highs and lows of adolescent crushes and unreciprocated romantic feelings that run rampant in childhood.
9 The Great Gatsby
Warner Bros. Pictures
Baz Luhrmann’s maximalist adaptation of the beloved F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby tells the tale of millionaire Jay Gatsby as he encounters his neighbor Nick Carraway and pines for his former love Daisy Buchanan during the Roaring Twenties. Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan portray the ill-fated lovers, while Tobey Maguire stars as aspiring writer Nick. The heartbreaking love affair between Jay and Daisy is infamous and ultimately ends in tragedy, yet watching it unfold is a deeply moving experience for audiences. Luhrmann’s typically dazzling take on The Great Gatsby is a memorable and raw depiction of the highs and lows of love.
8 Pretty in Pink
Paramount Pictures
The iconic 1986 teen rom-com Pretty in Pink tells the story of a love triangle between a girl who must decide between her feelings for her childhood best friend and a rich yet sensitive player. ‘80s darlings Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, and Andrew McCarthy portray the lovesick trio in the quintessential “Brat Pack’’ flick, which was written by the beloved John Hughes and directed by Some Kind of Wonderful’s Howard Deutch.
Relatable and down-to-earth Andie (Ringwald) has a crush on preppy rich-kid Blane, and is completely unaware that her best friend and fellow outsider Duckie has been pining after her for years. The original ending actually had underdog Duckie get the girl, but test audiences booed that ending and Hughes rewrote it so Andie and Blane could get together instead. Sorry, Duckie.
7 My Best Friend’s Wedding
TriStar Pictures
Arguably one of the most popular unrequited love films of the ’90s, 1997’s rom-com My Best Friend’s Wedding follows a woman who realizes she is in love with her best friend after he announces his engagement. She then sets off on a mission to win him over and tell him how she feels, despite his fast-approaching nuptials. Julia Roberts stars in the lead role as Jules, whose best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) becomes engaged to the bubbly and sweet Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Sabotage and hijinks naturally ensue, culminating in a bittersweet finale. My Best Friend’s Wedding is heavily regarded as one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time and is a cherished staple.
6 (500) Days of Summer
Searchlight Pictures
2009’s romantic dramedy (500) Days of Summer stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel and focuses on hopeless romantic Tom Hansen as he reflects on his failed relationship with the girl he believes is his soulmate. He sets off to figure out what went wrong and to win her back, analyzing the various events of their 500-day courtship. Summer doesn’t believe in true love and Tom is a diehard romantic, so naturally tensions run high and problems befall them. The refreshing rom-com (made at the height of ‘manic pixie dream girl’ fandom) is offbeat, charming, and unique in its storytelling, since it tells audiences how it will end at the very beginning with lead Tom wondering why.
5 Brokeback Mountain
Focus Features
Neo-Western romantic drama Brokeback Mountain depicts the complex and moving emotional and sexual relationship between two American cowboys over the course of 20 years. Heath Ledger stars as Ennis Del Mar and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist, a pair of sheepherders who fall in love and endure a heartbreakingly raw and tragic romance. Their love story is beautifully brutal and depicts the efforts Ennis and Jack go to in order to repress their passion and all-consuming feelings. Brokeback Mountain has been heralded as a turning point for the progression of queer cinema into the mainstream, and features one of the most poignant and heart-wrenching endings in film to date.
4 Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Universal Pictures
On the more comedic side of unrequited love, Jason Segel wrote and stars in the 2008 comedy farce Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which follows devastated composer Peter as he escapes on a Hawaiian vacation after his TV star girlfriend Sarah breaks up with him. Kristen Bell stars as the titular Sarah, who leaves Peter for British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) and happens to vacation at the same resort her ex is at.
Peter must come to terms with his heartbreak and grief, while still longing for Sarah and their broken relationship. Mila Kunis stars as resort receptionist Rachel, who helps pull Peter out of his anguish ridden breakdown and shows him that love can blossom once again. The film is as funny look not just at unrequited love but at how people eventually come to get over it.
3 To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Netflix
The Netflix teen rom-com To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is based on the 2014 Jenny Han novel and centers on a teenage girl whose life is turned upside down when her secret love letters are exposed. Starring Lana Candor and Noah Centineo as Lara Jean and her crush Peter, the film follows Lara Jean as she deals with the fallout of her love letters being mailed to all her crushes and their diverse reactions. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of the much-needed mainstream romance films to feature people of color in leading roles, and is a sweet and heartwarming rom-com that was a runaway hit for Netflix, and its success led to two follow-up sequels.
2 The Holiday
Sony Pictures Releasing
In the star-studded Nancy Meyers romantic comedy The Holiday, two dejected women on opposite sides of the world decide to do a home exchange during the Christmas season in hopes of escaping their respective messy love lives. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz appear as London society columnist Iris and Los Angeles movie trailer producer Amanda, who attempt to do some much-needed self reflection after ending their problematic relationships. Iris is still madly in love with her ex despite the fact that he emotionally manipulates her and has cheated repeatedly, so she sets out for sunny California after being blindsided by his engagement announcement. The feel-good film, which has become an inspiring Christmas staple in recent years, chronicles the growth both women experience as they discover their own self-worth and fulfillment lies within themselves and not a partner.
1 He’s Just Not That Into You
Based on the Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo self-help book, 2009’s epic rom-com features an all-star ensemble cast including Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck and a plethora of more talented actors. The film focuses on nine people and their various romantic problems as they try to navigate the world of dating and romance. From unrequited affection to misread romantic interests, He’s Just Not That Into You is an entertaining and enlightening film that acutely analyzes the treacherous realities of love and relationships.
The broad range of cast and characters makes the rom-com shine from start to finish, and its title alone simply screams ‘unrequited love.’ He’s Just Not That Into You is a real crowd-pleaser which seeks to entertain its audience — sometimes a movie loves you back, even when people don’t.
