The 50 saddest movie love stories

40. Une Partie de Campagne (1936)

The Story: Henriette (Sylvia Bataille) is seduced by young vagabond Henri (Georges D'Arnoux), who takes her on an impromptu boat trip that ends with them as lovers.

Saddest Part: Henriette doesnt see Henri again for many years--and when she does eventually spot him, shes now married to Anatole (Paul Temps).

39. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

The Story: Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) loves Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett), but the window of time in which they are of the same physical age is too short.

Saddest Part: Feeling he can only do Daisy and his daughter harm because of his anti-aging condition, Benjamin leaves them to travel the world.

38. Forrest Gump (1994)

The Story: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has been in love with Jenny (Robin Wright) ever since he was a kid.

As an adult, though, she proves flightly, unreliable and irresponsible. Which makes his life pretty darned complicated.

Saddest Part: Just when Jenny returns and professes her love for Forrest, she dies, leaving him just one glimmer of hope: a son.

37. The Iron Lady (2011)

The Story: In the twilight years of her life, Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) sees the ghostly shade of her dead husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent).

Saddest Part: As Margaret reminisces about the pairs courtship back in the day, the present finds her a broken woman in desperate need of her husband.

36. Terms Of Endearment (1983)

The Story: Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) gives in to the advances of her neighbour (and ex-astronaut) Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson).

A wild-at-heart, Garrett wines and dines her, and shows her a really good time by driving her around in his Corvette

Saddest Part: Garrett breaks up with Aurora, but when her daughter develops and dies of cancer, he returns to help her raise her grandchildren.

35. Once (2006)

The Story: Dublin busker Guy (Glen Hansard) meets Czech immigrant Girl (Markta Irglov) and the pair bond over music. And hoovers.

Saddest Part: Despite the obvious romantic attraction between the pair, Guys obsessed with going back to London and winning back his ex-girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Girl eventually plays her song for Guy, which is about romantic frustration. Just before her husband moves to Dublin to be with her

34. In The Mood For Love (2000)

The Story: Lonely Hong Kong neighbours Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) are both married, but both are often left alone by their partners for long stretches.

Instead of cheating on their spouses, though, the two become friends--though its obvious there are deeper feelings involved.

Saddest Part: Though theyre obviously meant to be together, Chow and Su never get together. Travesty.

33. The Fountain (2006)

The Story: A trio of stories are presented in Darren Aronofskys dreamy drama, including that of Tom (Hugh Jackman), whose wife Izzi (Rachel Weisz) is dying of cancer.

Saddest Part: The three men as played by Jackman are forever searching for a solution to lost love--a solution that probably doesnt exist.

32. I Dreamed Of Africa (2000)

The Story: After surviving a car crash, Italian socialite Kuki (Kim Basinger) marries Paolo Gallmann (Vincent Perez) and is whisked off to live with him in Africa.

All this, despite not really knowing Paolo from Adam.

Saddest Part: Kuki quickly learns that Paolo is a wild beast who lives for danger. He frequently leaves her alone to go hunting, forcing her to go to a neighbouring tribe for help

31. Shakespeare In Love (1998)

The Story: Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) falls for rugged young playwright William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), and the pair begin a secret love affair.

Saddest Part: For she will be my heroine for all time, and her name will be... Viola

The pair are unable to be together, but Shakespeare immortalises his love in Twelfth Night. Ahh.