With Valentine's Day right around the corner here's a look back at some of the most romantic movies that have hit the big screen. They might have made us cry, but they also gave us hope and inspiration on the power love has over people. Here is a subjective list of the top ten tearjerkers. Dust off your DVD players and browse Netflix - these romantic films are perfect to watch on Cupid's holiday.
Click on Start to view the slideshow
The film focuses on the tougher parts of life and how it takes a toll on relationships. Michael Green, played by Andy Garcia has to face the reality of his wife’s alcoholism. Once things get bad and Alice Green, played by Meg Ryan enters rehab and Michael is left taking care of their daughters. When she returns from rehab, the couple deals with adjusting their life back to normalcy. ReutersGranted this is a film about an asteroid the size of Texas headed straight for Earth but the love story between Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck is undeniable. Affleck’s character A.J. is recruited by NASA to go to space and try to stop the catastrophic asteroid. Once up there things get hazardous, and Tyler’s character Grace is left to worry about her fiancé and the dangerous mission. ReutersWhat girl wouldn’t want someone standing outside her bedroom window playing Pete Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” from a boom box? That’s what John Cusack, as Lloyd Dobler, did to win the heart of Diane Court, played by Ione Skye. He was an underachiever. She was an overachiever. The two dealt with Diane’s overprotective father what happens to their relationship once she left for college. ReutersWhen a young man and woman meet on a train in Europe they wind up spending an evening strolling around Vienna together. Regrettably, they both know this will probably the only night they have together. This film is the perfect example of how a total stranger can impact one’s life in such a large way – something many people can relate to. ReutersNine years after Jesse, played by Ethan Hawke, and Celine, portrayed by Julie Delpy, first meet on a train headed to Vienna in “Before Sunrise,” the two meet again in Paris while Jesse is on his book tour. The two only have a few hours to reconnect and share their experiences, and life views. Even though Jesse is married with a child it does not steer him away from discussing love with his old acquaintance. Another example of how one person can make such a strong effect on someone else. ReutersIn this story of unconventional love, Ennis, played by the late Heath Ledger and Jack played by Jake Gyllenhaal are sheep herders who spend many months at a time living alone on Brokeback Mountain and develop feelings for each other. Set in the 1960s the film focuses on their passion for each other and how society’s expectations tear them apart. The film, based on the short story by Annie Proulx, won three Academy Awards. ReutersA story of an upper class, well-bred woman falling for someone in a different social class, this movie is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. Starring Ryan Gosling as Noah and Rachel McAdams as Allie, this film shines a light on young love dealing with the reality of Allie’s deteriorating health. The famous line “It wasn’t over – it still isn’t over,” will forever haunt all romantics. ReutersAny adaptation of this classic Shakespeare play about star-crossed lovers goes down in the books as one of the most heartbreaking love stories ever. As Juliet lays unconscious having swallowed the potion to fake her death, Romeo falls for the trick and ends his life. The moment the two lovers lock eyes and realize the mistake they made, hearts shattered universally. ReutersKeira Knightly in Love ActuallyReutersMany tears were shed in 1997 with this romantic tale of a rich girl falling in love with a poor boy on the “unsinkable” ship. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose deWitt Bukator, James Cameron’s epic story about two lovers doomed from the start will remain a romantic classic. The film won a total of 11 Academy Awards.Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in a scene from the film "Titanic," an epic, action packed romance set against the ill-fated voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic.Reuters
