Top 10 Saddest Breakup Scenes in Movies
#10: Steven & Elizabeth “Eat Pray Love” (2010)
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Elizabeth Gilbert has a great career, her own home to return to after a long day, and a loving hubby to spend her time with. Although she’s essentially living the dream, Elizabeth still finds herself restless and unsatisfied as a whole, so she initiates a divorce from her husband, Steven. Steven does not take the news of this well, exploding into a vicious rant about how he doesn’t understand her decision, thinking that everything was going great between them. This scene teaches us that we can’t always have what we want in love, and that sometimes we have to cause heartbreak in order to move forward.
#9: Jacob & Anna “Like Crazy” (2011)
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Jacob and Anna are forced into a long-distance relationship after she is denied entry into the United States when her student visa expires. With an entire ocean between them, they both make a strong attempt to hang onto the passion that they once felt towards each other, but over time, their affection begins to fade. Both end up cheating on one another and they unfortunately discover this over the span of one argument. To witness how bitterly resentful and untrusting they have become towards each other is all the more heartbreaking when compared to how in love they once were. In this case, distance made the heart grow distracted, not fonder.
#8: Jerry & Dorothy “Jerry Maguire” (1996)
When sports agent Jerry Maguire decides to open his own office, 26-year old single mother Dorothy offers to accompany him. The two grow romantically involved and even get married, but unfortunately, Jerry married Dorothy out of a fear of being alone and she picks up on his uneasy vibes. Confronting Jerry before he heads off on his next road trip, she suggests that the best option for both of them would be to take a break, permanently. She claims that their personalities would eventually begin to clash in the long run and that it was wrong of her to throw herself (and her son) at him in the first place. Jerry reluctantly agrees, hiding his unbelievable heartache.
#7: Isaac & Tracy “Manhattan” (1979)
Isaac Davis is under a lot of stress; he’s dealing with finding a decent job opportunity, as well as the fact that his ex-wife is writing a book based on their divorce. His one solace from his frustrations is in the admirations with a young woman he has been dating named Tracy. Good things don’t last forever, however, as Isaac feels its necessary for him and Tracy to call it quits. She is completely enamored by him and can’t understand his decision, but Isaac claims she has her whole life ahead of her and that he isn’t even sure what he wants. It might make sense for them to break up, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
#6: Ted & Joanna “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
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Upon returning home, beaming with excitement to share great news concerning his career, Ted Kramer is met with an unexpected shock from his wife Joanna. She very bluntly and clearly lets him know that she has had more than enough of their marriage before swiftly heading out the door. It all happens so fast that Ted can barely process what’s happening, leaving him completely baffled by the whole situation. All he can do is desperately plead with her to not leave, despite the fact that she wants to do nothing but leave. Divorce is an ugly thing and this scene perfectly captures the anxieties that surround the starting point of a separation.
#5: Will & Skylar “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
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“Good Will Hunting” is an emotional rollercoaster all the way through, but the breakup between Will and Skylar brings the waterworks like nothing else in the film. After Skylar confronts Will about why he is so reserved when it comes to his personal life, as well as why he is unwilling to follow his dreams, things get heated very fast. Will lashes out at her for probing too deep into his affairs, revealing to her details about his troubled past that he wanted to keep hidden. By the time the screaming settles down, Skylar is left completely devastated when Will storms out of the room, telling her that he doesn’t love her.
#4: Daniel & Miranda “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
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Daniel Hillard is a devoted and affectionate father to his three children, but his wife Miranda grows restless with his unreliable personality. One day, Daniel decides it would be a great idea to quit his job and throw a birthday party for their son, Chris. Since this was against Miranda’s wishes, things take a turn for the worse and a wicked argument begins. The scene really punches us in the gut when Daniel exclaims that they can still work it out because they still love each other. Miranda just turns to him and stares without uttering a word. It’s the empty look in her eyes that signals to us that it truly is over.
#3: Ennis & Jack “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
The other relationships on this list came to an end based on a decision made by the couple themselves, but poor Jack and Ennis did not have the luxury of choice. The two men bond at a very deep level over the course of the film, sharing extremely intimate feelings for one another. The love they share is sadly a forbidden one, as homosexuality wasn’t as widely acceptable during the timeframe in which the movie takes place as it is today. Hiding their relationship from the world proves to be too much and they decide to go their separate ways, but the breakup process proves to be incredibly difficult for both men to go through with.
#2: Noah & Allie “The Notebook” (2004)
It sucks, but sometimes things just don’t work out. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Saddest Breakup Scenes in Movies. For this list, we’re looking at the most memorable scenes in movies where two people end their romantic relationship. Some of these couples might be get back together later down the line, but that doesn’t make these breakup scenes any easier to watch. A SPOILER ALERT is definitely in order.
#10: Steven & Elizabeth “Eat Pray Love” (2010)
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Elizabeth Gilbert has a great career, her own home to return to after a long day, and a loving hubby to spend her time with. Although she’s essentially living the dream, Elizabeth still finds herself restless and unsatisfied as a whole, so she initiates a divorce from her husband, Steven. Steven does not take the news of this well, exploding into a vicious rant about how he doesn’t understand her decision, thinking that everything was going great between them. This scene teaches us that we can’t always have what we want in love, and that sometimes we have to cause heartbreak in order to move forward.
#9: Jacob & Anna “Like Crazy” (2011)
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Jacob and Anna are forced into a long-distance relationship after she is denied entry into the United States when her student visa expires. With an entire ocean between them, they both make a strong attempt to hang onto the passion that they once felt towards each other, but over time, their affection begins to fade. Both end up cheating on one another and they unfortunately discover this over the span of one argument. To witness how bitterly resentful and untrusting they have become towards each other is all the more heartbreaking when compared to how in love they once were. In this case, distance made the heart grow distracted, not fonder.
#8: Jerry & Dorothy “Jerry Maguire” (1996)
When sports agent Jerry Maguire decides to open his own office, 26-year old single mother Dorothy offers to accompany him. The two grow romantically involved and even get married, but unfortunately, Jerry married Dorothy out of a fear of being alone and she picks up on his uneasy vibes. Confronting Jerry before he heads off on his next road trip, she suggests that the best option for both of them would be to take a break, permanently. She claims that their personalities would eventually begin to clash in the long run and that it was wrong of her to throw herself (and her son) at him in the first place. Jerry reluctantly agrees, hiding his unbelievable heartache.
#7: Isaac & Tracy “Manhattan” (1979)
Isaac Davis is under a lot of stress; he’s dealing with finding a decent job opportunity, as well as the fact that his ex-wife is writing a book based on their divorce. His one solace from his frustrations is in the admirations with a young woman he has been dating named Tracy. Good things don’t last forever, however, as Isaac feels its necessary for him and Tracy to call it quits. She is completely enamored by him and can’t understand his decision, but Isaac claims she has her whole life ahead of her and that he isn’t even sure what he wants. It might make sense for them to break up, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
#6: Ted & Joanna “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
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Upon returning home, beaming with excitement to share great news concerning his career, Ted Kramer is met with an unexpected shock from his wife Joanna. She very bluntly and clearly lets him know that she has had more than enough of their marriage before swiftly heading out the door. It all happens so fast that Ted can barely process what’s happening, leaving him completely baffled by the whole situation. All he can do is desperately plead with her to not leave, despite the fact that she wants to do nothing but leave. Divorce is an ugly thing and this scene perfectly captures the anxieties that surround the starting point of a separation.
#5: Will & Skylar “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
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“Good Will Hunting” is an emotional rollercoaster all the way through, but the breakup between Will and Skylar brings the waterworks like nothing else in the film. After Skylar confronts Will about why he is so reserved when it comes to his personal life, as well as why he is unwilling to follow his dreams, things get heated very fast. Will lashes out at her for probing too deep into his affairs, revealing to her details about his troubled past that he wanted to keep hidden. By the time the screaming settles down, Skylar is left completely devastated when Will storms out of the room, telling her that he doesn’t love her.
#4: Daniel & Miranda “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
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Daniel Hillard is a devoted and affectionate father to his three children, but his wife Miranda grows restless with his unreliable personality. One day, Daniel decides it would be a great idea to quit his job and throw a birthday party for their son, Chris. Since this was against Miranda’s wishes, things take a turn for the worse and a wicked argument begins. The scene really punches us in the gut when Daniel exclaims that they can still work it out because they still love each other. Miranda just turns to him and stares without uttering a word. It’s the empty look in her eyes that signals to us that it truly is over.
#3: Ennis & Jack “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
The other relationships on this list came to an end based on a decision made by the couple themselves, but poor Jack and Ennis did not have the luxury of choice. The two men bond at a very deep level over the course of the film, sharing extremely intimate feelings for one another. The love they share is sadly a forbidden one, as homosexuality wasn’t as widely acceptable during the timeframe in which the movie takes place as it is today. Hiding their relationship from the world proves to be too much and they decide to go their separate ways, but the breakup process proves to be incredibly difficult for both men to go through with.
#2: Noah & Allie “The Notebook” (2004)
Oh boy, this one hurts to watch. When Allie reveals to Noah that she wants to go away to study in the city, Noah is immediately heartbroken at the notion of her leaving. He sees nothing for himself in a city environment, and so, due to a serious difference in opinion, an argument begins. Neither Noah nor Allie can deal with the reality of the situation as the heartbreak they both feel degenerates into a fit of yelling, shoving, and slapping. They say there is a fine line between love and hate, and Noah and Allie tiptoe dangerously close to that line in this sequence. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. - Marcello & Frances “Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003) - Mark & Bridget “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (2004) - Chow & Su “In the Mood for Love” (2000)
#1: Dean & Cindy “Blue Valentine” (2010)
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This film as a whole revolves around the love/hate relationship between Cindy and Dean, flashing back and forth through time to see all the highs and lows of their time together. Things hit rock bottom when a drunk Dean visits Cindy at the hospital, where she announces that she has had enough and lets him have it. You really feel the years of struggle explode into a mess of chaos as both members of the argument exchange insults, aggression, and generally unleash anything that had been boiling up inside. After Cindy violently hits Dean and storms out asking for a divorce, we know that any chance of love has died and are left feeling very ‘blue’ for the characters onscreen. Do you agree with our list? Which movie breakup scene tugged at your heartstrings the most? For more moving Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo. Oh boy, this one hurts to watch. When Allie reveals to Noah that she wants to go away to study in the city, Noah is immediately heartbroken at the notion of her leaving. He sees nothing for himself in a city environment, and so, due to a serious difference in opinion, an argument begins. Neither Noah nor Allie can deal with the reality of the situation as the heartbreak they both feel degenerates into a fit of yelling, shoving, and slapping. They say there is a fine line between love and hate, and Noah and Allie tiptoe dangerously close to that line in this sequence. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. - Marcello & Frances “Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003) - Mark & Bridget “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (2004) - Chow & Su “In the Mood for Love” (2000)
#1: Dean & Cindy “Blue Valentine” (2010)
This film as a whole revolves around the love/hate relationship between Cindy and Dean, flashing back and forth through time to see all the highs and lows of their time together. Things hit rock bottom when a drunk Dean visits Cindy at the hospital, where she announces that she has had enough and lets him have it. You really feel the years of struggle explode into a mess of chaos as both members of the argument exchange insults, aggression, and generally unleash anything that had been boiling up inside. After Cindy violently hits Dean and storms out asking for a divorce, we know that any chance of love has died and are left feeling very ‘blue’ for the characters onscreen. Do you agree with our list? Which movie breakup scene tugged at your heartstrings the most? For more moving Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
