Movies like The Fault In Our Stars may not always be easy to watch, but sometimes audiences are looking for that effective mix of romance and tragedy. The movie is based on the popular young adult novel by John Green and stars Shailene Woodley as Hazel and Ansel Elgort as Gus, two teens who meet in a cancer support group. They fall in love, showing each other the joys of life while they face the reality that they might not have much of it left.

The movie is notorious for its emotional yet engrossing story of young love wrapped in tragedy. It can be harrowing at times, but it can also be inspiring. There are also a number of other movies that have struck a similar balance, delivering love stories that explore the difficult roads in life and how love can make them a little easier. Some have happier endings than others, but these movies like The Fault in Our Stars capture the beauty and tragedy in some memorable young cinematic romances.

20

The Notebook (2004)

Star-Crossed Lovers Are Faced With Obstacles In Their Romance

When it comes to love stories that make audiences cry, it is hard not to think of The Notebook. An adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, The Notebook stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as two star-crossed lovers who defied societal conventions with their relationship in the 1940s only for other circumstances to keep them apart. Their story is being told by an older man to a woman with Alzheimer’s as a way of helping her cope with the disease.

Gosling and McAdams have become one of the most iconic movie couples as Noah and Allie in this movie. However, The Notebook’s ending reveals the full extent of their relationship, which adds another layer of beauty and tragedy to the story. Interestingly, the ultimate couple who is attempting to overcome an illness together is much older than Hazel and Gus in The Fault in Our Stars, but the impact of their bittersweet love story is still as impactful.

19

We Live In Time (2024)

A Tragic Relationship Is Examined Non-Chronologically

The Fault in Our Stars follows Gus and Hazel’s relationship from the exciting beginning to the heartbreaking end, but it is interesting to see a similar relationship dealt with in a non-chronological way. We Live in Time stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh as Tobias and Almut, a couple who meet by chance and form a strong connection while also dealing with Almut’s battle with cancer.

We Live in Time is just as effective in showing the love, humor, and struggles of romance.

Almut and Tobias’ relationship in We Live in Time is shown to the audience as it jumps around in the timeline, back and forth. The effect is a story that feels more like a memory of a relationship and all of its key moments rather than seeing one unfold like in The Fault in Our Stars. However, We Live in Time is just as effective in showing the love, humor, and struggles of romance.

18

Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)

A Timid Teen Befriends A Girl Battling Cancer

Seeing The Fault in Our Stars mesh a teen love story with a story of teens battling life-threatening illnesses made it surprising how effectively the movie pulled it off. Of course, The Fault in Our Stars is not the only film to have succeeded in this daunting task. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was another teen romance while, as the title suggests, also dealing with some heavy subject matter.

Thomas Mann stars in the movie as Greg, a somewhat isolated high school student who spends his time parodying classic movies with his friend Earl. However, he goes on a path of self-discovery after forming a bond with a fellow student, Rachel (House of the Dragon’s Olivia Cooke), who has been diagnosed with cancer. The film has a lot more humor than The Fault in Our Stars while also dealing with the subject matter in a similarly grounded way.

17

The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)

A Young Outcast Struggles With Teen Problems

While the tragic cancer storyline of The Fault in Our Stars is obviously an overpowering aspect of the story, the film is still a moving and relatable teen story that deals with being at that pivotal age and experiencing first love. One of the most underrated teen movies of all time, The Edge of Seventeen, also does a fantastic job of dealing with the most awkward time in a young person’s life where small problems can seem all-consuming.

The Edge of Seventeen stars Hailee Steinfeld as Nadine, a teen who has a hard time fitting in as she deals with an obsessive crush, a friendship falling apart, and past heartbreak. The movie has a lot of humor, but the third act gets more serious, similar to The Fault in Our Stars, as all of Nadine’s struggles pile up. It makes for a complex and compelling teen story.

16

50/50 (2011)

A Young Man Battles A Life-Threatening Illness

The Fault in Our Stars presents the difficult reality that young people also kind find themselves facing terrible illnesses like cancer. The unfairness and harrowing nature of the story is amplified by the young ages of Gus and Hazel. While 50/50 deals with a slightly older protagonist, it is still a compelling look at how young people deal with this life-changing diagnosis and the fight to overcome it.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in the movie as Adam, a young man who learns he has a rare form of cancer for which the survival rate is 50 percent. The film leans into R-rated humor in its story, showing the laughter that can come from the situation. However, the illness is dealt with in a very real way as Adam is filled with fear, anger, and confusion about the whole situation. Like The Fault in Our Stars, the movie shows the importance of relationships during such struggles, including Adam’s burgeoning relationship with a therapist, played by Anna Kendrick.

15

Remember Me (2010)

A Young Man Confronts His Shattered Life With The Help Of A New Love

Remember Me‘s ending has made the movie infamous but it is a romantic drama worthy of a closer look. This underrated movie stars Robert Pattinson as Tyler, a young man struggling with his fractured family after a tragedy tears them apart. He falls in love with a girl named Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin, who lives life with a sense of fullness and optimism that Tyer has lost in his life. As their romance blossoms, Ally helps Tyler mend various aspects of his life.

It is true that the ending can ruin the movie for a lot of people, delivering the kind of sad conclusion these movies can tend to have in a controversial and manipulative way. However, the relationship at its center may hook fans of The Fault in Our Stars as it shows someone struggling with the harsh reality of their life only to be given the spark they needed to find happiness amidst the sadness.

Rememeber Me is available for streaming on Prime Video.

14

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Fault In Our Stars’ Shailene Woodley Dates Party Boy Miles Teller

Before The Fault In Our Stars’ Shailee Woodley cemented her talent and star power in that movie, she made another teen romance movie that fans will also love. Miles Teller stars in The Spectacular Now as Sutter Keely, a fun-loving student known for her partying ways who meets his shy classmate, Aimee (Woodley) and develops a romance with her late in their high school life.

The movie is surprisingly complex and nuanced for its approach to young relationships, which would appeal to fans of The Fault In Our Stars. The central couple is charming and there is a lot of fun seeing their young love blossom. However, there is also a darkness to these two that always threatens to overcloud their fun times. The movie also contains a strong supporting cast, including Brie Larson, Bob Odenkirk, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

13

Paper Towns (2015)

A Sheltered Boy Goes On Adventure With His Childhood Crush

The young romance of the story is more one-sided than in The Fault in Our Stars, but both are charming

Paper Towns is a fantastic movie that fans of The Fault In Our Stars will be able to connect with easily. It follows Quentin (Nat Wolff), a buckled-down high schooler who spends one random night on a series of adventures with his lifelong crush, Margot (Cara Delevingne). When she goes missing the next day, he follows a series of clues to discover what happened to her.

Part of the reason Paper Towns will work for fans of The Fault in Our Stars is because they both come from author John Green’s books. The young romance of the story is more one-sided than in The Fault in Our Stars, but both are charming stories of how someone can meet the right person to help them understand more about themselves than they ever knew. There’s also a cameo from Ansel Elgort, one of the co-leads in The Fault in Our Stars.

12

Irreplaceable You (2018)

A Dying Woman Attempts To Find A New Partner For Her Husband

There is a difficult thing to balance in stories like The Fault in Our Stars with uplifting romance and heartbreaking tragedy. That balance is also achieved in Irreplaceable You. This Netflix Original movie stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Abbie and Michiel Huisman as Sam, friends-turned-fiances set to be married whose worlds are rocked by Abbie’s cancer diagnosis. In addition to the medical complications, Abbie is bent on finding a new love for Sam once she’s gone.

The idea of a couple facing the very real possibility of death together is a heartbreaking one echoed in The Fault in Our Stars. It takes a look at an interesting conflict with Abbie wanting to ensure Sam is not alone and Sam knowing he will always love Abbie. The movie features Kate McKinnon, Brian Tyree Henry, and Christopher Walken, all bringing some humor into the unique love story.

11

My Sister’s Keeper (2009)

A Young Girl Fights Her Own Family For Control Of Her Body

It is filled with sadness, but there’s also an uplifting and sweet story

While The Fault in Our Stars takes a look at the tragedy of two young lovers battling a disease together, My Sister’s Keeper is even more heartbreaking in its look at a young child dealing with the difficult reality. Abigail Breslin stars as a young girl who has been relied on to help keep her leukemia-stricken sister alive but chooses to push back against her parents in order to have control over her own body.

Unlike The Fault in Our Stars‘ story about young love, this is a tale of a family facing similar realities together. It is a complex idea with a lot of love in the family, but different priorities conflicting with one another. It is filled with sadness, but there’s also an uplifting and sweet story of these loved ones supporting each other through incredibly difficult times.

10

One Day (2011)

Two Friends Become Lovers While Reuniting Every Year

like The Fault in Our Stars, the tragedy elevates the romance

The success of the Netflix show One Day might overshadow the little-seen movie version, but it is still a bittersweet love story worth seeing. This British film, based on the novel of the same name, follows Dexter and Emma, two friends — played by Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway, respectively — who reunite every year on the same day, July 15. Their ideals clash even as their romance blooms.

The movie tracks their highs and lows through two decades, showing the different stages of their lives these two characters are in, changing their relationship each time. Even though they will find each other, that’s not where the movie ends with the idea of the inevitability of their romance being taken to a heartbreaking conclusion. Yet, like The Fault in Our Stars, the tragedy elevates the romance.

9

Love & Other Drugs (2010)

A Woman Battling An Illness Finds Romance With A Cocky Pharmaceutical Rep

Another movie starring Anne Hathaway — who may give Shailene Woodley a run for her money when it comes to sad love stories — Love & Other Drugs is about Maggie Murdock, who has early-onset Parkison’s Disease. She meets Jamie Randall, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as he pedals pharmaceuticals, including the newly released male performance drug, Viagra

Like The Fault in Our Stars, the movie explores a couple starting a romance in the midst of an illness changing one of their lives. Maggie is initially very closed off but wants to get too close to Jamie as she is unaware of what the future will hold. However, it is a story about how having someone who loves and supports her can make even this terrifying diagnosis feel more manageable. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway have great chemistry, selling the highs and lows of the romance.

8

Titanic (1997)

A Star-Crossed Romance Ignites Aboard The Doomed Ship

When it comes to stories of sweeping, uplifting yet doomed romances like The Fault in Our Stars, there are few that can surpass Titanic. The fact that the overall story of Titanic is based on real events only helps to enhance the sadness of the moment, which makes this an amazing emotional film. James Cameron tells the story of the ill-fated ship with the fictional story of star-crossed lovers Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) at its center.

The romantic element between Jack and Rose might be dramatized, but that only makes the film easier to connect with and enjoy. The classist divide between the rich and the poor that serves as the primary obstacle therein is as classic as they come, and enjoyable to see unfold — until that tearjerker of an ending, anyway. It is a testament to the impact of the romance that it manages to stand out amid the grand set pieces Cameron brilliantly constructs.

7

Me Before You (2016)

A Tetraplegia Man Finds Romance And Purpose

One of the main themes of The Fault in Our Stars is the idea of love providing hope in the middle of a seemingly hopeless situation. This is also accomplished with the lovely British romance, Me Before You. In the story, Will (Sam Claflin) is paralyzed and seeking death with dignity. However, Lou (Emilia Clarke) comes into his life like a spot of sunshine and wants to change his mind. On the other hand, Will wants to change her life, even after he plans to be gone.

The story has elements of a gender-switched dynamic of The Fault in Our Stars‘ Hazel and Gus with Lou being the optimistic and vibrant one who helps Will see the beauty in the world when it is so hard to from his situation. It makes for a small but charming story with great performances from the two leads.

6

Love, Simon (2018)

A Gay Teen Struggles With Coming Out

Love, Simon tells a fantastic story that touches on some truly emotional and important messages. The film is based on a popular novel and follows Simon as he wrestles with elements of his identity, particularly the immense difficulty of keeping the fact he is homosexual to himself. However, throughout the film, he ends up falling in love online with an anonymous person who happens to be a classmate, all while he is being blackmailed by someone threatening to reveal his secret to the school.

It’s a very complex movie and it touches on many real emotions and contemporary issues, making this something that people can really connect with. Seeing an LGBTQ+ love story of this kind which gives an honest look at Simon’s passions and struggles is very rewarding. While it focuses more on one character rather than The Fault in Our Stars‘ story of a couple, it is another romance movie about finding inner strength to face a hard road ahead.

5

P.S. I Love You (2007)

A Woman Follows Letters Left By Her Late Husband

One of the most famous tragedy romances, P.S. I Love You stars Hilary Swank as Holly Kennedy, who follows a trail of love letters left by her late husband Gerry (Gerard Butler). The words he left behind are a constant reminder of the life together that was taken from them. However, from beyond, Gerry encourages Holly to press forward and be strong.It is a love story replayed in snippets and a movie of self-discovery.

It is the perfect antidote for fans still mourning the loss of Gus in The Fault In Our Stars. It is a movie about grief and tragedy, but it is also a stirring look at life beyond that. Though Butler’s Gerry is dead for most of the movie, he still provides that source of light in Holly’s life, reminding her to live every moment despite her sorrow.

4

Everything, Everything (2017)

An Isolated Teen Is Opened To The World By A New Love Interest

Everything, Everything is perfect for those looking for The Fault In Our Stars, albeit with a twist. Nicola Yoon’s YA novel of the same name was adapted into this teen romance with rising star Amandla Stenberg. She plays Maddy, a girl who lives a very different kind of life as she is unable to leave her house due to having an extreme illness. Even while she’s trapped indoors, unable to have friends or contact with the outside, Maddy falls in love with her neighbor Olly, played by Nick Robinson.

The movie is filled with some interesting twists that will likely divide viewers, but it doesn’t take away from the central romance. Once again, it is the dynamic that worked so well in The Fault in Our Stars with a new love interest offering Maddy a chance to live like never before. However, there is an interesting element with Maddy wondering if the chance at love is worth risking her health.

3

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

A Misfit Finds Acceptance Among Other Outcast Teens

Another movie based on an acclaimed novel about teenage struggles, The Perks of Being a Wallflower struck a chord with a generation of audiences in a similar way that The Fault in Our Stars did. The movie stars Logan Lerman as a socially awkward young man struggling with his mental health who finds some acceptance with a group of high school misfits and finds love with the free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson).

There’s a great deal of romance, friendship, and learning to mature in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, as incredibly tough and sensitive subjects such as suicide are dealt with. It’s a great film to introduce teen audiences to more mature themes. There is plenty of comedy spliced in here as well, which helps to lighten things up and ensure the movie isn’t too dark.

2

A Walk To Remember (2002)

A Good Girl And Bad Boy Develop An Unexpected Romance

For millennials thinking of a movie about star-crossed lovers rocked by a sickness, A Walk to Remember is probably what comes to mind. This classic from the early aughts, adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, stars Shane West as a troublemaking teen who is given a shot at redemption with his friendship with a mild-mannered daughter of a pastor (Mandy Moore) which develops into something more.

The movie packs in so much intensity in terms of the romance with these two feeling like such an unlikely couple yet proving that they can bring out the best in each other. However, as can be expected with a Nicholas Sparks story, tragedy comes into their sweet romance that only solidifies the beauty of this relationship and what they mean to each other. While The Fault in Our Stars devastated many fans of the 2010s, A Walk to Remember was the heartbreaking story of young love for the 2000s.

1

The Big Sick (2017)

An Unexpected Illness Rocks A New Romance

One of the most unique love stories of the 21st century, The Big Sick wraps comedy, romance, and drama all in one with the story of two lovers (Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan) who face great odds. They’re in a relationship that may not be accepted based on race and religion, and she suddenly develops a life-threatening illness that leaves her in a coma. As he deals with this new development in their broken relationship, his love for her begins to develop.

The Big Sick was written by Nanjiani and his real-life wife Emily Gordon, based on their real story, making it all the more touching. It is a very original approach to this idea with Emily spending most of the movie in a coma and yet the relationship is still one audiences are rooting for. It is another sweet romance about the harder realities of life complicating love stories. However, unlike The Fault in Our Stars, there are some big laughs in this movie.