There’s nothing better than watching your favorite book characters and love stories come to life on the big screen. Some of the most timeless romance movies started off as bestselling, fan-favorite novels before being adapted into movies. We’ve seen this time and time again with classics such as Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook, Crazy Rich Asians, Call Me By Your Name, and the highly anticipated upcoming adaptation of It Ends With Us. Undoubtedly, romantic book-to-movie adaptations have always been all the rage.
Tear-jerker romance movie adaptations have everything you need for the perfect watch — from the nail-biting chemistry to the unforgettable, emotionally devastating storylines. The fascinating storytelling skills of legendary authors such as Jane Austen, and Charlotte Brontë, and modern-day authors such as Nicholas Sparks, and Sally Thorne have paved the way for books to have their day in the sun and on the silver screen. With that said, here’s a list of the five best romance movies based on books that will not leave a dry eye in the house.
1. One Day
We kick off with the highly acclaimed emotional rollercoaster love story One Day, based on David Nicholls’s novel of the same name. Released in 2011, One Day brings to life the story of Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess) and Emma Morley (Anne Hathaway), who meet for the first time and spend a platonic night together on July 15, 1988 — the day of their graduation from the University of Edinburgh. Over the course of 20 years, they reconnect on the same day — July 15— and their platonic, undying friendship soon evolves into the greatest love story.
Emma and Dexter are worlds apart; she’s a working-class girl who dreams of making the world a better place, while he’s an effortless charmer with a carefree demeanor. This will-they-won’t-they love story spans over two decades, and when they finally give in to their love for each other, reality hits in the most tragic way possible. This gut-wrenching film is so good that you’ll be drying your tears long after the credits have rolled off. It also has a Netflix series adaptation starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall which should be your next stop.
2. P.S. I Love You
Based on the novel by Cecelia Ahern, P.S. I Love You is another perfect choice if you’re looking for a movie that will make you ugly-cry all the way through. In this movie, Holly (Hilary Swank) has just lost her husband and the love of her life, Gerry (Gerard Butler), to a brain tumor. Overwhelmed by grief, she withdraws from all her family and friends as she mourns this profound loss.
However, knowing how much she’d struggle when he’s gone, Gerry leaves behind a series of letters to be delivered to Holly on certain days. This is the ultimate final act of love as the letters are filled with hope and guidance to help Holly face her grief and eventually move on with her life. To say this is a heartwarming movie is an understatement. It also stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan who plays Holly’s potential love interest, William.
Watch P.S. I Love You on Netflix
3. The Fault In Our Stars
John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars took the whole world by storm with its 2014 movie adaptation. There’s an infinite number of sad romance movie adaptations, but The Fault In Our Stars is certainly among the best. It follows the epic love story of Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus Water (Ansel Elgort), who meet at a cancer support group.
As most love stories go, they meet and end up falling in love, but there’s a catch. Hazel is battling depression and thyroid cancer, while Gus is in remission after losing a leg to bone cancer. Together, they go on a trip of a lifetime to Amsterdam to meet Hazel’s favorite author, Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe). However, a series of unfortunate events follow soon after, leaving viewers rolling in a pool of tears.
Watch The Fault In Our Stars on Netflix
4. Me Before You
Me Before You is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jojo Moyes, and it will go down in history as one of the most heartbreaking stories ever. The movie follows a happy-go-lucky Lou (Emilia Clarke), who gets a job as the caretaker of Will (Sam Claflin), who was paralyzed after a ghastly motorcycle accident. Initially, Will is repulsed by Lou’s colorful and outgoing personality, but he soon begins to develop a soft spot for her.
The emotional kicker in this story is when Lou finds out about Will’s plan to end his life through assisted suicide due to his disability. Lou makes it her priority to change his mind by taking him on fun adventures to prove that life is still worth living. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t have a happy ending, but it remains a hopeful one.
Watch Me Before You on Prime Video
5. Atonement
Atonement is a romantic war film based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Ian McEwan. The film tells the story of Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley), the bold, older daughter of an upper-class British family, who falls for Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the housekeeper’s son. Everything changes when Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), falsely accuses Robbie of raping her cousin. The story will truly take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as it begins on a light-hearted note only to end on a heart-shattering one. Don’t forget to check out these 10 best book-to-movie adaptations in the past 10 years!
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