15 Movies Like The Fault In Our Stars You Need To See

The Fault In Our Stars, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, is one of the most popular movies of its kind: Girl meets boy, but their love doesn’t seem destined to work out due to a fatal affliction. Teens and adults alike fell in love with the tragic tale based on John Green’s bestseller.

It may be the most popular, but it’s not the only movie like it out there. Whether binge-watchers are looking for sappy flicks about star-crossed lovers or similarly sad movies about doomed romances, this is the definitive list.

Updated on September 22nd, 2020 by Matthew Wilkinson:They might not always have the happiest of endings, but they are certainly masterpieces that audiences the world over connect with on an emotionally intimate level. We’ve added a few more movies that are perfect for any fan of The Fault In Our Stars to watch, just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.

15 Remember Me

This underrated flick starred Robert Pattinson (and a pre-royal Meghan Markle) as a young man fighting with his father and making his way in the world. He falls in love with a girl named Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin, and he begins to find himself on the mend.

Seeing as it is on this list for a reason, one can already imagine that their romance doesn’t have a happy ending. But there’s a big reason as to why and it’s a major spoiler that won’t be revealed here.

14 The Spectacular Now

If viewers loved The Fault In Our Stars for Shailee Wooodley’s star power, this is the movie for them. The Spectacular Now co-stars Miles Teller as Sutter Keely, who fully embraces the YOLO lifestyle. Generally, he doesn’t take life too seriously.

Enter Aimee Finicky (Woodley), who is his complete opposite. The movie is surprisingly complex and nuanced for its approach to young relationships, which would appeal to fans of The Fault In Our Stars. No spoilers about the finale here, though; watch it and find out how they end up.

13 Paper Towns

Paper Towns is a fantastic movie that fans of The Fault In Our Stars will be able to connect with easily. It’s a real adventure style movie with a lot going on as Quentin has to spend his time chasing the paper trail of clues to look for his crush, Margo, after she disappears.

He gets together a group of friends and sets out on his goal to try and find her. It’s a great romantic film as the characters all push themselves in the name of young love.

12 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 paramour for Sam once she’s gone.

There are funny friends played by some famous comedians along the way. Irreplaceable You is definitely the movie for fans of The Fault In Our Stars who are all grown up. Check it out on Netflix and find out how the movie ends.

11 My Sister’s Keeper

This movie will have anybody practically drowning in tears as they follow the story of a young girl going through an incredibly tough ordeal after being diagnosed with Leukaemia.

It’s no easy feat to watch as the young character goes through so much turmoil. Her sister looks to get a lawyer’s help to get control over her own body, all while Anna’s parents hope that her sister will donate organs to keep her alive. It’s primarily a movie about family, but there is a young love story in there as well, adding the weight of romance into an already highly emotional equation.

10 One Day

This British film, based on the novel of the same name, follows Dexter and Emma. The two friends — played by Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway, respectively — 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. Even though they will find each other, that’s not where the movie ends. Fans of The Fault In Our Stars will sob through this tragic romance.

9 Love & Other Drugs

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

They begin a relationship, and a fairly happy one, considering the other movies on this list. While The Fault In Our Stars fans may love the coupling, they can breathe easy knowing this flick won’t have the same sad ending.

8 Titanic

When it comes to emotional romances in the movie world, they don’t come more well-known than Titanic. This film has the perfect blend of emotion, comedy, and romance. 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.

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.

7 Me Before You

Me Before You burst into the mainstream with its take on a tragic love story. Starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin as Lou Clark and Will Trainor, Me Before You was a bold take on the rom-com genre.

Will is paralyzed and seeking death with dignity, however, Lou comes into the frame 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. It’s a must-watch for those who haven’t already seen it.

6 Love, Simon

Love, Simon is tells a fantastic story that really 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.

5 P.S. I Love You

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). It is a love story replayed in snippets and a movie of self-discovery.

From beyond, Gerry encourages Holly to press forward and be strong. It is the perfect antidote for fans still mourning the loss of Gus in The Fault In Our Stars.

4 Everything, Everything

This one goes out to fans 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. She’s 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. But not everything is as it appears. The end of this movie may account for the biggest spoiler on the list, so get watching to find out the truth.

3 Perks Of Being A Wallflower

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 though, which helps to lighten things up and ensure the movie isn’t too dark.

2 A Walk To Remember

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 Mandy Moore as a young woman facing leukemia.

She falls in love with a rebellious boy, who really shows her how to live with the time she has left. It’s doubtful that, 18 years later, that is a spoiler. Odds are, viewers have already watched this one, but it doesn’t hurt to see it again.

1 The Big Sick

Brought to life by Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick wraps comedy, romance, and drama all in one with the story of two lovers 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 coma-ridden.

The Big Sick is actually based on the real-life love story of Kumail and his wife Emily, making it all the more touching. Because of that, you can imagine that this has a happy ending, but it is worthwhile to watch this critically acclaimed romance.