Random Saddest Movie Breakup Scenes (14 items)

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  (#2) La La Land

  • Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

  La La Land follows two struggling artists trying to make it big in Los Angeles. Mia Dolan is an aspiring actor, while Sebastian Wilder is a serious jazz musician. The two meet and fall in love, but their careers interfere in their relationship. Since Sebastian is struggling to get his music off the ground, he joins a new band with an old friend. The music, however, has a distinct pop feel that loses some of the magic Sebastian relishes in jazz. Despite not being the music Sebastian wants to perform, the band grows in popularity quickly and soon takes over Sebastian's life. 

  Mia, on the other hand, is still struggling to make her dream a reality. With Sebastian's prodding, she writes and stars in a one-woman play. On the night of her performance, however, Sebastian doesn't show up because he's at a photo shoot for his band. 

  When Sebastian finally does arrive at the theater, Mia is completely done. The band was already a sore point in their relationship, and this last mistake, coupled with her unsuccessful play, is the last straw for Mia. Sebastian is desperate for Mia to forgive him, but it's too late. Her complete despair at the state of her life and relationship is painfully apparent. 

  The first breakup scene is punctuated by a later conversation between the couple after Sebastian picks Mia up and drives her to an important audition. Although the couple clearly loves each other and supports one another's dreams, they also recognize that their aspirations are no longer leading them along the same path. They choose to pursue their careers, ending their relationship in the process. It's a realistic and difficult decision, which makes their breakup scene truly heartbreaking. 
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  (#12) Celeste and Jesse Forever

  • Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg

  Celeste and Jesse were high school sweethearts who eventually got married at a young age. Although they're decently happy together, their relationship isn't as good as it should be. Soon, Celeste asks for a divorce. Although Jesse agrees, the two remain close and continue to spend most of their time together.

  After a night together, Jesse finally realizes that getting back together isn't the best thing for them. At this point, Celeste also realizes that she doesn't want to lose him completely. He moves out and moves on with his life, while Celeste struggles to get over their relationship. The movie ends with Celeste and Jesse signing their divorce papers while laughing at each other's inside jokes. Celeste wishes Jesse well in his new relationship, and the two part ways on good terms. 

  The entire film is almost like one big breakup scene. Although it's somewhat clear that it's time for these two to move on, the shared history between them makes it difficult for either of them to walk away. They're best friends, so they're giving up a lot more by letting go of their marriage. It's hard to watch both of them grapple with the implications of their decision, even though they ultimately choose to move forward without one another. 
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  (#1) The Notebook

  • Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling

  Although The Notebook ultimately ends in a happily ever after, it takes quite the tear-filled path to get there. While Noah and Allie have plenty of heartbreaking ups and downs during the course of the film, nothing is quite as sad as their first breakup scene. While the couple has spent a magical summer together, Noah is starting to catch on to the fact that this might not be a forever thing. He tries to be realistic and tells Allie that they should finish out the summer and figure out what to do after that. 

  Allie doesn't take the news well. She freaks out and starts an argument, telling Noah that if he wants to break up with her, he should just do it right now. While the entire scene is entrenched in emotion, the difficult feelings of hurt quickly turn into anger. Allie doesn't react the way Noah thought she would, but her heartbreak at potentially losing someone she loves is very apparent. She doesn't know what to do, which is made more obvious by the fact that she tells Noah to leave and then immediately panics and looks for reassurance that they're not really breaking up. 

  The feeling Allie emotes is almost too real and too genuine. She's desperate to hold on to someone she loves, even when she knows it has little chance of working out. Her anger, frustration, and sadness make the scene incredibly difficult to watch. 
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  (#3) Casablanca

  • Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart

  Rick Blaine is an American living in Casablanca, where he owns and operates a successful nightclub. One day, however, his life is turned on its head when former lover Ilsa Lund walks into his bar. Ilsa is accompanied by her husband, Victor Laszlo, a Czech Resistance leader. The pair desperately need papers that allow them to travel freely around Germany and Portugal, and Rick is rumored to have them. 

  Rick and Isla met early in WWII when Ilsa believed that her husband died in a concentration camp. When she learned that Victor was still alive, she abandoned Rick without an explanation and returned to Victor. While asking Rick for the papers, Ilsa confesses that she still loves him. Rick agrees to help Victor, and Ilsa states that she'll stay with Rick when Victor leaves. 

  Rick coordinates an escape for Victor and, at the last minute, tells Ilsa she must go with him. He explains that Ilsa would eventually regret leaving her husband, and he doesn't want to put that kind of pressure on her. Although it's difficult for Rick to give up the love of his life, he chooses to do the best thing for Ilsa. His assured decision leaves no room for argument, which makes the pain of their breakup all the more acute. 
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  (#6) Gone with the Wind

  • Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh

  In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett O'Hara is a woman trying to survive in the middle of the Civil War. Scarlett is self-centered and vindictive, and her desire to have her way leads to more than a few failed marriages. Scarlett's one enduring love is Ashley Wilkes, but Ashley is a married man. Rhett Butler, on the other hand, desperately wants to be with Scarlett. Though she makes her way through a series of men, Scarlett eventually marries Rhett. The two have a daughter together, but Scarlett's heart is still with Ashley. 

  The couple suffers through a bad relationship punctuated by the loss of their child before Rhett finally decides to leave. As he walks out, Scarlett realizes that she always loved Rhett, not Ashley, but it's too late. Scarlett pushed her husband too far, and he's beyond caring for her anymore. Scarlett tries to remedy the situation, but Rhett points out that her apologies can't fix their past. He leaves coldly, explaining to Scarlett that he no longer cares what happens to her. 

  The breakup was expected, especially considering how bad Scarlett and Rhett's relationship was. But the truly sad thing is the idea that you can't change someone else's feelings. Once they decide they're done, there's simply nothing more that you can do. It's a painful truth about relationships that's beautifully accomplished in this story, even if it does draw a few tears from the eye. 
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  (#7) (500) Days of Summer

  • Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

  The (500) Days of Summer breakup scene is so sad because it feels so painfully realistic. While Tom has been in love with Summer from the beginning, she has made it clear time and time again that she isn't on the same page. She's often hot and cold with Tom, though their relationship certainly has its happy moments. 

  The breakup scene is intercut with Tom's own explanation of his relationship with Summer. He recounts their happy moments together over a stream of clips that show the early days. He admits, however, that things had cooled off recently. Summer seemingly lost interest in Tom, refusing to engage in their jokes anymore and generally pulling away. Finally, during dinner at a diner, Summer announces out of the blue that she thinks they should stop seeing each other. 

  Tom is completely taken aback. While Summer thinks this is the logical end to their relationship, Tom can't understand that she's not happy. The moment isn't full of tears and sad statements, which almost makes it more depressing. It's a natural end to a relationship that just wasn't working, even if one participant thought everything was okay. 

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