10 Moments from romantic comedy movies that are really sad

Rom-coms or romantic comedies are some of the most fun and light-hearted genres in movies. They have all the essentials that make it an easy-breezy watch. It has romance, humor, and a happy ending. However, there are times when even romantic comedies have a few emotional scenes in them, which is surprising for the viewers. These sad moments are crucial to the movie as they propel the story or the character arcs forward. Here are 10 such sad moments from romantic comedies.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

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Eleanor judging Rachel in Crazy Rich Asians, Karen realizing that her husband has an affair in Love Actually, and other sad moments in romantic comedy movies

1. When Vivian was told to leave a store in Pretty Woman

Directed by Garry Marshall and starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, this romantic comedy is one of the most popular movies of all time. The movie is about an escort, Vivian (Roberts), who accompanies a wealthy businessman Edward (Gere), for his social appearances, and the two fall for each other. The movie has many moments that define pop culture history. However, there are also some moments, which are truly emotional. One such scene takes place when Edward gives money to Vivian, so that she can go to a high-end store and buy dresses for herself. However, as she is an escort, her demeanor raises the eyebrows of the wealthy clientele and she is judged for her appearance. When she goes inside a store, the store manager immediately belittles her and forces her to get out. Even though Vivian owns them later on, the scene is sad and a commentary on how quickly people judge.

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2. When Gareth died suddenly in Four Weddings and a Funeral

Starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, this British romantic comedy directed by Mike Newell revolves around Charles (Grant), who encounters Carrie (MacDowell), at a number of social events over regular periods of time, and falls in love with her. The movie is a classic and catapulted Hugh Grant to international fame. It has many endearing moments and the love that blossoms between Charles and Carrie is sweet to watch. However, the movie also has unexpected moments, which makes it emotional. The film also stars Gareth (Simon Callow), who is a close friend of Charles. However, in one scene, he suddenly has a heart attack and dies amidst a wedding. The moment is painful to watch as it happens so suddenly between all the wedding merriment. His funeral is moving and when Matthew reads out a poem for him, the whole scene becomes even more emotional.

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3. When Eleanor judges Rachel and tells her that she will never be enough in Crazy Rich Asians

Starring Constance Wu, and Henry Golding, and directed by Jon M. Chu, this romantic comedy is based on the novel by Kevin Kwan and revolves around a Chinese-American professor, Rachel (Wu), who flies to Singapore with her wealthy boyfriend Nick (Golding), and struggles to adapt to the customs of his conservative family. The popular movie is one of the few movies with all-Asian representation and highlights the issues of class and hierarchy in traditional Asian societies. While the movie has many whimsical and romantic scenes, there are also some moments, which are truly sad. In one such scene, Rachel goes out with her to be mother-in-law, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), who categorically tells her that as she is an American, she can never have the values that she is looking for in her daughter-in-law. Rachel’s painful reaction is sad and even though she gives a fitting reply, the scene is harsh in an otherwise light-hearted movie.

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4. That time Karen came to know that the necklace was not for her in Love Actually

Directed by Richard Curtis and featuring an ensemble cast of Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, and others, this romantic comedy has all the Christmas feels as it revolves around ten individuals and focuses on various aspects of love, in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The holiday movie is a sweet and light-hearted movie and is considered a must-watch during Christmas. It even has a cult following and is a part of pop culture. However, even this sweet movie has a few scenes, which can make the viewers emotional. The movie has a series of interlinked stories and one of them focuses on the couple, Karen (Emma Thompson) and Harry (Alan Rickman). They are shown to be a normal couple with children. Until, Emma finds out that a necklace that he thought he had bought for her, was actually for his colleague. The scene is painful as Emma breaks down in private but quickly regains herself for her children, showcasing her strength.

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5. When Brooke and Gary had a fight and Brooke told him that she did not feel appreciated in The Break-Up

Starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, this romantic comedy directed by Peyton Reed, is about a couple, Brooke (Aniston), and Gary (Vaughn), who have a tumultuous relationship. Brooke feels neglected in her relationship and the two decide to break up. However, they both live in a luxurious condo and don’t want to move out, leading to even more fights. While the movie has many laugh-out-loud moments and reflects upon modern dating, the movie also has some painful moments, as Brooke gives it her all but is always underappreciated by Gary. In one such scene, Brooke decides to surprise Gary with concert tickets, as a last-ditch effort to rekindle their romance. However, Gary does not show up and leaves Brooke heartbroken. After that, Brooke delivers a powerful speech as she tells Gary about all the ways in which she has felt neglected in their relationship, and her visible pain and sadness, make it a realistic and tough scene to watch.

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6. That time Lara deals with her mother’s death in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Based on the novel by Jenny Han, this teen romantic comedy is directed by Susan Johnson and stars Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, and others. The movie is a light-hearted and fun film and has many hilarious moments. It revolves around a high school junior Lara (Lana), who writes letters to all the boys she has a crush on and hides them away in her closet. However, things take a turn when her letters get ousted by her younger sister and she has to face embarrassment. The movie is a modern rom-com and focusses on teenage love and its trials and tribulations. However, there is a sentimental scene even in this light-hearted movie. Lara and her dad go to a diner and the two talk about her mother’s death, which is a poignant scene in the movie. It shows that Lara has to face her trauma and must move ahead of that. The moment is also a special bonding scene between the father and daughter and adds depth to Lara’s character.

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7. When Lucy erased Henry in 50 First Dates

Directed by Peter Segal and starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, and others, this romantic comedy is about a womanizing marine Henry (Sandler), who falls in love with an art teacher Lucy (Barrymore). However, Lucy has amnesia from a head injury and forgets the day’s events when she wakes up from sleep. Henry therefore decides that he will win her over each day, all over again. The movie has a unique premise and as an early aughts movie, it has a certain nostalgia of the era. Henry is more than happy to win her over every day and Lucy decides to keep a diary to help her in remembering. However, the movie gets emotional when she realises that their relationship will never move forward and Henry is wasting his time around her. She decides to erase his memories from the diary and the scene is a difficult watch as it highlights the challenges faced in love.

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8. When William rejected Anna in Notting Hill

Starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, this romantic comedy is another classic movie that has many iconic pop culture moments and is considered a must-watch. Directed by Roger Michell, it revolves around a famous American actress, Anna (Roberts), who falls for a British bookshop keeper, William (Grant), while walking into his shop on a visit. The movie has many sweet moments and was a critical and commercial success. However, it also has many heart-touching scenes, which can make the viewers emotional. In one such scene, Anna finally decides to bare it all and expresses her feelings for him in a raw manner, which is devoid of any facade that she usually keeps because of her acting profession. However, William has to reject her as he does not see a future for the both of them and the moment is a tear-jerker. Even though the two reunite at the end, the scene is a raw moment of pure emotions.

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9. That time Jenna realized that she ruined her relationship with Matty in 13 Going on 30

Directed by Gary Winick and starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, this romantic comedy is about a 13-year-old girl Jenna (Jennifer), who lives in 1987, but magically gets transported into a 30-year-old, who is from 2004, and is a successful fashion editor. The movie has a cult following and is a wholesome movie with a light-hearted premise. It also has themes of self-empowerment. However, the sweet movie also has a sad moment, which is enough to make viewers emotional. Towards the end of the movie, Jenna finally realizes that Matt is her one true love and tries to stop him from marrying another person to be with her. However, it is too late and Matt has made his choice. It is even more heartbreaking as he gives her the dreamhouse he had kept for 17 years. The scene is a tear-jerker and highlights that sometimes one loses out on love.

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10. When Amy’s father died of an overdose in Trainwreck

Starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader and directed by Judd Apatow, this romantic comedy is a raunchy film about a free-spirited magazine writer Amy (Schumer), who believes that relationships and marriages are not for her. However, when she meets a good guy and an orthopedic surgeon, Aaron (Hader), she has to reevaluate her principles. The movie is a look at the modern way of dating, where people are generally commitment-phobic and do not want to get into anything serious. The movie has its moments of comedy and Schumer was even praised for her performance. However, there is a scene in the movie, which is emotional. Amy has a healthy relationship with her dad, therefore it is a sad moment when she learns that her father died while overdosing on his medication. The moment is a turning point for Amy’s character as she reflects more deeply upon life and relationships.