11 Movies and TV Shows About Breakups
Try as we humans might, there is no good way to break up with someone. People can end things face-to-face, over text, or even just ghost the other person until they eventually get the picture (we don't recommend this, by a long shot). No matter how it’s done, the person on the receiving end of the breakup is never going to feel great – and chances are, neither is the person who initiated the split.
There are, however, many ways to feel better after your heart is smashed into smithereens. Some people are apt to hang out with their friends and embrace their social scene, while others fill journals with angst-ridden poetry and pet their cats for days on end. We find that one foolproof way to handle a breakup is by watching shows or movies that can help us process our emotions. By seeing fictional characters triumph over lost love and move on with their lives, it motivates us to pursue greener pastures, too. Below you’ll find 11 movies and shows that expertly handle the subject of breakups. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry, but they’ll all make you feel a teensy bit better about your love life – we promise.
1/11New Girl
Jess Day experiences a bad break up and then stumbles into a house full of single guys. Initially, she’s reluctant to let go of her past relationship, but with the help of her BFF CeCe and new roommates Nick, Schmidt, and Winston — and later, Coach — she lets go of her hang-ups and embraces her new life.
2/11Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin is about many things, one of which is love. Jane not only learns to love herself, but navigates some pretty complicated relationships along the way. You’ll cry, you’ll nom on ice cream, and feel like your own love life isn't nearly as dramatic by comparison.
3/11Silver Linings Playbook
You might remember this movie being all about the love story between Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, but the reason the two get together is so Bradley's character can win back his ex-wife. Jennifer's character, Tiffany, convinces him to join a dance competition with her, and in return she’ll help him woo his ex. The pair are highly entertaining at best and dysfunctional at their worst, but they manage to pull off a heck of a dance number.
4/11Love & Basketball
Monica and Quincy have known each other since they were 11 years old. The pair has always been competitive, and they both dream of playing basketball professionally. When they finally allow themselves to be together while in college, their ambitions tear down their relationship and break them apart. Will they be able to forget the past and focus on their hearts? Or are they too focused on the game?
5/11Legally Blonde
What’s a girl to do when her seemingly perfect boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her? Go to Harvard Law School, of course. Elle Woods arrives at Harvard in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. She soon learns there’s more to life than what she first envisioned, and ends up following her own passions instead — all while dressed in pink, natch.
6/11Gossip Girl
There are more breakups and reunions in Gossip Girl than there are stars in the sky. Between Dan and Serena, Serena and Nate, Nate and Blair, and Blair and Chuck, the coupling possibilities were seemingly limitless. Much of Gossip Girl’s storylines were about social climbing, but the ones that stole our hearts involved breakups and make-ups.
7/11Master of None
On Master of None, Dev meets Rachel and is instantly smitten. The two take an impromptu first date to Nashville, move in together, and gift each other pasta-making machines. Essentially, their relationship is quirky, awkward, and feels like it’s happening to someone you know. However, the end of the season finds the pair feeling disillusioned and they decide to go their separate ways – sometimes things just aren’t as long-lasting as we’d hope.
8/11Bridget Jones’s Diary
It seems impossible to not love the quirky, awkward, witty Bridget Jones. Alas, not all her suitors agree. This modern day adaptation of Pride and Prejudice follows our plucky heroine as she pursues Mr. Wrong in order to find Mr. Right. We can relate.
9/11The Vampire Diaries
Lots of crazy things happen in Mystic Falls, but the craziest by far is the central storyline between Damon, Stefan, and Elena. What’s a vampire to do when the girl he loves breaks up with him for his brother? Not to mention that both brothers are in love with Elena because she looks just like the vampire that turned them into vampires. The Vampire Diaries breakups will have you bearing your fangs at love.
10/11Pretty Little Liars
Got a secret, can you keep it? The Liars try to dump A out of their lives throughout the series, but they also go through a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends. Going on dates and breaking up is nothing new, but it is slightly different when you and your friends are being chased down by an unknown killer.
11/11Orange Is the New Black
There’s a lot of breaking up and making up at Litchfield, the prison that serves as the setting for Orange Is the New Black. But none of the romantic storylines were quite so heartbreaking as the one between Poussey and Soso. Some couples have happy endings; others will make you bawl, all four seasons of the Netflix show are entirely binge-able and might help you laugh, cry, and work your way through your own heartbreak.
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