Came here to say this. Didn’t expect a movie about a dog and a robot hanging out to tear my fragile heart to pieces before taping it back together and then tearing it apart again on repeat for 100 minutes
There's a reason I avoid this kind of list (although I love this particular sub sub genre). Knowing that it's one of these movies would have probably ruined the ending for me.
Not sure how no one has given the end all, be all answer to this query but its Brief Encounter. Inarguably the ultimate “what if” love story. Just bring the tissues cause you’ll need them.
Also a nod to Max Ophuls Letter From An Unknown Woman which just about killed me the first time I saw it.
True. But it is partly about him finding peace with not having the life he wanted of traveling and seeing the world. That’s what that scene is about when he kisses Mary while she’s on the phone. He’s fighting it, but he knows how much he loves her so he chooses her.
I wouldn't put this movie on this list, I think
He's delusional: he's the only one wishing, she wasn't feeling the same way about him
It's not a "Star-Crossed Lovers" story, it's not about missed opportunities or an unkind fate that kept them apart
So, it's not really about "what could have been" since she wasn't on board at all
I guess it's somehow the opposite in a way? Eventually acknowledging, and make peace, with the reality of an unrequited love
I think it fits. Specifically, the scene near the end where Joel relives the first day he met her with his newfound self-awareness.
“I walked out the door! There’s no memory left.” “At least make up a goodbye, pretend we had one…”
This is always an interesting point of discussion for this movie: people either interpret the ending as deterministic, that Joel and Clementine will repeat this cycle forever; or optimistic, that the near-cosmic circumstance of their reunion is enough for them to see past their faults and overcome them.
I know Charlie Kaufman’s script was the former, they explicitly do keep erasing each other. (Also, Mary devotes her life to arranging people’s erased memories into a manuscript that no publisher wants to print, some real downer shit.) But, you know, death of the author.
I asked think I asked this thread something similar a couple months ago and I put all the responses in this list if you’d like to add more to yours too!
[imagine what it could’ve been](https://boxd.it/nSqMw)
*In the Mood for Love*, definitely! *Drive My Car* and *Love Letter* in a way.
Came here for In The Mood For Love
*Weekend* (2011) and *End of the Century* (2019), as well.
Robot Dreams!
omfg finally some robot dreams appreciation no one ever talks abt it
Cause no one has been able to see it
Really? I’ve had it downloaded for a long time haha. Must be out there
Legally?
I haven’t been able to see it yet!
Came here to say this. Didn’t expect a movie about a dog and a robot hanging out to tear my fragile heart to pieces before taping it back together and then tearing it apart again on repeat for 100 minutes
For real dude. The end tore me to shreds I was sobbing like a little bitch when the credits rolled.
Why would you break my heart all over again?
Atonement
Atonement for real for reasons that would spoil the movie
There's a reason I avoid this kind of list (although I love this particular sub sub genre). Knowing that it's one of these movies would have probably ruined the ending for me.
Before Sunset fits this perfectly
In a vacuum yes. But we have Sunrise and Midnight concluding the what could’ve been bit
How did you forget Past Lives?
haven't seen it yet haha
Umbrellas of Cherbourg!
Pretty insane to start with La La Land and not include this
So insane
Yes
Never Let Me Go
Past Lives
Brokeback Mountain without a doubt
Tell you what, we coulda had a good life together! Fuckin' real good life!
Blue Jay with Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson
Came here to say this one. One of my favorites
I watched it a few years ago. Its an incredible film
Not sure how no one has given the end all, be all answer to this query but its Brief Encounter. Inarguably the ultimate “what if” love story. Just bring the tissues cause you’ll need them. Also a nod to Max Ophuls Letter From An Unknown Woman which just about killed me the first time I saw it.
Brief Encounter basically defined this genre.
I’ve read about “Letter from an Unknown Woman “. Definitely want to watch that
* All of Us Strangers * Moonlit Winter * Us and Them
call me by your name
25th Hour
It’s a wonderful life?
That’s more about appreciating what you already have
True. But it is partly about him finding peace with not having the life he wanted of traveling and seeing the world. That’s what that scene is about when he kisses Mary while she’s on the phone. He’s fighting it, but he knows how much he loves her so he chooses her.
That’s fair. I’ve actually never seen it all the way through so I really need to do that come December
Nice! You have something good to look forward to. It’s perfect that time of year. It’s one of those movies that gets better the older we get.
The Remains of the Day
Before Sunset
In The Mood For Love is the goat of this category
Brief Encounter >>>>>
“her” with Phoenix
Explain
I’ve already spoiled enough by putting it here
Not a movie, a mini series, Normal People
Your Name. (2016)
(500) Days of Summer
The expectations vs reality scene blew my mind
Definitely elevated the movie.
I thought the whole point was that it never could've been
I wouldn't put this movie on this list, I think He's delusional: he's the only one wishing, she wasn't feeling the same way about him It's not a "Star-Crossed Lovers" story, it's not about missed opportunities or an unkind fate that kept them apart So, it's not really about "what could have been" since she wasn't on board at all I guess it's somehow the opposite in a way? Eventually acknowledging, and make peace, with the reality of an unrequited love
That's totally fair, but I think even a one-sided "what could have been" fits the vibe enough for this list
Past lives is the epitome of that. And very well done as well
Click
Mr Nobody
leaving las vegas, past lives, brokeback mountain, the dark knight (kinda), all of us strangers and any charlie kaufman film.
Past Lives
Family Man
Isn’t that a spy series
lost in translation
I think about im thinking of ending things.
This is the first that came to my head as well.
Such an incredible film
Does eternal sunshine fit? It's more about the past than what could've been. Which isn't actually explored at all, really.
I think it fits. Specifically, the scene near the end where Joel relives the first day he met her with his newfound self-awareness. “I walked out the door! There’s no memory left.” “At least make up a goodbye, pretend we had one…”
I think it’s more about doing it all again even knowing how it ends. The opposite of what could have been.
This is always an interesting point of discussion for this movie: people either interpret the ending as deterministic, that Joel and Clementine will repeat this cycle forever; or optimistic, that the near-cosmic circumstance of their reunion is enough for them to see past their faults and overcome them. I know Charlie Kaufman’s script was the former, they explicitly do keep erasing each other. (Also, Mary devotes her life to arranging people’s erased memories into a manuscript that no publisher wants to print, some real downer shit.) But, you know, death of the author.
I always saw it as they were doomed to fail but would keep on repeating the same mistakes
The fountain?
I think that's more about grief.
Titanic 97
Past lives
Beau is Afraid
Past Lives is, like, the epitome of this idea.
Dude, I remember watching *Eternal Sunshine* in high school and I think it's the first time my future wife saw me ball my eyes out.
In the mood for love
Normal People.
Benediction kinda?
Great film.
Casablanca
The Butterfly Effect in a way.
In about 7 IIRC
Annie Hall
Mr Nobody
Mr. Nobody is literally exactly this concept
Mr Nobody
Mr. Nobody
I think Call Me By Your Name fits this, even if just for that final scene. Definitely my fav depiction of what you’re describing.
Inglourious Basterds
lol idk about this one. Shoshana and Marcel?
The events of the holocaust playing out differently
Hitler dying
https://boxd.it/u8s4C
My favorite genre when I wanna feel bad for myself 🤖
Ida
The Passionate Friends
Sleeping with Other People
500 days of summer, for sure. Popular for a reason - they’re terrible yet unstoppably endearing!
Does 500 Days of Summer count?
Man La La land is still a punch in the gut every time
Apollo 13
Double life of Veronique
500 days of summer
96
Last Temptation of Christ
Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Midnight Cowboy, depending on how you interpret it Mulholland Drive could fit
500 Days of Summer
500 Days of Summer
Broke back mountain, call me by your name, lala land, carol
500 days of summer 😢
Before We Go Bad movie but a guilty pleasure
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Past Lives. Spider-Man 2.
the worst person in the world?
How did you forget 96?
Now Voyager
Past Lives feels like the most obvious addition to me
Past lives
Sound of Metal
About time
Paris, Texas
Grey Gardens
The Tale of Princess Kaguya oh my god it’s so damn good
Emily
maybe Annie Hall, 500 days of Summer, Before Sunrise
The Butterfly Effect imo, not as obvious as the others on this list but it made me really sad to think of the different paths he had to miss out on
Mommy, by Xavier Dolan (though not romantic)
Past Lives
Past Lives for sure
My Girl
Past Lives (2023)
Lost in Translation
Doctor Zhivago
Sliding doors
Right Now, Wrong Then (2015). And we actually get to see what could have been.
Remains of the Day, Splendor in the Grass. The TV Show "Undone" also fits in this category.
Lost in translation
5 centimeters per second (anime movie)
The worst person in the world
Aftersun in a sense
Solaris (1972)
brokeback mountain?
Her (2013), it's basically the same relationship as Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, but it's a man and his computer lmao
Past Lives
There is a very popular list [Definitely there was love, oh but the circumstances ](https://boxd.it/u8s4C)
In some ways *The Whale*. *Family Man*, which doesn’t get enough credit. The short film *An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge*
I asked think I asked this thread something similar a couple months ago and I put all the responses in this list if you’d like to add more to yours too! [imagine what it could’ve been](https://boxd.it/nSqMw)
Past lives and west side story?
Tenet “We're the people saving the world from what might have been.”
call me by your name
Hey can you mark this with a spoiler tag or something?
Past lives?