Love stories are a timeless concept. In classical mythology, Venus and Cupid are commonly depicted as the God and Goddess of Love, associated with desire, passion, erotic love, and attraction. Since the dawn of humanity, this social construct has passed through millennia, gradually accumulating greater significance until Hollywood seemingly birthed the global clamor for that 'perfect' (and largely impossible) relationship, the one where you stare contently into each other’s eyes every night, and where nothing else seems to matter. Thanks to the silver screen, these inaccurate clichés have been perpetuated for decades.

One wonders why they couldn’t just show us a relationship hampered by the husband hogging the bed, snoring too loudly, or squabbling over whose turn it is to take the garbage out. After all, that’s what real 'true love' is often all about. The arguments, the compromises, the lack of freedom, and, more often than not, the inevitable heartbreak… maybe love is overrated.

There have been a gazillion predictable and cheesy romance films. Yet, this fact still doesn’t make it any less depressing for anyone who may be single. Fear not, singletons, even though Valentine’s Day is approaching it isn’t a day to be contemplating your shortcomings; it’s not you, it’s them! You might be the sensible ones. Let’s take a look at the movies that remind us how love is not necessarily all that it’s cracked up to be…

Update January 24, 2024: This article has been updated with even more great anti-romance movies to watch and where you can stream each title.

10 The Break-Up (2006)

As heartbreaking and traumatic as break-ups can be, they're also a good source of humor, as 2006's The Break-Up proves. Directed by Peyton Reed, the anti-romcom centers on formerly happy couple Gary and Brooke (played by Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, respectively), who become entangled in a bitter dispute when both of them refuse to move out following their break-up. As the story goes on, both parties resort to increasingly elaborate and hilarious tactics to try and get the other to leave. The film's all-star supporting cast consists of Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Joey Lauren Adams, and Justin Long. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a massive financial success and has been remembered fondly as an atypical romantic comedy.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Sophisticated and intelligent, The Break-Up is not, but as a light and humorous look at how toxic relationship breakdowns can be, the film certainly succeeds. From the characters' petty attempts to make each other jealous to the pitiful ways they try to provoke one another, the film is filled with well-observed examples of the kinds of destructive behaviors that characterize a break-up. And they're all portrayed in very funny ways. However, what makes The Break-Up really great is how it balances its humor with heart. The pair's antics can only go on for so long before they start to take an emotional toll, and the film handles this brilliantly. It may not be a favorite among critics, but there's no denying that, as an anti-romance, The Break-Up works wonderfully. Rent on AppleTV+

9 Closer (2004)

Throughout his illustrious career, acclaimed filmmaker Mike Nichols returned to the romance genre on a number of occasions, and always had something fresh and interesting to say. His penultimate feature, 2004's Closer, is no exception. Based on the 1997 play of the same name by Patrick Marber, who also wrote the film's screenplay, Closer stars Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen as a pair of couples whose lives become complicated when the two distinct relationships begin to overlap. What unfolds is a series of events coated in lies, deceit, and betrayal. The film was both a commercial and critical success and went on to be nominated for two Academy Awards.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Closer is the ideal anti-romance watch, purely because of how completely unromantic it is. Though all four of the main characters kid themselves at various points, not one of them is actually in love. Instead, what they feel is either a lust or a desire for validation that they confuse for love, rather than love itself. The whole film, therefore, is essentially a look at some of the unhealthier and less-than-appealing attributes of the average modern-day person in a relationship: someone who is prone to temptation, dishonesty, and deceit. With typically excellent direction by Nichols, along with a deft script and a talented cast, Closer is a provocative and revealing romantic drama that revels in being anything but romantic. Rent on AppleTV+

Related: 10 Toxic Relationships in Movies and TV Shows That Were Romanticized

8 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Mike Nichols was making films about the murkier aspects of romantic relationships long before Closer was a thing. His first-ever feature, 1966's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, remains one of the most famous examples of an anti-romance film. Starring real-life married couple Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and based on Edward Albee's 1962 play of the same name, the film revolves around husband and wife George and Martha, who return home from a party and get into a vicious drunken argument. Meanwhile, George Segal and Sandy Dennis play a young couple who become caught in the middle of George and Margaret's feud. A hit with both critics and audiences, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was subsequently nominated for a total of 13 Academy Awards, five of which it won.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Largely set in a single location and taking place over the course of one evening, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a claustrophobic and, at times, uncomfortable watch. Add to this a superb script filled with true-to-life dialogue, and some committed performances by the two leads, and you have a depressingly realistic portrait of married life. What makes the film so good though, is how it manages to capture the resentment and toxic feelings that can build up over the course of a marriage, and that present themselves in the unhealthiest and most ferocious of ways. A pretty sight, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? aint, but as a reminder that marriage isn't always all it's cracked up to be, few films are better. Stream on Tubi

7 Fatal Attraction (1987)

1987's Fatal Attraction is a good reminder that anyone can turn out to be a psychopathic stalker. Directed by Adrian Lyne, the psychological thriller tells the story of father, husband, and lawyer Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas), who finds himself and his family being stalked by Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), a woman he once had a one-night-stand with. Upon its release, the film was met with generally positive reviews by critics and went on to be nominated for a total of six Academy Awards, including Best Director for Lyne and Best Actress for Close.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Like others on this list, Fatal Attraction features a lot of something that looks like love or romance on the face of it, but is actually something entirely different altogether. In this case, that thing is an obsession. Close's character, Alex, is under the impression that she is in love with Douglas's character, but in reality, she is merely infatuated with him and the way he makes her feel. This becomes increasingly apparent when she starts resorting to wild and dangerous antics to get his attention. For instance, would someone who genuinely cares about the person they purport to love pour acid on that person's car? Or boil their daughter's pet rabbit alive? Fatal Attraction is a wonderfully dark and shocking movie that will make you never want to go on a date again. Stream on Paramount+

6 Marriage Story (2019)

Divorce is a messy process and not one that anyone ever intends to go through. Yet, many people do, for whatever reason, find themselves terminating their marriage. Noah Baumbach’s 2019 drama Marriage Story provides a real, raw and accurate depiction of this process, and what post-marital life can be like for a couple who share a child. Adam Driver stars as a successful New York playwright, while Scarlett Johansson assumes the role of his equally successful actor-wife. It follows the story of the demise of their marriage and the subsequent trials, tribulations, and complexities of living coast-to-coast, having new relationships, and co-parenting their son. With a supporting cast that includes Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda, the Netflix original film was met with critical acclaim upon release, and ultimately garnered six Academy Award nominations.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Despite divorce and separation being big factors in many people's lives, few films have ever tackled the subject in such an authentic and true-to-life way. With Marriage Story, Baumbach avoids melodrama and an elaborate plot, in favor of subtlety, nuance, and ultra-realism, which ultimately adds up to a compassionate and highly compelling look at the practical and emotional challenges that divorce presents. The film also cleverly depicts how ugly divorce can become, even when both sides originally agree to be amicable. Both Driver and Johansson rise to the challenge of playing a life-like married couple harboring feelings of resentment and anger, while still mourning what they have both lost, while Dern excels in the role of the lawyer fighting Johansson's character's corner. Marriage Story is a heartbreaking and poignant watch, but it's unlikely anyone will be in any kind of rush to get married after watching it. Stream on Netflix

Related: These Are the Most Honest and Realistic Movies About Marriage

5 The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Marriage Story wasn't Noah Baumbach's first film to tackle the subject of divorce. Instead, that title belongs to 2005's The Squid and the Whale, which was inspired by the director’s experience of his parents’ divorce during his adolescence. Set against a 1986 Manhattan backdrop, The Squid and the Whale details the breakup of a seemingly idealized nuclear family. After tensions between self-obsessed father Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and unfaithful mother Joan Berkman (Laura Linney) turn into bitter resentment, they are left to break the news of their separation to their two sons. Consequently, this leads to a division in the family, with son Walt (Owen Kline) siding with his father and Frank (Jesse Eisenberg) favoring his mother. Produced by Wes Anderson, the film also stars Anna Paquin and William Baldwin.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Few filmmakers are able to find the humor in such a weighty subject as divorce, but The Squid and the Whale is filled to the brim with the sort of charm and comedic subtleties that are typical of both Baumbach and Anderson. It's a gloriously witty film built on an incredibly intelligent and well-observed script. However, as much as the film focuses on the absurdities and moments of dark humor associated with divorce, it takes its subject matter seriously and depicts divorce in a tender and authentic way. Like others on this list, The Squid and the Whale finds material in the pettiness and bitterness that come about when a relationship reaches its natural conclusion but also highlights the effects this sort of behavior can have on the family unit as a whole. It's a fiendishly clever film packed with great dialogue, smart direction, and some stunning lead performances. Stream on Netflix

4 (500) Days of Summer (2009)

As narrator Richard McGonagle aptly puts it, “This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.” In (500) Days of Summer, failed architect Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works as a greetings card writer and is a firm believer in true love. When new recruit, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), very much a non-believer in true love, joins the company, Tom’s mundane, boring life is swiftly turned on its head. The pair soon become an item (almost), though Summer is persistently reluctant to label them as a couple. Marc Webb’s feature film jumps back and forth between the good and bad periods of Tom and Summer’s turbulent relationship, from the early days of courtship to the latter of bitter indignation, confusion, and desperation.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Quirky, offbeat, and brimming with ideas, (500) Days of Summer is not your typical romantic comedy. In fact, while most rom-coms tell the tale of two people falling in love, this film, instead, focuses on one man's unrequited love for a woman he wrongly believes is his soulmate. It's a clever spin on an old formula and one that takes the audience in far more interesting directions than if it were simply a traditional 'boy-meets-girl' story. After all, the experience of liking someone but them not liking you back is an almost universal one, and, therefore, there are many scenes in the film that are hauntingly relatable. Though it has been accused of being problematic in recent years, (500) Days of Summer remains a funny, sweet, and charming film that's better than your typical romantic comedy. Stream on Max

3 A Star is Born (2018)

In total, there have been four versions of A Star is Born and while each one brings something different to the table, they all retain the same basic plot. However, make no mistake, Bradley Cooper’s critically acclaimed take on the movie is the best of the lot. Cooper stars as troubled musician Jackson Maine, whose battle with alcoholism launches him into a downward spiral. Lady Gaga plays Ally, an unknown singer working as a waitress. A blossoming relationship between the pair ensues and eventually sees Ally realizing her dreams as an artist, while Jackson falls deeper and deeper into an alcohol-induced depression. The film was the recipient of eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Cooper, and Best Actress for Gaga.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

A Star is Born is a film that feels like it is taking the audience in one direction, only to pull a rug from underneath them and do something unexpected (well, unexpected if you haven't seen the other versions). For the majority of the runtime, the film is a story of two broken people who find connection and love through their shared passion for music. It's easy, while watching this, to get caught up in the fairytale-like aspects of the narrative and to ignore the demons that clearly plague Cooper's character. Well-written, cleverly directed, and beautifully performed, 2018's A Star is Born is a heartbreakingly engaging love story about fame, addiction, and trauma. Rent on AppleTV+

2 High Fidelity (2000)

Based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel of the same name, High Fidelity stars John Cusack as unlucky-in-love record store owner Rob Gordon and documents the protagonist’s “five most memorable break-ups.” Commitment-phobe Rob desperately attempts to rekindle relations with his ex, Laura (Iben Hjejle) as he takes a trip down memory lane to establish what really went wrong in his past relationships. The film makes use of metafictional techniques, such as direct address, to guide the audience through Rob's list of most toxic relationships. Each break-up is over-analyzed by the main character to hilarious effect. Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Lisa Bonet, Sara Gilbert, and Catherine Zeta-Jones all co-star.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Like the novel it's based on, which itself is loosely based on Horny's own life, High Fidelity is all about the male approach to finding true love, which, as the film proves, can be utterly hilarious. John Cusask is excellent as Rob, a character who spends a lot of time thinking over the intricacies of his past break-ups but, like most men, is useless at seeing what is staring him right in the face. Like (500) Days of Summer, High Fidelity is all about one man's introspective quest to understand where he's been going wrong in order to learn from his mistakes. Along the way, he ends up learning lessons he didn't expect to learn. High Fidelity's sharp script, charming performances, and catchy soundtrack make this atypical romance film better than your average rom-com. Rent on AppleTV+

Related: Best Romantic Comedies of the 2000s, Ranked

1 Amour (2012)

Michael Haneke’s Amour scooped up both the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film back in 2012. The film follows the tragic story of elderly couple Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva). Anne suffered a severe stroke, leaving her partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. With the ever-mounting pressure placed on Georges to care for his sickly wife, Anne sustains a second devastating stroke, which puts her in an almost vegetative state.

What Makes it a Good Anti-Romance

Amour offers a heart-breaking insight into love, loss, and loneliness. The emotionally devastating film explores the intricacies of love, devotion, and conflicting moral interests in later life and does so in a raw and brutally honest way. There's nothing contrived or melodramatic about this film. Instead, it's a powerful and heartbreaking depiction of both the cruelty of age and how degeneration can act as the ultimate test of one's love. Every element of the film's production, from the screenplay to the music to the direction, is all so lovingly and delicately crafted. Add to that, two towering performances by the film's leads, and in Armour you have a poignant yet heart-rending film that has the ability to put viewers off love for good. Rent on AppleTV+

Looking for something more upbeat? Check out our video about the most heartwarming friends-to-lovers movies you should watch.