The transition of a beloved novel to the screen often risks losing its emotional core, but the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You, directed by The Fault in Our Stars veteran Josh Boone, seems poised to retain its devastating intensity.
Set for release on October 24, the film stars Allison Williams and McKenna Grace as the central mother-daughter duo, Morgan and Clara, whose already fragile bond is fractured by a fatal car accident. The emotional landscape of the movie—a mix of family secrets, devastating loss, and hard-fought second-chance romance—is a niche well-represented in cinema.
Since the 2025 movie adaptation focuses on the aftermath of a major tragedy and the mother-daughter relationship, the following list emphasizes dramas and romances that explore similar themes of grief, betrayal, and unexpected healing.
The Notebook (2004)
This iconic film is the definitive high-stakes romance, much like Hoover’s novels. It follows the tumultuous, decade-spanning love story of Noah and Allie, whose relationship is fraught with familial disapproval, social class differences, and a tragic sense of missed time—all powerful emotional catalysts reminiscent of the obstacles faced by Morgan and Jonah.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Directed by Josh Boone, this movie established his talent for adapting intense, tear-jerking YA drama. It centers on a romance forged under the shadow of terminal illness, dealing directly with themes of profound grief and learning to find meaning in a world defined by loss, mirroring the emotional struggle of Clara.
It Ends With Us (2024)
The most direct parallel to the Hoover universe, this film shares the core themes of betrayal, generational trauma, and making difficult, heartbreaking choices for the sake of survival. It’s an essential companion piece for fans looking for similar intense, raw emotional conflict.
Blue Valentine (2010)
A far rawer, independent look at the collapse of a relationship. This film uses non-linear storytelling to jump between the passionate beginning of a romance and its painful, inevitable end. It mirrors the theme of looking back at a past relationship (Morgan and Chris’s) with regret and realizing that the person you married is not the person you thought they were.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
This film is a quintessential second-chance romance that heavily involves secrets and family obligation. Reese Witherspoon’s Melanie returns to her Southern hometown to finalize her divorce from her estranged husband, Jake. The story forces her to confront her past, her deeply buried love, and the complex life she abandoned, emphasizing the theme of rebuilding a life that was postponed or regretted.
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Dealing centrally with the immediate aftermath of a sudden death, this movie focuses on a widow who must navigate her overwhelming grief with the help of letters left by her late husband. It explores the painful, slow process of healing and moving on, themes directly relevant to Morgan’s journey after Chris’s death.
All that Heaven Allows (1955)
A lush romantic melodrama that, while classic, resonates with Morgan’s struggles with societal expectation and second chances. It follows a wealthy widow who faces the condemnation of her community (and children) when she begins a romance with a younger man. The film focuses on her fight for self-determination and happiness outside her predictable life.
Me Before You (2016)
Based on the novel by Jojo Moyes, this film is a powerful, high-emotion drama focused on a relationship formed under difficult, life-altering circumstances. It deals with profound philosophical and emotional issues around love, sacrifice, and the difficult choices made for the benefit or happiness of a loved one, guaranteeing the raw, cathartic cry that fans of Regretting You seek.
The Vow (2012)
Inspired by a true story, this movie centers on a marriage devastated by a car accident, after which the wife develops amnesia and forgets her husband. The subsequent struggle to rebuild their life and rekindle their love from scratch encapsulates the sheer difficulty of trying to reconnect with a loved one when core memories and foundational truths are lost, much like Morgan and Clara must rebuild their bond after the truth about their family is revealed.
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
This critically acclaimed drama provides one of cinema’s most raw and unflinching depictions of grief and profound trauma. The narrative focuses on a man forced to return home after a devastating past tragedy to become the guardian of his nephew. Its emphasis on paralyzing loss and complicated family dynamics offers a deeply resonant, albeit darker, parallel to Morgan and Clara’s journey.