‘Heartbreaking’ love story has fans ‘weeping like babies’ now on BBC | Films | Entertainment

It’s been over 10 years since the release of this 2014 coming-of-age romance film, and yet fans are still holding back the tears with each watch for its “heartwarming” and yet “heartbreaking” message.

The Fault in Our Stars was a huge hit with audiences after the success of the novel the film is based on. Written by renowned young adult writer John Green it became one of the best-selling books of all time, cementing itself as a well-known story in popular culture, and even more so when two young Hollywood stars took to the screen to play its main characters.

Its tragic story is centred around a sixteen-year-old, Hazel, played by Shailene Woodley, who is a cancer patient forced to join a support group by her worried parents. Here, she meets and subsequently falls head over heels in love with another teen, diagnosed with cancer, Augustus, played by Ansel Elgort.

A Rotten Tomatoes review summarises their performances and the film, stating: “The Fault in Our Stars boasts a captivating dynamic between Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. This heartwarming, poignant, and emotionally charged romance will resonate deeply with fans of the book, as it both accurately portrays the novel’s themes and offers valuable insights into coping with the inevitability of a life that can be unexpectedly cut short.”

Another viewer shared: “I wept like a baby; it was the first time watching such a heartbreaking romantic story since Titanic… This movie is so excellent it makes it difficult to even think about it without tears in my eyes.”

As the two teens get to know each other, Hazel feels that Gus understands her like nobody else, and the pair share the same sarcastic wit, humour and interests. Her favourite book takes them on a journey as they set out to meet the author in a fleeting adventure to Amsterdam, not knowing quite how much time they have left together.

A fan wrote: “While the film may have brought tears to my eyes more than once, it also left me with a profound sense of hope and gratitude for the beauty of life and love.” Someone else added that the film was “magical” and “touched a special place” in their heart.

It seems they’re not the only ones, because when the film first hit the box office, it impressed almost everyone, despite having a lower budget of $12 million. The Fault in Our Stars ranked number one its opening weekend and grossed over $300 million worldwide, becoming a pop culture phenomenon, with a soundtrack that made waves of its own.

The film’s soundtrack helped to launch it into the sphere of teens online and across cinemas, with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Charli xcx writing original songs for the teen romance. Notably, the track Boom Clap appears in the movie and helped not only for the pop star to gain further recognition but also to add a fresh perspective to the film that excited younger audiences and went straight into the pop charts.

“I truly enjoyed this film,” one fan wrote. They continued: “The cast did a wonderful job. The settings were beautiful. The writing was good. Everything just fit into place.

“I especially enjoy films that make the audience feel something. A film that inspires people or makes them believe in something. This film did exactly that.”

If you’re ready to experience an emotional rollercoaster, you’re in luck, because The Fault In Our Stars is about to drop on BBC iPlayer on July 6, where you can stream it for free.