Not all romance movies are sunshine and rainbows, even if the title is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind This heartwarming love story begins with a breakup and a make-up, but it raises more questions than it answers Of course, the film asks the age-old question: is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved?

For protagonist Clementine (Kate Winslet), the answer is definitely the latter At first Heartbroken, she decides to undergo surgery to extract all of her memories from her ex-lover Joel (Jim Carrey) He follows her in defeat, but his regret over the surgery is almost immediate, and he tries to hide his memories of her in other irrelevant moments of his life

The story unfolds through a haze of memories, leaving Juan to decipher what happened when, what is real, and whether history is destined to repeat itself At the same time, the couple must decide whether a fresh start will allow them to have a happy ending without the baggage they both carried with them in the first place

Not surprisingly, this is not the only film in the romance section that tests memories, deep concepts, and uncertain timelines Here are the seven best movies like “Eternal Sunshine/Spotless Mind” available for streaming

Hey, Siri, Let's Define the Relationship With the rise of AI, the trend of robot romance movies featuring artificial intelligence is growing In Spike Jonze's 2013 film “her/the only girl in the world,” a mustachioed Joaquin Phoenix (Theodore) relies on an unexpected ally in a breakup: a phone call However, there is no other person on the other end of the phone Samantha, played by Scarlett Johansson, is an AI who forms a relationship with a lonely man on the verge of divorce [While not necessarily as stirring as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “her” raises philosophical questions about the nature of love and relationships in an ethereal, science fiction-inspired world The film poses philosophical questions about the nature of love and relationships in an ethereal, science fiction-tinged world

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We love nonlinear stories Summer in 500 Days naturally focuses on 500 days in the life and love of Summer (Zooey Deschanel) She initially has no intention of settling down and getting into a serious relationship, but Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is relentless and won't leave her alone until she gets together

Summer makes her boundaries clear, but Tom continues to seek the relationship he wants, and as was the case in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, memories of their budding relationship and its demise are on screen As the memories of their budding relationship and its demise play out simultaneously on screen, one is repeatedly left wondering why these characters are together in the first place 500 Days of Summer also contains a trippy element while the clueless Tom tries to figure out exactly what went wrong”

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In “Blue Valentine,” it is not domestic bliss that Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Michelle Williams (Cindy) experience years after their marriage The film begins in the present, when it is clear that the couple is having marital problems while trying to make ends meet for their daughter Frankie (Faith Vladyka)

Early in the film, the development of their relationship is depicted in flashbacks, which are interwoven with the couple's current problems, which are plagued by unfulfilled dreams, arguably too much alcohol, and accumulated animosity While clearly loving in the beginning of their courtship, they certainly rushed things and their compromises caught up with their attempts at happiness There were also quite a few red flags, given Dean's inability to take “no” for an answer from start to finish As their memories are projected on the screen, the two must decide if their marriage is worth fighting for or if they should throw in the towel

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Watching a love story begin and end at the same time can be especially wrenching In “The Last Five Years,” Anna Kendrick's recollection of Cassie and Jamie's (Jeremy Jordan) relationship begins in the midst of a divorce, while Jamie begins things chronologically The devastation from Cathy's perspective is in stark contrast to the utter joy Jamie had at the beginning of their courtship, resulting in a film chock full of emotional whiplash that explores the impact of memory and alternate perspectives [Of course, “The Last Five Years” is a musical, and along with some of the most harrowing ballads the genre has to offer (“Still Hurting,” “See I'm Smiling”), some of the most infectious and joyous love songs (“Shiksa Goddess,” “The Schmuel Song") will be performed It's easy to forget that the relationship is doomed when listening to the love songs, and when the heartbreak numbers come on, it's hard to remember that these two used to be incredibly happy Even if you know the punchline, you can't help but wish for things to work out

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When it comes to indie films that confuse with bizarre timelines, Dylan O'Brien's “Flashback” is a true trip The film focuses on Frederick Fitzel, played by O'Brien, who goes from being an American office worker to being haunted by visions of Cindy (Micah Monroe) In this case, her identity may be a little too familiar (literally) than he realizes

The 2020 film plays with time travel, intertwined timelines, and the dissection of memory Of course, O'Brien's compelling and intense acting choices are worth watching on their own, even if some criticize the film's lack of clarity [Darren Aronofsky's “Requiem for a Dream” is a concept in its own right But it is by no means a happy film This ensemble film is as tricky as the characters' own addictions and mental health conditions that prevent them from escaping poverty and realizing their dreams

Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the film raises the notion of inevitability and how relationships (platonic or otherwise) make us who we are It also features unreliable narrators and memories that cannot be fully trusted

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At one point, we learn someone's history from a procedure that erases the memory of an ex-lover; at another, an inmate tells his life story to a prison psychologist In Cameron Crowe's “Vanilla Sky,” David (Tom Cruise) is permanently injured after his girlfriend Julie (Cameron Diaz) intentionally crashes his car

But there is more to this haunting film, which also features some slightly shady company playing with people's minds, than meets the eye As David analyzes what is real and what is not, so does the audience At times it is unclear whether this is a science fiction film or a fantasy film

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