Credit: Focus Features

Although most weekend recommendations come with fast-paced thrills, some simply call for movies that allow viewers to stay grounded and in touch with their feelings. So, if you’re craving a heavy-duty rom-com tearjerker, tune into Spoiler Alert, now streaming on Netflix.

The streaming giant opened the floodgates of entertainment ajar this August with an unforgettable lineup of cinematic blasts from the past, including the 2022 movie starring Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, and Sally Field.

Adapted from Michael Ausiello’s acclaimed 2017 memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, the heartwarming romantic drama follows the 14-year love story of entertainment journalist Ausiello and photographer Kit Cowan, who stumble onto each other at a gay bar in Manhattan.

While they soon get involved in a whirlwind romance, Spoiler Alert captures every nook and cranny of their relationship, including normal and extraordinary hurdles, until Kit is diagnosed with aggressive, terminal neuroendocrine cancer. The rom-com captures every realistic phase of their union as Michael readily steps in as a dedicated caregiver despite carrying the burden of his childhood trauma surrounding his mother’s death from cancer.

Although we would leave the rest for you to discover and leave the viewing experience spoiler-free, for those curious about why now? Well, Spoiler Alert just arrived on Netflix on August 3rd, and it’s about time viewers get to make the most of its streaming availability.

One of the primary reasons the Hollywood adaptation needs a spot on your Netflix watchlist is the fantastic performances, including a delightful supporting role by Field, who recently appeared on Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix. Most notably, it is the lead chemistry between Aldridge and Parsons, who convey a heartfelt message about love and grief in the same breath.

If you prefer poignant, bittersweet emotional dramas, have a box of tissues ready because you will cry, likely a lot.

The emotional undercurrent may sound alarming to a select few. But Spoiler Alert is a complete package with witty, funny, and genuinely sharp pop-culture humour. In fact, the movie uses humour as a natural defence against the overbearing tragedies, in turn, making the funny moments feel earned rather than forced.

To top that off, the romantic comedy uses imaginative visual metaphors to portray trauma, offering a unique perspective that doesn’t romanticise love as flawless. Instead, it owns the real ups and downs before the ultimate tragedy enters the frame.

So, if you’re looking for a rom-com this weekend that leaves you reflecting long after the credits roll, Spoiler Alert should be the pick of the day!