Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, "Endless Love" tells the story of a troubled romance between two teenagers. Perhaps due to its similarity to the story of Romeo and Juliet, the producers who had acquired the film rights approached Zeffirelli to adapt it for the screen.
The film starred newcomer Martin Hewitt and Brooke Shields, who was only fifteen at the time but already famous as both a model and actress. In a minor role appeared another debutant destined for a great career: eighteen-year-old Tom Cruise. The film was a commercial success, grossing over 30 million dollars in the United States. The title song, composed by Lionel Richie and performed by him in a duet with Diana Ross, topped the charts.