In the glamorous world of Hollywood, where big-budget action movies often steal the show, a familiar genre might be making a surprising comeback. Romantic comedies, which were the favorite movies of the 2000s, are making a slow return to the silver screen. Despite their decline in recent years, these beloved tales of love and laughter are finding renewed appeal among audiences.
Romantic comedies, better known as rom-coms, were the go-to movie during the 1990s and 2000s. These movies were massive hits with star-studded casts and romantic plotlines that kept audiences coming back for more. From iconic classics like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “When Harry Met Sally” to modern favorites such as “The Notebook” and “Love Actually,” rom-coms dominated the box office. They captured the hearts of viewers around the world. Their popularity could be credited to their ability to help people escape from the stresses of everyday life and immerse themselves in a world of love and laughter.
However, in the past two decades, cinema has undergone significant transformation. Major studios, driven by the pursuit of blockbuster hits and influenced by financial considerations, have diverted their attention away from mid-budget romcoms towards high-stakes action-packed spectacles and large franchises such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The era of romantic comedies dominating the box office waned, with studios favoring projects with the potential for massive returns. As fewer and fewer rom-coms were made, the movies also began to lose their spark. Stories became formulaic, and characters became stereotypical providing audiences with little to no entertainment. The genre soon became sidelined as “chick flicks” and was replaced with big-budget films filled with drama and action.
Nonetheless, just when it seemed like romcoms were leaving the limelight, major streaming platforms like Netflix began to reimagine them. rom coms found a new home and a new audience eager for lighthearted, feel-good entertainment. Movies like “Set it Up,” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “Someone Great” all helped propel the genre forward. The biggest successes for the new era of rom-coms were 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians” and 2023’s “Anyone But You,” which, like earlier rom-coms, was an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s work. Both of these films crossed over the $200 Million mark, signaling a resurgence of interest in romantic comedies.
“I would really like to see more rom-coms made,” Sophomore Miya Nithin said. “It’s one of my favorite genres, and I always go back and watch ones from the 2000s. New movies like ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ are much more relatable though, and I can’t wait to see more come out.”
Despite the resurgence of rom-coms, challenges remain. The genre must continue to evolve and adapt to changing audience tastes and preferences in order to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive market. This means exploring new themes, diversifying storytelling techniques, and pushing the boundaries of traditional genre conventions. Many movies such as “Wedding Season,” “Palm Springs,” and of course “Anyone But You” have made their mark by exploring new themes and topics without losing the spark of the genre.
As cinema continues to change, one thing is certain: the heart of the rom-com beats on, pulsating with renewed vigor and an appetite for love, laughter and the unexpected.
