Not long ago, it felt like rom-coms had quietly faded from the movie scene. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, films like Notting Hill and 10 Things I Hate About You were everywhere, giving audiences funny, heartfelt love stories that people still quote today.
As Hollywood began to shift their focus to big-budget action movies and long-running franchises, the classic rom-com genre slowly became less common in theaters. Recently, though, the genre has been making a comeback, with streaming platforms like Netflix bringing new rom-comsedies to viewers.
Rom-coms can be a broad topic to some. They are made up of the foundation of both a romance and a comedy. When the two genres come together, they’re like a warm hug – able to provide the perspective of love we all yearn for and bring a smile to our faces when we need it most.
While rom-coms are something we all love and desire, they simply don’t perform as well as an action-heavy blockbuster. “Ultimately, studios are only gonna make what they think will be profitable,” said Mr. Alex Dewhurst, Oakmont film and literature teacher.
Rom-coms have commonly been labeled as “chick flicks,” a term that minimizes their craft and audiences. They offer heartwarming emotions, which are often portrayed as embarrassing in today’s world.
Some of the most popular rom-coms include Pretty Woman, What Women Want, Hitch, and many more. These were hits due to their feel-good escapism. They offered something cozy to snuggle up to after a long day.
According to The Ankler, rom-coms accounted for 34.8% of theatrical releases. In 2000, the presence fell to a low 8.4%. “I think that media and entertainment reflect culture,” said Timothy Caouette, Oakmont English teacher.
Rom-coms fall into the category of mid-budget movies. The appetite for the genre didn’t disappear; the studio’s willingness to invest in them did. In the late 2000s, when the DVD market collapsed, so did rom-coms. The industry began to invest in more blockbuster films, with studios wanting to focus on movies that would be global hits.
Rom-coms didn’t exactly fit this category. The genre is more dependent on language and culture-specific humor. The movies simply weren’t translating or performing as well as action-heavy hits.
According to Stage 32, the genre has seen a spike over the past decade. Rom-coms have been successful on streaming platforms and in theaters. Rom-coms have been given a modern makeover to include a fresh, revamped approach that distinguishes them from older movies.
In the 90s, the genre featured movies that had larger-than-life love. This included elements such as runaway brides and mistaken identities. Now, rom-coms ground their characters in realism. Films are able to capture relatable relationship struggles, overworking, and reconnecting with old flames. All of this can be portrayed while personal ambitions are still in the mix. This makes the movies feel more personalized to the audience’s individual lives.
“The streaming services are allowing people to really watch whatever they want, whenever they want to,” said Caouette.
Refinery 29 talks about how Netflix was able to usher in the resurgence of rom-coms. They accomplished this by collecting data and discovering people were rewatching old films. Netflix found research confirming these old rom-coms were doing well globally. The movies had been critically acclaimed hits, and audiences kept returning time and time for their heart-warming touch. Netflix was able to license movies like Pretty Woman and found that they would do really well, and viewers would keep coming back time and time again. Netflix, noting this phenomenon, was able to dive into the underserved market of rom-coms.
“Rom-coms feel lighthearted and hopeful. They provide a positive, humorous outlook to life,” said Emma Goodwin, Oakmont junior.
Rom-coms are feel-good by design. They offer comfort in chaos. Rom-coms, at heart, deal with universal experiences—the desire to be loved, understood, and chosen. The genre can serve as a mirror, but with better lighting.
We watch characters struggle with self-doubt, heartbreak, and personal growth. Through this, we can see our own vulnerabilities. The genre is also about self-discovery and why people keep returning to the things they love. Rom-coms are not funny; they also carry the emotional weight of identity, fear of intimacy, and second chances.
“I like rom-coms because it’s a mixture of real-life romance with really funny scenes,” said Isaiah Rocca, Oakmont sophomore.
The genre can evoke nostalgia, bringing you back to your first love. Neuroscientists from Princeton say our oxytocin, or love hormone, increases when watching a rom-com. Ultimately, we love rom-coms because we subconsciously know how they will end. Love will always win. Through hardships and obstacles, the spark never falters.
