Fresh off The Summer I Turned Pretty’s takeover, we’ve been met with movie after show of meet-cutes, witty banter, and love stories worth rooting for. While dominant in the 2000’s, rom-coms are now back and better than ever. Whether it’s the recent Netflix hit People We Meet on Vacation or even a quick peek at Bridgerton’s latest season, a genre that once seemed to be replaced by superhero blockbusters is re-earning its place in pop culture.
Back in the early 2000’s, you’d turn a corner and find a new rom-com. How to Lose a Guy in 10 days, 10 Things I Hate About You, and other similar movies became cable staples for a cozy night in. With their charming leads, quick-witted dialogue, and catchy soundtracks, audiences were invested until the grand romantic gesture at the end. The rom-com formula was unbeatable until the early 2010s, when studios focused on the sell of a franchise.
Yet, as character-driven love stories gained fewer opportunities in theatres, the audience’s appetite for them never disappeared. Think To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Set it Up in 2018 when rom-coms swept through streaming. This new and shiny platform called for investment in romantic stories that were both nostalgic and modern. Viewers were reminded of what they look for in movies: an escape to something fresh and heartfelt.Â
The recent trend of straight-to-streaming has also played a major role in the genre’s revival. Nobody Wants This, starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, is the perfect, digestible iteration of a modern rom-com. As younger audiences spend so much of their time online, they’re discovering this genre for the first time in a way that leaves them invested and looking for more.Â
The new wave of rom-coms, especially, is one that is self-aware and inclusive, like many of its early 2000s predecessors. While they poke fun at familiar tropes, you can’t help but root for their charm and passion. As a modern audience watches them, we’re introduced to newer stories that will stand the test of time. Though many iconic rom-coms may have had some widely debated issues, modern iterations have been met with less vitriol as they reflect a much more diverse audience.Â
The idea of passionate love is something we’ve always looked for. The rom-com satiates this as we watch two people unknowingly meet their true loves, through first encounters, perfectly timed confessions, and the unbridled comfort that they’ll certainly work everything out in the end. Whenever life feels chaotic, all we want is to warm up and gain the promise of a happy ending.
We’ll never know if the rom-com will ever fully come back, but the future is looking bright. As Netflix and Prime Video keep pumping out movies and shows with different levels of success and quality, whether it be book-to-movie adaptations or even an original story, rom-coms will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of audiences, as we go back to cliches and tropes that are always reliable.
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