Romantic comedies dominated the box office throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but look set for a resurgence after a period of stagnation.
In the 2010s, romcoms didn’t disappear completely, but were definitely less prevalent in mainstream media.
Romantic comedies made in the 2010s were less memorable than their counterparts a decade prior, lacking the same nostalgic feel, writes Film News Blitz’s Darshan Kaur Gill.
The golden age
The 1990s and early 2000s are considered to be the ‘golden age’ of romcoms.
Many romcoms of the time follow a set structure, starting with the introduction of the characters, followed by a ‘meet-cute’.
The introduction of the main characters often shows them as unfulfilled and stuck in their daily lives, leading to the ‘meet-cute’, where the two protagonists are introduced to one another, often using humour to create a memorable moment.
Sometimes this moment creates an instant romantic spark, and other times it starts their storyline off on the wrong foot, depending on the key trope of the film.
After their meet-cute, there is usually another key event that forces the pair back together again, leading into a montage of the couple spending time together.
This then leads to an event that deepens the bond between the two main characters and makes the romance feel real.
It’s usually just after this that the relationship falls apart, usually due to a miscommunication or misunderstanding between the pair.
The main protagonists spend time apart, during which they realise that the other makes them a better person, acknowledge their mistakes, and reconcile by making a declaration to win the other back.
After the couple resolves their issues, they reunite, typically with a kiss and end the film with a glimpse of their future.
With most romcoms of the time following this structure, key tropes included ‘will they, won’t they’, ‘opposites attract’, ‘insta-love’, and ‘rivals/enemies-to-lovers’.
Nostalgia-driven resurgence
In recent years, there has been a push for a resurgence of romantic comedies following the 90s and 00s model.
Films like Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, and She’s the Man are all movies that people often return to due to the familiar plot points and recognisable structures the films follow.
Just this year, movies like People We Meet on Vacation and You, Me and Tuscany have kicked up this same discourse about romantic comedies, with people demanding a return to the structure followed in the 90s and 00s.
This demand can be seen as a result of nostalgia for ‘simpler times’ and ‘the golden age’ of romantic comedies.
Movies like Set It Up in 2018 and Anyone But You in 2023 have been a catalyst for the online discourse about romcoms, with many fans online declaring that “romcoms are back!”
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