Are romcoms dead?
Are romcoms really dead like what they all say? Let’s take a look.
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
Romcoms have ruled the Hollywood scene for a really long time. It’s the perfect genre for every occasion — hanging out with your partner? Romcom. Alone and wanna feel some fluff? Romcom. With friends and wanna watch something funny? Romcom. Needless to say, Romcoms are a popular genre.
Who doesn’t know the heyday of old-school romcoms from the golden era of the 90s to early 2000s? Think shows like 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s the Man, or 50 First Dates. Classic, iconic, and the perfect balance of romance and comedy.
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
But as we entered the 2010s to 2020s, romcoms began to evolve. The Kissing Booth, Anyone But You, or No Hard Feelings would still be categorized as romcoms, but they don't quite hit the same as before. Take The Kissing Booth in particular... It is infamous for its cringey "pick-me" energy, a far cry from what romcoms used to be.
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
Social media is full of debates and forums questioning why romcoms have taken such a turn since the 2000s, such as the two images below from Reddit.
Photo Credit: Reddit/@deleteduser
Photo Credit: Reddit/@PuzzleheadedPark4846
To put this theory to the test, I decided to watch 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and Materialists (2025). Both movies were in the 70% positive review range and I had high expectations for them both.
Photo Credit: IMDb
First up, the face of romcoms: 10 Things I Hate About You. It totally deserves its title — I give it a solid 9/10. With great characters, starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, it has amazing character development, phenomenal scripting and acting, plus that rustic, nostalgic feel from an old film, no modern romcoms could top this movie in my opinion.
Materialists, on the other hand, is…underwhelming. I tried my absolute best to keep an open mind but the entire movie simply felt directionless and painfully stiff. All three main characters had such a promising cast backing them: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal! But the storyline felt draggy and I didn’t get as much fulfillment as I did with 10 Things I Hate About You. Materialists brought neither romance nor comedy, with awkward acting and chemistry worse than my ‘O’ level science practical (and trust me, it was bad). Overall, a 3/10 for me.
Safe to say, 10 Things I Hate About You definitely won. The old-school era wins this round hands down.
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
Of course, comparing two movies alone doesn’t prove everything. There are decent modern romcoms — To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before starring Lana Condor and Noah Centineo comes to mind, with its wholesome charm, humour, and emotional payoff. But even then, the classics have an unexplainable magic that newer films just can’t replicate.
Photo Credit: The Boston Globe
But why is there such a drastic difference?
I find that modern romcoms fixate too much on the romantic aspect and neglect other human touches, like slow build-ups and emotional tension between characters. That’s what makes old-school romcoms so engaging. Gen Zs may have the attention span of a goldfish (me included, just saying), but productions these days are rushing to accommodate their wandering attention by cutting to the climax of the movie. How do I connect with characters and witness meaningful character development if they’re already kissing in the first twenty minutes?
Like me, I’m sure you’re guilty of rewatching your favourite movies because it takes you back to simpler times. It’s the same with romcoms — we simply want an escape from the reality of life. These classics offer a comforting sense of nostalgia that modern romcoms simply can’t replicate.
So, yes – they really don’t make romcoms like they used to anymore. The entertainment scene is shifting to fit what they think the audience wants, and what brings in the money. That explains why modern romcoms aren’t hitting the same way they did when we were younger.
Don’t feel too down; there’s still hope that studios will start coming up with fresh films which offer the same feeling that old-school romcoms give for us. Regardless of which romcom’s your fav, you’re bound to find your new hyperfixation. Have faith!
