Though Valentine’s Day has come and gone, people continue to celebrate the season of love by watching or reading the perfect go-to romantic comedies.
Snuggling up with a cozy blanket and watching rom-coms is a classic way to spend the quick, cold month of February. Combining humor, romance and feel-good moments, these movies have dominated the charts in popularity. The most popular romantic comedies in terms of movies include “The Notebook,” “Say Anything,” “The Princess Bride” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
While the movies are popular, romantic novels are the best-selling fiction genre. According to thenationalherald.com, around 39 million printed copies of romance novels were sold in the 12 months prior to May 2023. This is due to their massive rise on #BookTok, TikTok’s dedicated space for eager readers.
Rom-coms are Charlotte Oswalt’s (9) favorite movie and book genre, and she shares her favorites.
“Some of my favorite books are anything by Emily Henry and Lynn Painter, ‘Love and Other Words’ and ‘If He Had Been With Me.’ My favorite rom-com movies would have to be ’10 Things I Hate About You,’ ‘Notting Hill,’ ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ and ‘Clueless’,” Oswalt said.
On television, the Hallmark Channel is a widely-known romantic comedy network that includes movies meant to be cheesy, heartfelt and filled with comedic relief. Along with rom-coms, Hallmark produces about 40 new romantic Christmas movies per year.
Though watching romantic comedies is a fun, lighthearted way to spend time, it is not for everyone. Some believe that rom-coms exaggerate romance and can make reality seem lonely, but they are a great way to get in the mood for Valentine’s when there is someone to share it with.
Miles Henderson (10) enjoys movies but is not a fan of romantic comedies.
“Rom-coms in general I feel are not very realistic as they often exaggerate some scenes, which can be rarely applicable to real life. As someone who loves action and mystery, rom-coms would not be my first option when it comes to choosing a good, relaxing movie,” Henderson said.
Studies have shown that watching rom-coms can impact how a person views love and relationships. In one way, they set unrealistic expectations, but they can also improve relationship satisfaction. Romance movies can lead to a belief in “love at first sight” and having a “soulmate.”
M.E. Ratterree (10) understands that romantic comedies typically exaggerate their drama but enjoys their lighthearted spirit.
“I would say that soulmates aren’t real because there are too many people in the world for there to be only one compatible for you. I think love at first sight is real, but it’s not true because it’s based on appearances. However, I love rom-coms because I think they are hilarious, and they are a perfect go-to movie genre,” Ratterree said.
