Why Hollywood Destroyed Romantic Comedies...

[@gamingwithaimal1857]

I literally feel the same I thought I was going crazy because people will just eat up any movie if it labeled a rom com. You explained my feelings perfectly, and it is really enraging how the budget goes for higher end movies instead of something more simple. My favorite romcom has to be 27 dresses

[@rachlizlee]

While You Were Sleeping is by far my favorite rom com! And for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. It just feels so "real". The two leads both have "boring" jobs, their lives aren't really glamorous, and the story takes place in their hometown (we're not in some far-off, unrealistic destination). I think the movie also did a great job of developing the other characters so everyone felt "real" and normal. The two leads weren't the only people the story cared about. It makes it easy to fall into since it feels like it almost could happen in real life. Ugh, it's the best 💕💕

[@jessiewomble9417]

This is my mom’s FAVORITE movie! We quote it all the time. I even used the song “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” in my wedding as a surprise to her. 🥰

[@sara1coco]

It's interesting bc I feel that new romcoms are too real and perfect trying to avoid problematic tropes when that's what made them interesting like I want to see messy attractive ppl fall in love not a smooth romance with uncharismatic, usually not attractive men.

[@stacimorrison3893]

Well done! Thank you. Favorites: 1. Notting Hill 2. The Holiday 3. Hitch Honorable Mention: Two Week Notice - I laughed SO hard watching that movie. Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock are just priceless.

[@j.goggels9115]

12:30 The British Romcoms of the Millennium have been treasured throughout Europe. "Quatre Mariages et Un Enterrement", "Coup de Foudre à Notting Hill", all of these have become classics outside Britain.

[@NirovroShoumikHere]

Hey, I'm more of a Home Alone guy when it comes to Christmas movies but your examples are pretty cool too! Keep up with the awesome videos :)

[@marinamcbain]

I love home alone aswell. thank you !

[@lansol2596]

I think what Matt Damon said about how death of physical sales killed middle budget movies is true, and it hit romcom genre the hardest along with family comedies. Because majority of those classical and iconic movies of 90s - 00s became popular when they hit DVD/VHS market. Streaming obviously doesn’t make as much for movie makers, so there’s this pressure to make majority of your money at box office, and majority of people who go to cinema are going for this cinematic experience that big blockbuster provide. Or kids movies because you get to entertain your kid without actively participating in the process of it. It’s hard to attract talent or big name when there’s a chance that you might not get recognition, movie has a high chance of flopping and romcom genre is not considered seriously by critics.

[@sara1coco]

I think the main problem is that people stopped treating movies as escapism and are over-critical to the point it killed the magic. It's not about us, it's a story yet it's all about realism or realistic "unproblematic" tropes. The fashion is meh, the couple lacks chemistry, the characters are dull without flaws. There's no tension, comedy, unserious-ness nor iconic looks and the casting choices (the men) are forgettable. I want to see pretty charismatic ppl fall in love not realisim.

[@sara1coco]

And the actors ain't hot 😂

[@adreena456]

I watched Our Little Secret (with Lindsay Lohan) the other day on Netflix and yes it was a bit cheesy but it did hark back to older rom coms and I enjoyed it. Maybe there is some hope!

[@marinamcbain]

ooooooh i'll have to check that one out!

[@Shishu00]

OMG I watched it twice, I love Lindsay she looked so good in it. I honestly thought it was going to be super low budget and stupid but it was funny, and had some good actors in it too!!!

[@reneecoons5057]

I just watched this yesterday and also enjoyed it.

[@j.goggels9115]

I didn't know this video was necessary before I watched it. This shallow angry 21st century direly misses romcoms. Thanks Marina.

[@j.goggels9115]

16:00 You've got a such a good point here, Marina. The Super Hero universe is usually a fantasy world of conspiracy and corruption. Take Gotham City for example. Romcoms have real people in them, with real preoccupations and real feelings. Our society needs that, badly. Bring back Amélie Poulain.

[@BernasBookishAdventures]

Loved the video, well researched and honest 👍🏻 Having grown up in the 1980’s and 1990’s I agree with you on all points. Keep up the good work 🤗 My favorite rom coms are You Got Mail and While You Were Sleeping

[@boo-boothealmighty6893]

You did an excellent job on this video, and I’m glad you brought this up on your channel. Romantic comedies were always my favorite growing up, and it’s a real shame they aren’t as popular as they used to be. Do you watch independent films at all? There was a romantic comedy that came out in 2020 called Spontaneous that was fantastic but it never went to the big screen. Unfortunately the future of most good media seems to lie in the hands of independent film studios.

[@marinamcbain]

I'll have to check that out!

[@ely03cassandra]

I’m from the German speaking part of Switzerland. These romcoms from the 90s/2000s were also very successful in the German speaking countries. I grew up with them (born 1990) and I love rewatching these movies. I’m so upset we don’t get good new romcoms.

[@QuietlyResilient]

I so agree with you. Honestly I know Hollywood likes casting beautiful people who fit the beauty standard but I wish we still got to see actors like Hugh Grand who didn’t fit the standard but fell in love with him any way because of their personality or awkwardness in the movie. Definitely made it feel less “I like you because you’re attractive”

[@marinamcbain]

Yes absolutely!!!

[@lise7538]

Hugh Grant may not EXACTLY fit into the beauty standards but he is definitely conventionally attractive.

[@sara1coco]

Eh? I wonder what people are watching bc I all I see is average people on screen be it in romcoms or outside ... it makes me think, how am I supposed to root for the male lead?

[@iowatrouble]

rom coms went from "10 things I hate about you" to 1000 icks I hate about you

[@beckettfitz1982]

I wonder what you make of the Netflix series Nobody Wants This. The buzz for this series shows the genre isn’t dead. However there seems to be no room for mid budget movies.

[@skirtlitfam]

Great video! My favorite rom-com is 500 Days of Summer, which I guess is more of an unrom-com, but it taught me a lot about understanding relationships, and how important it is to be clear with your partner about what you both want out of the shared relationship. Watching that movie and looking back on past relationships, I see myself in Tom’s character, and how I tried to alter myself and them to find a way for them to like me. Hopefully, now I have grown and do better in future relationships.

[@skirtlitfam]

Also, you never said your favorite rom-com

[@marinamcbain]

I love 500 days of summer! The fact you can acknowledge it shows that you have changed!

[@skirtlitfam]

@@marinamcbain thank you! That means so much!!

[@animaroon16]

romcoms are dead, comedy is dead, family movies are hard to find, animations are all sequels or turned into live action. The future of movies seems increasingly boring and repetitive, i hope SOMETHING changes soon.

[@dtho16]

Just finished nobody wants this on Netflix and I was surprised how good it was and reminded me of the good ole days of good romantic comedies

[@ely03cassandra]

My favourite romcom is You Got Mail. I know Joe is a bit toxic by keeping Kathleen in the dark for so long, but I think he also gets a lot of credit for not manipulating her in ways others in his situation would have. I also think that it’s a message about 2 people falling for each other’s true self’s and only arguing when being blinded by prejudice and miscommunication.

[@judithbatke3169]

This! thank you for sharing. So relatable!!! Anyone but you - pfff! Can you do a romcoms any worse than this? Maybe they´ll do - next year perhaps...

[@SouthJerseyGirl30]

I miss romcoms! I miss the buddy comedies too. I think growing up, there were a lot of young adult/teen comedies that were on more than think tv family channels. Comedies in general haven't been doing well. The movie theater business is struggling, so all the big budget action-packed stuff or a sequel/reboot with a good fanbase are getting sent to the big screens.

[@marinamcbain]

yes! i watched pitch perfect last night and thought damn what happened to these types of movies??

[@PositiveGang]

Heyyy just binge watched all your vids so interesting I subbed and the one about wizard of oz is the best vid and you should do more of those types of vids

[@marinamcbain]

Thank you so much!

[@PositiveGang]

OMG HIIIIII I GOT A HEART AND A REPLY AGHHHHH

[@PositiveGang]

Please do smth about the wizard of oz again!

[@sarahsbakingcreations]

I thought I hated Rom-coms. Then I watched Can't Hardly Wait. Then I realized I just hate Rom-coms made after 2010.

[@AvaB-g6c]

My favorite rom com has to be she’s the man or maybe clueless but I’m not sure I can’t decide

[@damescholar]

When Harry met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, The Diary of Bridget Jones and the 1995 series of Pride and Prejudice have remained my staple diet of romance. All of them were intelligently written for grown-up people, and that is why one is so eager to believe in the happy ending. If the script is bad and the characters shallow, this is not possible. I think that the genre has been killed also by our modern sensibilities and expectations and the ever-present ethos of irony and distrust of candid and honest feelings. Everything must be distanced and questioned and villains and bad people must be understood to the point that they become heroes, while there is no room for a real kind and strong person to be the hero, so old-fashioned heroes become bland and uninteresting. Heroines must be girl-bosses who do not need a man, or a romance.

[@simplyemily8251]

i Invision a rom com movie with no dialog and set in a steampunk era with all new actors no one has seen before. lets make cinema make risks again

[@DiamondPaul-t4t]

Hi i am a big fan of your content and a new subscriber ❤

[@marinamcbain]

Thank you!

[@DiamondPaul-t4t]

@@marinamcbain you are so sweet you remind me of a friend that i would see everyday and was very positive and calm. She was always by my side supporting me I wish i could see her and talk to her again 🩷

[@edgarmuniz8331]

Love Actually is bad. A guy lusted after a best friend's wife without any story or reason behind it is lousy.

[@marinamcbain]

yes! after rewatching to make this video my first thought was, "ok this storyline is actually very weird." i'm not sure why they included it

[@lise7538]

Personally I liked it because of that. There's no reason for it happening, and it doesn't lead anywhere which is completely realistic because that's exactly how it could happen in real life. All romantic attraction doesn't have a reason for happening and doesn't turn into a love story. If you watch at the arc with Emma Thompson you'll notice her ending is anticlimactic too. Why was the husband having an affair ? Was it in love with her, was he still in love with his wife ? We don't know, sometimes there's nothing to understand. I'm glad they included some storylines that weren't "successful" in the mix

[@Thetwirlytwins]

Romcoms are like not even gonna be close to “good” in this world anymore.BUT people should still appreciate it.what I believe is because off kids watching movies and some time the romcoms are not “acceptable” for children. But you don’t need to believe my way, but I still love them because they show that love should be appreciated and if we are watching movies like this we would understand love more and stop the abuse for relationships. Bye guys!🎉 Edit 1: btw don’t hate please

[@IrinNovy]

My favorite movie is About time. And as for old rom coms I love You've got mail.

[@edgarmuniz8331]

What a great breakdown.

[@marinamcbain]

thank you!

[@samellamcclary-brown9817]

My favorite rom coms are When Harry Meets Sally ans Notting Hill.

[@hannahkeating97]

I have a lot of favorites but aesthetically I love 13 going on 30❤

[@hcoffeegirl]

i loved this genre and i watched a lot - my absolute favourite is when harry met sally of course with the newer ones i almost hated evey single one (anyone but you was the worst) except marry me - which had one of the stupidest promise ever but somehow the movie made it work - it was kinda sweet (and imo the technology was used right in it)

[@mariannececilia_cole]

I honestly hate how every film is dark and dramatic. I’d like to see more real relationships lived through in films. *BUT* although RomCom movies might have died, I would argue the genre can be found beautifully done in tv series. Poldark, Sex Education (minus series 4…), Normal People, among others (there are a few series though that loose authenticity after 3/4 seasons): these series are lead by authentic, nuanced human relationships that are touching, moving, memorable, etc

[@sathiyaseelansathasivam9744]

One of my favorite newer Rom com would be All the Boys i‘VE loved befor. I feel like they Hit the Spot with all 3 Movies.. But still the old goodies are the best ✨

[@JonTalksEverythingPodcast]

u have halmark and lifetime christmas rom-coms to watch but yea i get your point for sure

[@eleanorramsey5797]

Love your videos! Can you do a video on Dan shenider? I already know a bit about him, but I’d love to learn more!

[@marinamcbain]

oooooooh very interesting! yes i’ll add that to my list

[@shainahiggins2217]

Top 5 Romcoms 1. 10 Things I Hate About You 2. Crazy Rich Asians 3. The Cutting Edge 4. Down With Love 5. The Princess Bride

[@aadpiraat7126]

Probably because the best place to watch sutch movies is at home not the theatre

[@marinamcbain]

In a way yes but I also think the theatre adds a different experience

[@DiamondPaul-t4t]

I am from the uk to 🇬🇧

[@Painfuldreamer5813]

Okay, they’re putting out way too much fanfic movies about Harry Styles written by middle-aged women. Like at this point he might need to start getting protection orders and suing cause the way characters based on him a written is…..Well, defamation doesn't even begin to cover it.

[@maureene7138]

Favorite will have to be Brown Sugar aand Nothing Hill

[@gligarguy4010]

9:30 Just a baby? Pardon me as i age to dust.

[@marinamcbain]

hahaha. I was born in 2001

[@zachharris3040]

I’m guessing there were a couple romcom failures. And that coupled with changing trends, they just became obsolete. Sorta similar to music, boy bands were huge at one point and then became a lot less popular. Even a lot of classic romcoms are hard to watch nowadays, so I don’t blame people for not watching. Things like Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Love Actually are morally ambiguous. I don’t find myself liking the characters in those movies. Where things changed might have been in the later 2000s with the golden age of tv, Twilight, and more young adult franchises having multiple movies. I also think the budgets, characters, and writing are worse in modern romantic movies because they are trying to appeal to audiences they know will be into something as long as they check a few select boxes. It’s why I amazed people like Euphoria. To me, the characters in that stink. I wouldn’t say it’s a romcom per se but About Time from like 2012 is the last movie like this I recall liking.

[@SimonkaShow]

If you need your rom Com fix like me turn to k-dramas !

[@So-and-So-em8fx]

Hi, I can't make out your accent. What is your accent?

[@hhhhoooojdjd]

I love love glen Powell but too much LGBT. ... Disgusting.