Modern Rom-Coms Lack the Magic
It’s Friday night, the living room is covered in blankets and pillows, you have your cute pajamas on, tons of delicious snacks, and the perfect plan for a girly sleepover—watching a classic rom-com. But as you scroll through an endless loop of new releases, something feels off. The charm, the wit, the unforgettable—and sometimes unconventional—love stories of old school rom-coms seem harder to find. While today’s romantic comedies may have larger budgets and impressive cinematography, do they really capture the same magic and nostalgia as the classics?
My short answer: No, they do not. Of course, this is all a matter of opinion, but as a self-proclaimed rom-com connoisseur, I have very strong feelings about this. Watching a rom-com today leaves me completely unsatisfied. I don’t know the characters, genuine moments are sacrificed for product placement, and any effort to tell the story through a gradual, engaging narrative is replaced with rushed, exposition-heavy intros that dump every detail about the protagonist and their life in the first five minutes. Gone are the days of slow-burn chemistry, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments—modern rom-coms feel more like checklist-driven content than actual love stories. So, what has caused this shift?
I firmly believe the reason so many rom-coms are “bad” nowadays is because of the addition of technology. Phones, computers, and social media have become central to modern storytelling, forcing rom-coms to navigate these elements in ways that older films never had to. The dramatic moment of a landline ringing in another room, with the main character rushing to answer it before anyone else, is lost when all they have to do now is pick up their cell phone and respond instantly—no conflict, no stakes. Of course, as society progresses new technologies will inevitably be intertwined with media, however, there is no replacement for the loss of narrative.
Rom-coms used to be the perfect escape from your tragic love life, whisking you away to a world where the guy always gets the girl. But now, your screen mirrors a thousand others, trapped in an endless loop of “omg’s” and “lolz.” And don’t even get me started on the cringe-worthy fake versions of social media—like calling Instagram “Picturegram.” I get it, they want to avoid brand names, but when we’re all glued to these apps daily, it’s hard not to be distracted when the main character can’t even say “Google.”
Do I still enjoy modern rom-coms… yes… sometimes. I utter the occasional chuckle when a moment is genuinely funny, like Liza Koshy in Work It insulting the rival dance team for looking like a tampon commercial. However, those casual laughs don’t compare to the warm and enticing atmosphere of classic rom-coms. I can enjoy just about any movie in one way or another, but I miss the magic and empowerment of Jenna Rink from 13 Going on 30, the rebellious and witty dynamics of Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona from 10 Things I Hate About You, and the unconventional yet humorous charm of Viola Hastings from She’s the Man. I have yet to experience a genuine satisfaction in a modern rom-com, but I am always hoping my mind will be changed. If not, I’ll just have to write one myself!