Why Movies Geared Towards Women Are Not Always Rom-Coms

I have an appreciation for all types of films, from Oscar-winners to movies with low ratings on Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, no matter the genre. However, I tend to have a soft spot for movies that will typically fall under the category of “romance” regardless of what streaming service I’m using. While some of these films, yes, do have a romance at the center of the story, or at least have a romantic subplot, they are not always part of the romance genre. However, they often get labeled this way, sometimes to their detriment, because they revolve around female characters, or because they are directed, written, or produced by a woman.

Let’s be clear, women make up a significant percentage of movie watchers, and yes, many of these women do enjoy romantic comedies or films that feature romance. Not everyone who subscribes to Netflix is going to skip over the “Romantic Movies” section. Still, as a woman, the majority of films I find that feature women are nearly always filed under these vague labels, even when they don’t really feature romance. A good example of this is the Pitch Perfect franchise, which both Google and IMDb label as “romance.” I thoroughly enjoy these films, especially the first one. To me, they represent a wholesome, honest, and funny take on friendship, while also including many impressive a cappella performances of 2010s pop songs. I am continuously in awe of Anna Kendrick’s ability to portray the arc of a snotty child of divorce who comes to realize that she is capable of being loved and loving others. While the franchise features a romantic relationship between Anna Kendrick’s character Beca and her boyfriend Jesse, categorizing the movies as “romance” is misleading because the films are more about the friendship between the group of female leads rather than their romantic relationships. Labels like “coming of age” or “comedy” would be more accurate, since the movies center on a group of college students and feature plenty of comedic moments. Additionally, when I think about films that I consider to be actual romances, like “You’ve Got Mail” or “Something’s Gotta Give,” and then stack those next to “Pitch Perfect,” I feel like they couldn’t be more different in terms of the women they feature and the storylines themselves.

Another thing to consider is that women, like any marginalized or underrepresented group, seek out representation. Unfortunately, many of the movies that include female representation are categorized as romance or romantic comedies, which can lead viewers who aren’t fans of the genre to skip over these films. One example is “The Princess Diaries,” specifically the first film, which often gets written off as a romance even though it centers on a young woman who learns that she is a princess. Twenty years later, this movie still remains inspiring in its depiction of a fiery but ultimately insecure teenage girl who chooses to overcome her own fears and realizes the power of her own voice. The fact that it is continuously represented on streaming platforms as a romance does little to honor the story’s timeless impact as a coming-of-age classic. Another Anne Hathaway classic that similarly gets written off this way is “The Devil Wears Prada,” which centers on a young woman who wants to become a journalist but instead enters the fashion industry as an overworked assistant to a hyper-demanding boss. The main theme of this story is how one stays true to themselves while also succumbing to pressure to satisfy others as a means of advancing professionally and personally. While this theme is partially explored through Andy Sachs, the main character, and her relationship with her boyfriend, it is also explored through Andy’s platonic and professional relationships. Romance plays only a minimal role in the narrative, especially considering these two characters ultimately break up and seemingly develop a platonic friendship.

All of this is not to say, however, that romantic films are continuously discounted. Plenty of people, including cishet men, enjoy them, from classics like “When Harry Met Sally” to newer ones like “Set It Up.” I would go so far to say that these stories are vital in understanding humanity and the importance of love for others, as well as one’s self. Additionally, they can bring much-needed feelings of joy and comfort in an increasingly volatile world. Nevertheless, the label can deter some viewers, which is problematic when it doesn’t even fit the story and confines women’s stories to the romantic genre. Moving forward, it’s essential that streaming services implement necessary representation through its categorizations, because they play a vital role in marketing a wide array of films to a variety of audiences.