It’s official, RomComs have changed the way we view relationships and even resulted in significant impacts on real-life couples. Despite only 29% of people responding to a recent poll of 2,000 adults, believing that romantic comedies (RomComs) accurately depict real relationships the impact on couples has still been significant.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found that a substantial 46 per cent of respondents criticized films like “Notting Hill” and “Pretty Woman” for presenting unrealistic ideals of romantic relationships and yet 27 per cent of participants still revealed that they have had disagreements with their partners over situations influenced by romantic comedies. Shockingly, 13 per cent admitted to cheating on their loved ones due to something they saw in a rom-com.
Furthermore, 22 per cent of those surveyed noticed issues in their own relationships after watching a romantic movie, and 15 per cent even ended a relationship because the film set unrealistic expectations. Interestingly, 30 per cent feel pressured to change themselves to align with the image of a character portrayed by A-list actors, and 34 per cent admit to copying the actions of characters made famous by stars like Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
Favourite RomComs reflect our desires
Renowned behavioural psychologist and relationship expert, Jo Hemming, who collaborated with Pluto TV for this research, commented, “It’s fascinating to observe how people’s favourite romantic films can reflect their relationship preferences and personality. Romantic movies undeniably wield a profound influence on our relationships, but we must remember to introspect and decide what truly works for us.”
This study also uncovered that 29 per cent admitted to quoting classic romantic comedy lines to their partners, and 23 per cent claimed that situations in their own relationships resembled scenes from these movies.
The research revealed that “Titanic,” featuring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, topped the list of films with the most significant impact on real-life couples, followed closely by “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and the 1980s classic “Dirty Dancing,” starring Patrick Swayze.
Fortunately, a resurgence in the genre of RomCom, driven largely by streaming giant Netflix, is also taking the genre in a new direction. While the platform does offer classics like “When Harry Met Sally” and “Notting Hill”, it also introduces more modern fare like “Set It Up” and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”. Shows like “Jane the Virgin,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and “Lovesick” are both leaning into the tropes, while also playfully mocking the idea of finding “the one” and other unrealistic traditions of the genre. Hopefully, these ones will all have less of a toxic impact
