Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on
passion,
emotion
Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definitio ...
, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey through
dating,
courtship
Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marriage. A courtship may be an informal and private m ...
or
marriage is featured. These films make the search for romantic love the main plot focus. Occasionally, romance lovers face obstacles such as
finances, physical
illness, various forms of
discrimination, psychological restraints or family resistance. As in all quite strong, deep and close romantic relationships, the tensions of day-to-day life,
temptation
Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...
s (of
infidelity), and differences in compatibility enter into the plots of romantic films.
Romantic films often explore the essential themes of
love at first sight young and mature love, unrequited love, obsession, sentimental love,
spiritual love, forbidden love, platonic love, sexual and passionate love, sacrificial love, explosive and destructive love, and
tragic love
''Tragic Love'' is a 1909 American silent short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith.
Cast
* Arthur V. Johnson as Bob Spaulding
* David Miles as Mr. Rankin
* Linda Arvidson as Mrs. Rankin
* Charles Avery as In Factory
* Clara T. Bracy
* Jo ...
. Romantic films serve as great escapes and fantasies for viewers, especially if the two leads finally overcome their difficulties, declare their love, and experience their "happily ever after", often implied by a reunion and final kiss. In romantic television series, the development of such romantic relationships may play out over many episodes or different characters may become intertwined in different romantic arcs.
Screenwriter and scholar
Eric R. Williams identifies Romance Films as one of eleven super-genres in his
screenwriters’ taxonomy, claiming that all feature length narrative films can be classified by these super-genres. The other ten super-genres are
action,
crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in C ...
,
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
,
horror,
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
,
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
,
sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
,
thriller
Thriller may refer to:
* Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television
** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre
Comics
* ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
,
war and
western.
Subgenres
Chick flick
‘Chick flick’ is a term associated with romance films mostly targeted to a female audience. Although many romance films may be targeted at women, it is not a defining characteristic of a romance film and a ´''chick flick’'' does not necessarily have a romance as a central theme, revolve around the romantic involvement of characters or even include a romantic relationship. As such, the terms cannot be used interchangeably. Films of this genre include ''
Gilda'', ''
The Red Shoes'', ''
Sense and Sensibility'', ''
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'', ''
Dirty Dancing'', ''
The Notebook'', ''
Dear John'', ''
A Walk to Remember,
Thelma & Louise,
Fifty Shades of Grey'' and''
Romeo + Juliet.''
Historical romance
Also known as Epic romance, this is a romantic story with a historical period setting, normally with a turbulent backdrop of war, revolution, or tragedy. This includes films such as ''
Gone with the Wind'', ''
Doctor Zhivago
''Doctor Zhivago'' is the title of a novel by Boris Pasternak and its various adaptations.
Description
The story, in all of its forms, describes the life of the fictional Russian physician and poet Yuri Zhivago and deals with love and loss during ...
'', ''
Reds'', ''
Titanic'', and ''
Cold War (Zimna wojna)''.
Paranormal romance
Paranormal romance is a popular genre of film which features romantic relationships between humans and supernatural creatures. Popular tropes include
vampirism,
time travel,
ghosts and psychic or telekinetic abilities – i.e. things that cannot be explained by science. The genre originated in literature and moved on to the screen in the early 2000s, following the success of the Twilight Saga adaptations from
Stephenie Meyer's books.
By 2007–08, film studios were producing various paranormal romance films, many adapted from novels.
Examples of paranormal romance films include ''
The Exterminating Angel'', ''
The Twilight Saga'', ''
Warm Bodies
''Warm Bodies'' is a novel by author Isaac Marion. The book was described as a "zombie romance" by the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' and makes allusions to William Shakespeare's ''Romeo and Juliet''. The author, based in Seattle, originally w ...
'', ''
Vampire Academy'', ''
I Am Dragon'', and ''
The Shape of Water''.
Romantic action
Romantic action is a film that blend
romance and
action. Examples include ''
The Hunger Games'', ''
The Adventures of Robin Hood'', ''
Foreign Correspondent'', ''
The Best Years of Our Lives'', ''
The Torch'', ''
The Quiet Man'', ''
Mr. & Mrs. Smith'', ''
The Bounty Hunter'', ''
Killers'', ''
Knight and Day'', and ''
This Means War''.
Romantic comedy
Romantic comedies are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. Humour in such films tends to be of a verbal, low-key variety or situational, as opposed to slapstick. Films within this genre include ''
City Lights
''City Lights'' is a 1931 American silent romantic comedy film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl (Virginia Cherrill) and ...
'', ''
A Night at the Opera'', ''
It Happened One Night'', ''
My Wife's Goblin
''My Wife's Goblin'' also known as ''My Wife's Ghost'' ( arz, عفريت مراتي , translit. Afreet Meraty) is a 1968 Egyptian romantic comedy film directed by Fatin Abdel Wahab.
Primary cast
* Salah Zulfikar as Saleh
* Shadia as Aida
* Ema ...
'', ''
The Philadelphia Story'', ''
Intolerable Cruelty'', ''
Roman Holiday
''Roman Holiday'' is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actres ...
'', ''
Good Morning, My Dear Wife'', ''
The Big Sick'', ''
Enough Said
''Enough Said'' is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener. The film stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette and Ben Falcone. Louis-Dreyfus plays Eva, a divorced m ...
'', ''
Lost In Translation'', ''
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
''To All the Boys I've Loved Before'' is a 2014 young adult romance novel by American author Jenny Han, first published by Simon & Schuster and released on April 15, 2014. Han was inspired to write the book based on her own habit of writing lov ...
'', ''
Four Weddings and a Funeral'', ''
Dave Dave may refer to:
Film, television, and theater
* ''Dave'' (film), a 1993 film starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
* ''Dave'' (musical), a 2018 stage musical adaptation of the film
* Dave (TV channel), a digital television channel in the ...
'', ''
Say Anything...'', ''
Moonstruck'', ''
In Summer We Must Love
In Summer We Must Love ( Egyptian Arabic: في الصيف لازم نحب translit: ''Fi Saif Lazem Nihib'' or ''Fil Seef Lazem Neheb'') is 1974 Egyptian comedy featuring Salah Zulfikar in the leading role as Dr. Nabil, the psychiatrist and dir ...
'', ''
As Good as It Gets'', ''
Something's Gotta Give'', ''
When Harry Met Sally...'', ''
Annie Hall'', ''
Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
'', ''
The Apartment'' and ''
Pablo and Carolina''.
Romantic drama
Romantic dramas usually revolve around an obstacle that prevents deep and true love between two people. Music is often employed to indicate the emotional mood, creating an atmosphere of greater insulation for the couple. The conclusion of a romantic drama typically does not indicate whether a final romantic union between the two main characters will occur.
Some examples of romantic drama films and shows before 2000 are ''
Man's Way with Women
''Man's Way with Women'' ( sv, Sången om den eldröda blomman) is a 1934 Swedish romantic drama film directed by Per-Axel Branner. It is based on the Finnish novel ''The Song of the Blood-Red Flower'' by Johannes Linnankoski.
The interior shot ...
'', ''
Casablanca'', ''
María Candelaria'', ''
Appointment with Happiness
''Appointment with Happiness'' ( arz, موعد مع السعادة, translit. Maw`ed Ma` al-Sa`adah) is a 1954 Egyptian romance/ drama film directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. It starred Imad Hamdi and Faten Hamama. This film received an award fr ...
'', ''
Wakeful Eyes
Wakeful Eyes (Egyptian Arabic: ''عيون'' ''سهرانة'' translit: ''Uyoon Sahranah'' aliases: Sleepless Night) is a 1956 Egyptian romantic drama directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. The film stars Salah Zulfikar and Shadia. The film is Salah Zulf ...
'', ''
Among the Ruins
Among the Ruins ( arz, بين الأطلال, translit. Bain El Atlal) is a 1959 Egyptian romance film directed by the Egyptian film director Ezz El-Dine Zulficar and produced by the Egyptian film producer Salah Zulfikar. The film is based on a ...
'', ''
The River of Love'', ''
Dearer than my Life'', ''
Love Story Love Story or A Love Story may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Genres
* Romance (love)
** Romance film
** Romance novel
Films
* ''Love Story'' (1925 film), German silent film
* ''Love Story'' (1942 film), Italian drama film
* ''Love ...
'', ''
Paris and Love'', ''
Featureless Men
Featureless Men (Egyptian Arabic: رجال بلا ملامح translit: ''Regal bila Malameh'' aliases: Faceless Men) is a 1972 Egyptian film directed by Mahmoud Zulfikar, stars Salah Zulfikar and Nadia Lutfi. The film was shot in 1970, released in ...
'', ''
Coming Home'', ''
Daughters of the Dust'', ''
Like Water for Chocolate'', ''
Sommersby'', ''
The Bridges of Madison County
''The Bridges of Madison County'' (also published as ''Love in Black and White'') is a 1992 best-selling romance novel by American writer Robert James Waller that tells the story of a married Italian-American woman (WWII war bride) living on a ...
'', ''
The English Patient'', ''
Shakespeare in Love'' and ''
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge''.
21st century examples include ''
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'', ''
Sideways'', ''
Memoirs of a Geisha
''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and w ...
'', ''
Slumdog Millionaire'', ''
Up in the Air'', ''
The Artist'', ''
Gloria Bell'', and ''
Malcolm & Marie''.
Director
Richard Linklater helmed the prominent ''Before'' trilogy, consisting of ''
Before Sunrise'', ''
Before Sunset'', and ''
Before Midnight''.
''
Kasautii Zindagii Kay'' is a popular Indian romantic drama television series of the 2000s.
Same-sex romantic dramas that tackle LGBT issues include ''
Brokeback Mountain
''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, the screenplay was written ...
'', ''
Blue is the Warmest Colour
''Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' (french: link=yes, La Vie d'Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2; ) is a 2013 romance film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Abdellatif Kechiche and starring Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. The film follo ...
'', ''
Carol'', ''
Moonlight'', and ''
Call Me by Your Name''.
Romantic fantasy
Romantic fantasies describe
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
stories using many of the elements and conventions of the romance genre. Some examples include ''
The Lady Eve'', ''
Top Hat'', ''
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg)'', ''
Singin' in the Rain'', ''
Groundhog Day'', ''
Enchanted'', ''
Cinderella'', ''
Beauty and the Beast'', ''
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'', ''
Midnight in Paris
''Midnight in Paris'' is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender ( Owen Wilson), a screenwriter, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his materi ...
,'' ''
Her
Her is the objective and possessive form of the English-language feminine pronoun she.
Her, HER or H.E.R. may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Music
* H.E.R. (born 1997), American singer
** ''H.E.R.'' (album), 2017
* HIM (Finnish ...
,'' and ''
The Shape of Water.''
Romantic musical
Romantic musical (alternatively musical romance) is a genre of film which features romantic relationships and whose story is partially explained through song and/or dance numbers. This genre originated on Broadway and moved to the silver screen thanks in part to the popularity of the
Rodgers and Hammerstein productions.
Some examples include ''
South Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
'', ''
West Side Story'' and its
2021 remake, ''
Grease'', ''
High School Musical'', ''
Across the Universe
"Across the Universe" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song first appeared on the 1969 various artists' charity compilation album ''No One's Gonna Change Our W ...
'', the ''
Mamma Mia!'' franchise, ''
Sunshine on Leith'', and ''
La La Land''.
Romantic thriller
Romantic thriller is a genre of film which has a storyline combining elements of the romance film and the
thriller genre
Thriller is a genre of fiction, having numerous, often overlapping subgenres. Thrillers are characterized and defined by the mood (psychology), moods they elicit, giving viewers heightened feelings of suspense, Psychomotor agitation, excitement, ...
. Some examples of romantic thriller films are ''
To Catch a Thief
'' To Catch a Thief'' is a 1955 American romantic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from a screenplay by John Michael Hayes based on the 1952 novel of the same name by David Dodge. The film stars Cary Grant as a retired cat burglar ...
'', ''
Vertigo'', ''
The Crying Game'', ''
The Bodyguard'', ''
Unfaithful'', ''
Wicker Park'', ''
The Phantom of the Opera'', ''
The Tourist'', and ''
The Adjustment Bureau''.
Film types, macro genres and the filmmaker's voice
The
screenwriters taxonomy creates additional categories beyond "subgenre" when discussing films, making the argument that all narrative Hollywood films can be delineated into comedies or dramas (identified as a "film type"). The taxonomy also identifies fifty "macro genres", which can be paired with the romance super genre. Using this approach, films like ''
Gone with the Wind'' (noted above) would be classified as a dramatic (type) historical/family (macro genres) romance (genre) rather than simply a historical romance; while ''The Notebook'' would be identified at dramatic (type) disease (macro genre) romance (genre) rather than simply a romantic drama.
Similarly, musicals are categorized as one option for a filmmaker’s "voice" because the artistic choice to have the characters sing does not affect the story or the characters – it simply alters how the story and characters are conveyed. Therefore, a romance film like ''
Grease'' would be categorized as a dramatic (type), romance (super genre), high school / coming of age (macro genres), musical (voice) – rather than simply as a "musical romance".
[Williams, Eric R. (2019). "Episode #6: Voices: Though the Stars Walk Backward." In ''Falling in Love with Romance Movies''. Audible Original.]
See also
*
List of romance films
*
AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions
*
Romantic comedy
Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typic ...
*
Drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...
*
Interracial romance film
*
Romance literature (disambiguation) Romance literature may refer to:
*Chivalric romance
As a literary genre, the chivalric romance is a type of prose and verse narrative that was popular in the noble courts of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories ...
**
Romance novel
*
Romance (love)
References
External links
Top-rated English-language Romance filmsat
IMDb
{{Authority control
Film genres
Interpersonal relationships