Materialists: Is The Golden Age Of Rom-Coms Officially Back ?

Harpers Bazaar Arabia

03-06-2025

Materialists arrives in cinemas on June 13, championing the age-old charm of an irresistible rom-com, but did we ever really fall out of love with them?
For a (long) while, it felt like rom-coms were, well… on life support (or to be honest almost non-existent). We some how slipped into an era of superhero showdowns, dystopian dramas, and movies with enough CGI to make anyone's head spin. But where are the messy love triangles, the awkward meet-cutes, the breathless kisses in the rain, that we all once (and to be honest, still) use to devour with a side of Ben & Jerry's in hand.
Maybe that's part of why dating and romance seem different these days. When those stories stopped being shown on screen, it was like we lost a little bit of the magic. Or maybe it's the other way around—maybe the way we date now made those kinds of movies feel outdated. Either way, the late '90s-early 2000s were the golden age of romantic comedies, and it feels like something is missing from our box office billing.
Granted, they weren't always the most sophisticated ouevres de cinema. They didn't have fancy special effects or deep, complex plots. But that was part of their charm. Back then, life was simpler (though still plenty chaotic) and those films captured that messiness with panache. Without all the social media hype and endless marketing we have today, those straightforward movies about life and love still found a way to connect with people. They felt personal, they felt real.
And even now, the old rom-coms are the ones we go back to watch over and over again. When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Women, How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days, and many more. These movies are comforting, cosy, and timeless. These days, it feels like a lot of movies are made just to be watched once, created to showcase a production's digital prowess on the big screen or simply streamed on your phone screen, to then forget about entirely. But those classic rom-coms? They're the kind of movies you can watch ten times, a hundred times, and still fall in love, every single time.
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Perhaps though, there is hope. Materialist s, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal is set to be released on June 13, and just from the trailer, people are already excited. It has that same rom-com energy—tricky love triangle, the girl next door, and all the clichés we secretly love (and miss). Even though the movie isn't out yet, social media is already buzzing.
It's a reminder that people still want those kinds of stories. The ones with charm, humour, a little drama, and a lot of heart. Maybe we got too caught up in big-budget superhero movies and high-concept fantasies and forgot how much we love the simple, sweet familiarity of romantic comedies.
The truth is, no amount of flashy effects or marketing can replace a good story with relatable characters and emotions. And if the excitement around this new movie is anything to go by, it seems like rom-coms might be making a comeback. Maybe love on screen—and in life—isn't dead after all.