why aren't romcoms "romantic" anymore?

Summary by Krater

A video essay exploring the history of romantic comedies, from screwball comedies of the 1930s to the 1990s golden age and modern declines.

From the video

Answers: Why are rom-coms no longer romantic anymore?

• history of romantic comedies
• screwball comedies
• 1990s rom-coms
• decline of mid-budget films
• heteropessimism and dating culture

What it concludes

• Screwball comedies of the 1930s reflected changing social attitudes toward sex, marriage, and gender roles, featuring empowered female characters and relationships built on friendship.
• Hollywood's shift away from mid-budget films toward high-budget blockbusters and franchise-driven IPs has contributed to the decline of the romantic comedy genre.
• Streaming services and modern technology, such as dating apps and constant connectivity, have fundamentally altered the tropes and storytelling mechanics of modern romantic comedies.
• The 2.5 times rule in Hollywood dictates that a film must earn 2.5 times its production budget to be considered profitable after accounting for marketing and distribution costs.
• Recent successful rom-coms like Crazy Rich Asians and Anyone But You rely on nostalgia, diverse casting, or honoring the genre's classic tropes to achieve box office success.