Romantic comedies have long been criticized of — and guilty of — using the same clichés over and over. Still, even in the best ones [1], standard romantic comedies contain so many tired clichés that it's easy to make fun of the movies — and it's fun to count them, too. We've rounded up the most obnoxious, most pervasive clichés in the rom-com genre, along with the movies that have used them. Happy Valentine's Day!
Frenemies
- Cliché: Two attractive people who are clearly attracted to each other fight over silly things until they give in to the fact that they're obviously perfect for each other.
- As seen in: You've Got Mail
- See also: One Fine Day, Bridget Jones's Diary, 27 Dresses, Leap Year, Life as We Know It, The Cutting Edge, Clueless, What Happens in Vegas, 10 Things I Hate About You [2], Blended, Hitch
The Dream Dismissal
- Cliché: One character has the opportunity of a lifetime, usually a dream job in another city — but they choose to give it all up for the person they love.
- As seen in: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- See also: Going the Distance, The Family Man
Movie Makeover
- Cliché: An obviously gorgeous girl (or guy) is dressed down and her looks are underplayed until she gets a makeover (preferably in a montage) and everyone realizes she's beautiful.
- As seen in: Clueless
- See also: She's All That, Just Go With It, Love Potion No. 9, Can't Buy Me Love
The Ex Factor
- Cliché: A lovelorn character uses someone to make their ex jealous, but along the way, they are shocked (shocked!) to find out that they're falling for the new person.
- As seen in: Drive Me Crazy
- See also: American Pie 2, A Lot Like Love, Addicted to Love
Career Gal Regret
- Cliché: A high-powered career woman wakes up one day to realize that while she was killing it at work, her love life has gone by the wayside.
- As seen in: The Back-Up Plan
- See also: Baby Mama, Picture Perfect, Friends With Benefits, Fever Pitch
Source: CBS Films [3]
The Just Friends Cliché
- Cliché: Two characters are just friends — but they get along so well that they never even notice the right person for them has been there all along (often because one of them is already attached).
- As seen in: When Harry Met Sally
- See also: Made of Honor, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Someone Like You, Valentine's Day, Some Kind of Wonderful, What If, Just Friends, Friends With Kids, No Strings Attached, Friends With Benefits, The Wedding Singer, Sleeping With Other People
The Stranger Just Under Your Nose
- Cliché: Similar to the just-friends cliché, two co-workers or classmates don't notice that the right person for them has been around for quite a while, just waiting to be discovered.
- As seen in: Jerry Maguire
- See also: Can't Hardly Wait, I Give It a Year, Don Jon, Music and Lyrics, Bridget Jones's Diary, Emma, Love Actually
Hidden Agenda
- Cliché: One character has a secret they're trying to hide (usually an assignment or a bet), and after the other character falls for them, they find out the secret, and break up. But don't worry, they always work it out.
- As seen in: She's All That
- See also: Hitch, 27 Dresses, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, Wedding Crashers, Never Been Kissed, Whatever It Takes
Source: Miramax [4]
The Small-Pond Escapee
- Cliché: A small-town girl has big-city dreams, but learns she can't truly escape where she came from.
- As seen in: Sweet Home Alabama
- See also: Coyote Ugly, Burlesque, 13 Going on 30 [5], Working Girl, Rock of Ages
The Meet-Cute
- Cliché: The classic meet-cute allows our adorably klutzy couple to meet in the silliest, most convenient way possible.
- As seen in: The Wedding Planner
- See also: Serendipity, 27 Dresses
The Reformed Player
- Cliché: A hot guy who's allergic to relationships finally meets the right girl — who he just needed all along!
- As seen in: That Awkward Moment
- See also: Someone Like You, Failure to Launch, What Women Want, Two Weeks Notice, This Means War, Don Jon, About a Boy, 50 First Dates, Wedding Crashers, Sleeping With Other People