GUEST EDITORIAL: The Reasons Behind the Enduring Popularity of Romance Movies

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/15uadDpdo24

The Reasons Behind the Enduring Popularity of Romance Movies

by Kevin Gardner

The entertainment industry has a long history of making successful and popular romance movies. Whether they focus on the comedic aspects of a relationship or the drama, romances are an enduring genre that people simply can't get enough of. So, why is it that you feel compelled to see the newest film with your friends or rewatch a trusted favorite for the tenth time? Read on to find out. 

Create Renewed Faith in a Happy Ending

Don't underestimate the power of seeing a perfectly suited couple overcome their obstacles to choose to be together. Watching this play out in front of you, even when it's on a screen, is a wonderful way to remind yourself that romance is not lost, and you too can live happily ever after.

The modern world has drastically changed the world of dating. Traditional methods of meeting and wooing your ideal partner have switched from personal meetings and thoughtful gestures to swiping through yet another app on the internet. This can cause you to become frustrated and want to give up. A romantic movie is the nudge you need to remember that it's all worth it in the end. 

Inspire You to Go Out and Find Love

After finishing the latest romance flick, you may have renewed interest in finding your own perfect match. Maybe you give dating services a try with Matchmaker DC or put more effort into striking up conversations when you go out in public. You never know when you could meet the one, but you have to be open to it for it to happen. 

Cause You to Feel All the Emotions

It's easy to bottle up your feelings and start to feel overwhelmed by all that you keep inside. Movies are a great tool to help you release pent-up stress. It's cathartic to be able to both laugh and cry at the escapades of the endearing characters as they experience the breadth of human emotions right before you. 

Elevate Mood and Release Oxytocin in the Body

Some really good movies can actually have a chemical effect on your body. When your emotions become fully involved by the story being told, your body releases the love hormone called oxytocin. This can make you feel even more invested in the outcome of the plot and eager to see the characters work out their differences and start a life together. 

Make You Nostalgic

Another compelling reason that romantic movies are so appealing is that they can bring back memories of friends, your childhood, or an old flame. You may catch yourself gazing off into the distance and smiling softly as you recall a particular event or person that left a lasting mark on your emotions. 

You could be inspired to reach out and establish contact with someone you have lost touch with years ago, or remember how good it feels to have your partner romance you with small gestures and candlelight dinners. That movie scene could be just the thing to spark your imagination and get you back to showing your love and affection for your partner, or even others in your life, in creative and meaningful ways. 

Let You Indulge in Fantasy

It's true that most people love a good love story where the couple on-screen experiences extreme highs and lows and seemingly ridiculous challenges. While it's totally normal and expected for relationships to require work and go through rough patches or moments of pure joy, the scenarios in the movies can be over-the-top. 

Letting yourself get lost in the storyline filled with royalty and castles, or other far-fetched circumstances can fulfill a fantasy you hold for your own fairytale romance. It's fun to imagine complex and unlikely situations and elaborate plotlines, if only for a few short hours. 

Movies are the perfect way to escape from your own problems for a little while. They serve as a reminder of what you truly want and that a happy ending can always happen.