By Valentina Palomino, SUNY Old Westbury

Everyone knows the genre peaked in the early 2000s, but will it ever be able to return to its former glory? 

By Olivia Moosey, DePaul University

Billy Eichner’s new gay rom-com just came out in theaters. It’s the best movie of the 21st century and a must-watch!

By Megan Garcia, Arizona State University

The platform’s genre-defying show chaotically serves up entertainment.

By Morgan Thomas, Wayne State University

The Netflix original uses its talented cast and beautiful Italian setting to enchant its viewers.

By Megan Garcia, Arizona State University

The swoon-worthy trope, in which two characters pretend to date, is seen in a lot of the platform’s romance films.

By Maximilian Padilla-Rodriguez, Florida Atlantic University

With their creative premises and unorthodox executions, these romantic comedies revitalize the genre for a broader audience.

By Emma Watts, University of Arizona

By Callie Rosenzweig, University of Chicago

By Danielle Kuzel, Florida State University

The new Netflix film questions the common family expectation of being in a relationship, but it falls into the very cliche it attempts to critique.

By Olivia Dimond, Bates College

Since late 2017, many of the streaming platform’s releases have included romantic comedies, signaling an industry-wide shift back toward the genre.

By Julia Greene, Columbia College Chicago

Beth O’Leary’s debut novel, which features a very unusual living arrangement, makes the case for the genre as possessing real emotional depth.

By Madalyn Watson, Baylor University

Breakups are hard. These five films will make crying, self-reflection and moving on easier than a tub of ice cream can.

By Katherine Brand, University of Michigan

Protagonists Mae and George must learn to navigate their evolving romance while dealing with insecurities about sexuality and addiction.

By Olivia Dimond, Bates College

Strong lead performances from Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae make up for the weaknesses in this rom-com murder caper’s script.

By Carli Moses, Union University

This rom-com does nothing to renovate the category, and that’s okay.

By Carli Moses, Union University

Nora Ephron was a master writer of rom-coms for the neurotic.

By Megan Mehta, University of Illinois at Chicago

It pretends it’s not a rom-com, but it sure acts like one.

By Michael Wu, Case Western Reserve University

Nostalgia conquers all.

By Halle Parris, University of Missouri – Kansas City

If you’re cliché averse though, rom-coms should be off-limits already.

By Gabbi Calabrese, Arkansas Tech University

Not trying to shame anyone who enjoyed ‘The Kissing Booth,’ but I would like to help you refine your rom-com palate.

By Carly Ristaino, Union College

What a time to be alive.

By Danielle Richardson, Florida State University

Featuring a male protagonist who is more controlling than cute and unrealistic friendship rules, ‘The Kissing Booth’ misses its mark.

By Emily Craig, University of North Alabama

What’s better than a regular rom-com? Matthew McConaughey comedies, of course! All his films ooze with that natural charm he brings to the screen.

By Bethany Knickerbocker, Emerson College

If any of its tropes have finally started to wear thin (two complete opposites discovering they complete each other??), check out one of these slightly less traditional spins on the rom-com genre.