According to viewers, the internet and the stars of the new Emily Henry movie adaption, “People We Meet on Vacation,” rom-coms are back and on the rise.
Released to Netflix on Jan. 9, the movie follows best friends and polar opposites Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader) across years of adventure, friendship and possibly even love. The film garnered lots of public attention even before its release with the book version of the same name returning to the New York Times Bestsellers list and Amazon Book Charts and audiobook listens on Spotify jumping 515% globally. Book adaptations are famously controversial, especially for true fans, but many have voiced support and excitement in the days since it hit streaming services. “I would say for the most part it stayed true to the book. Obviously, like, for time’s sake they did cut some stuff out but I think it worked well,” sophomore Madeline Chen said.
Overall, the movie received a 75% critic rating and a 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers praising stars Bader and Blyth for their undeniable on-screen charm, but also noting that the movie is predictable and at times even cringy. From the very start, there is no doubt that Alex and Poppy will end up together, despite years without speaking and a tear in their bond that, at least for them, feels irreversible. Still, true rom-coms fans know this often comes with the territory and can be a strength rather than a weakness.
The critics are not wrong; it is predictable. But that is exactly what the fans seem to come and stay for. In the last few years, romance has cemented itself as one of, if not the most, popular genre. It has consistently been ranked as the highest grossing fiction category, with a 52% growth reported in sales in recent years. This predictability is not just appealing, it is profitable. Across the globe, romance in film had a market value of around $30 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $47 billion by 2032.
What is making romance such a popular genre though? The use of social media is certainly a contributing factor to the increase in its viewership. An online obsession with nostalgia in trends like the 2016 trend shows a desire to see things the way people believe they used to be, before the introduction of modern issues and even our current period of online first connection. In an era of cancel culture, ghosting and online dating, there is a sense of comfort that comes from knowing that the two leads will persevere and find their way together.
On a scientific level, it is also a genre made to make its viewers feel good. “Watching or hearing about two people getting together or having a happy ending just gives people hope,” sophomore Abby Marlowe said. Emotionally compelling stories like “People We Meet On Vacation” and other romances cause the release of oxytocin, the hormone for love, trust and safety. That is the power of this type of media; it does not need to shock viewers–just comfort them. This is where “People We Meet On Vacation” and the rom-com genre as a whole has the chance to shine.
Despite romance’s recent media takeover, it is often still looked down upon in comparison to other genres. Studies have found that romance readers show a tendency to hide their books in public for fear of facing judgment or not being taken seriously. Misogyny can definitely be a contributing factor as 84% of romance readers are women. Stories centering on women’s lives, emotions and pleasure are becoming more mainstream but there is still a lot of space for growth in the future. “Publishing has come so far. It still has a long way to go, but it has come so far in making space for women’s stories and understanding,” “People We Meet On Vacation” author Emily Henry said in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan.
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