Another Top 10 Romantic Movie Cliches

Another Top 10 Romantic Movie Cliches

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Top 10 Romantic Movie Cliches

You’re still not sure if you’ve seen this romance before? How about now? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for another top 10 romantic movie clichés. For this list, we’re taking a look at more familiar conventions, motifs, and tropes that keep working their way into cinematic love stories. Whether you’re a sucker for these clichés or officially sick of them, they’re forever embedded into the romance formula. If you didn’t see one you thought should be on here, be sure to check out our initial list for the top 10 romantic movie clichés.

Like many romance clichés, the disapproving parents can be traced all the way back to Shakespeare. In some cases, both groups of parents will be dead set against the union of their children. Most of the time, though, the female lead’s parent or parents are the primary murderers of love. Even if their daughter’s boyfriend is perfectly caring, the parents will find something to hate about him, whether he’s rebellious, poor, or uneducated. But don’t worry: by the film’s conclusion, they’re guaranteed to finally let their child leave the nest.

#9: Romance Songs

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Watching a montage of two people falling in love isn’t nearly as effective without a little musical accompaniment. If the imagery of sweethearts kissing in the rain, frolicking at the beach, and having passionate coitus doesn’t tell you that they’re in love, the soundtrack will. The silly little love songs are almost always featured during the third act when we get the classic lonely montage and a song about heartbreak. The bubbly music makes a comeback for the happy ending, however, followed by an upbeat pop song played over the credits.

Deep down every woman wants to find a sleazebag they can change into marriage material, right? With a snap of his fingers, the player archetype can score with any chick he desires. That is, every chick except for our leading lady, who is immune to his womanizing charms. Through a game of hard to get, the player learns that there’s more to life than sleeping with hundreds of various bimbos. Who needs the swinger lifestyle when you can be in a committed relationship, especially if it’s with – let’s say – Emma Stone?

#7: Small Town Girls with Big City Dreams

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These young women likely read a lot of Jane Austen growing up and decided they wanted more out of life. Lively and passionate, the small town girl isn’t appreciated by her community that expects her to settle for an ordinary existence. So these free spirits think they need to travel to the big city to make their dreams come true. Upon arriving, though, they find that it’s easier said than done. But through hard work, quick wits, and occasionally singing like a Disney princess, they just might make it.

Not quite a friend and not quite an enemy, frenemies are the gossipy, manipulative, bitchy individuals we should despise, but can’t bring ourselves to entirely hate. Why? Because as mean as they seem, frenemies never come off as flat-out mean-spirited. Even when they’re saying cruel things to someone’s face or behind their back, they still somehow manage to say it in a funny, semi-friendly manner. As a result, they often end up stealing all the best lines, in addition to being the film’s most well-dressed and wealthy character.

#5: Crying

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Although the audience might not always break out the tissues, at least one of the main characters in every romantic movie is bound to shed a few tears. Numerous scenarios can prompt crying, like death, breakups, or rejection. Even a happy reunion can merit tears of joy. Whatever has our lovers whining, it’s unlikely you’re going see any runny snot or red eyes. Movie stars need to perfect the sexy cry so as not to appear unattractive, which brings us to our next cliché.

Do you want to be in a romance flick? Then get ready for a lot of eyebrow plucking, teeth bleaching, and depriving yourself of carbs. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a film in this genre where the leads aren’t perfect 10s, excluding comedians like Adam Sandler. Even when a character is supposed to be a dateless ugly duckling, they become a knockout simply by removing their glasses. We know that beautiful people sell more tickets, but could we please get a movie where everybody’s just average at best?

#3: Social Class Differences

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She’s a proper, rich, sexually repressed girl from a conservative family. He’s a penniless street rat with a mysterious past and rides a motorcycle. Based on their contradictory social classes, these two polar opposites shouldn’t have anything to do with one another. Against all the odds, however, both misunderstood souls will find what was missing from their empty lives in one another. Society might not comprehend the attraction, but nothing will stop the mismatched lovebirds from loving each other and dancing together.

#2: Lovers Becoming Separated

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This cliché is often instigated by other romantic movie clichés, a few notable examples being war, misunderstandings, the truth coming out, and to “protect” someone. Whatever the reason, the lovers need to be separated for at least ten minutes of the movie’s running time. As frustrating as it might be to see the lovers pulled apart, you can’t help but feel uplifted when they finally reunite and live happily ever after…unless one or both of them immediately die…well, a brief reunion is better than no reunion at all. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Letters, Emails, and Messaging - The Poor, Brooding, Misunderstood Male Lead - Sunsets - Hidden Agendas

Romance has delivered more corny lines than any other genre known to man. To be fair, though, romance itself is kind of corny. Whether you’re telling somebody that you love them for the first time or proposing marriage, a few cheesy lines are inevitable. Sometimes film will offer a declaration of love that’s truly inspired, touching, and uplifting, despite being shamelessly sentimental. Other times, the dialogue will be so trite that you’ll throw up in your mouth. Either way, corny dialogue and love stories go hand in hand. Do you agree with our list? Are there any more romantic movie clichés we missed? For more lovey-dovey Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.