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Tips for Romantic Comedies

by Robin Rowe 6/10/2006

The theatrical market for romantic comedies is dating couples. After watching the movie the audience should feel good about love.

Romantic comedies can be a challenging genre to write because they have a known formula that the audience expects will be delivered. The rom-com audience can be very unforgiving not because the expectations are so high, but because the expectations are so specific. Formula doesn't mean predictable. The writer has to deliver surprises within the formula.

Rom-Com Formula

  1. It's funny on the page and romantic
  2. Flawed yet charming leads
  3. The leads dislike each other and banter in dialog
  4. They are forced together by circumstances, mission, or purpose
  5. There's a misunderstanding or deception
  6. Family, friends, and food are involved
  7. There are surprises and revelations
  8. They fall in love and finally end up together
  9. They help and complete each other
  10. They live happily ever after

Common Rom-Com Mistakes

  1. Unlikable lead
  2. Annoying sidekick
  3. Lead or supporting characters lacking dimension (interests, hobbies, skills, passions)
  4. Break up at end
  5. Missing or unbelievable plot
  6. Missing or unbelievable subplot
  7. Not romantic enough
  8. Not funny enough
  9. Not visual enough
  10. No surprises
  11. Too slow
  12. Too dark
  13. Alienates male or female audience

Some Movies to Study for Rom-Com Ideas

  1. The American President
  2. Barefoot in the Park
  3. Bewitched
  4. Bringing Up Baby
  5. Bull Durham
  6. Casablanca
  7. Dirty Dancing
  8. Fever Pitch
  9. Fifty First Dates
  10. Four Weddings and a Funeral
  11. Galaxy Quest
  12. Grease
  13. High Society
  14. Hitch
  15. Holiday Inn
  16. Laws of Attraction
  17. Man's Favorite Sport
  18. Miracle on 34th Street
  19. Moonstruck
  20. My Best Friend's Wedding
  21. Philadelphia Story
  22. Pillow Talk
  23. Pretty Woman
  24. Pride & Prejudice
  25. Prime
  26. Romancing the Stone
  27. Shakespeare in Love
  28. Shall We Dance (Japanese version and J.Lo version)
  29. Shrek
  30. Splash
  31. Strictly Ballroom
  32. That Touch of Mink
  33. The Thin Man
  34. Wedding Crashers
  35. The Wedding Banquet
  36. The Wedding Date
  37. When Harry Met Sally
  38. While You Were Sleeping
  39. White Christmas
  40. Working Girl
  41. You've Got Mail

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Created June 10, 2006. Updated Aug 1, 2006.