How streaming is reviving the romance genre

In the mood for love? It’s not just the arrival of spring. It’s the return of romance. Over the past year, romantic movies have made a huge comeback and they’re reconnecting with audiences through streaming.  

For the last couple of decades, an idea has persisted in Hollywood that there isn’t an audience for romantic comedies and dramas. However, that myth isn’t supported by the current data and trends in the streaming industry. In fact, the popularity of romance movies, including romantic comedies and dramas, has been steadily increasing in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue.

Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu have been investing heavily in romance movies as part of their licensing strategy. They recognize the significant audience demand for these types of films and are responding by offering a wide variety of romantic comedies and dramas in their catalogs.

While these services often prioritize romance movies around Valentine’s Day—a time when audiences are eager to add a little love to their lives— it seems that demand for hopeful, feel-good fare is high. 

The success of recent romantic comedies such as “Your Place or Mine” “Somebody I Used to Know,” and “You People” is further evidence that there’s a significant audience for the romance genre. 

Between February 10 and February 23, the top 5 Romance movies based on streaming and engagement share were: 

1. Your Place or Mine on Netflix

2. Somebody I Used to Know on Prime Video

3. You People on Netflix

4. Empire of Light on HBO Max

5. Shotgun Wedding on Prime Video

To see the Top 10 Movies of the week, click here.

Five romance movies that premiered in 2023 accounted for 28% of the streaming share out of the top 100 romance movies available to stream in the U.S.—meaning that people are starved for this content.

These five movies accounted for 28% of the Romance category’s streaming and engagement share among the top 100 romance movies available to stream on SVOD and/or AVOD in the U.S.

What’s more, among the top 100 movies available to stream in the U.S., these five brand-new romance films accounted for a 12% share of streaming.

Among the top 100 movies available to stream in the U.S., these five brand-new romance films accounted for a 12% share of streaming.

Romance is not dead

As cynical as people can be, Romance is a genre that just won’t die because it’s designed to please. Beloved because it offers audiences a combination of humor, romance, and feel-good moments that can be enjoyed by a wide range of viewers – yep, you’d be comfortable watching them with your mom – they also often feature relatable characters and storylines that resonate with audiences. 

And the audience is only growing as the genre makes the leap to tv. Aside from hit movies like Shotgun Wedding, and streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, romance has found a new audience with shows like Emily in Paris, Bridgerton, and You Me Her

Romance is not dead. In fact, audiences are more receptive to its pull than ever and Reelgood will continue to track how Cupid’s arrow continues to allure streaming audiences.

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