Can We Please Bring Back 2000s Rom-Coms?

There's something about 2000s rom-coms that today's romance films just can't seem to recreate.

Maybe it was the chemistry. Maybe it was the witty banter. Maybe it was the fact that not every character looked like they stepped out of a perfectly curated Instagram feed.

Whatever it was, those movies had a certain spark.

Think about How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (my comfort movie 💛), 10 Things I Hate About You, 13 Going on 30, The Princess Diaries, 27 Dresses or Notting Hill. Even if romance wasn't the central plot, they made you believe in messy crushes, awkward conversations, grand gestures and characters who actually had personalities beyond being attractive.

The best part? The romance wasn't rushed.

People argued. They misunderstood each other. They grew as individuals before getting together. You rooted for them because you watched them fall in love, not because the script told you they were meant to be.

The supporting characters were memorable too. Best friends had their own storylines. Families felt real. The cities almost became characters themselves. And the soundtracks? They stayed with you long after the credits rolled.

That's not to say today's romances aren't good. We've had beautiful films like Crazy Rich Asians, Palm Springs and Anyone But You. But many modern rom-coms feel faster, safer and sometimes forgettable. In an era of endless content, fewer stories seem willing to slow down and let us sit with the characters.

Maybe what we're really missing isn't the 2000s.
Maybe we're missing stories that wore their hearts on their sleeves. Stories that let romance be funny, awkward, hopeful and pretty cheesy.

What's your favourite 2000s rom-com? Drop your recommendations in the comments! 🩷🍿