While most films have some aspect of romance between characters (at least as a subplot,) a romance film can be loosely defined as any film in which the central plot (the premise of the story) revolves around the romantic involvement of the story's protagonists.

Another prerequisite is that the film has a happy ending (or at least bittersweet) and many would argue that no film with a sad ending may be correctly defined as "romance;" however, this second prerequisite is admittedly disputable and many screenwriters and directors will push the boundaries of the genre in this aspect.

Other Names

Weepy film refers to tendency of romance films to reduce audiences to (willing) tears

Chick flick refers to the popularity of romance films among women despite their often cliché stories and plot devices.

Examples

• An Affair to Remember

• Bridget Jones's Diary

• Casablanca

• Doctor Zhivago

• Love Story

• Pretty Woman

• Pride and Prejudice 1940, 2003, 2005

• Random Harvest

• The Sheik

• Sleepless in Seattle

• While You Were Sleeping

See also

• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions

• Romantic comedy film

• Romantic drama film

External links

• IMDb guide to Romance movies