12 Clichés From Romantic Movies That Make More Sense Than We Care to Admit

Romantic movies are built on rules and formulas that viewers already know all too well — best friends fall in love with each other, ordinary people conquer the hearts of celebrities. Due to this, we stop taking certain clichés seriously and think that these situations can’t happen in real life. Nevertheless, there is common sense and wise advice in those cheesy rom-coms.

We at Bright Side tried to look at the main clichés in romantic movies and understand whether the situations and deeds shown there can be applied to real life.

1. Going to a different city or country after a breakup

Scriptwriters often send a character with a broken heart to travel to other countries. Once they arrive at the new place, they instantly find new friends and meet the love of their life.

Turns out, that the change of environment after a breakup or other traumatizing event is really a good idea. Psychologists and research prove it too: we forget about our routine during rest and meet new people, which makes us happier.

• Movies where we can see it: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), The Holiday (2006), Eat Pray Love (2010)

2. Protagonist writes about her relationships in a diary or in a newspaper column

Writers and journalists often appear as the main characters in movies. Their professions can be connected with their personal life — and they write articles about their relationships.

It’s useful to pour emotions onto paper, even for those who work in a different sphere. Keeping a personal diary helps you express your fears and worries, learn to identify negative thoughts, and track changes in your emotions.

• Movies where we can see it: Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

3. Changing our style changes our life

We have seen various interpretations of the Cinderella story in movies. The stories where a change of clothes and a different hairstyle completely changes the life of the main character might seem boring to some people, but there is wisdom in this too.

Research has confirmed that clothes do really make people. The participants of the experiment were offered to assess the professionalism of strangers by looking at photos. The ones who were dressed smarter got higher scores.

• Movies where we can see it: She’s All That (1999), Miss Congeniality (2000), Clueless (1995)

4. A date in a favorite secret place

A good attitude in the movies often grows into love after one character shares his or her dream or brings him or her to their secret place. It does make sense — when we open up and tell people about our interests, they start to understand us better.

• Movies where we can see it: La La Land (2016), Call Me by Your Name (2017), The Notebook (2004)

5. Love at second sight

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a person that the main character doesn’t pay any attention to at the beginning, turns out to be Mr. or Mrs. Right at the end. The idea of love at first sight sounds nice, but it’s time to admit that the message from these movies is a fair assessment of reality — one should get to know a person better before refusing to communicate with them.

• Movies where we can see it: The Wrong Missy (2020), Runaway Bride (1999), You’ve Got Mail (1998)

6. The main character refuses to live in a big city and returns to their hometown

Yes, traveling does help movie characters heal their wounds. But sometimes they decide to move to a different place just to change their environment. They believe that moving to a different place makes a person happier. But it turns out to be wrong, and they return to their hometown.

Researchers explain why it is sometimes hard for people to live in a place they were striving to live in so much — they simply have a low level of happiness. This indicator is determined by surveying locals. In happy regions, a person becomes happier too, while a depressed place makes them want to rush back to their hometown. Oftentimes, people are ready to sacrifice their careers for the sake of comfort.

• Movies where we can see it: Sweet Home Alabama (2002), The Dressmaker (2015), 13 Going on 30 (2004)

7. Sudden acquaintance

Today, in the era of dating apps, sudden meetings between characters in movies seem unrealistic. It’s hard to believe that a stranger will turn out to be a soulmate.

Expert in stress management, Paula Davis, believes that communicating with strangers is a good thing. She even gives thanks for talking to taxi drivers, because she ended up finding new friends and getting a bunch of advice that was useful for her relationship.

• Movies where we can see it: The Wedding Planner (2001), Tootsie (1982), Intuition (2020)

8. The main character understands that her ideal boyfriend is not meant for her

Many times, female protagonists in movies have broken up with boyfriends who seemed ideal to them in favor of those who didn’t match them very well. Common interests, appearance, and wealth fade when it comes to feelings.

Doctor Lisa Firestone thinks that people who match our ideals don’t always match us. According to her, it’s not finding the ideal partner that is important, but learning to work on our relationships.

• Movies where we can see it: The Devil Wears Prada (2006), A Perfect Plan (2012), The Switch (2010)

9. A career builder understands that happiness is not just in working

At the beginning of many romantic movies, we are shown strong and successful characters who gradually understand that their work doesn’t bring them happiness. The sudden appearance of love helps them change the situation.

We shouldn’t criticize them and throw popcorn at the screen. Different research shows that workaholism doesn’t bring any good — people dependent on work suffer from depression and sleep issues more often. It is useful to sometimes take a break from your career and pay attention to other aspects of your life.

• Movies where we can see it: The Back-Up Plan (2010), The Proposal (2009), With Love... from the Age of Reason (2010)

10. After a breakup, characters decide to give their relationships a second chance

Characters in romantic movies keep breaking up and getting back together again. Of course, hardly any of them has broken the record set by Rachel and Ross from Friends with the number of breakups. But still, it’s quite interesting to watch this love leapfrog.

Actually, there is nothing bad about getting back together with your partner after months or even years. Perhaps, the reasons for the breakup no longer matter and don’t make sense anymore. Also, we should remember that people tend to change, that’s why it’s important to give them a second chance.

• Movies where we can see it: The Best of Me (2014), Dear John (2010), Mamma Mia! (2008)

11. Someone close who helps make the right decision

If not for the help of numerous friends and relatives, the characters of more than half of all romantic movies would never be together with their partners. Because it’s their friends or loved ones who, at the last minute, give the characters wise advice.

In real life, it’s also important to listen to those around you, who know you well, and who can assess the situation soberly.

• Movies where we can see it: My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), The Wedding Planner (2001), 27 Dresses (2008)

12. Saying “I love you” at the last moment

Characters of romantic movies like to put things off until the very last moment and confess their feelings at very inconvenient times — at their wedding to someone else or right before their trip to a different country.

Of course, it’s better to talk about your feelings at once. But people need time to realize and accept them. In this case, saying “I love you” at the last minute is better than staying silent. It’s better to not hold our emotions back and be left wondering how our life would’ve turned out if we had confessed our deep feelings for them.

• Movies where we can see it: The Wedding Singer (1998), Something Borrowed (2011), Love Actually (2003)

What advice from romantic movies seemed useful to you? Have you already applied this advice in real life?