The Romantic Comedy used to be the most reliable genre in Hollywood. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, studios could bank on incredible returns from mid-budget love stories. However, looking at the theatrical release slates for 2026, the traditional Rom-Com is nowhere to be found.
Instead, these stories have migrated entirely to streaming platforms, usually serialized into 8-episode arcs. We explore why audiences no longer want to pay theatrical ticket prices for a simple love story.