Rom-coms Surge in Popularity Across Media

From Broadway to streaming, romantic comedies are making a comeback with new twists on the classic formula

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A wave of new romantic comedies have captured the public's attention this winter, from the Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" to hit streaming shows like "Heated Rivalry" and "Nobody Wants This." While sticking to the classic opposites-attract setup, these rom-coms are putting fresh spins on the genre by featuring same-sex couples, religious themes, and gender-flipped dynamics. Experts say the surge in popularity shows audiences still crave the feel-good escapism of romantic comedies, even as the genre has become marginalized by critics in recent years.

Why it matters

The resurgence of romantic comedies across different media platforms suggests audiences are still hungry for the genre, despite it being overlooked by some critics in recent years. The new crop of rom-coms is putting creative twists on the classic formula, appealing to a diverse range of viewers and highlighting the enduring appeal of stories about love and connection.

The details

The new Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" features a classic opposites-attract setup, but with a twist - the would-be lovers are ordinary people, a coffee shop server and a movie theater sweeper, rather than wealthy elites. The show winks at rom-com tropes while also subverting them. Meanwhile, the hit HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry" features a same-sex romance, while the Netflix show "Nobody Wants This" explores religious themes. The movie "People We Meet on Vacation" flips the gender of the chaotic partner. Experts say these creative spins on the genre help make the stories more compelling while still conforming to audience expectations.

  • The Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" is currently running.
  • The second season of "Nobody Wants This" on Netflix garnered 8.6 million views in its first four days of streaming.
  • "People We Meet on Vacation" drew 17.2 million views over its January 2026 launch weekend.

The players

Kit Buchan

Co-writer of the Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)".

Jim Barne

Co-writer of the Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)".

Paul Eastwick

A psychology professor at the University of California, Davis and author of "Bonded by Evolution" who studies romantic attraction.

Brett Haley

Director of the film adaptation of "People We Meet on Vacation".

Emily Bader

Star of the film "People We Meet on Vacation".

Tom Blyth

Star of the film "People We Meet on Vacation".

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What they’re saying

“They're all the same story, really. How do two people inextricably drawn together but separated by an overwhelming obstacle melt into one another?”

— Kit Buchan, Co-writer of "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" (newser.com)

“I definitely get the sense that there are waves and this is the time of year when we get usually one or two surprise, probably streaming, hits in this genre.”

— Paul Eastwick, Psychology professor and author (newser.com)

“Rom-coms tend to be rich white people with time on their hands. And that's OK. We love it. We love watching them. But what if you're shut out of that? was part of the question that we were asking when we set out to write it.”

— Kit Buchan, Co-writer of "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" (newser.com)

“To me, we just sort of lost some of that elevation. And I don't think there's anything wrong, by the way, with your Hallmark movies or other rom-coms that are a little fluffier, a little lighter. They're just sort of meant to be put on and enjoyed and not taken really art.”

— Brett Haley, Director of "People We Meet on Vacation" (newser.com)

“If an action movie is elevated and checks all the boxes, you'll find that critics go, 'Hey, yeah, this did it. This was great.' But when a romance does it and checks the boxes and does everything right, they go, 'Oh, we've seen this before.'”

— Brett Haley, Director of "People We Meet on Vacation" (newser.com)

What’s next

The Broadway musical "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" is expected to continue its run through the end of the year, while the second seasons of "Heated Rivalry" and "Nobody Wants This" are likely to be released in the coming months.

The takeaway

The resurgence of romantic comedies across different media platforms suggests audiences are still craving the feel-good escapism and emotional connection that the genre provides, even as it has become marginalized by some critics. By putting fresh spins on the classic rom-com formula, these new stories are appealing to a diverse range of viewers and highlighting the enduring appeal of tales about love and relationships.