A scientific analysis of the romantic content in the 41 high-grossing teen romantic drama movies from 1961 to 2019 has found that male characters were more likely to express romantic ideals, whereas hookups — especially those involving female characters — often predicted relationship terminations. This trend highlights a persistent sexual double standard in these films, which could have negative implications for their primarily young female audience. The findings have been published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media.
For decades, romantic films have played a significant role in shaping societal views about love and relationships, often idealizing these experiences in a way that might not align with reality. Previous research indicates that exposure to these films can influence young people’s beliefs about romance, leading them to hold more idealistic views about love.
However, the specific content and messages conveyed in teen romantic dramas remained less explored. Given the popularity of these films among adolescents, understanding their content could provide insights into how media influences young viewers’ expectations and beliefs about relationships.
“I, just like many others, grew up (and still love) watching romance movies. I always found myself infatuated with the characters and relationships I saw on the screen,” said study author Amy Pezoldt, a graduate student in social psychology at University of Florida.
“In my personal experience, guys in real life acted a lot differently than the ones in the movies; no one has ever told me they thought I was flawless or loved me from the moment they laid eyes on me! I thought it would be really interesting to systematically analyze and actually break down what themes and messages these movies are spreading to viewers, and so a content analysis on teen romance movies seemed like a great way to do exactly that.”
The researchers selected a sample of films based on listings from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), specifically tagged under “teen romance.” The films were selected and filtered to meet specific criteria: main characters had to be teenagers or young adults, and the film needed to be produced by a U.S. company and released in U.S. theaters. After reviewing plot summaries and other relevant details, 42 films were initially chosen; however, one was later excluded as its plot was not primarily romantic, leaving 41 films for detailed analysis.
One of the standout findings was that male characters in these films expressed more romantic ideals than their female counterparts. This was quantified by counting the instances of phrases and dialogues that represented idealistic views of love, such as “love conquers all” or “soulmates.”
Male characters were found to express romantic ideals significantly more frequently than female characters, with males averaging 1.78 expressions compared to females, who averaged 0.68. However, when it came to expressing challenges to romantic ideals — statements that presented a more realistic or critical view of love — there was no significant gender difference. Female characters expressed slightly more challenges to romantic ideals than male characters, but this difference was not statistically significant.
In terms of relationship dynamics, there were no significant differences between male and female characters in terms of their engagement in hookups and long-term relationships. Both genders participated in a roughly equal number of hookups, with men averaging 1.32 hookups and women averaging 1.17, showing no statistically significant difference. Likewise, there was no significant gender difference in the number of long-term relationships.
However, an interesting gender disparity emerged in the consequences of these relationships. Films in which female characters engaged in hookups often ended with those characters experiencing break-ups, suggesting a moralistic or cautionary stance on women’s autonomous sexual behavior. In contrast, the relationship outcomes for male characters were not significantly influenced by their engagement in hookups.
“This study revealed that teen drama romance movies can be both realistic and unrealistic,” Pezoldt told PsyPost. “They are rather unrealistic in the sense that men in the films believe in romantic ideals (like soulmates and love and first sight) more than they report in real life.
“Unfortunately, they fall more on the side of realism when considering that women are more likely than men to experience a negative aftermath of hooking up, in both movies and real life. I think it’s important to recognize these underlying themes that are being presented in many of the movies we know and love.”
Despite evolving societal norms and attitudes towards relationships and sexuality, the researchers found that the depiction of both casual and committed romantic relationships in teen romance films remained consistent over time.
“One thing that was particularly surprising was that romance movies have remained relatively stable over time; there haven’t been many drastic changes,” Pezoldt explained. “Characters today express similar amounts of romantic ideals and challenges, and hook up and take part in long-term relationships, just as they did 50 years ago.”
But the study, like all research, includes some caveats. The study’s focus on high-grossing films means it primarily includes mainstream movies that may not represent the full diversity of teen experiences and relationships. Most films analyzed featured White, heterosexual main characters, which does not reflect the broader societal diversity. Future research could expand to include a wider range of films.
“I would like to conduct research on the actual viewers of teen drama romance movies, instead of just analyzing the movies themselves,” Pezoldt said. “It would be interesting to see the effects that these movies may have on viewers’ romantic beliefs and dating behaviors.”
“No one should ever feel guilty about liking romance movies,” she added. “They are popular and enjoyable for a reason, and sometimes all people want to do is watch a whimsical and idyllic romantic story. I would advise romantic movie lovers to familiarize themselves with the different themes these movies are spreading, which may not always be easy to see. I hope my study can help people grasp these ideas a bit better.”
The study, “Young Love on the Big Screen: A Content Analysis of Romantic Ideals, Challenges, Hookups, and Long-Term Relationships in Teen Romantic Drama Movies,” was authored by Amy F. Pezoldt, Marina Klimenko, and Gregory D. Webster.