The British Rom-Com Supremacy: 'Starstruck' & 'Still Up'

Think pieces fretting over the state of romantic comedy – both on TV and movie screens – are by now a very familiar cliché. Every other year or so, sees the publication of a piece wondering aloud whether the romantic comedy is on the brink of death, and then along comes an appealing romantic comedy to put the lie to that notion. Two of this year’s loveliest examples are Starstruck, back for its third (and perhaps final) season on Max, and Still Up, taking its inaugural bow on AppleTV+.

A close cousin to concern-driven think pieces are those expressing surprise or bafflement when a romantic comedy rakes in massive box office or enjoys strong viewership. These are closely related to others asking what it means that as a society, we relish romantic stories. What it means is that human beings enjoy stories about people falling in love. Love, actually, is grand! Watching someone you can root for find their beloved feels great.

In fact, there’s really no need for concern or surprise here. As reported on NPR in June 2023, sales of romance books have been rising even as overall book sales have fallen. When a romantic series or film finds its audience, whether via strong marketing or word of mouth, it’s off to the races. It’s worth noting that genres typically favored by a presumed majority male audience – thrillers, espionage, gritty noir, action – rarely come in for this kind of existential concern.