Teenromancemovies are a hallmark of the genre, as first love and coming-of-age are universal themes that all audiences can relate to. Even as viewers age, manyaudiences continuously revisit these young adult rom-coms because they’re reminiscent of a tumultuous yet nostalgic periodof life. Seamlessly blending love, drama, and comedy, these projects were all elevated by their charismatic casts, but that doesn’t mean up-and-coming actors couldn’t step into the roles and make them their own. Seeing new performers help revive the modern rom-com would be an exceptional way for viewers to reconnect with these stories.
Thebest teen and young adult movies of all timecome from a variety of decades, and while some have aged well, there’s no question that there are dated aspects that don’t hold up. This doesn’t mean we should forget these movies forever. However, it does create an exciting opportunity to take certain story elements and update them so they connect better with contemporary audiences. With recent projects like the remake ofShe’s All That,He’s All That, and the increased interest in remakes,there’s no better time to help the rom-com genre return to its former glory.
what a girl wants
Cast
After turning 17, Daphne Reynolds decides to make a radical decision: to go to England to find her father, whom she only knows from an old photo and who is unaware of Daphne’s existence. There, she finds a loving father, but faces problems when her liberal upbringing is confronted with the rigid customs of British education.
The stacked cast ofWhat a Girl Wants, featuring a young Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth, makes this 2003 film all the more iconic. Set against the culture clash of the young American, Daphne, finding her father, Henry, a member of the British aristocracy,What a Girl Wantsexplores their differences. However, it comes to pass thatDaphne and Henry have more in common than they thought,and there’s a place for both of them in each other’s worlds.
This familial love is a beautiful aspect of the story and gives it an enduring emotional heart.
Bynes is heavily featured in many beloved teen rom-coms from the early 2000s likeShe’s The ManandEasy A. However, of all her projects,What a Girl Wantsmakes the most sense to remake. Though there’s a strong romantic element inWhat a Girl Wants, since people are falling in love with Daphne left and right, the true love story is between Daphne and her father. This familial love is a beautiful aspect of the story and gives it an enduring emotional heart.
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A Cinderella Story
A Cinderella Story is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, focusing on a high school girl who faces hardships from her stepmother and stepsisters while finding solace through an online romance. Set in a contemporary American high school, the film explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the quest for true love amidst challenging circumstances.
There have been many modern remakes of the classic Cinderella story, butA Cinderella Storyis one of the best in recent memory. Hilary Duff leads the cast as the Cinderella character, Sam, a young woman who desperately tries to escape her limiting circumstances while falling in love with a mysterious man. Chad Michael Murray plays Austin, Sam’s secret romantic interest,with Jennifer Coolidge rounding out the cast as Sam’s evil stepmother.
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It’s the perfect time for another rendition ofCinderella, as the way people fall in love and the influx of social media would create interesting tension in the story.A Cinderella Storytouches upon this, but it’s been over twenty years since it came out, and technology has evolved a lot. Additionally, there have been many live-action Disney remakes in the past few years, andit’s clear that there’s a demand for fairytales in cinema,no matter what form they’re in.
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Aquamarine
Aquamarine follows the adventures of two teenage girls who discover a mermaid named Aquamarine washed ashore after a storm. The mermaid seeks to prove the existence of true love to her father and enlists the girls' help in winning the affection of a charming lifeguard.
Mermaid stories are timeless for many reasons, andAquamarineis a fun addition to the genre because it tackles not only romance but also friendship. The core relationship between JoJo and Claire is the driving force behind the plot ofAquamarine, and Aquamarine, the titular character, brings an exciting new element to their story. Though Aquamarine’s love story with Raymond is a sweet and aspirational romance,it’s thanks to JoJo and Claire that Aquamarine learns what love is and how to form a bond with Raymond.
After the popularity of the live-action iteration ofThe Little Mermaid, the timing couldn’t be better forAquamarineto re-enter the cultural zeitgeist.
Though it’s a lesser-known addition to her filmography,Aquamarineis one ofEmma Roberts' best movies, showcasing her talent from a young age. After the popularity of the live-action iteration ofThe Little Mermaid, the timing couldn’t be better forAquamarineto re-enter the cultural zeitgeist. Since visual effects have only become more advanced, especially in terms of underwater sequences, a new version ofAquamarinehas the potential to connect with a wide variety of audiences.
John Tucker Must Die
John Tucker Must Die is a teen comedy film directed by Betty Thomas. The story follows three high school girls who learn they have been dating the same guy, John Tucker, and team up with a new girl to exact revenge. Their elaborate plan to bring him down takes unexpected turns, leading to humorous and insightful moments about relationships, popularity, and self-identity. The film stars Jesse Metcalfe, Brittany Snow, and Ashanti.
The teen romance revenge narrative ofJohn Tucker Must Diebrought together some of the biggest names in the adolescent genre of the early 2000s.Brittany Snow, Penn Badgley, and Sophia Bush are highly recognizable faces inJohn Tucker Must Die,as these actors went on to star in huge teen TV shows and films. However, they’re at their best inJohn Tucker Must Die, which is a dated but timeless story of a group of scorned women who team up to take down the man who wronged him.
Rumors of aJohn Tucker Must Diesequel have circulated,but few of the original actors have confirmed their participation (viaDeadline). There’s a significant sexist undercurrent throughout the story inJohn Tucker Must Die, so it would be interesting to revisit this narrative through the lens of how misogyny has evolved in modern high schools. The theme of solidarity among women is also a great part ofJohn Tucker Must Dieand should be a central part of any new takes on the story.
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Warm Bodies
Based on a novel and inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Warm Bodies stars Nicholas Hoult as R, a zombie living in an abandoned airport who falls in love with a living girl despite his undead status. As R works to protect the girl, Julie, from his fellow zombies, her presence begins to help him remember what is was like to be alive. Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, and John Malkovich also star.
Romeo and JulietmeetsThe Walking DeadinWarm Bodies,a classic love story with a sci-fi fantasy twist. Nicholas Hoult stars inWarm Bodieswith Teresa Palmer as the star-crossed lovers who break boundaries and end up curing the zombie epidemic through the power of their love. Though Hoult’s character, R, says little, his chemistry with Palmer’s Julie is undeniable. Blending genres the wayWarm Bodiesdoes is a great way to find crossover success between different viewership bases, and this is still true today.
Warm Bodiesis a more recent example of a teen rom-com that draws from a classic Shakespeare play.
Warm Bodiesis a more recent example of a teen rom-com that draws from a classic Shakespeare play. This was a common occurrence in teen movies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although this has fallen out of favor, it was a great format, and there’s a reason why these stories remain universal and relatable hundreds of years later. Due to the increase in popularity of zombie stories thanks to the manyWalking Deadspinoffs andThe Last of Us, a remake ofWarm Bodieswould connect with many audience members.
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The Prince & Me
The Prince & Me is a romantic drama about Paige, a pre-med student, who unexpectedly falls for Eddie, a Danish prince. Set against the backdrop of cultural contrasts, the film explores themes of love and individuality as Eddie seeks freedom from royal expectations in the United States.
The star ofThe Prince & Me, Julia Stiles, also leads one of the most iconic teen rom-coms of the 1990s,10 Things I Hate About You, which is so timeless that it doesn’t require a remake. However,The Prince & Mecould use a modern revamp, especially in the wake of the real fairytales that have unfolded before the public’s eyes.Stiles' Paige unexpectedly falls in love with the prince of Denmark, Edvard,who attends college in America alongside her and slowly wins her heart while becoming a better man.
The film sparked many lesser-known sequels, though Stiles didn’t reprise her roles in them. Fairytale-style stories likeThe Prince & Mehave always been popular, as they’re unabashedly romantic and take the hidden desires of the audience seriously. It would be interesting to see what a modernized take onThe Prince & Mewould look like, as it has all the elements of a classic romance. Combining the enemies-to-lovers trope and royalty,The Prince & Medraws comparisons to many popular romance novels of today.
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Ice Princess
Casey Carlyle, a brilliant high school student with a passion for physics, finds her true calling in figure skating. Encouraged by her physics teacher to integrate her scientific knowledge into a personal project, Casey decides to apply her analytical skills to the art of skating. As she meticulously studies and improves her techniques, she catches the eye of Tina Harwood, a former champion skater turned coach. Despite her mother’s hopes for her to attend Harvard, Casey becomes determined to pursue her newfound dream.
Romance isn’t the biggest part ofIce Princess, but the romantic plot line serves to elevate the entire story and ground Casey throughout her journey. Torn between two worlds,Casey must balance her academic prowess with her desire to become a professional figure skater.While it’s slightly unrealistic that Casey would be able to suddenly be the best skater in her league after returning to the sport after many years, it’s romantic to imagine that this sport was always her calling.
RemakingIce Princesstoday with an emphasis on the strength and skill it takes to figure skate might spark renewed interest in the story.
Michelle Trachtenberg stars as Casey, with veteran actors like Joan Cusack and Kim Cattrall costarring as Casey’s mom and coach, who have very different ideas about how she should spend her time. Casey’s love interest, Teddy, doesn’t cause as much strife in her life as the adults. Instead, he’s a source of solace and companionship. RemakingIce Princesstoday with an emphasis on the strength and skill it takes to figure skate might spark renewed interest in the story.
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Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo follows three young women vacationing in Paris who are unexpectedly taken to Monte Carlo when one is mistaken for a British heiress. This leads to a series of mistaken identities and adventures against the glamorous backdrop of the Riviera. Released in 2011, the film stars Selena Gomez.
Monte Carlois an underrated cult classic within the teen romance genre,featuring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, and Katie Cassidy as the central trio. After a case of mistaken identity allows the young women to travel through Paris and Europe on the trip of their dreams, each of them finds a love interest worthy of their whirlwind adventure. Combing elements of aCinderella-style narrative and aJames Bond-esque caper,Monte Carlohas enough romance and action to keep any audience member intrigued.
There are plenty of young actors worthy of stepping into the roles of Gomez, Meester, and Cassidy, and with a bigger budget and better resources,a new version ofMonte Carlocould be an even more globe-trotting adventure.Like many movies within this genre, friendship is just as important as romance, but the young women give each other the time and space to find themselves and follow their hearts.Monte Carlois an ideal film to remake because it focuses on multiple protagonists instead of just one romance.
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Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, directed by Sara Sugarman, follows Lola, a teenager who relocates with her family from New York City to suburban New Jersey. Determined to pursue her dream of stardom, Lola navigates the challenges of her new environment, filled with music and adventure.
Inspired byMy Fair Lady,Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queenisn’t a typical rags-to-riches narrative,and Lindsay Lohan’s Mary Elizabeth isn’t a typical protagonist. Highly theatrical and determined to make her life as exciting as possible, Mary Elizabeth crafts many lies and keeps people at arm’s length in order to remain mysterious and aloof after she transfers schools. This culminates in an all-out battle between her and the school’s mean girl, Carla, for the lead in the musical.
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ThoughConfessions of a Teenage Drama Queenisn’t Lohan’s best-rated teen romance movie, it makes for the perfect remake.Enough people are unfamiliar with the film that it would attract new viewers,and Lohan’s popularity has bounced back in recent years, which would inspire many people to watch a new movie based on one of her early works. Additionally, if Lohan agreed to play a part in the film, it would be a fun Easter egg for audiences who remember the original work.
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Saved!
Saved! is a satirical film set in a Christian high school, where student Mary faces a crisis after discovering her boyfriend’s sexuality and her unexpected pregnancy.
Saved!is a much more explicit and frank exploration of the pangs of adolescencecompared to some of the more tame additions to this list. A biting satire about the repression of teen sexuality and the role religion plays in this,Saved!sees Jena Malone’s Mary accidentally get pregnant and navigate what this means for her future. Mary’s love interest, Patrick, is one of Mary’s allies at her strict Catholic high school. He stands by her and helps her figure out what’s next for her and how she wants religion to factor into her life.
In many ways,Saved!was well ahead of its time, as it touched upon teen pregnancy and LGBTQ+ relationships and tackled these subjects through a darker and more sardonic tone. Today, a movie likeSaved!or a remake would connect with even more audiences and the narrative could be pushed even further. Whileromanceis a secondary aspect ofSaved!, it’s nice to see that Mary can allow herself to find love and connection, even as the world tells her she shouldn’t.
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