# Has there ever been a romance movie that appealed to a primarily male audience? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536 "2010-07-30T01:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/1 "2010-07-30T01:38:33Z")
For the most part it seems porn is for men and romance movies are for women. Is there an exception to the rule? I would have narrowed the topic down to romance movies that appeal primarily to _straight_ men but I doubt even that is necessary, as I’d be willing to bet a gay romance like _Brokeback Mountain_ still had a larger female than male audience. ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/2 "2010-07-30T01:50:07Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > For the most part it seems porn is for men and romance movies are for women. Is there an exception to the rule? > > I would have narrowed the topic down to romance movies that appeal primarily to _straight_ men but I doubt even that is necessary, as I’d be willing to bet a gay romance like _Brokeback Mountain_ still had a larger female than male audience. The Fly (Cronenberg remake). Laugh if you will but that movie has always struck me as much more a love story than a horror or sci-fi film. Edited to add: Actually, the original Fly also has all the makings of a love story, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/3 "2010-07-30T01:55:21Z")
I can think of two ways to make a man’s romance: First, learn from the sorts of movies that appeal to men. Men like action movies, so give the protagonists interesting lives with interesting challenges. And if you want to make the audience laugh, make it witty and/or awesome, not awkward. Second, lesbians. For example, Valerie’s story in _V for Vendetta_. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/4 "2010-07-30T01:55:58Z")
I Love You, Man. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/5 "2010-07-30T02:00:01Z")
I dunno, maybe **Broadcast News**? It appealed to _me_, anyway. Oh, yeah, almost forgot the obvious answer: **Annie Hall**. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/6 "2010-07-30T02:01:01Z")
Brian’s Song? D&R, OK, I got nothing ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/7 "2010-07-30T02:02:17Z")
I’m guessing you are looking for movies that specifically in the romance genre - not “horror movies with a love story” or “sports movies with a love story” etc… I think sleazy movies from the 70s about swinging bachelors are the ones that best fit the bill - movies like _Alfie_ or _Betty Blue_. There are probably more European than American movies of this type. ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/8 "2010-07-30T02:11:53Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > I’m guessing you are looking for movies that specifically in the romance genre - not “horror movies with a love story” or “sports movies with a love story” etc… I understood what the OP was looking for and my answer still stands. The Fly is first and foremost a love story. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/9 "2010-07-30T02:14:10Z")
I think you are confusing two separate things: romantic (comedies) that appeal to men, and romantic comedies that appeal to more men than women. I think there’s a bunch of romantic comedies that appeal to men, especially those that feature actors that actually can act rather than just be blonde. In particular, Something’s Gotta Give, As Good as it Gets, When Harry Met Sally, etc. Good dialogue, good acting, and an intelligent plot are universally appealing. However, I really doubt we’re ever going to see a romantic comedy where male viewers outnumber female. I think logically, there’s three combinations of male/female that go to films: 1. Male/Male 2. Male/Female 3. Female/Female No matter how good the romcom is, I don’t think it will ever attract #1, while movies in other genres attract all three. If 2 and 3 always go, and 1 never goes, then males will never outnumber females. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/10 "2010-07-30T02:15:47Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > > [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > > > I’m guessing you are looking for movies that specifically in the romance genre - not “horror movies with a love story” or “sports movies with a love story” etc… > > I understood what the OP was looking for and my answer still stands. The Fly is first and foremost a love story. Yeah but you wouldn’t find it in the Romance section of the video store. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/11 "2010-07-30T02:23:15Z")
Judd Apatow seems to have found a way to make romantic comedies that appeal largely to men. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/12 "2010-07-30T02:28:11Z")
The movie that I always call a romcom for guys is Mallrats. The entire plot is around two guys who get dumped and try to win back their girlfriends. How they win them back is what makes it appeal to guys more then chicks. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/13 "2010-07-30T02:28:39Z")
I always liked DeepThroat and my dates rarely seemed to find the same romance in it I did. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/14 "2010-07-30T02:32:08Z")
The Baxter maybe? Directed towards geeky guys who can relate to being that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/15 "2010-07-30T02:35:49Z")
**L.A. Story** or **Roxanne** might be in the ballpark; Steve Martin’s quirky humor from that period does seem to be more of a guy thing. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/16 "2010-07-30T02:41:53Z")
My male friends and I still sometimes make reference to the 1989 Cameron Crowe film [Say Anything…](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Anything...). Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack’s character) was/is a sort of hero for us. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/17 "2010-07-30T02:46:46Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > The movie that I always call a romcom for guys is Mallrats. The entire plot is around two guys who get dumped and try to win back their girlfriends. How they win them back is what makes it appeal to guys more then chicks. Good example. I’d say _Chasing Amy_ also, but I’m sure many viewers would find the “lesbian-falls-in-love-with-straight-guy” context to be chauvanistic or just ridiculous. There is a good bit in the film explaining that away, though. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/18 "2010-07-30T02:47:12Z")
Dumb and Dumber. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/19 "2010-07-30T02:53:57Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/20 "2010-07-30T02:56:36Z")
“Bull Durham.” My husband watches it pretty much every year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536.md?page=2)