# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/61 "2010-07-30T18:38:29Z")
The Ladies Man. “Conquer heaven with one intimate caress. That’s right don’t be shy. Whip out everything you got and do it in the butt.” If that ain’t romantic then I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/62 "2010-07-30T19:17:20Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I think _Stripes_ is funny until they get to the part where they’re all driving around in the tricked-out RV. It’s like two different movies, and they ran out of material for the first one. I completely agree that it’s like two different movies: I always have to remind myself about the RV storyline! It’s definitely weaker than the first part, but I think there are still some funny bits. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/63 "2010-07-30T22:07:56Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > In Japanese manga, a fair number of the shonen (boys) titles have a romantic element. Aaaaaaand by romance, you mean [this](http://www.absoluteanime.com/bleach/orihime%5B3%5D.jpg). Link worksafe, thank god I have SafeSearch on at work. Okay, I know, cheap shot. 🙂 There’s plenty of stuff from Shonen Jump that has some romance. There’s a lot of talk in this thread about romcoms. What about serious movies? I dunno, the romance isn’t the main point, but the Count of Monte Cristo movie with Jim Cavieieieieieieizel? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/64 "2010-07-30T23:24:10Z")
Pretty much anything with Dane Cook… ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/65 "2010-07-30T23:30:59Z")
A couple of good ones have been mentioned. I think though a lot of others that have been mentioned are movies where there is a romantic interest as opposed to being romance movies. If I had to pick two (that I don’t think have been mentioned) I’d probably go for some of the slush that Jim Carey puts out these days like “The Yes Man” or “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/66 "2010-07-31T01:48:00Z")
Many of my examples have already been mentioned. In addition to the John Cusak rule suggested by **Thudlow Boink** , I’d say anything based on a Nick Hornby novel (_High Fidelity_ is a twofer), and any romance movie written and/or directed by Kevin Smith, the Farrelly Brothers, or Judd Apatow. There have also been quite a few romantic comedies where the male lead is a stand-up comedian or comic actor best known for “guy” humor (e.g. Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey), so the audience for those may skew male. One from the latter category that I don’t think has been mentioned is _Comic to America_, starring Eddie Murphy. The basic plot is a pretty typical Cinderella story, but it’s from the perspective of the prince and the humor is more “blue” than you normally see in romantic comedies targeted at women. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/67 "2010-07-31T03:22:48Z")
There’s the first two Rocky flicks. And the first two Supermans as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/68 "2010-07-31T03:42:31Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > 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. > [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > I understood what the OP was looking for and my answer still stands. The Fly is first and foremost a love story. > [@NDP](#): > > Also, Cronenberg’s version of **The Fly** has too high a “squick” factor to appeal to most women. Then there’s the fact that many feminist critics cite this movie and \*\*Dead Ringers \*\*as proof that David Cronenberg is one of the more misogynistic film directors working today. (Of course, YMMV on that latter point.) _The Fly_ is available on Netflix for streaming so I went ahead and watched it. … interesting flick. Not sure if I’d call it a romance but I can see where you’re coming from (definitely the most fucking disgusting romance I’ve ever seen if it is :D). What really bothered me about it though was: The ending is so abrupt. You may say “no, it’s artistic genius!” but I really wanted to know what happened with the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/69 "2010-07-31T04:34:46Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > One from the latter category that I don’t think has been mentioned is \*\*\*Comic \*_to America_, starring Eddie Murphy. Er, this of course should have been \*\*\*Coming \*_to America_, starring comic Eddie Murphy. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/70 "2010-07-31T12:54:55Z")
Die Hard. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/71 "2010-07-31T13:04:54Z")
Not counting comedies, I’d guess _Highlander_, if anything. [Exhibit A.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXaHDf_NKg4) (Sure as hell beats _Twilight_) ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/72 "2010-07-31T16:35:51Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > _Top Gun_ This is a good call. I’ve been trying to sell people my idea that it’s really a love story about Maverick and Ice Man. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/73 "2010-07-31T16:39:17Z")
Agreed on the Jud films. Disagreed on _The Princess Bride_. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/74 "2010-07-31T23:22:57Z")
> [@History\_Geek](#): > > This is a good call. I’ve been trying to sell people my idea that it’s really a love story about Maverick and Ice Man. You can pretty much make the same argument for any buddy movie, though. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/75 "2010-08-01T00:03:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > _Chasing Amy_ copped out by making her bisexual. She wasn’t really a lesbian. I’m not sure you can call it a copout when the entire plot of the second half of the movie hinges on Alyssa being bisexual. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/76 "2010-08-03T07:37:58Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > The ending is so abrupt. You may say “no, it’s artistic genius!” but I really wanted to know what happened with the baby. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097368/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097368/) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536/77 "2010-08-03T17:53:33Z")
In addition to many named above: [The Man from Snowy River](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_from_Snowy_River_(1982_film)). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-romance-movie-that-appealed-to-a-primarily-male-audience/548536.md?page=3)