What movies appeal equally to both men and women?

Cafe Society
1

I watched Barbie yesterday - and my conclusion (right or wrong) was that women would have been more likely to enjoy it than men. Which made me wonder - what movies - either genre or specific titles - have the broadest appeal to both men and women? Looking at the recent Oscar noms, Oppenheimer? Killers of the Flower Moon? Poor Things?

My understanding is that traditionally audiences for romances are expected to skew female, and action/thrillers male. And I had assumed Star Trek/Star Wars/comic book series traditionally appealed to men, but I personally know (very small sample) as many female fans of such movies as men.

I was trying to think of a historical film that would appeal equally to women and men, and found it more challenging than I would have expected. Maybe something like Casablanca - a romance with a tough guy lead?

2

Titanic probably came closest to that sweet spot.

3

Mann’s Last of the Mohicans does this pretty well, too. Swooning romance plus historical adventure. I know men and women who both appreciate it.

4

The Princess Bride may qualify.

5

I thought of Titanic mainly as a romance. What was the appeal to guys? All the CGI?

Saw LotM a long time ago. Don’t remember much of it.

6

I too doubt this to some degree.

This I agree with.

I’ll add, Ghostbusters & Groundhog Day.

7

So now I’m wondering: in order to appeal equally to both men and women, does a movie have to have some ingredients that appeal to men and other ingredients that appeal to women? Or can men and women equally appreciate the same things about a movie?

By the way, I guess it would technically count as a “movie appealing equally to both men and women” if the movie were so bad that it had zero appeal for both men and women.

8

Unfortunately, IMDb eliminated its demographics splits about six months ago. However, that’s what the wayback machine is for.

Titanic scored well with both men and women, but there is a significant difference

Also, princess bride: women 8.2, man 7.9.
Casablanca: men 8.5, women 8.3.
Last of the Mohicans: men 7.6, women 7.8.

9

The Shawshank Redemption?

10

Shawshank redemption: both men and women equal 9.3.

11

Which is interesting, because pretty much all the characters are men.

12

I came here to offer The Princess Bride, but I see it’s already been mentioned, so I’ll go with Napoleon Dynamite. Just a guess based on the reactions I’ve seen to that movie from my friends.

13

I’d guess comedies in general are typically aimed to have a broad audience, so that makes sense.

At least with my wife, thriller/action movies with female protagonists tend to be popular with both of us. She likes seeing them kick ass with/on the boys, and I like the action movie part. We both enjoyed Woman King and Gunpowder Milkshake, for a couple of examples.

14

6.9/6.9!

15

I think your John Hughes/80s teen movies appeal across the board. Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Heathers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, etc.

16

I think those are good ones. Add Beetlejuice also.

17

Them’s the breaks at prisons.

18

There’s quite a bit of thrilling action in the film, with life-and-death stakes, plus one of the world’s biggest real-life disasters as a setting. That’s how I see Titanic, at least.

I don’t think CGI is an appeal to any moviegoer. It’s the action that’s enhanced with it (in good cases).

19

Breakfast club 7.8/8.0. Ferris Bueller, 7.7/7.8.

20

I personally liked Steel Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes and Beaches. Would most men like them? I don’t know. YMMV