Hollywood Strikes Out on Valentine’s Day?

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Some things never go out of style.

  • Tuxedoes
  • Flowers on a first date
  • Romantic movies for budding couples

Hollywood has a golden opportunity to help on the latter front. Or, should we say had?

Glancing at the movie release schedule for February 14, 2025 reveals that the film industry seems to have overlooked Saint Valentine’s Day.

This upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend will introduce “Captain America: Brave New World,” a movie that appears to lack typical romantic moments like meet-cutes or airport reunions. Additionally, we have “Paddington 3,” the latest installment in a series renowned for its lighthearted, family-friendly humor, set in Peru.

Two major releases. Zero attempts to woo romantic movie goers.

The independent movie “When I’m Ready,” opening on February 7 (with wider digital release on February 14), subtly explores a complex form of affection. The narrative focuses on a pair who are searching for purpose in what might be the final days of our planet.

Fun date movie, no?

Over the weekend, the primary movies still in theaters are labeled as anti-romances. The film “Love Hurts,” a combination of action and comedy, features Ke Huy Quan as a former assassin who is coerced back into his old line of work to protect an old love interest played by Ariana DeBose. It takes a keen eye to spot the romantic aspect in this movie, and there seems to be no spark between the two leads.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, allow me to share my thoughts on “Heart Eyes,” a chilling blend of horror and comedy that serves as an unexpected twist on Valentine’s Day celebrations. This film takes a dark turn, focusing on a relentless killer who targets couples in love on this day dedicated to romance. Rest assured, the holiday is not lost on this production, but its gory killings are certainly not the usual heart-warming fare for your average smitten pair.

Why miss a huge marketing opportunity with new Valentine’s Day movies? It’s complicated.

RELATED: HOW THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION KILLED THE ROM COM

Indeed, the market for romantic comedies has faced challenges during the last ten years. Many of these romances are now released directly to video or streaming platforms. Additionally, some romantic films are simply not being produced anymore, which, along with the less successful ones, offers an explanation as to why this may be the case.

Last year, the extravagant production known as “Fly Me to the Moon,” featuring numerous celebrities, only managed to bring in a relatively small profit of $20 million despite its high budget.

We have seen some popular exceptions.

In 2022, the movie “Ticket to Paradise,” starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, grossed a total of $168 million globally, with $68 million earned domestically and an additional $100 million from international cinemas. Contrastingly, last year’s film “Anyone But You” started off with a modest opening but ended its theater run with a substantial earnings of $88 million in the US.

There is one new rom-com available this weekend, but you won’t find it in any theater.

On February 13th, you can exclusively catch the latest installment of the “Bridget Jones’ Diary” series on Peacock. The movie, titled “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” sees Renée Zellweger reprise her role as Bridget, a widowed mother seeking a fresh start in life.

In 2016, the final movie of the series, “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” garnered a modest $24 million at American cinemas. This moderate earnings likely led to its release directly onto streaming platforms.

How do you explain Hollywood ignoring lovers on Valentine’s Day 2025?

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2025-02-06 20:03