Times of Bennett
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Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Why We're Still in Love With Early 2000s Romantic Films

Published:October 29, 2026 at 01:35 PM3 min read
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
By Yashashvi Saraf

On Tuesday, October 20th, Julia Stiles appeared on Dancing with the Stars and paid tribute to her late co-star Heath Ledger. The tribute, with all co-stars united, brought back one of the most beloved moments in romantic comedy history. Nearly three decades after 10 Things I Hate About You first hit theatres, Patrick Verona's iconic serenade to Kat Stratford continues to capture hearts. The tribute was more than just a celebration of the film; it was a reminder of how deeply the actors, along with the audience, remain attached to the movies of the same genre from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

From Notting Hill and Jawbreaker to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, these films have been more than just comfort watches. Their iconic tracks, swoony dialogues, and romantic gestures continue to be featured every now and then in today's culture. Take Andy’s yellow dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days; women continue to romanticize the idea of a perfect yellow dress just like the movie sequence. But why is it that we continue to return to their classics when Hollywood, especially Prime Video right now, has produced countless romantic comedies since?

Perhaps the answer lies in the way the films were portrayed. The early 2000s rom-coms were unapologetically dramatic, and
always predictable. A man would publicly serenade his love for a woman, unlikely pairs would emerge in unrealistic ways, and the boy and girl would always end up together. These stories rarely attempted to be realistic, but that was precisely their appeal. Modern movies, on the other hand, exist in a much different cultural landscape. In the era of dating apps, situationships and social media, the formation and understanding of relationships have changed. Recent movies like Anyone But You and The Idea of You reflect contemporary attitudes towards romance, featuring characters who are much more self-aware, independent, and cautious when it comes to love.

Our attachments to these films may have less to do with their quality and more with nostalgia itself. 2026 has been a year of comebacks in trends, whether it be fashion, music, makeup, or movies, making nostalgia one of the most powerful influences. From Y2K fashion and digicams to vinyl records, audiences seem increasingly fascinated by the aesthetics of the past. Romantic comedies are no exception to this trend. Somewhere, this revival represents an era that was simpler, spontaneous, and more humane.

Perhaps we don't necessarily believe that love was better in the early 2000s. Perhaps we simply miss a time, real or imagined, when romance seemed less complicated, and people weren't afraid to be hopelessly in love.

And nearly three decades later, it seems we still can't take our eyes off it.



This article is written by Yashashvi Saraf, a first-year BA Mass Communication student who is ever consumed by the effects of pop culture on human tendencies and behaviour.

Tags
#swoony dialogues#patrick verona#lose#kat stratford#jawbreaker#heath ledger#notting hill#julia stiles#hollywood#dancing with the stars

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