Thomas Brodie-Sangster Says Rom-Coms Lost Their Magic in the Smartphone Age
Thomas Brodie-Sangster, known for his role in Love Actually, reflects on why today’s romantic comedies don’t capture the same charm as classics from the pre-digital era, and how streaming platforms may be changing the genre.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who charmed audiences as a child in the 2003 holiday favorite Love Actually, believes the golden age of romantic comedies is behind us. The actor, who played opposite Liam Neeson as his stepson, recently shared his thoughts on how the genre has changed since its heyday.
Looking Back at a Simpler Time
Brodie-Sangster described the era before smartphones as a period when romantic comedies truly thrived. He reflected,
“It was a kind of simpler time, and maybe that is more romantic. And there were some greats, like Nancy Meyers and Nora Ephron, who did some brilliant stuff in the ‘90s: When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, they’re just brilliant films.”
According to him, these films captured a sense of romance and storytelling that feels missing from many of today’s releases.
Streaming’s Impact on the Genre
He pointed out that the shift toward streaming platforms has changed the landscape for romantic comedies. With big-budget blockbusters dominating theaters, he suggested that rom-coms are now mostly found on streaming services, which affects both their budgets and their overall scale. Brodie-Sangster mused,
“So [rom-coms] are more reserved for the streamers, perhaps, and maybe that’s changed the budgeting and the scale that they can do.”
He noted that as the number of releases increases, quality can sometimes take a hit.
Why Modern Rom-Coms Feel Rushed
The actor also commented on the pressure writers face to keep up with current trends, especially when working for streaming services. He observed that many recent romantic comedies seem hurried, as creators race to capture the latest cultural moment before audiences move on.
“They get greenlit for a certain period of time. Then they just have to send out whatever they’ve got to get some attention. And so often it’s just not very good.”
Brodie-Sangster expressed hope that, despite these challenges, the genre could see a resurgence if filmmakers return to what made the classics so memorable.