10 Teen Romantic Comedies That Deserve A Remake

Teen romance movies are a hallmark of the genre, as first love and coming-of-age are universal themes that all audiences can relate to. Even as viewers age, many audiences continuously revisit these young adult rom-coms because they’re reminiscent of a tumultuous yet nostalgic period of life. Seamlessly blending love, drama, and comedy, these projects were all elevated by their charismatic casts, but that doesn’t mean up-and-coming actors couldn’t step into the roles and make them their own. Seeing new performers help revive the modern rom-com would be an exceptional way for viewers to reconnect with these stories.

The best teen and young adult movies of all time come from a variety of decades, and while some have aged well, there’s no question that there are dated aspects that don’t hold up. This doesn’t mean we should forget these movies forever. However, it does create an exciting opportunity to take certain story elements and update them so they connect better with contemporary audiences. With recent projects like the remake of She’s All That, He’s All That​​​​​​, and the increased interest in remakes, there’s no better time to help the rom-com genre return to its former glory.

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10

What A Girl Wants (2003)

Directed by Dennie Gordon

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what a girl wants

PG
ComedyDramaRomance

After turning 17, Daphne Reynolds decides to make a radical decision: to go to England to find her father, whom she only knows from an old photo and who is unaware of Daphne’s existence. There, she finds a loving father, but faces problems when her liberal upbringing is confronted with the rigid customs of British education.

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Release Date

March 27, 2003

Runtime

105 minutes

Cast

Amanda Bynes
, Colin Firth
, Kelly Preston
, Eileen Atkins
, Anna Chancellor
, Jonathan Pryce

Director

Dennie Gordon

Writers

William Douglas-Home
, Jenny Bicks
, Elizabeth Chandler

The stacked cast of What a Girl Wants, featuring a young Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth, makes this 2003 film all the more iconic. Set against the culture clash of the young American, Daphne, finding her father, Henry, a member of the British aristocracy, What a Girl Wants explores their differences. However, it comes to pass that Daphne and Henry have more in common than they thought, and there’s a place for both of them in each other’s worlds.

This familial love is a beautiful aspect of the story and gives it an enduring emotional heart.

Bynes is heavily featured in many beloved teen rom-coms from the early 2000s like She’s The Man and Easy A. However, of all her projects, What a Girl Wants makes the most sense to remake. Though there’s a strong romantic element in What a Girl Wants, since people are falling in love with Daphne left and right, the true love story is between Daphne and her father. This familial love is a beautiful aspect of the story and gives it an enduring emotional heart.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
What a Girl Wants (2003)	35%	62%

9

A Cinderella Story (2004)

Directed by Mark Rosman

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A Cinderella Story

PG
ComedyFamilyRomance

A Cinderella Story is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, focusing on a high school girl who faces hardships from her stepmother and stepsisters while finding solace through an online romance. Set in a contemporary American high school, the film explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the quest for true love amidst challenging circumstances.

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Release Date

July 16, 2004

Runtime

96 minutes

Cast

Hilary Duff
, Chad Michael Murray
, Jennifer Coolidge
, Dan Byrd
, Regina King
, Julie Gonzalo
, Lin Shaye
, Madeline Zima
, Andrea Avery
, Mary Pat Gleason
, Paul Rodriguez
, Whip Hubley
, Kevin Kilner
, Erica Hubbard
, Simon Helberg
, Brad Bufanda
, J. D. Pardo
, Aimee-Lynn Chadwick
, Kady Cole
, Hannah Robinson

Director

Mark Rosman

Writers

Leigh Dunlap

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There have been many modern remakes of the classic Cinderella story, but A Cinderella Story is one of the best in recent memory. Hilary Duff leads the cast as the Cinderella character, Sam, a young woman who desperately tries to escape her limiting circumstances while falling in love with a mysterious man. Chad Michael Murray plays Austin, Sam’s secret romantic interest, with Jennifer Coolidge rounding out the cast as Sam’s evil stepmother.

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It’s the perfect time for another rendition of Cinderella, as the way people fall in love and the influx of social media would create interesting tension in the story. A Cinderella Story touches upon this, but it’s been over twenty years since it came out, and technology has evolved a lot. Additionally, there have been many live-action Disney remakes in the past few years, and it’s clear that there’s a demand for fairytales in cinema, no matter what form they’re in.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
A Cinderella Story (2004)	11%	53%

8

Aquamarine (2006)

Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum

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Aquamarine

PG
FantasyRomanceFamilyComedy

Aquamarine follows the adventures of two teenage girls who discover a mermaid named Aquamarine washed ashore after a storm. The mermaid seeks to prove the existence of true love to her father and enlists the girls’ help in winning the affection of a charming lifeguard.

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Release Date

March 3, 2006

Runtime

103 minutes

Cast

Emma Roberts
, JoJo
, Sara Paxton
, Jake McDorman
, Arielle Kebbel
, Claudia Karvan
, Bruce Spence
, Tammin Sursok
, Roy Billing
, Julia Blake
, Shaun Micallef
, Lulu McClatchy
, Natasha Leigh
, Dichen Lachman
, Lincoln Lewis
, Matthew Okine
, Regis Broadway
, Robbie Parkin
, Joey Massey
, Alice Hunter
, Elizabeth Daily
, Ozzie Devrish
, Aurea Morrisey

Director

Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum

Writers

Jessica Bendinger

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Mermaid stories are timeless for many reasons, and Aquamarine is a fun addition to the genre because it tackles not only romance but also friendship. The core relationship between JoJo and Claire is the driving force behind the plot of Aquamarine, and Aquamarine, the titular character, brings an exciting new element to their story. Though Aquamarine’s love story with Raymond is a sweet and aspirational romance, it’s thanks to JoJo and Claire that Aquamarine learns what love is and how to form a bond with Raymond.

After the popularity of the live-action iteration of The Little Mermaid, the timing couldn’t be better for Aquamarine to re-enter the cultural zeitgeist.

Though it’s a lesser-known addition to her filmography, Aquamarine is one of Emma Roberts’ best movies, showcasing her talent from a young age. After the popularity of the live-action iteration of The Little Mermaid, the timing couldn’t be better for Aquamarine to re-enter the cultural zeitgeist. Since visual effects have only become more advanced, especially in terms of underwater sequences, a new version of Aquamarine has the potential to connect with a wide variety of audiences.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Aquamarine (2006)	53%	62%

7

John Tucker Must Die (2006)

Directed by Betty Thomas

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8.5/10

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John Tucker Must Die

PG-13
ComedyRomance

John Tucker Must Die is a teen comedy film directed by Betty Thomas. The story follows three high school girls who learn they have been dating the same guy, John Tucker, and team up with a new girl to exact revenge. Their elaborate plan to bring him down takes unexpected turns, leading to humorous and insightful moments about relationships, popularity, and self-identity. The film stars Jesse Metcalfe, Brittany Snow, and Ashanti.

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Release Date

July 28, 2006

Runtime

89 minutes

Cast

Jesse Metcalfe
, Brittany Snow
, Ashanti
, Sophia Bush
, Arielle Kebbel
, Penn Badgley

Director

Betty Thomas

Writers

Jeff Lowell

The teen romance revenge narrative of John Tucker Must Die brought together some of the biggest names in the adolescent genre of the early 2000s. Brittany Snow, Penn Badgley, and Sophia Bush are highly recognizable faces in John Tucker Must Die, as these actors went on to star in huge teen TV shows and films. However, they’re at their best in John Tucker Must Die, which is a dated but timeless story of a group of scorned women who team up to take down the man who wronged him.

Rumors of a John Tucker Must Die sequel have circulated, but few of the original actors have confirmed their participation (via Deadline). There’s a significant sexist undercurrent throughout the story in John Tucker Must Die, so it would be interesting to revisit this narrative through the lens of how misogyny has evolved in modern high schools. The theme of solidarity among women is also a great part of John Tucker Must Die and should be a central part of any new takes on the story.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
John Tucker Must Die (2006)	28%	69%

6

Warm Bodies (2013)

Directed by Jonathan Levine

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7.3/10

Warm Bodies

pg-13
RomanceHorror

Based on a novel and inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Warm Bodies stars Nicholas Hoult as R, a zombie living in an abandoned airport who falls in love with a living girl despite his undead status. As R works to protect the girl, Julie, from his fellow zombies, her presence begins to help him remember what is was like to be alive. Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, and John Malkovich also star. 

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Release Date

January 31, 2013

Runtime

97 Minutes

Cast

Nicholas Hoult
, Teresa Palmer
, Dave Franco

Director

Jonathan Levine

Writers

Jonathan Levine

Budget

$35 million

Studio(s)

Lionsgate

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Romeo and Juliet meets The Walking Dead in Warm Bodies, a classic love story with a sci-fi fantasy twist. Nicholas Hoult stars in Warm Bodies with Teresa Palmer as the star-crossed lovers who break boundaries and end up curing the zombie epidemic through the power of their love. Though Hoult’s character, R, says little, his chemistry with Palmer’s Julie is undeniable. Blending genres the way Warm Bodies does is a great way to find crossover success between different viewership bases, and this is still true today.

Warm Bodies is a more recent example of a teen rom-com that draws from a classic Shakespeare play.

Warm Bodies is a more recent example of a teen rom-com that draws from a classic Shakespeare play. This was a common occurrence in teen movies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although this has fallen out of favor, it was a great format, and there’s a reason why these stories remain universal and relatable hundreds of years later. Due to the increase in popularity of zombie stories thanks to the many Walking Dead spinoffs and The Last of Us, a remake of Warm Bodies would connect with many audience members.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Warm Bodies (2013)	81%	73%

5

The Prince & Me (2004)

Directed by Martha Coolidge

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The Prince & Me

PG
ComedyRomance

The Prince & Me is a romantic drama about Paige, a pre-med student, who unexpectedly falls for Eddie, a Danish prince. Set against the backdrop of cultural contrasts, the film explores themes of love and individuality as Eddie seeks freedom from royal expectations in the United States.

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Release Date

March 28, 2004

Runtime

111 minutes

Cast

Julia Stiles
, Luke Mably
, Ben Miller
, Miranda Richardson
, James Fox
, Alberta Watson
, John Bourgeois
, Zachary Knighton
, Stephen O’Reilly
, Elisabeth Waterston
, Eliza Bennett
, Devin Ratray
, Clare Preuss
, Yaani King Mondschein
, Eddie Irvine
, Angelo Tsarouchas
, Jacques Tourangeau
, Joanne Baron
, Stephen Singer
, Sarah Manninen
, Tony Munch
, John Nelles
, Claus Bue
, James McGowan
, Jean Pearson

Director

Martha Coolidge

Producers

Cami Winikoff
, Mark Amin

Writers

Jack Amiel
, Katherine Fugate

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The star of The Prince & Me​​​​​​, Julia Stiles, also leads one of the most iconic teen rom-coms of the 1990s, 10 Things I Hate About You, which is so timeless that it doesn’t require a remake. However, The Prince & Me could use a modern revamp, especially in the wake of the real fairytales that have unfolded before the public’s eyes. Stiles’ Paige unexpectedly falls in love with the prince of Denmark, Edvard​​​​​​, who attends college in America alongside her and slowly wins her heart while becoming a better man.

The film sparked many lesser-known sequels, though Stiles didn’t reprise her roles in them. Fairytale-style stories like The Prince & Me have always been popular, as they’re unabashedly romantic and take the hidden desires of the audience seriously. It would be interesting to see what a modernized take on The Prince & Me would look like, as it has all the elements of a classic romance. Combining the enemies-to-lovers trope and royalty, The Prince & Me draws comparisons to many popular romance novels of today.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Prince & Me (2004)	29%	59%

4

Ice Princess (2005)

Directed by Tim Fywell

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6/10

Ice Princess

G
ComedyDramaFamily

Casey Carlyle, a brilliant high school student with a passion for physics, finds her true calling in figure skating. Encouraged by her physics teacher to integrate her scientific knowledge into a personal project, Casey decides to apply her analytical skills to the art of skating. As she meticulously studies and improves her techniques, she catches the eye of Tina Harwood, a former champion skater turned coach. Despite her mother’s hopes for her to attend Harvard, Casey becomes determined to pursue her newfound dream.

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Release Date

March 17, 2005

Runtime

98 minutes

Cast

Michelle Trachtenberg
, Joan Cusack
, Amy Stewart
, Steve Ross
, Hayden Panettiere
, Kim Cattrall

Director

Tim Fywell

Romance isn’t the biggest part of Ice Princess, but the romantic plot line serves to elevate the entire story and ground Casey throughout her journey. Torn between two worlds, Casey must balance her academic prowess with her desire to become a professional figure skater. While it’s slightly unrealistic that Casey would be able to suddenly be the best skater in her league after returning to the sport after many years, it’s romantic to imagine that this sport was always her calling.

Remaking Ice Princess today with an emphasis on the strength and skill it takes to figure skate might spark renewed interest in the story.

Michelle Trachtenberg stars as Casey, with veteran actors like Joan Cusack and Kim Cattrall costarring as Casey’s mom and coach, who have very different ideas about how she should spend her time. Casey’s love interest, Teddy, doesn’t cause as much strife in her life as the adults. Instead, he’s a source of solace and companionship. Remaking Ice Princess today with an emphasis on the strength and skill it takes to figure skate might spark renewed interest in the story.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Ice Princess (2005)	52%	58%

3

Monte Carlo (2011)

Directed by Thomas Bezucha

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Monte Carlo

PG
AdventureComedyRomance

Monte Carlo follows three young women vacationing in Paris who are unexpectedly taken to Monte Carlo when one is mistaken for a British heiress. This leads to a series of mistaken identities and adventures against the glamorous backdrop of the Riviera. Released in 2011, the film stars Selena Gomez.

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Release Date

July 1, 2011

Runtime

109 minutes

Cast

Selena Gomez
, Katie Cassidy
, Leighton Meester
, Cory Monteith
, Andie MacDowell
, Brett Cullen

Director

Thomas Bezucha

Writers

Thomas Bezucha
, April Blair
, Maria Maggenti
, Kelly Bowe
, Jules Bass

Monte Carlo is an underrated cult classic within the teen romance genre, featuring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, and Katie Cassidy as the central trio. After a case of mistaken identity allows the young women to travel through Paris and Europe on the trip of their dreams, each of them finds a love interest worthy of their whirlwind adventure. Combing elements of a Cinderella-style narrative and a James Bond-esque caper, Monte Carlo has enough romance and action to keep any audience member intrigued.

There are plenty of young actors worthy of stepping into the roles of Gomez, Meester, and Cassidy, and with a bigger budget and better resources, a new version of Monte Carlo could be an even more globe-trotting adventure. Like many movies within this genre, friendship is just as important as romance, but the young women give each other the time and space to find themselves and follow their hearts. Monte Carlo is an ideal film to remake because it focuses on multiple protagonists instead of just one romance.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Monte Carlo (2011)	41%	50%

2

Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen (2004)

Directed by Sara Sugarman

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Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

PG
ComedyFamilyRomance

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, directed by Sara Sugarman, follows Lola, a teenager who relocates with her family from New York City to suburban New Jersey. Determined to pursue her dream of stardom, Lola navigates the challenges of her new environment, filled with music and adventure.

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Release Date

February 17, 2004

Cast

Lindsay Lohan
, Adam Garcia
, Glenne Headly
, Alison Pill
, Eli Marienthal
, Carol Kane

Director

Sara Sugarman

Writers

Dyan Sheldon
, Gail Parent

Inspired by My Fair Lady, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen isn’t a typical rags-to-riches narrative, and Lindsay Lohan’s Mary Elizabeth isn’t a typical protagonist. Highly theatrical and determined to make her life as exciting as possible, Mary Elizabeth crafts many lies and keeps people at arm’s length in order to remain mysterious and aloof after she transfers schools. This culminates in an all-out battle between her and the school’s mean girl, Carla, for the lead in the musical.

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Though Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen isn’t Lohan’s best-rated teen romance movie, it makes for the perfect remake. Enough people are unfamiliar with the film that it would attract new viewers, and Lohan’s popularity has bounced back in recent years, which would inspire many people to watch a new movie based on one of her early works. Additionally, if Lohan agreed to play a part in the film, it would be a fun Easter egg for audiences who remember the original work.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)	14%	35%

1

Saved! (2004)

Directed by Brian Dannelly

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Saved!

PG-13
Comedy

Saved! is a satirical film set in a Christian high school, where student Mary faces a crisis after discovering her boyfriend’s sexuality and her unexpected pregnancy. Released in 2004, the film explores themes of faith and friendship through the lens of teenage life and religious orthodoxy.

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Release Date

June 11, 2004

Runtime

92 minutes

Cast

Jena Malone
, Mandy Moore
, Macaulay Culkin
, Patrick Fugit
, Eva Amurri
, Heather Matarazzo
, Martin Donovan
, Mary-Louise Parker
, Chad Faust
, Elizabeth Thai
, Valerie Bertinelli
, Birkett Turton
, Julia Arkos
, Donna White
, James Caldwell
, Nicki Clyne
, Aaron Douglas
, Patricia Drake
, Brent Fidler
, Jay Hilliker
, John Innes
, Greg Kean
, Joe MacLeod
, Althea McAdam
, Thomas Plustwik

Director

Brian Dannelly

Writers

Michael Urban

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Saved! is a much more explicit and frank exploration of the pangs of adolescence compared to some of the more tame additions to this list. A biting satire about the repression of teen sexuality and the role religion plays in this, Saved! sees Jena Malone’s Mary accidentally get pregnant and navigate what this means for her future. Mary’s love interest, Patrick, is one of Mary’s allies at her strict Catholic high school. He stands by her and helps her figure out what’s next for her and how she wants religion to factor into her life.

In many ways, Saved! was well ahead of its time, as it touched upon teen pregnancy and LGBTQ+ relationships and tackled these subjects through a darker and more sardonic tone. Today, a movie like Saved! or a remake would connect with even more audiences and the narrative could be pushed even further. While romance is a secondary aspect of Saved!, it’s nice to see that Mary can allow herself to find love and connection, even as the world tells her she shouldn’t.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Saved! (2004)	61%	78%

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