Top 15 Chick Flicks Men Hate

Romance heavy movies have a way of dominating date night queues, and a handful of titles come up again and again when people talk about love stories and glossy drama. This list rounds up widely known picks that lean into heartfelt plots, high school hierarchies, makeover moments, and big tearjerker endings, along with concrete details like source material, cast, and where they were shot.

You will find best sellers turned into box office winners, fashion forward city stories, and school comedies that became cultural touchstones. Each entry notes the key creatives, the setting, sequels or spinoffs, and other specifics that help explain how these films landed in the spotlight and stayed there.

‘The Notebook’ (2004)

Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, this drama was directed by Nick Cassavetes and stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as young lovers whose story unfolds through the memories of characters played by James Garner and Gena Rowlands. The narrative moves between the Carolinas and mid century settings, with period detail that anchors its summer romance and wartime separation.

Production filmed largely in South Carolina locations including Charleston and nearby towns, using historic homes and waterways for the rowboat and rain scenes that became signature images. The film built a lasting afterlife on home release and television, and its soundtrack features period standards and contemporary selections that underscore the time jumps.

‘Twilight’ (2008)

Adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s bestseller, this first entry in the saga was directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as high school outsiders who meet in the rainy Pacific Northwest. The story blends romance with vampire lore around the small town of Forks and introduces the Cullen family and their rules.

Filming took place across Oregon and Washington, including high schools in St Helens and Kalama, with forest locations that matched the overcast atmosphere described in the books. The success of this film launched a series that continued with ‘The Twilight Saga New Moon’, ‘Eclipse’, and the two part ‘Breaking Dawn’, along with soundtracks that highlighted indie and alternative artists.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (2015)

Drawn from E L James’s publishing phenomenon, this adaptation was directed by Sam Taylor Johnson and stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. The plot follows a college graduate and a Seattle businessman whose contract based relationship introduces explicit boundaries alongside a lavish urban lifestyle.

Principal photography centered on Vancouver standing in for Seattle, with high rise interiors, private helicopters, and penthouse sets that defined the look. The movie received an R rating in the United States and led to two follow ups titled ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’, each continuing the central relationship and expanding the supporting cast.

‘Sex and the City’ (2008)

Spinning off from the HBO series, this feature was written and directed by Michael Patrick King and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon. The story tracks a postponed wedding, a real estate hunt, and shifting friendships across Manhattan while revisiting characters established on television.

The production shot extensively on New York City streets and boutiques, with Patricia Field supervising a large wardrobe that showcased designer labels and seasonal looks. The film performed strongly worldwide and returned for a sequel titled ‘Sex and the City 2’, keeping the same core ensemble and expanding the travel backdrop.

‘Mean Girls’ (2004)

Written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, this high school comedy stars Lindsay Lohan as a new student who navigates cliques led by Rachel McAdams, with memorable turns from Amanda Seyfried and Fey. The screenplay took inspiration from the nonfiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes and shaped it into a campus story about social rules.

The movie filmed in Toronto locations that doubled for suburban schools and malls, and it became a quotable staple on cable rotation and streaming. It later inspired a Broadway musical and a subsequent film adaptation of that musical titled ‘Mean Girls’, extending the brand into new formats with updated music and choreography.

‘Legally Blonde’ (2001)

Directed by Robert Luketic, this campus comedy stars Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, a fashion focused student who enrolls in Harvard Law and discovers an unexpected aptitude for casework. The cast includes Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, and Jennifer Coolidge, with courtroom set pieces built around study groups and internships.

Filming used Los Angeles campuses and civic buildings for classroom and courtroom interiors, with brief establishing material set near Boston. The movie’s success led to ‘Legally Blonde 2’ and a direct to video spinoff, and it also became a stage musical noted for upbeat ensemble numbers and pink forward production design.

‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001)

This London set romantic comedy is based on Helen Fielding’s novel and stars Renée Zellweger as a publishing assistant who chronicles her life through journal entries. Directed by Sharon Maguire, it pairs Zellweger with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant and frames the story with seasonal office parties and family gatherings.

Production shot across notable London neighborhoods and offices, anchoring the diary format in familiar city landmarks. The film earned Zellweger an Academy Award nomination and led to follow ups titled ‘Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason’ and ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’, which continued the character’s professional and personal misadventures.

‘P.S. I Love You’ (2007)

Directed by Richard LaGravenese and adapted from Cecelia Ahern’s novel, this drama stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler as a married couple separated by illness and guided by scheduled letters. The supporting cast includes Lisa Kudrow, Harry Connick Jr, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, with scenes split between New York and rural Ireland.

Location work brought the production to Manhattan bars and apartments as well as Irish countryside villages and pubs, creating a visual contrast between city and country. The soundtrack mixes Irish artists with pop selections, and the film emphasizes handwritten notes and scavenger like tasks as the structural device for each chapter.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’ (2014)

Based on John Green’s novel and directed by Josh Boone, this drama stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort as teens who meet in a support group and bond over art and travel. The plot takes the characters from American suburbs to Amsterdam for a meeting with a reclusive writer and a visit to city landmarks.

Production filmed in Pittsburgh for neighborhood and hospital scenes, then moved to Amsterdam for canal walks and museum sequences. The release drew strong responses from book fans, and the studio promoted author events and cast appearances that highlighted the faithful adaptation of key dialogue and scenes.

‘Dear John’ (2010)

Adapted from Nicholas Sparks and directed by Lasse Hallström, this romance stars Channing Tatum as an Army Special Forces soldier who meets a college student played by Amanda Seyfried during a beach town spring break. The story uses letters and emails to track a relationship through enlistments and family commitments.

Filming took place in and around Charleston and coastal communities, with military training and postal routes shaping the timeline. The movie opened at the top of the North American box office during its first weekend and maintained steady interest on home release through a soundtrack that combined country and adult contemporary tracks.

‘A Walk to Remember’ (2002)

Directed by Adam Shankman from Nicholas Sparks’s novel, this coming of age romance stars Mandy Moore and Shane West as North Carolina teens who meet through school activities and a community play. The narrative centers on faith, illness, and a list of personal goals that give the characters structure.

The film shot in Wilmington and nearby locations that were also used by other productions, allowing small town streets and riverwalks to frame the couple’s milestones. The soundtrack features songs performed by Moore alongside early two thousands pop rock, and the release helped move her from music into more acting roles.

‘Mamma Mia!’ (2008)

This jukebox musical, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, weaves a family story around the songs of ABBA and stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth. The plot follows a young woman who invites three men to her wedding to discover which one is her father, all while her mother reconnects with old friends.

Shooting took place on the Greek island of Skopelos and on soundstages for the hotel and courtyard sets, giving the movie its sunlit, seaside look. The film’s success led to a sequel titled ‘Mamma Mia Here We Go Again’, and both entries revived several ABBA tracks on international charts and sing along screenings.

‘The Kissing Booth’ (2018)

Based on Beth Reekles’s novel and released by Netflix, this teen romance stars Joey King and Jacob Elordi and follows friends whose school fundraiser turns into an unexpected turning point. The story occupies a Southern California high school world of parties, football games, and family rules.

Although set in Los Angeles, principal photography used Cape Town and nearby South African locations that doubled for American schools and homes. The film became one of the service’s most watched teen titles and expanded into two sequels titled ‘The Kissing Booth 2’ and ‘The Kissing Booth 3’, which continued the same core characters.

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ (2018)

Adapted from Jenny Han’s novel and directed by Susan Johnson, this Netflix rom com stars Lana Condor as a student whose private letters spark a pretend relationship with a classmate played by Noah Centineo. The story emphasizes family dynamics, handwritten notes, and school events that shape the couple’s agreement.

Filming took place around Vancouver with suburban homes, hallways, and sports fields that matched the book’s tone. The movie led to two sequels and a spinoff series titled ‘XO Kitty’, extending the setting and characters while keeping the focus on sisterhood, cultural traditions, and first love milestones.

‘The Princess Diaries’ (2001)

Directed by Garry Marshall and based on Meg Cabot’s novel, this comedy stars Anne Hathaway as a San Francisco teen who discovers she is heir to the throne of a small European principality. Julie Andrews plays the grandmother who oversees lessons in protocol, posture, and public appearances.

Walt Disney Pictures produced the film with San Francisco landmarks and Los Angeles stages combining for the school and embassy interiors. The success brought a follow up titled ‘The Princess Diaries 2 Royal Engagement’ and turned Hathaway into a lead for subsequent studio projects that centered on transformation and etiquette.

‘Legally Blonde’ (2001)

Directed by Robert Luketic, this campus comedy stars Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, a fashion focused student who enrolls in Harvard Law and discovers an unexpected aptitude for casework. The cast includes Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, and Jennifer Coolidge, with courtroom set pieces built around study groups and internships.

Filming used Los Angeles campuses and civic buildings for classroom and courtroom interiors, with brief establishing material set near Boston. The movie’s success led to ‘Legally Blonde 2’ and a direct to video spinoff, and it also became a stage musical noted for upbeat ensemble numbers and pink forward production design.

Share your own picks and substitutions in the comments so everyone can compare notes and build the ultimate list.