In the 1990s, there was an increase in females who worked in the film industry. The entry of women into more significant roles such as producers and directors led to a change in direction of women films and the development of contemporary “chick flicks” (Hollinger, 2012).
The popularity of the genre can be observed through its economic success. In her article “From Chick Flicks to Millennial Blockbuster: Spinning Female-Driven Narratives into Franchises”, York (2010) describes the progress and success of “chick flicks” by comparing them with male-driven action movies. For instance, in 2008, Mama Mia! And Sex and the City generated more worldwide revenue than male-oriented action movies such as The Incredible Hulk and Journey to the Centre …show more content…
Often, successful “chick flicks” rely on pre-sold identities where the characters and stories are already known and hence, guarantee a certain level of success. For example, the movie Sex and the City was a success because it was already an internationally well-known HBO TV series. These movies also rarely work alone and incorporate other genres that have a wider appeal. For example, Pitch Perfect (2012) incorporates musical numbers while The Devil Wears Prada (2006) combines “the fish out of water story with the Cinderella complex”,resulting in hybrid-genre success (York, 2010). Musicals, “cinderella complex” and romantic comedies are key themes and/or genres that these movies employ to appeal to their audience. Additionally, the producers of these films match the appropriate celebrities to the genres, building on their existing fan base. For example, Anne Hathaway, the lead in The Devil Wears Prada had already gained fans from her role in The Princess Diaries. Hence, international stars and hybrid genres work together to appeal to a greater
The popularity of the genre can be observed through its economic success. In her article “From Chick Flicks to Millennial Blockbuster: Spinning Female-Driven Narratives into Franchises”, York (2010) describes the progress and success of “chick flicks” by comparing them with male-driven action movies. For instance, in 2008, Mama Mia! And Sex and the City generated more worldwide revenue than male-oriented action movies such as The Incredible Hulk and Journey to the Centre …show more content…
Often, successful “chick flicks” rely on pre-sold identities where the characters and stories are already known and hence, guarantee a certain level of success. For example, the movie Sex and the City was a success because it was already an internationally well-known HBO TV series. These movies also rarely work alone and incorporate other genres that have a wider appeal. For example, Pitch Perfect (2012) incorporates musical numbers while The Devil Wears Prada (2006) combines “the fish out of water story with the Cinderella complex”,resulting in hybrid-genre success (York, 2010). Musicals, “cinderella complex” and romantic comedies are key themes and/or genres that these movies employ to appeal to their audience. Additionally, the producers of these films match the appropriate celebrities to the genres, building on their existing fan base. For example, Anne Hathaway, the lead in The Devil Wears Prada had already gained fans from her role in The Princess Diaries. Hence, international stars and hybrid genres work together to appeal to a greater