Research into a decade of top-grossing teen films reveals two dominant narrative structures that underpin most romantic storylines:

: Storylines centered on one character "saving" another from social isolation, personal struggle, or a previous bad relationship. Persistent Romantic Tropes

: Stories where one character (traditionally male) actively chases a love interest, often through "grand gestures" that frame romance as a prize to be won rather than a partnership to be built.

analyzing portrayals of teenage romantic relationships across a