Analysing Taglines From Rom-Com Posters

In this post I will be looking at some examples of taglines from existing rom-coms as I will need to create one for my poster and to use in my trailers:

1. '10 Things I Hate About You'

Tagline - 'How do I loathe thee? let me count the ways'. 'Romeo, oh Romeo, get out of my face'.

2. 'Notting Hill'

Tagline - 'Can the most famous film star in the world fall for the man on the street?'

3. 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'

Tagline - 'One of them is lying. So is the other'.

4. 'Bridget Jones’s Diary'

Tagline - 'All women keep score.... Only the great ones put it in writing'.

5. 'Sweet Home Alabama'

Tagline - 'Sometimes what you're looking for is right where you left it'.

After Looking at a few taglines, there are a few common things they share that make them work for romantic comedies:

1. Focus on Romance/Relationships – All the taglines hint at love or romantic tension: crushes, mismatched couples, trying to win someone over, or rediscovering love.

2. Playful or Humorous Tone – They’re not serious or dramatic; they use wit or cheekiness to signal comedy:

• “Romeo, oh Romeo, get out of my face” is a funny twist on Shakespeare.
• “All women keep score… Only the great ones put it in writing” is playful and self-aware.

3. Conflict or Challenge in Love – Each tagline suggests some obstacle or complication:

• 'Notting Hill': a famous celebrity vs. an ordinary guy.
• 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days': both characters are lying.
• '10 Things I Hate About You': a mix of love and frustration.

4. Relatable or Catchy Phrasing – They are easy to read, memorable, and make you curious about the story.

5. Hints at Character Personality – They often give insight into the main character’s perspective or attitude (e.g. sassy, romantic, funny, or clever).

Overall these taglines all signal romance, humour, highlight conflict, and give a taste of character personality, which is exactly what a rom-com poster needs to do.