Research: Target Audience and Character Types

 Understanding people is an important concept in creating a brief. From actual people to our own fictional characters. For example, I need to understand my target audience so I know how to appeal to them. Appealing to children is very different than appealing to an older audience. As a minor myself who watches romcoms, I am not sure whether romcoms are mainly for pre-teens or teens. I have to figure this out so our brief can reach its full potential. 

Additionally, to further appeal to a specific audience, I need to understand the characters of my own brief. Like other movies, romcoms have their own unique characters that make them recognizable to the public. These specific characters also appeal to audiences because everyone is bound to have a favorite character. So, I need to try and understand all the types of people in romcoms. 

Target Audience:

My assumption before was that romcoms were aimed toward younger audiences; however that is wrong because romcoms have a wide appeal across genders and age groups. This has statistics too, look!

(American opinion or romance, comedy, and other genres besides romantic comedy was measured in October 2022 YouGov poll.)

According to the polling data, it is more common for Americans to "love" or "like" romcoms. Only 21% of the respondents said they dislike/hate them which is very low! I'm surprised anyone could genuinely hate the genre; it's so entertaining. 

From this poll, all demographics seem to enjoy romcoms. The groups that enjoy them the most are women and and older audiences. The older audience had me quite shocked. I truly believed that the 18-29 group was going to take the majority! But in a way, the results show more that romcoms are a genre for everyone to enjoy. 

Distribution:

Romantic comedies today are distributed through a variety of media that help them reach audiences in different ways. Traditionally, films were released first in movie theaters, giving audiences the chance to see them on the big screen and generating box office revenue before they were made available in other formats, such as home video or television. This theatrical window has changed over time, especially since the rise of streaming, but it still plays a role in how rom‑coms can gain attention and prestige before moving to other platforms.

In recent years, streaming services have become the primary way most rom‑coms are distributed. Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others have invested heavily in producing and releasing original romantic comedies, which has helped revive the genre and make it more accessible to viewers around the world. These services often release films directly on their platforms without a long theatrical run, meaning audiences can watch them at home as soon as they’re available. According to industry analysis, streaming is where many rom‑coms find their largest audiences today, and these platforms are now commissioning or acquiring many of the most popular titles in the genre.

After streaming, romantic comedies may also be distributed through home video and digital purchases or rentals, such as on services like Fandango at Home (formerly known as Vudu), Apple TV, or Amazon’s digital store. These allow viewers to buy or rent films online even if they weren’t originally available in theaters or on their streaming service. Films may also be released on physical media like DVDs and Blu‑rays, which still provide a way for audiences to own a copy or watch them offline.

Beyond simply being watched, distribution can extend into merchandise and cultural engagement. While rom‑coms don’t usually have as much merchandise as blockbuster franchises, some films inspire soundtrack releases, themed merchandise, or partnerships with brands, especially if they become particularly popular or culturally influential. Additionally, successful romantic comedies may be marketed through trailers, social media campaigns, festival premieres, and promotional tours that help build audience awareness across different media and platforms.

  

However, the main viewers of romcoms are women. Women are more typically to enjoy romcoms because they have been trained from young ages to connect with stories about relationships and emotional vulnerability. Those are important things to know since they are going to be my main target audience. Zunairah and I can make our brief seem more authentic and that will really bring them in.

Here are some steps I was thinking about to seem authentic:

1.

Following Classic Narratives
Meet-cutes, conflicts, misunderstandings, and grand gestures are expected. This is what the main audience expects. Since the target audience is mostly interested in the relationship aspect of the film, it would be best to give them what they want.

2.

Including Diverse Perspectives

Audiences appreciate characters and relationships that reflect a variety of experiences. Showing different kinds of love, friendship, and family dynamics would be a good way to add our own charm to the relationships in our brief.

3.

Using Visuals to Enhance Emotion
Colors, lighting, and set design can make your rom-com feel comfortable, passionate, or lovely. A soft, warm palette can make a scene feel romantic, while contrast and bright colors can highlight chemistry between characters. I feel like I should focus on the chemistry of the main couple and really heighten the strong emotions of scenes. 

4.

Creating Relatable Characters
Making my characters likable but flawed, with emotions and struggles people recognize would pull the target audience in. Having flawed characters grows relatability and comfort in the audience. These characters always come out to be my favorite! 

Character Types:

I am already aware that I would have to grow relatability in my brief by having a flawed character. However, romcom characters are not based on only flaws. I am sure there has to be a funny character or a supportive one, but I have to go more in depth to find out what these romcom character types are.

1.

Leading Lady

The leading lady is the main character of the film. Since she gets the most screen time she would be the relatable character for the audience. She has all the characteristics that the target audience enjoys. She is flawed in a way that is relatable, she is likable, and vulnerable. She usually has all of these traits because she is the character that is first introduced to the audience. 

No Hard Feelings(2023)

2.

The Love Interest

This character is the romantic counterpart of the leading lady. To be seen as a love interest, this character has to be charming and interesting to spark tension and chemistry. This is a main emotional factor for the audience because they want this character and the leading lady to have a happy ending.

Love at First Sight(2023)

3.

The Best Friend/Side Kick

This character brings the comedy charm the romcom needs. They bring the perfect balance between comedy and romance. This character is there for comedic relief and emotional support. This character helps the protagonist in their time of need and is always there with them.

Oh, Hi!(2025)

Self Reflection:

Writing this section helped me understand how important it is to know both the audience and the characters when creating a rom-com. I learned that romcoms aren’t just for teens or young adults, they appeal to a wide range of people, women and older audiences especially. This means that when Zunairah and I work on our brief, we need to focus on elements that connect emotionally with viewers.

I also realized that characters are just as important as plot or visuals. Leading characters, love interests, and supportive friends all play distinct roles in engaging the audience. By creating relatable, flawed, and charming characters, we can make our story feel authentic and emotionally compelling.

Overall, researching the target audience and character archetypes has given me a clearer vision for how to design our brief in a way that will resonate with viewers and make the rom-com experience enjoyable for them.

Sources:

https://archive.thetab.com/uk/2016/08/19/theres-scientific-reason-women-like-rom-coms-men-15460

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/post/romantic-comedy-character-archetypes-who-needs-to-be-included

https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/45146-americans-relationship-romantic-comedies-poll

https://beverlyboy.com/filmmaking/what-is-chick-flick-film

https://www.tasteray.com/articles/rom-com-movies-genre-shattering-films-cultural-impact

https://www.techradar.com/streaming/how-movies-and-shows-end-up-on-your-streaming-services-studio-rights-explained