Feminist Rom-Com

When you think of a feminist rom-com, a romantic comedy that centers women’s agency, challenges traditional gender roles, and rejects outdated tropes. Also known as progressive romance, it’s not just about love—it’s about who gets to define it. These aren’t the kind of movies where the woman changes herself to win the guy. They’re the ones where she walks away, speaks up, messes up, and still gets her happy ending—on her own terms.

Feminist rom-coms don’t need grand gestures. They thrive on quiet moments: a woman saying no to a proposal she doesn’t want, a lead choosing her career over a man who doesn’t support it, or two people figuring out how to love without losing themselves. This genre overlaps with female-led films, stories where women drive the plot, not just the emotion, and connects deeply with indie romance, low-budget, character-driven love stories that prioritize truth over polish. You’ll find these films in festivals like Scruffy City Film Fest, where filmmakers reject Hollywood’s cookie-cutter formulas and instead show real women with real desires—flaws, ambitions, and all.

These movies also push back against gender norms in film, the unspoken rules that say women must be sweet, passive, or endlessly forgiving to be likable. Think about the last time you saw a male lead be selfish, moody, or indecisive in a rom-com. He’s charming. Now imagine a woman doing the same thing. She’s ‘difficult.’ Feminist rom-coms flip that script. They let women be messy, ambitious, angry, or unsure—and still be the hero of their own story.

You won’t find these films on every streaming service. They’re often small, quiet, and made by people who refuse to wait for permission. That’s why festivals like Scruffy City Film Fest matter. Here, you’ll find films that don’t ask for approval—they demand to be seen. Below, you’ll discover reviews, deep dives, and hidden gems that prove love stories don’t need prince charming to be powerful. Just a good script, a strong voice, and the guts to tell the truth.