The term ‘Chick Flicks’ has been around for at least twenty years and is a slang reference to movies that appeal to a predominantly female demographic.  Usually these types of movies are heavily emotional and revolve around relationships, both romantic and platonic.  This kind of a motion picture has existed since the beginning of the movie industry.  The earliest examples include ‘Morocco’ released in 1930, 1936′s ‘Camille’ and of course ‘Gone with the Wind’ in 1939.

Many film critics have noted that today’s Chick Flick differs somewhat from earlier movies directed at female audiences.  The earlier motion pictures were more melodramatic and tragic, like ‘Mildred Pierce’ and ‘Written on the Wind’, whereas the modern version is definitely more upbeat and optimistic in nature.  Compare ‘All about Eve’ with ‘Terms of Endearment’ or even ‘Steel Magnolias‘ to see the difference in light-heartedness.  Modern examples also feature a healthy injection of comedy that earlier releases lack.

In a 2004 issue of O, Oprah’s popular magazine written for female readers, writer Karen Durbin examined the greatest chick flicks of all time and selected the top 50.   In her top 50 list, she included recent hits like ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ and ‘Something’s Gotta Give’.  She also mentioned the fact that movies geared towards a female audience are gaining respect and are more likely to contain themes of adventure and action than in previous years.

If 60 to 70 percent of ticket buyers are female during the first week of a film’s opening, critics will usually dub it a Chick Flick.  As a rule, few studios invest heavily in these types of movies because they are not considered big moneymakers.  Of course, there are exceptions, such as ‘Sex and the City‘, ‘Twilight‘ and ‘Mamma Mia’.  In fact ‘Mamma Mia’, to date, has grossed over half a billion dollars.   Hopefully, films geared towards female audiences will become more of a priority with studios over the next few years, given the success of these movies.

Chick flicks have been around since the first movie house came into existence and they are here to stay because women love to laugh, to cry and to be thrilled with the antics and adventures of other women on the big screen.