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It seems like streaming services are pumping out romance movies like hotcakes these days, with formulaic 'tropey' films being released every few months - and often, swiftly forgotten as soon as they come out.

Just a few years back in the 90s and 2000s, however, they were career-forming cinematic endeavours that propelled the careers of Oscar winners like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks.

However, many of the films which had audiences swooning a decade ago could raise eyebrows by today's standards - featuring dubious consent, fat-shaming and even 'stalking' as a romantic gesture.

Just this month, Richard Gere, 76, and Diana Silvers, 28, sparked backlash as they kicked off filming for 'Asymmetry', detailing a 48-age gap romance which young viewers branded 'gross'.

It's a far cry from 1990, where the actor had an 18-year age gap with Julia Roberts, who was 22 at the time, and playing a sex worker who falls in love with him in Pretty Woman.

The movie is often cited as a beloved 'classic', and was the number one at the US box office its opening weekend.

Elsewhere, this week Gen Z were baffled by their discovery of the 1993 drama Untamed Heart, starring Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei, in which, unbeknownst to the protagonist, she is followed home by her coworker every night.

Those who enjoyed the movie in their youth admitted they were shocked by seeing it in a modern lens, saying 'in the 90s stalking was legit considered romantic'.

Read on to discover the romantic films which had us clutching our hearts and reaching for the tissues which would never get made today...

CHRISTIAN SLATER 'STALKING' MARISA TOMEI IN 1993 FILM UNTAMED HEART

It follows waitress Caroline (Marisa Tomei), who works in a diner alongside quiet busboy Adam (Christian Slater)

The 1993 film Untamed Heart grossed a worldwide total of $24 million at the box office - but young viewers stumbling across the plot have found it concerning.

It follows waitress Caroline (Marisa Tomei), who works in a diner alongside quiet busboy Adam (Christian Slater).

Without Caroline's knowledge, Adam has been following her home every night to make sure she reaches safely. And one day - when Caroline is assaulted on her way back - Adam is there to rescue her.

They become a couple but Caroline learns that he has a heart defect - which he eventually dies of.

Influencer Rob Anderson took to social media after discovering the beloved film in a TikTok for the first time, writing: 'The standards were on the FLOOR.'

Even celebrities were fans of the now admittedly 'bizarre' film, as Khloe Kardashian wrote: 'I used to love this movie. What a freak.'

Many also admitted how touched they were by the plot in their youth, with one writing that she 'bawled her eyes out' while watching it as a schoolgirl, while her father 'was laughing so hard he was practically crying too'.

However, modern viewers were baffled by what they found to be a romanticisation of stalking, particularly horrified at a scene where Adam admitted he watches Caroline sleep.

SLEAZY DANIEL CLEAVER'S WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, FATPHOBIA AND CASUAL RACISM IN THE BRIDGET JONES' DIARY MOVIES

Bridget gets into a relationship with her boss Daniel Cleaver - played by Hugh Grant - but viewers have claimed his flirty messages to her were 'sexual harassment'

The actress admitted to struggling to gain the weight for the role and was reported to be on a 4,000-calorie-per-day diet (Pictured: Zellweger in Bridget Jones' Diary in 2001)

While the fourth Bridget Jones movie, which came out last year, was largely well received, there were concerns about the franchise's legacy for modern sensibilities ahead of the release.

The first film, which came out in 2001, did not age well for many, due to fatphobia, misogyny, sexual harassment and claims of racism - which have not gone down well with today's audiences.

There were a number of moments highlighted.

Specifically, Gen-Z have pointed out a scene in the film where a Japanese woman (the ex-wife of Mark Darcy) is described as being from a 'very cruel race' by Bridget's mother, whose bigoted character was played by Gemma Jones.

Elsewhere Bridget's mother looked at what her daughter was wearing and told her, 'You'll never get a boyfriend if it looks like you've just wandered out of Auschwitz.'

Meanwhile, Bridget exchanging flirty messages with her boss Daniel Cleaver has been dubbed 'sexual harassment'.

However perceived racism wasn't the only issue in the film, from jokes about big pants to poring over every detail of Renee Zellweger's weight gain, there was nothing that defined fat shaming in the early noughties more than Bridget Jones's Diary.

Bridget was routinely fat-shamed in both the original books by Helen Fielding and the film, despite weighing just over 61 kg - the same size as the average British woman at the time.

Renee Zellweger piled on the pounds twice to play the heroine - once in 2001 for Bridget Jones Diary and again in 2004 for the sequel The Edge of Reason - before her character reached her 'ideal weight' in the third film, albeit briefly before falling pregnant.

At the start of the film, viewers were told she weighed 136lbs, or 9.7st, and wore a size 12 dress.

The average weight of a British woman in 2001 was 69.3 kg and by 2021 it was 71.8kg. The average UK dress size is now a 16.

MANIPULATING A GRIEVING FAMILY IN 1995'S WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

The bizarre premise is likely to raise eyebrows for a number of reasons today - from lying about being in a relationship with a man who is unconscious to manipulating a grieving family

In this 1995 classic, Sandra Bullock plays Lucy, a fare token collector who pretends to be the fiancée of a handsome commuter - Peter - that she is forced to take to hospital after he is pushed onto the tracks.

While he is in a coma, Lucy lies to his family, convincing them that they are 'engaged' - but instead, falls in love with his brother Jack.

The bizarre premise is likely to raise eyebrows for a number of reasons today - from lying about being in a relationship with a man who is unconscious to manipulating a grieving family.

However, back then, it was the thirteenth highest-grossing film of 1995 in the United States.

ALLIE BEING COERCED INTO GOING ON A DATE WITH NOAH BECAUSE HE THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF IN THE NOTEBOOK (2004)

Now considered one of the great romance movies, it tracks decades of love and misunderstandings between the two main protagonists, whose story begins at a 1940 carnival

It's a truth universally acknowledged that most people have cried after watching The Notebook.

However, many young audiences have been put off and even 'got the ick' after seeing Ryan Gosling (Noah) and Rachel McAdams' (Allie) love story unfold.

Now considered one of the great romance movies, it tracks decades of love and misunderstandings between the two main protagonists, whose story begins at a 1940 carnival.

Lumber mill worker Noah, 17, hangs off a Ferris wheel ride Allie is on and threatens to jump unless she goes out with him.

While it's played off as enchanting - the 2026 gaze is likely to be more concerned than charmed.

TOM HANKS' 1988 COMEDY BIG: IMPLIED LOVE SCENE BETWEEN 13-YEAR-OLD JOSH AND GROWN UP GIRLFRIEND SUSAN

Perkins said in 2021 that she doesn't think the implied love scene between her and Hanks would be made today, saying: 'We don't see them having sex but he does take my shirt off'

Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins starred in the classic comedy Big', which was released in 1988.

The plot sees 13-year-old Josh Baskin wake up the day after wishing he could be 'big' to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.

In the film, he grapples with a grown up life, including dating his girlfriend Susan, a fully grown adult.

Perkins, who played Susan, said back in 2021 that she doesn't think the implied love scene between her and Hanks in Big would be made today.

'We don't see them having sex but he does take my shirt off,' Perkins told Page Six about her adult character sharing an intimate moment with a 13-year-old boy trapped in an adult's body.

'Actually, I take my shirt off and he touches my breast, then we cut to the elevator door opening and he's got a big smile on his face.

'We never say, "Oh they slept together," but they definitely fooled around,' she added.

She said whether or not the scene was appropriate 'was not even a consideration of ours at the time. It was not even something we broached or discussed on any level. Different times.'

The actress admitted she doesn't think it would fly today, which she's 'totally on board with', saying: 'They wouldn't have shown that at all. I think we're in a different time.'

PRETTY WOMAN'S PROBLEMATIC PLOT: YOUNG SEX WORKER AT BECK-AND-CALL OF RICH MAN (1990)

The 1990 hit, which saw a prostitute (played by Julia Roberts) rescued by a billionaire (Richard Gere, pictured left with Julia) has long been criticised for its portrayal of women

The 1990 box office hit, which saw a young prostitute Vivian Ward (played by Julia Roberts) rescued by an older billionaire Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) before the pair fall in love has long since been criticised for its portrayal of women.

Despite bringing in more than £350million at the box office and turning Julia Roberts into an instant Hollywood star, the film would be unlikely to get the green light to be made now.

Essentially, the plot sees Vivian spend a week fulfilling the sexual desires of ultra wealthy Edward, to make him look and feel good.

When a musical theatre version of the film was launched in London in 2020, there were protests over the show's content, and the fact an all-male team was behind it.

Co-founder of the Women's Equality Party, Sandi Toksvig told The Sunday Times in February that year: 'I wonder if the all-male creative team that produced Pretty Woman have had much experience of being prostituted?

'If not that may explain why their dance moves leap so nimbly over the links with trafficking and abuse. Better representation of women on screen and stage doesn't just mean picking things with "women" in the title.'

In 2007, Daryl Hannah, who turned down the lead role before it was given to Julia said: 'They sold it as a romantic fairytale when in fact it’s a story about a prostitute who becomes a lady by being kept by a rich and powerful man.'

She added: 'I think that film is degrading for the whole of womankind.’

A BOSS THREATENING TO RUIN HER ASSISTANT'S CAREER UNLESS HE MARRIES HER IN 2009 FILM THE PROPOSAL

A high-powered executive blackmailing her assistant into a fake romance was in fact the plot to a popular noughties romcom starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds

A high-powered executive blackmailing her assistant into a fake romance that includes lying to government agents sounds like an HR nightmare.

But it was in fact the plot to a popular noughties romcom starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

Sandra's character threatens to derail her employee's career if he doesn't help her secure her immigration status via marriage.

In the flick, it leads to a heartwarming romance as she stays with his family for the holidays.

In the 2020s, it is unlikely to pass muster thanks to worrying power dynamics and inappropriate workplace relationships.

2001: SHALLOW HAL'S FAT-SHAMING ROMANCE

The character of Jack in 2001 rom-com Shallow Hal only sees Rosemary as a slim person - after he's been hypnotised

Paltrow said she was treated differently while wearing a 300-pound fat suit to play love interest Rosemary

Gwyneth Paltrow starred alongside Jack Black in the 2001 rom-com Shallow Hal, in which she plays obese woman Rosemary Shanahan who is seen as a slimmer version of herself by Black's character Hal Larson after he is hypnotized.

Paltrow wore a fat suit throughout the film to play Hal's 300-pound love interest and the film sparked controversy for its fatphobic premise.

Paltrow has called it her least favorite film. She said that she found it 'disturbing' how terribly she was treated when heavier.

The star has admitted in the past that she was left feeling 'humiliated' when she walked through a hotel wearing the outfit while filming, saying 'no one would make eye contact' with her.

The award winning star said: 'The first day I tried [the fat suit] on, I was in the Tribeca Grand and I walked through the lobby.

'It was so sad; it was so disturbing. No one would make eye contact with me because I was obese.

'I was wearing this black shirt with big snowmen on it.

'For some reason, the clothes they make for women that are overweight are horrible. I felt humiliated because people were really dismissive.'

Drew Barrymore stars as undercover reporter Josie Geller in the 1999 Rom Com Never Been Kissed - where she poses as a student and embarks upon a romance with her English teacher

LOVE ACTUALLY'S 2003 'STALKER' SCENE

Character Mark played by Andrew Lincoln turns up unannounced at her London house and held up a series of signs saying how much he loves her - while her boyfriend Peter sat upstairs

Audiences were besotted by Andrew Lincoln's character Mark in Richard Curtis' 2003 favourite.

In the film, Mark is deeply in love with Juliet (Keira Knightley), who is married to his best friend Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

After spending most of his scenes pining after her and watching the video he filmed of her wedding on repeat, he lets her know about his feelings by arriving at her marital home and holding up a series of cards professing his love.

Lines from his silent monologue include: 'To me, you are perfect, and my wasted heart will love you until you look like this,' at which point he shows a picture of a skeleton.

Clearly touched by his outpouring of unrequited love, Juliet plants a brief, innocent kiss on Mark before heading back to see her husband.

Lincoln himself has long since suggested that the film was in dangerous territory, admitting Mark had some 'stalker' tendencies.

He revealed that he'd even questioned the film's director Richard Curtis, telling him: 'That was my question to [director] Richard Curtis, "Do you not think we’re sort of borderline stalker territory here?"'

He added: 'And [Richard] said, "No, no. Not with you playing it, darling. You’ll be alright."'

And Keira Knightley also branded the iconic declaration of love sign scene 'creepy and sweet'

Reflecting on the moment during an episode of The Graham Norton in November 2024, she said how she'd recently had the scene recreated, saying: 'I was stuck in traffic for ages recently and a car full of builders next to me started holding up the signs like in the movie. It was creepy and sweet at the same time, much like it was in the film!'

It's not the film's only controversy. Natalie, played by Martine McCutcheon, works for the Prime Minister, portrayed by Hugh Grant.

After he falls in love with her, she is moved to a different department in No 10 but characters repeatedly poke fun at her figure.

One viewer said after watching a re-run of the movie last month: 'I'm baffled by [the film's] popularity. The fat-shaming of Martine McCutcheon's character.'

Another added: 'Some examples of how they refer to the character played by Martine McCutcheon – 'plumpy', 'the chubby girl', 'sizeable a***', and 'huge thighs' – it's cringy and terrible.'

Another hit out at Mr Curtis, saying: 'I turned off at the bit where Hugh Grant's assistant says, 'I think there is a pretty sizeable a*** there – huge thighs.'