13 Characters That Have Been In Every Rom-Com Of The Last, Like, 20 Years

You know them, you (mostly) love them, and they've been around forever.

It's time to accept it: Rom-coms are back, baby.

Warner Bros.

They've returned with new perspectives! And some much-needed diversity.

Will Packer Productions, BET Films, Paramount Players/Netflix

They've also brought back some tried-and-true character staples of the genre, some of which we love!

Fox 2000 Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Dune Entertainment III, LLC.

Everybody needs a no-nonsense supportive bestie.

Others were maaaybe not the best representation of real life, especially when it came to women, where entire personalities boiled down to walking clichés.

How many times do we need to see a supposedly "uptight" white lady learn to lighten up because of a likable goof??

They didn't all age well, but you know who they are.

1. The One Who's Too "Uptight" For Her Own Good

Touchstone Pictures/Relativity Media, Lakeshore Entertainment/Will Packer Productions

This girl would have guys falling at her feet if she could just "learn to have more fun." She loves following rules and takes her job very seriously, but with the right lovable rogue/cynic/Seth Rogen, she can finally let loose.

Appears in: The Ugly Truth, Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, Long Shot, The Proposal, The Holiday, Think Like a Man (and Think Like a Man Too

2. The Hot Mess

Apatow Productions, Universal Pictures

This woman is a lot of fun, but hasn't quite mastered the ins and outs of committed romance. She won't say no to carbs after 7 p.m. or drinking on a weeknight. Lucky for her, that disregard for standards of propriety will endear her to the straight-laced doctor/lawyer/accountant of her dreams.

Appears in: Trainwreck, Bridget Jones, Along Came Polly, What's Your Number?

3. The Slacker

Apatow Productions/Rocket Science, Bona Fide Productions, LA Media Fund/Netflix/View Askew Productions

Basically the male Hot Mess. He's a little too laid-back, and just doesn't sweat it, ya know? Eventually the right girl comes along to make him clean up his act, but never to the point where he stops being fun. He's shirked a lot of responsibility throughout his life, but that boyish charm always gets him out of trouble.

Appears in: Knocked Up, Juliet, Naked, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Failure to Launch, Always Be My Maybe

4. The Second Love Interest

Little Bird, Studio Canal, Working Title Films/Walt Disney Pictures/Alcon Entertainment

This guy. An alternative to the male lead, this man would make a lot of women happy. He just doesn't make her happy. Usually a friend, sometimes just a sensible dude that your family would love. Perfectly lovely and supportive (usually), this guy does nothing wrong. But he's not the lead so just forget about him, okay?

Appears in: Bridget Jones, Enchanted, Something Borrowed, What's Your Number?, Always Be My Maybe, Pretty in Pink

5. The Tough Cookie

Focus Features/Touchstone Pictures/Castle Rock Entertainment, /Flavor Unit Entertainment

She has a lot of opinions and isn't afraid to ask for what she wants. Does that make her less approachable? Damn straight, so what? The most openly feminist of the bunch, Tough Cookie will engage in biting banter and will not laugh at your bad jokes.

Appears in: Deliver Us From Eva,10 Things I Hate About You, When Harry Met Sally, Juno, Just Wright

6. The Boss

Apatow Productions/Revolution Studios/Netflix

Often a scene-stealing supporting character, The Boss is there to set up the big presentation/meeting/article deadline that one of the leads needs to prepare for. They have two big scenes: one at the beginning when they lay out just how important the presentation/meeting/article is, and another one later on when they give the lead a rude awakening before the climax.

Appears in: 13 Going on 30, Knocked Up, 500 Days of Summer, Trainwreck, Set It Up

7. The Architect

Revolution Studios/Paramount Pictures/Focus Features/Gary Foster/Studio Canal, Miramax/PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

The Architect isn't necessarily an architect. This person is one of the many rom-com characters who have a career that just isn't all that common in the real world. This includes your architects, magazine editors/writers, freelance bakers, and gallery curators. Basically anyone who makes you wonder, "How did they get this job? And why don't I ever see them working?"

Appears in: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (both characters!), Brown Sugar (also both),Trainwreck, Bridget Jones, 13 Going on 30, Sleepless in Seattle, Juliet, Naked, Notting Hill

8. The Cool Girl

Alcon Entertainment, 2S Films/Paramount Pictures/Flower Films

How does she do it? This girl seems to have it all. Nothing bothers her and she gets along with all your friends. She calls guys out on their shit, but it's in an effortlessly flirty way. And she always looks perfect, but clearly without trying too hard, because Cool Girls don't try too hard.

Appears in: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Something Borrowed, He's Just Not That Into You

9. The Concerned Family Member(s)

Working Title Films/FilmNation Entertainment/Fox 2000 Pictures/Apatow Productions/SK Global Entertainment / HBO Films

They just want what's best for you! They're not trying to nag! This family member is always around to remind you of that wedding/funeral/baby shower you just can't miss. They're also a good sounding board for any romantic issues you might be having.

Appears in: 27 Dresses, What's Your Number?, Trainwreck, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Something Borrowed, Crazy Rich Asians, Bridget Jones, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Big Sick

10. The Cinderella Story

Revolution Studios, Columbia Pictures/Touchstone Pictures/Nancy Juvonen

True love conquers all! These women have had their fair share of hardships, but it's nothing that can't be solved with a Knight in Shining Armor! Thankfully the right men appeared when they did, otherwise they would have been poor/sad/nerdy forever.

Appears in: Maid in Manhattan, Pretty Woman, Never Been Kissed, Overboard (the new version)

11. The Sidekick Bestie

Spyglass Entertainment/SK Global Entertainment/Fox 2000 PIctures/Little Bird/Castle Rock Entertainment/Working Title Films

You know this one, because it's the most common of the rom-com characters. This person is always prepared with two things: advice and schemes. Advice for your romantic exploits, and schemes you'd be too scared to carry out otherwise. Sidekick Bestie can take many forms, but what they all have in common is eternal devotion to the most important cause: getting the lead character laid/cuffed/affianced.

Appears in literally so many: Crazy Rich Asians, 27 Dresses, Bridget Jones, No Strings Attached, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Notting Hill

12. The MPDG

Camelot Pictures, Jersey Films, Double Features Films/Dune Entertainment/Cruise/Wagner Productions, Vinyl Films

No list of rom-com characters would be complete without the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She's quirky in an adorable way! She's pretty without being intimidating! She helps the male lead figure it all out! You don't actually know anybody like her in real life, but don't think about that too much.

Appears in: Garden State, 500 Days of Summer, Elizabethtown

13. The Married Couple Just Trying To Hold It Together

Tyler Perry Studios/Donald De Line/Apatow Productions/Carousel Productions

They've been together for a long time and they've seen some things. Between the kids, the mortgage, and their jobs, they just don't have time for romance. The spark is dwindling but there's still some love there, and after their share of ups and downs they tend to stay together in the end.

Appear in: Crazy Stupid Love, This Is 40, Why Did I Get Married, Fool's Gold

Did we miss any classic rom-com characters? Let us know in the comments!