They may not be exactly the same, but the meddling of parents (with a potential love story of their own) seems to be a common thread, and I suspect that this trend will continue for a while. Ticket to Paradise turned out to be a big box office hit in 2022, grossing $168 million worldwide and more recent streaming releases like You People (2023) have raked up enough views to dominate the top ten list. Add to this the successful history of older gems that tackle similar storylines, like Meet the Parents, which made a cool $330 million, and Monster-in-Law, which made $155 million.
So, why the fascination with boomer parents and in-laws when it comes to wedding flicks? In my humble opinion, it’s because they’re real, they’re funny and they wield quite a bit of A-list star power. In-laws can create a breeding ground for chaos, awkwardness and conflict. They can clash over cultural differences and nitpick over wedding details. They can even put couples to the test and try to break up the engagement. And boy, is it entertaining to see how they approach these high-stress situations. Especially when those in-laws have a history or a dark past.