The term chick flick is slang used to describe a movie that primarily appeals to teenage girls and young women. The term was first used in the late 1980s and early 1990s to describe movies such as Ghost , Dirty Dancing , Beaches , and Pretty Woman . While earlier films such as An Affair to Remember , Funny Girl , and Casablanca also have a strong appeal among female audiences, their structure is significantly different from the chick flicks of today.

Chick flicks are typically perky, upbeat, modern, and post-feminist in tone, although some movies do have sad and dramatic elements as well. The setting for a chick flick can vary. Movies such as Never Been Kissed transport viewers back to the torment of high school, while Notting Hill takes place in a book store.

The female characters in a chick flick are usually strong women who overcome adversity to reach their goals. The key to a successful chick flick is a message of female empowerment, although a snappy soundtrack and closets full of designer clothes will also help boost ratings.

Since many chick flick movies are also classified as romantic comedies, they often feature a female lead character struggling with a humorous romantic predicament. Many chick flicks of this type are loosely based upon Cinderella and other similar fairy tales. Recent examples include The Princess Diaries , Ever After , and A Cinderella Story . However, 10 Things I Hate About You and other movies based on modern interpretations of classic Shakespeare plays have also done quite well at the box office.

Another popular theme for the chick flick movie genre is the bonds between friends. Thelma & Louise , Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion , Mona Lisa Smile , and The Sweetest Thing are examples of popular chick flicks that place friendship above romance.

Many films classified as chick flick movies are based on books from the chick lit genre. The Devil Wears Prada and The Nanny Diaries are two recent chick flicks based on extremely successful chick lit novels. Movie executives love this approach since it virtually guarantees a sizable audience for the movie version.

Even though the chick flick genre is often criticized as mindless, sappy, and overly-commercialized fluff, chick flick movies continue to be a powerful bonding tool for mothers, daughters, sisters, and best friends. As long as these films continue to generate profits for movie executives, expect to see a fresh crop of chick flick titles released on a regular basis.