Film Heartthrobs: What Makes Them So Engaging?
For decades, heartthrobs on-screen have continued to steal hearts with their good looks and irresistible charm. From Marlon Brando to Paul Newman to Leonardo Dicaprio, the most attractive actors out there have been cast into roles that would make anyone swoon. Around the world, no matter which country’s movie industry you tap into, there is bound to be at least one heartthrob in a film. In some cases, heartthrobs are the ones that attract audiences. I’m guilty of this – I will admit that I have tuned into movies and TV shows just because my favorite actor was appearing in it. So, what’s their trick? What makes them so engaging?
The concept of the ‘film heartthrob’ has been around for decades. Your parents – and even your grandparents – are bound to recognize some of the following names: Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Paul Newman. These figures are timeless not only because of their stellar acting skills, but also because they were known as heartthrobs. Hollywood’s Golden Age, taking place from the silent era to the 1960s, was partially defined by these film heartthrobs. They made their names by being known as crush-worthy popular figures. The original heartthrob was the legendary Frank Sinatra in the mid-30s. He was known as “ol’ blue eyes” and the crowd at his shows were full of girls - much like how people attended One Direction concerts back in the day. From the safety of a cinema or a computer screen, we can let our fantasies about our favorite movie stars run wild, without any consequences, because they are just actors at the end of the day. We can even let ourselves fall for actors who are playing villains because everything that is depicted on-screen is fictional. Even if a movie is based on a true story or person, it’s likely that a different actor will play that role.
Heartthrobs from the golden age have had long-lasting legacies in popular culture and are still lauded to this day. James Dean is known as the original bad boy - he has even been referenced in Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’ - and John Travolta as Danny Zuko in Grease continues to make hearts stutter. Gifs of Marlon Brando flirtatiously rolling his eyes during his screen test for A Streetcar Named Desire have gone viral. However, film heartthrobs tend to reflect the standards of their times. For example, in an era when the #MeToo movement has been highly influential, Timothée Chalamet is the current film heartthrob because he is considered to be non-threatening. With his angular cheekbones, curly locks and relatively ‘feminine’ features, (by Western standards), Chalamet is now known as the pretty boy of Hollywood. This demonstrates that ideal standards of masculinity are influenced by the times that different heartthrobs existed in.
Film heartthrobs represent different personas and tropes that people generally find attractive. Everyone has an ideal type, yet there’s a high chance that there is at least one Hollywood heartthrob that fits your criteria. Some of us are attracted to ‘bad boy’ personas with their dominant behaviours and rebellious nature, whilst others like the boy-next-door type because of the comfort, safety and familiarity they provide. The ‘romantic’ is also a popular trope because they are perceived to be the perfect partner. In any case, no matter what your type, there is bound to be a heartthrob who depicts that kind of character.
More recently, many of Generation Z’s most beloved film heartthrobs are from Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Think Zac Efron, Austin Butler, Avan Jogia – feeling nostalgic yet? These actors made up our pre-teen and teenage fantasies. Although some of these actors may have lost their charm by now, looking at photos from their Disney Channel or Nickelodeon days could still excite a reaction from your heart. Growing up, we hoped that we could also have love interests like these figures. Their portrayals on-screen made them look desirable, even if they might have had flaws or imperfections. Classic chick flicks like Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You presented us with some of the most irresistible male characters. Nowadays, film heartthrobs in Hollywood films can be anyone from the protagonist to the supporting characters; as long as they have the charms and qualities that could sweep us off our feet. Infamous names like Ryan Gosling and Denzel Washington attract people to watch films they feature in – and not only because of their acting skills.
With high levels of globalization came transnational consumption of media, and audiences started noticing heartthrobs from other regions. While Hollywood stars had always been popular around the world, Bollywood and East Asian heartthrobs like Sidharth Malhotra and Kim Soohyun gradually began to be noticed by Western audiences. Now, there are uncountable numbers of heartthrobs that we can ogle at on-screen. In a world where we are taught to be cautious about men’s lingering stares, the silver screen provides a safe space for people to fantasize about film heartthrobs. Their attractive features and appealing personas make them engaging to worldwide audiences, and there’s nothing wrong with appreciating a little eye candy when we’re watching a film.