Kate Hudson has long been a beloved icon of the romantic-comedy genre, but that admiration hasn’t always extended to film critics. Despite their enduring popularity among audiences, movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Fool’s Gold, Bride Wars, and Something Borrowed all received lukewarm to outright negative reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes scores ranging from 42% to as low as 15%. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert even once joked that he wished to put Hudson and co-star Matthew McConaughey in a witness protection program because of how much he disliked How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hudson reflected on the negative critical reception of her rom-com classics and how perspectives on them have evolved over time. But even back then, she never sought out critical acclaim — her focus was always on entertaining audiences.
Making Movies for the People, Not the Critics
Hudson believes that criticism itself has changed over the years, with more emphasis on what audiences truly want rather than niche critical perspectives.
"The critic has changed. The whole world is a critic now. When you're making a movie, you have to ask: Who are you making it for? The critics? The people? If you focus too much on pleasing one group, you might end up missing the mark entirely."
She also pointed out that her rom-coms were never meant to be Oscar contenders in the first place:
"If I set out to make Bride Wars or Something Borrowed as a critically acclaimed, Oscar campaign-worthy film, it would be a very different movie. People don’t realize how hard it is to make a rom-com that people actually enjoy."
Could There Be a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Sequel?
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live last year, Hudson hinted that she’d be open to revisiting one of her most famous rom-com roles — but only under the right conditions. "All that matters is the script and if Matthew [McConaughey] and I are into it. We’re both totally open, it just hasn’t happened yet."
The Decline — and Possible Revival — of Rom-Coms
Romantic comedies have mostly shifted to streaming platforms, but recent box office hits like Anyone But You (2023) starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, which earned $220 million worldwide, suggest that audiences still crave the genre. Hudson believes a major obstacle to reviving rom-coms is the lack of male stars willing to take on leading roles in the genre.
"That’s a big part of the equation. If we could get more Marvel guys to do rom-coms, that would help. It’s part of the formula — creating that event."
Despite the ups and downs, Hudson remains a strong advocate for romantic comedies, believing that the genre still holds a special place in audiences' hearts. Whether or not she returns to it remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: rom-coms are far from dead.
