Emilia Clarke’s Cult Classic Romance: The Enduring Popularity of Me Before You

by

Emilia Clarke is widely known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, but she also starred in the popular 2016 film Me Before You. Her character, Daenerys, was a consistent favorite throughout all eight seasons of the HBO series, making the character’s controversial actions in the show’s final season even more impactful.

Emilia Clarke became widely known for her role in Game of Thrones, which initially drew more attention than her other work, including films like Terminator Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Since Game of Thrones ended, she’s appeared in the Marvel series Secret Invasion, and is now preparing for a new spy thriller called Ponies on Peacock. Before that show arrives, fans should definitely see what many consider to be Clarke’s best film role yet.

What Is Me Before You About?

The movie Me Before You is based on Jojo Moyes’ popular 2012 novel. It stars Emilia Clarke as Lou Clark, a cheerful but somewhat scattered young woman, who takes a job caring for Will Traynor (played by Sam Claflin, known from The Hunger Games). Will is bitter and withdrawn after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed, and his mother hopes Lou can bring some joy back into his life.

Lou and Will initially clash, but they gradually form a connection. Lou discovers Will intends to end his life with assistance, and she desperately tries to convince him otherwise. As she does, they begin to fall in love.

The film Me Before You sparked significant controversy within the disability community, with many criticizing its portrayal of Will and believing it conveyed a harmful message. This criticism continues to this day, but hasn’t diminished the film’s widespread appeal.

Why Me Before You Is Still Popular 10 Years Later

Even though it came out nearly ten years ago, Me Before You is currently very popular on Netflix. As of January 12th, it’s the second most-watched movie on the platform worldwide (according to Flix Patrol), just behind the recently released Netflix original romance, People We Meet on Vacation.

This isn’t the first time Me Before You has become popular on streaming services. It was also a top 10 movie on Prime Video in the U.S. about a year ago. Because people keep watching it, Me Before You doesn’t seem to be losing its place in popular culture anytime soon.

The movie remains popular for a few key reasons. One is its impressive cast, especially Clarke, who has a large and dedicated fanbase. Many of those fans are likely revisiting her earlier work as they await the premiere of her new show, Ponies, on January 15th.

The continued popularity of Me Before You shows how much people love romance stories. Both this film and People We Meet on Vacation prove there’s a strong audience for the genre, whether it’s a fun and cheerful rom-com like People We Meet on Vacation or a deeply emotional and sad love story like Me Before You.

Romantic dramas continue to be popular with audiences, as seen in films like The Notebook, the recent release We Live in Time, and the critically acclaimed Hamnet. Currently, Me Before You is one of the most-watched films in the genre.

Me Before You’s Reviews Don’t Match The Movie’s Impact

Despite remaining popular for ten years, Me Before You received mixed reviews when it came out in June 2016. Critics gave it a lukewarm score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many objecting to its handling of a delicate topic. Even Screen Rant noted that the film felt predictable and didn’t quite reach its full potential due to its reliance on familiar tropes.

Despite receiving mixed reviews, the movie Me Before You was a big financial success. It earned over $208 million worldwide on a budget of just $20 million (according to Box Office Mojo). This makes it a hugely profitable film, and it continues to be popular with viewers on streaming platforms.

The big difference between how audiences loved Me Before You and how critics reacted highlights a general tendency to undervalue romance films. Critics often dismiss these movies as predictable, full of tired tropes, and lacking substance – essentially, not worth considering as seriously as other types of films.

Film critics should consider a new perspective on romantic movies, as they seem to be overlooking what appeals to most viewers. From new releases on Netflix to older favorites like Me Before You, it’s clear that romance is likely to be a major trend in streaming by 2026.

Read More

2026-01-12 21:11