Runaway Bride

After leaving three grooms at the altar, Maggie Carpenter earns the nickname runaway bride, a label a sly New York columnist named Ike Graham uses to sell a story. When his reputation hinges on Maggie's next vow, Ike heads to her small hometown to report on the anticipated fourth wedding and to expose any weakness in her image. Rather than a simple exposé, the townsfolk, Maggie herself, and Ike collide in a comedy of mistaken impressions, wit, and misdirection. As he interviews friends and family, Ike finds himself drawn to the woman behind the headlines, complicating his plan and his feelings in equal measure. With each meeting, Maggie reveals depth beyond the legend and Ike rethinks his stance for fans.

Directed by Garry Marshall and released in 1999, Runaway Bride draws its humor from classic rom com rhythms. It rests on an original script by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott, with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere headlining a charismatic ensemble.

It grossed about 309,500,000 worldwide globally on a 70,000,000 budget, a strong commercial result that reinforced the appeal of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere as a dependable rom com pairing, drawing audiences across ages and continents in 1999 and beyond.

Runaway Bride helped cement the late 90s rom com vibe with a premise built on misread signals and quick repartee. The title phrase entered everyday chatter and the Roberts Gere collaboration became a shorthand for warm, crowd pleasing squarely old fashioned romance. Its playful energy echoes in modern rom coms.

Critical takes at release noted its breezy pace and chemistry between Roberts and Gere, while acknowledging formula elements. The film leans into forgiveness and choosing love after imperfections, delivering warmth without cynicism and leaving audiences with a satisfying romantic finish. It still reads as a confident late 90s crowd pleaser.