Hollywood icon George Clooney has officially retired from romantic films. Speaking in a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Clooney revealed that he will no longer pursue roles in the romance genre, marking a shift in his acting career.
A New Chapter for Clooney
Clooney, now 63, candidly explained his decision: “Look, I’m 63 years old. I’m not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men. That’s not my job. I’m not doing romantic films anymore.” His last romantic comedy, Ticket to Paradise (2022), co-starring Julia Roberts, grossed an impressive $168 million worldwide.
Reflecting on his early 2000s status as “sexiest man of the year,” Clooney acknowledged it was a defining period of his career but emphasized that those days are behind him. His filmography includes notable romance films such as One Fine Day (1996) with Michelle Pfeiffer and Intolerable Cruelty (2003) with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Julia Roberts on the State of Romantic Comedies
Clooney’s Ticket to Paradise co-star, Julia Roberts, has also spoken about the lack of quality romantic films in recent years. In an interview with The New York Times, Roberts explained that she had turned down romance films for two decades because the scripts were subpar.
“People sometimes misconstrue the amount of time that’s gone by that I haven’t done a romantic comedy as my not wanting to do one,” she said. “If I had read something that I thought was that ‘Notting Hill’ level of writing or ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ level of madcap fun, I would do it. They didn’t exist until this movie that I just did that Ol Parker wrote and directed.”
What’s Next for Clooney?
Although he is stepping away from romantic films, Clooney remains active in Hollywood. He is currently starring in the Broadway production of Good Night, and Good Luck, which he also co-wrote and directed. His transition to more serious and character-driven projects signals a new era for the beloved actor.
Watch Clooney’s full 60 Minutes interview below.