{"id":2077068,"date":"2026-08-04T12:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T09:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2077068"},"modified":"2026-08-04T12:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T09:00:25","slug":"inside-the-heartthrob-industrial-complex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2077068","title":{"rendered":"Inside The Heartthrob Industrial Complex"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"oVA page-476954091\">.page-476954091{&#8211;slot7:#f6f6f6;&#8211;slot8:#000000;&#8211;slot9:#f6f6f6;&#8211;metaColor:#f6f6f6;&#8211;navColor:#f6f6f6}<\/p>\n<div class=\"cCV\">\n<div class=\"sWr\">\n<div class=\"Jr2\">\n<div class=\"gsz CfR\">\n<div class=\"d0B\">\n<div class=\"vmZ oL7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/a70aa66d\/heartthrob2.jpg?w=414&amp;h=259&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=focalpoint&amp;fp-x=0.5404&amp;fp-y=0.4534&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"fpC EdX\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"Vms lOB\">Photos: Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_-P\">\n<div class=\"rkd qoI\">\n<p class=\"QwJ\">Entertainment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ckc ZKF\">\n<h1 class=\"aVX doc O2p QZE\">Inside The Heartthrob Industrial Complex<\/h1>\n<div class=\"r87 y0Q\">\n<p>The new streaming-era formula is all about making your next Internet boyfriend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mLI Q9a\">\n<address class=\"Fdy\">by <span>Louis Staples<\/span><\/address>\n<div class=\"DHw\">\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-08-04T12:00:25.084Z\">2 hours ago<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"QVH\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"Uf-\">\n<div class=\"Yte yjy wVh\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nylon.com\/nylon-guys-august-2026\" class=\"JVd\">NYLON Guys August 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tn6\">\n<div data-adroot=\"true\" class=\"AOL Afg\">\n<p>As a Gay Millennial\u2122, the image of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ryanphillippe\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Ryan Phillippe<\/a>\u2019s perfect, peachy ass has been seared into my mind ever since the very first time I watched <em>Cruel Intentions<\/em>. Back then, when I was still in the closet, the heartthrobs I gazed at on TV taught me that I had A Type: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nylon.com\/entertainment\/rachel-bilson-the-oc-podcast\" class=\"T3D\">The OC<\/a><\/em>\u2019s troubled teenage runaway Ryan Atwood (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mrbenmckenzie\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Ben McKenzie<\/a>) was an early obsession, followed by Jess Mariano (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/miloanthonyventimiglia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Milo Ventimiglia<\/a>), the bookish bad boy of <em>Gilmore Girls.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Today, actors who meet the basic \u201cheartthrob\u201d criteria \u2014 gorgeous, charismatic, a little mysterious \u2014 are some of Hollywood\u2019s most famous (and bankable) stars, such as Robert Pattinson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tchalamet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tomholland2013\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Tom Holland<\/a>, and Jacob Elordi. Their ascendancy to the A-list \u2014 to the point where it feels inadequate to describe them as \u201cheartthrobs\u201d \u2014 coincides with the arrival of a new wave of plucky young challengers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR CEt\">\n<figure class=\"Qf5 E1M\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:66.6667%\" class=\"vmZ F8Y ap2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/d69d9c96\/gettyimages-2234420775.jpg?w=414&amp;h=276&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"EdX\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"Yte pt7 okb\"><figcaption class=\"rv9 TrI\"><cite class=\"hW6\">Courtesy of Tommaso Boddi \/ Stringer<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThere was a time when you had to really earn your stripes,\u201d says podcaster and pop culture connoisseur <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/evanrosskatz\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Evan Ross Katz<\/a>. Growing up, he remembers that heartthrobs like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/realfreddieprinze\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Freddie Prinze Jr.<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/chrisevans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Chris Evans<\/a> would disappear and then suddenly emerge to promote their latest project, creating a sense of distance that he found alluring. But now, previously unknown actors can become the most in-demand heartthrobs in a matter of months. Plus, everyone is always on, he says, with an endless content cycle that demands \u201cmore \u2018It boys\u2019 than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the streaming era, it feels like a conveyor belt is emerging, with a new hottie-of-the-moment every six months or so, from <em>Heated Rivalry <\/em>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hudsonwilliamsofficial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Hudson Williams<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/connorstorrieofficial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Connor Storie<\/a>)<em> <\/em>and the horny One Direction fan fiction <em>The Idea of You<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nicholasgalitzine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Nicholas Galitzine<\/a>) to royal rom-com <em>Red, White and Royal Blue <\/em>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/taylorzakharperez\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Taylor Zakhar Perez<\/a>) and teen drama <em>The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/chrisbriney_\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Christopher Briney<\/a>) \u2014 and, most recently, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nylon.com\/nylon-nights\/ella-bright-off-campus-premiere-getting-ready-grwm\" class=\"T3D\">Off Campus<\/a><\/em>\u2019 curly-haired hockey captain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/belmontcameli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Belmont Cameli<\/a>. These young men are experiencing the type of fast fame that you only see in movie montages, which is powered by an intense, female-led fandom. And in a cultural moment where the ability to generate attention is a status symbol in itself, these streaming-era heartthrobs are well prepared to capitalize on their time in the spotlight, one viral ad campaign at a time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR vrU\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"BCT MJ1\">\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DZTHYb6ksa7\/?img_index=1\" data-shortcode=\"DZTHYb6ksa7\" class=\"UyF\">\n<div class=\"yzx\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DZTHYb6ksa7\/?img_index=1\" title=\"View on Instagram\" class=\"y9v GmH\"><i class=\"icx g9F\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If there were a secret ingredient to the formula, talent agents would be bottling it up and selling it for millions, because if you\u2019re in the right place at the right time \u2014 and with the right face and jawline \u2014 it\u2019s become one of the most reliable routes for overnight fame and lucrative brand deals. Luckily, our favorite recent heartthrobs have given us enough examples to dissect a few key traits that they share.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They have looks (duh) \u2014 and plenty of attitude<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Heartthrobs are, of course, generally cast as The Hot Guy \u2014 you know, the young and conventionally attractive character with big arms and chiseled jawlines and good (floppy) hair that curls in the right places. The audience implicitly understands we\u2019re supposed to have a crush on them, and the actors are aware of this too: In June, heartthrob-in-the-making Nicholas Duvernay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/entertainment\/nicholas-duvernay-not-suitable-for-work-interview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">told Bustle<\/a> that it can be \u201cweird to navigate\u201d playing someone for fans to \u201cgawk over\u201d in the Mindy Kaling comedy series <em>Not Suitable for Work.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR CEt\">\n<figure class=\"Qf5 E1M\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:150%\" class=\"vmZ F8Y ap2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/783632f1\/gettyimages-2283220285.jpg?w=414&amp;h=621&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"EdX\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"Yte pt7 okb\"><figcaption class=\"rv9 TrI\"><cite class=\"hW6\">Courtesy of Christian Vierig \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Part of the gawk factor these days, however, also comes down to body type, as muscles have (literally) become a bigger part of getting the internet\u2019s attention. While <em>The<\/em> <em>New York Times<\/em> once heralded \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/05\/14\/t-magazine\/age-of-the-twink.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">The Age of the Twink,<\/a>\u201d Hollywood\u2019s leading men these days are more often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/entertainment\/beefcakes-are-back-heated-rivalry-hudson-williams-the-traitors-rob-rausch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">beefcakes<\/a> with huge pecs and thighs that could crush a watermelon. (This likely reflects the mass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/wellness\/recommended-protein-for-women-cottage-cheese-recipes-trend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">protein psychosis<\/a> we\u2019re currently living through.) Michel Ghanem, who runs the Instagram account <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tvscholar\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">TVScholar<\/a> and writes <em>The Cut<\/em>\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecut.com\/tags\/appointment-viewing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">Appointment Viewing<\/a>\u201d column, thinks we\u2019re seeing a return to the type of physical conditioning of the body that made a heartthrob of the 2000s hunk he spent the most time fantasizing about: Zac Efron. \u201cSometimes,\u201d he says, \u201cit\u2019s about more than their performing ability \u2014 it\u2019s like, are they able to perform <em>hotness<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As shallow as fans undoubtedly are, however, heartthrob status is about more than just good looks and big biceps. Journalist Sophie Ross Brooks, cohost of the <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/snark-bait\/id1770632171\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\"><em>Snark Bait<\/em><\/a> podcast, tells me that the new wave of heartthrobs also have a distinct \u201cswagger\u201d to them. \u201cIt truly is a <em>je ne sais quoi<\/em>,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re cool, they\u2019re hot, and they don\u2019t try too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>They appeal to millennials \u2014 and to millennial women in particular<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Beyond looks and attitude, Ross Brooks thinks that what also defines a heartthrob is their bankability \u2014 and, in particular, their ability to compel millennial women (who are \u201ckeeping our economy alive\u201d) to <a href=\"https:\/\/rootdigital.co.uk\/blog\/millennial-digital-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">press play<\/a> purely to watch them. \u201cI\u2019m watching <em>Lucky<\/em> right now just for Drew Starkey, even though he\u2019s not in it much and it\u2019s also really not a good show,\u201d she says. \u201cI am in it just for those small moments where Drew Starkey shows up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And even if most of these men are in their mid- to late 20s, we\u2019ve usually watched them in something where they played a teenager or young adult. It might not necessarily be their \u201cheartthrob breakthrough,\u201d but it\u2019s still in the minds of the viewer \u2014 like your social feed\u2019s current crush, Belmont Cameli, whom fans might remember from Peacock\u2019s short-lived <em>Saved by the Bell <\/em>reboot in 2020. (And on that note \u2014 how to put this delicately? \u2014 these actors often start out on something that\u2019s a little more \u201cCW Network\u201d than \u201cHBO.\u201d)<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR\">\n<div class=\"QYV\">\n<div class=\"uES fEt\">\n<div class=\"uT7\">\n<div class=\"FDO\">\n<div class=\"vmZ XJ- jWP\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/14a98274\/gettyimages-1229309015.jpg?w=374&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"EdX\"><\/div><figcaption class=\"MO9\"><cite>Courtesy of Peacock<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"FDO\">\n<div class=\"vmZ XJ- jWP\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/968bf0ea\/gettyimages-2277558095.jpg?w=374&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"EdX\"><\/div><figcaption class=\"MO9\"><cite>Courtesy of TheStewartofNY \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"yOD GLK\">\n<div class=\"ki0 kpP\">\n<div class=\"MNV\"><\/div>\n<p><label for=\"lightboxCheckbox-480774446\" class=\"QNb y8V St5\"><button aria-label=\"open lightbox\" class=\"kMc\"><\/button><\/label><\/div>\n<div class=\"C1C\">\n<div class=\"ZXG\">\n<div class=\"F6c\"><button class=\"ikQ VkL\"><\/button>1 \/ 2<button class=\"ikQ Olc\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"LOc\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"igl f5y\"><button class=\"ikQ Xfx\"><span class=\"Od1\">INFO<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"itG\">1 \/ 2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>For millennials, the streaming era\u2019s floppy-haired heartthrobs are also a welcome distraction from the increasingly bleak and disposable dating world, where genuine connection feels fleeting and (brace yourself!) women are now being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vogue.co.uk\/article\/women-ghosted-by-long-term-boyfriend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">ghosted by their long-term boyfriends.<\/a> Bianca Betancourt, CNN Style\u2019s culture and features editor, agrees that millennial women are \u201cdriving this boom\u201d of new heartthrobs, which she thinks has as much to do with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glamourmagazine.co.uk\/article\/heteropessimism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">heteropessimism<\/a> as our ever-shortening attention spans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Brands cement their cultural power \u2014 and vice versa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fans might choose a heartthrob, but very often, it\u2019s brands that solidify their It boy status. Following the seismic success of <em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Hudson Williams <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wmagazine.com\/fashion\/hudson-williams-dsquared2-show-milan-fashion-week\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">walked<\/a> in a Dsquared2 runway show, while Connor Storrie became an ambassador for Saint Laurent and was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecut.com\/article\/connor-storrie-and-madonna-gabbed-at-paris-fashion-week.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">seated<\/a> in the front row of their show alongside Madonna and Charli XCX. Nicholas Galitzine is a menswear ambassador for Fendi and a fragrance ambassador for Emporio Armani. Drew Starkey became the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anothermag.com\/fashion-beauty\/16099\/drew-starkey-queer-taylor-russell-and-wang-yibo-front-loewe-new-campaign\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">face of a Loewe campaign<\/a> after starring in Luca Guadagnino\u2019s <em>Queer<\/em>. (The brand\u2019s former longtime creative director Jonathan Anderson was the film\u2019s costume designer.) And in July, the curly-haired Belmont Cameli did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IOHOfRkIZFg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">a steamy shirtless ad<\/a> for TREsemm\u00e9, and <em>Heated Rivalry\u2019<\/em>s Fran\u00e7ois Arnaud dropped a campaign with Under Armour.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR vrU\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"BCT MJ1\">\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DalGp3QFMiR\/?img_index=1\" data-shortcode=\"DalGp3QFMiR\" class=\"UyF\">\n<div class=\"yzx\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DalGp3QFMiR\/?img_index=1\" title=\"View on Instagram\" class=\"y9v GmH\"><i class=\"icx g9F\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI find it fascinating how brands come into play with this and how doing an ad can crown them as a heartthrob of the moment,\u201d says Ghanem, highlighting <em>The Bear<\/em> star Jeremy Allen White\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/01\/20\/magazine\/jeremy-allen-white-calvin-klein.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">2024 Calvin Klein campaign<\/a>. He thinks that brand deals like this can \u201cpropel them to a new level of accessibility to people,\u201d which helps these actors gain reach beyond their online fandom.<\/p>\n<p>Brand deals are one way for actors who\u2019ve had their breakthrough heartthrob moment to seize the moment \u2014 and, crucially, cash in. Betancourt tells me that endorsements are a \u201clifeline\u201d even for famous actors, because the entertainment industry is \u201cvery fragmented\u201d right now. \u201cAudience interest has to expand past the box office and past streaming,\u201d she says. \u201cYou want people to see your face as they\u2019re scrolling on social media and be excited about something you\u2019re doing.\u201d This is why, particularly over the past decade, there\u2019s been a shift in how male celebrities interact with fashion, where they\u2019re being more experimental both on and off the red carpet. \u201cThey\u2019re realizing: <em>Oh, part of maintaining my relevance is playing a little bit with fashion and making sure people are talking about that<\/em>,\u201d Betancourt says. \u201cThe days of just showing up in a regular suit and just being handsome are over.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And for brands, heartthrobs are a way to signpost their cultural relevance. Betancourt says luxury brands are in a particular race to secure the most of-the-moment talent due to today\u2019s fleeting attention spans. \u201cThey have people on their marketing teams where their job is to be like: <em>Who\u2019s next? Who\u2019s exciting? Who\u2019s going to bring in a younger audience?<\/em>\u201d It\u2019s a quid pro quo, where both heartthrobs and brands are only as zeitgeist-capturing as their latest linkup.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They attach themselves to existing romance IP (and BookTok helps)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wannabe heartthrobs who aren\u2019t yet being inundated with collaboration requests from brands have other ways to get there. First, find out whichever sexy airport novel is being adapted for TV next and beg your agent to get you an audition. It also doesn\u2019t hurt to get some steamy photo shoots for the Instagram grid (gone are the days when actors would be frowned upon for being horny on main).<\/p>\n<p>Noah Centineo was an early example of a \u201cviral\u201d heartthrob when he starred in <em>To All The Boys I\u2019ve Loved Before<\/em>. The 2018 film, based on Jenny Han\u2019s 2014 YA romance novel, was Netflix\u2019s first breakout romantic comedy hit and followed Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Centineo), two high schoolers who pretend to be dating in order to make Peter\u2019s ex-girlfriend jealous. Playing a notably more sensitive, layered take on the classic jock archetype, Centineo had the internet collectively swooning, and he was immediately (and perhaps prematurely) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/shortcuts\/2018\/sep\/25\/why-noah-centineo-is-the-internets-latest-crush\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">lauded<\/a> as \u201cthe new Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR CEt\">\n<figure class=\"Qf5 E1M RlV\">\n<div class=\"vmZ F8Y\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imgix.bustle.com\/uploads\/image\/2026\/8\/3\/ba673c91\/gettyimages-1017894528.jpg?w=414&amp;h=670&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;dpr=2\" alt class=\"EdX\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"Yte pt7 okb\"><figcaption class=\"rv9 TrI\"><cite class=\"hW6\">Courtesy of Jon Kopaloff \/ Stringer<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Writer Sofia Alvarez, who adapted the book for the screen, thinks Peter\u2019s vulnerability drove the viral thirst. \u201cSomething that struck me, with the distance of age, was how the boys back then were just as vulnerable and scared of being hurt as I was, even if I couldn&#8217;t see it at the time,\u201d she told me in an email. \u201cIn the script, I wanted to make sure we saw that Peter is navigating big feelings too.\u201d And it stemmed from two more factors: first, Centineo himself, whom she describes as \u201cwitty and charming,\u201d but with \u201csomething in his eyes that also lets you know there is more going on under the surface.\u201d And also his chemistry with Condor, because \u201cto make a heartthrob, you can&#8217;t forget who their partner is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s heartthrobs are also getting a boost from the hyper-connected online fandoms around romance novels, which are feeding the streaming era with stories that already have a built-in fan base. \u201cBookTok is huge,\u201d says Betancourt. \u201cAll of these books are getting adapted, one after another, and almost all of them are written by women, so I think we\u2019re starting to see more male on-screen characters through the lens of female authors and audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the fiction-to-heartthrob pipeline, we\u2019re starting to see a self-contained ecosystem, where adaptations of books by authors like Casey McQuiston and Rachel Reid are being greenlit based on book sales and online buzz, creating the expectation that the fans will mobilize to support these shows (and their leading men). In the case of <em>Off Campus<\/em>, Katz says its leads were \u201cincubated to be heartthrobs\u201d from the very beginning by the readers. And this, he says, is the main difference between an It boy and a heartthrob: \u201cThe media chooses the It boy, whereas the heartthrob is chosen by the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>They lean all the way into fame \u2014 then do a career 180<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Actors who have had their heartthrob breakthrough have two distinct paths ahead: overexposure and mystery. Traditionally, Katz tells me that heartthrobs relied on teasing their fans with very few personal details, creating the space for them to use their imagination. \u201cThe more that they talk or let us know who they are,\u201d he says, \u201cthe less we can fantasize about who we want them to be.\u201d That changed with <em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>, where the show\u2019s previously unknown leads were profiled and photographed by virtually every publication, with a media blitz that ranged from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSYCO55gVkJ\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">front-cam videos about skin care<\/a>, surprise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/entertainment\/celebs\/a69697857\/heated-rivalry-connor-storrie-hudson-williams-crashed-trivia-gay-bar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">appearances at gay bars<\/a>, and, for Connor Storrie, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iU7xOTUq3Qs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">hosting <em>SNL<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR vrU\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"BCT MJ1\">\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVVEa-ljaLu\" class=\"UyF\">\n<div class=\"yzx\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVVEa-ljaLu\" title=\"View on Instagram\" class=\"y9v GmH\"><i class=\"icx g9F\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ghanem thinks <em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>\u2019s \u201cmore is more\u201d publicity strategy was a \u201cresponsive\u201d one. Social media drove the sudden, unexpected popularity of the show, while also allowing for a more immediate PR campaign. And a benefit to this approach was that it quickly helped each of the leads carve out a public persona beyond the show. Williams, in particular, achieved heartthrob status through his own personality just as much as the role of the shy hockey player Shane Hollander. In interviews, he had a goofy, silly disposition but was also able to get serious, like when he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/RqaXFaQjhZU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">told Andy Cohen<\/a> that he\u2019d been receiving DMs from closeted athletes. This is important because any heartthrob hoping to have staying power has to be bigger than their breakthrough role, which is why their next move is often to play off-character. After <em>The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em> went mega-viral, the show\u2019s heartthrob Chris Briney played Deborah Vance\u2019s Harry Styles-inspired boy toy in Season 5 of <em>Hacks <\/em>\u2014 a role that cleverly nodded to his heartthrob status while showing another side to a different audience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They enjoy the moment but have their eyes on the long game<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Crucially, what separates the streaming-era heartthrobs from the more old-school, Very Serious Actor types is that the former look like they\u2019re <em>enjoying<\/em> the fame: the photo shoots, the red carpets, and the whirlwind of being followed everywhere by screaming fans. That\u2019s why, despite my social feed being full of <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mencelebupdates\/status\/2078014635782152598?s=46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"T3D\">clips of Kit Connor <\/a>taking off his shirt in Netflix&#8217;s <em>Heartstopper Forever<\/em>, the actor feels less like a heartthrob and more like an actor with big muscles. (He seems vaguely uncomfortable with his fame and, let\u2019s face it, would probably hate to be referred to as a \u201cheartthrob\u201d anyway.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"sWr iGR vrU\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"BCT MJ1\">\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7l1z8qoy4_\/?img_index=1\" data-shortcode=\"C7l1z8qoy4_\" class=\"UyF\">\n<div class=\"yzx\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C7l1z8qoy4_\/?img_index=1\" title=\"View on Instagram\" class=\"y9v GmH\"><i class=\"icx g9F\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s a delicate balance, though, because while fans love it when heartthrobs project a carefree, fun-loving image, these actors <em>do<\/em> want to be taken seriously. The streaming era has provided opportunities for the resurgence of talent like Adam Brody and Penn Badgley, but newly minted heartthrobs are all too aware of the challenges of becoming the next George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, or Channing Tatum.<\/p>\n<p>The disposability of heartthrobs is why, according to Katz, most actors \u201cdo everything they can\u201d to move past the label. \u201cThey want to believe that they\u2019re more than just their visage, so often you\u2019ll see them take on purposefully uglier or grittier roles, or just try and do something more unexpected to legitimize themselves.\u201d He thinks the challenge is for these men to prove they can \u201cgenerate clicks online\u201d <em>and<\/em> \u201cget butts in seats\u201d \u2014 an alchemy that turns a viral heartthrob into a bona fide star like Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet.<\/p>\n<p>As Betancourt puts it, the biggest test is what comes next. \u201cHow are you going to stretch those 15 minutes?\u201d she says. \u201cAre you actually here for the long haul?\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"fX2 rhF jIS\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"display:block\" class=\"lqj TnP\">\n<div class=\"BMP\">\n<div class=\"oHL\">Style + Culture, delivered straight to your inbox.<\/div>\n<div class=\"wCn\">\n<div class=\"Yte yjy DSW\"><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"Ex8 qgj\"><span>Submit<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"uxm\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"g-0\">By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdg.com\/info\/terms-of-service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdg.com\/info\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nylon.com\/newsletter\">Subscribe to our newsletter &gt;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>.page-476954091{&#8211;slot7:#f6f6f6;&#8211;slot8:#000000;&#8211;slot9:#f6f6f6;&#8211;metaColor:#f6f6f6;&#8211;navColor:#f6f6f6} Photos: Getty Images Entertainment Inside The Heartthrob Industrial Complex The new streaming-era formula is all about making your next Internet boyfriend. by Louis Staples 2 hours ago NYLON Guys August 2026 As a Gay Millennial\u2122, the image of Ryan Phillippe\u2019s perfect, peachy ass has been seared into my mind ever since the very first [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,256],"class_list":["post-2077068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nylon-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2077068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077068\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2077068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2077068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2077068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}