What is the black cat boyfriend?

There’s a new internet boyfriend archetype in town—or rather, an old one clawing its way back into the spotlight. Meet the black cat boyfriend: the quiet, complicated guy who’d rather die than make a grand romantic gesture but feels everything with disarming intensity.

Unlike the golden retriever boyfriend, who is sunny, affectionate, and unabashedly obsessed with his partner, the black cat boyfriend doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. He’s slow to trust, fiercely independent, emotionally intense, and often misunderstood. He may come off as detached or standoffish, but under the surface, he’s deeply loyal, protective, and full of feeling.

We’ve seen them across pop culture for years—Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls, Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl, Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even Jughead in Riverdale. These are the boys who don’t smile easily, who carry trauma like a second skin, and who only open up when they truly trust someone. And that brooding mystery is what makes them irresistible.

Take Ranbir Kapoor’s Jordan in Rockstar. He is the quintessential black cat boyfriend, moody, magnetic, and fuelled by raw emotion. His connection with Heer (Nargis Fakhri), a seemingly conventional girl, is intense yet fragile. She’s drawn to his wild side but resists and relents in equal measure. Their bond is full of unspoken feelings and emotional chaos—more painful than perfect. But in that heartbreak, Jordan finds his voice, and we’re left with a love story that lingers long after the music stops.

Fawad Khan’s Vikram Singh Rathore in Khoobsurat is the definition of composed restraint: regal, disciplined, and emotionally guarded. Always dressed to the nines in bandhgalas and tailored blazers, he exudes old-world charm with a modern edge. But beneath the surface lies a man who feels deeply, even if he doesn’t wear it on his sleeve. His slow-burning romance with the chaotic and free-spirited Mili (Sonam Kapoor) reveals his softer side. He can’t help but fall for her—and when he does, it’s with sincerity, vulnerability, and a proposal straight out of a fairytale.

Aditya Roy Kapur’s Advait in Malang takes the archetype to its darkest edges. Initially free-spirited and open-hearted, his world shifts after a tragic incident involving Sara (Disha Patani). Her absence turns him into a haunted loner, consumed by grief and revenge. He retreats into himself, hardened and solitary but still aching under the surface, her memory lingering in every frame like an echo he can’t let go of.

A more recent example would be Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty—stoic, brooding, and quietly obsessed with Belly, even as he struggles to articulate his feelings. Pitted against his easygoing, golden retriever brother Jeremiah, Conrad’s emotional depth and vulnerability make him the ultimate slow-burn crush. Viewers have spent two seasons rooting for him, waiting for his moment of clarity and confession.

And now, Felix from Too Much joins the ranks. Played by Will Sharpe, he’s intense and emotionally repressed, a complete contrast to his extroverted love interest. In an era dominated by tongue-out, heart-eyes golden retriever boys (à la Travis Kelce and every man on TikTok), Felix reminds us of the thrill that comes with mystery.

Sure, the sunshine boys are easy to love. But the black cat boyfriend is the one who makes you feel; he takes time, he asks you to be patient, and he leaves you wanting more. He’s the one you can’t forget. And maybe, he’s the one we’re all really waiting for. Because while 2024 was ruled by golden retriever charm, 2025 is clearly making way for the slow-burn intensity of the black cat boyfriend.

All images: IMDb

Also read:  I went to a speed dating event and left with a soft spot for old-school romance

Also read: The Summer I Turned Pretty: Does it count as cheating if you’re on a break?