Primary Film GenresPrimary Film Genresand Sub-Genresand Sub-Genres
Film GenresFilm GenresFilm genres are identifiable types, categories, classifications or groups of films that have similar techniques or conventions such as: content subject matter structures themes mood period plot settings
recurring icons stock characters narrative events situations motifs styles props stars
Primary Film GenresPrimary Film GenresPrimary film genres include the following:
Drama Comedy Action Adventure Horror Science Fiction Animated Crime Fantasy Suspense
Documentary Musicals Family Westerns War
Sub-genresSub-genresAre identifiable sub-classes within the larger film genre, with their own distinctive subject matter, style, formulas, and iconography.
Film Genres- DramaFilm Genres- Drama
Dramas are serious, plot-driven films, portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories involving intense character development and interaction.
Drama Sub-genresDrama Sub-genres
Historical Political Romance Social
Drama Sub-genresDrama Sub-genres
Historical
Historical events
Drama Sub-genresDrama Sub-genres
Political
Main plotline is government
Drama Sub-genresDrama Sub-genres
Romance
Chief plot is about love and relationships
Drama Sub-genresDrama Sub-genres
Social
Deals with social issues of the world
Film Genres- ComedyFilm Genres- Comedy
Comedies are light-hearted plots deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter by exaggerating the situation, language, action, relationships and characters.
Comedy Sub-genresComedy Sub-genres
Dark Humor Slapstick Spoof Stand-up
Comedy Sub-genresComedy Sub-genres
Dark Humor
When a serious subject has dark undertones
Comedy Sub-genresComedy Sub-genres
Slapstick
Physical humor, 3 Stooges
Comedy Sub-genresComedy Sub-genres
Spoof
When a film makes fun of a certain film genre
Comedy Sub-genresComedy Sub-genres
Stand-up
Stand-up comedian’s concert film released in movie theaters
Film Genres- ActionFilm Genres- Action
Action films usually include high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, escapes, races against time and crises featuring non-stop motion, break-neck rhythm and pacing.
Action Sub-genresAction Sub-genres
Disaster Espionage Martial arts films
Action Sub-genresAction Sub-genres
Disaster
Film that show natural or man-made disasters, with large death-tolls
Action Sub-genresAction Sub-genres
Espionage
Spy films, James Bond
Action Sub-genresAction Sub-genres
Martial arts
Films that deal with the concepts of Kung-fu, Karate, etc.
Film Genres- Film Genres- AdventureAdventure
Adventure films are exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales, very similar to or often paired with the Action film genre.
Adventure Sub-genresAdventure Sub-genres
• Swashbucklers• Historical Epics
Adventure Sub-genresAdventure Sub-genres
Swashbucklers
Action on the high seas
Adventure Sub-genresAdventure Sub-genres
Historical Epics
Large, grand events in history
Film Genres- HorrorFilm Genres- Horror
Horror films are designed to frighten and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience.
Horror Sub-genresHorror Sub-genres
Macabre Slasher Terror Monsters
Horror Sub-genresHorror Sub-genres
Macabre
Started in the 60s, films have a Gothic feel
Horror Sub-genresHorror Sub-genres
Slasher
Began in late 1960s, blood, sharp-edged weapons, shock value- Halloween
Horror Sub-genresHorror Sub-genres
Terror
No monsters, all human beings
Horror Sub-genresHorror Sub-genres
Monsters
Natural or man-made creatures
Film Genres- Sci-FiFilm Genres- Sci-Fi
Sci-fi films are often quasi-scientific, visionary and imaginative - complete with heroes, aliens, distant planets, quests, fantastic places, new technology, and extraordinary monsters. Sci-fi films often feature multiple genres.
Sci-Fi Sub-genresSci-Fi Sub-genres
AliensAtomic Age Futuristic Pre-Historic
Sci-Fi Sub-genresSci-Fi Sub-genres
Aliens
Outer space creatures
Sci-Fi Sub-genresSci-Fi Sub-genres
Atomic Age
Atomic/nuclear technology and weapons
Sci-Fi Sub-genresSci-Fi Sub-genres
Futuristic
Simply future-earth
Sci-Fi Sub-genresSci-Fi Sub-genres
Pre-Historic
Dinosaurs and lands from millions of years ago during earth’s past
Film Genres- AnimatedFilm Genres- Animated
Animated films are most widely-known as cartoons.
Film Genres- AnimatedFilm Genres- Animated
Hand-drawn CGI Stop-Motion Claymation
Film Genres- AnimatedFilm Genres- Animated
Hand-drawn
Literally sketched by hand
Animated Sub-genresAnimated Sub-genres
CGI
Computer generated images
Animated Sub-genresAnimated Sub-genres
Stop-Motion
Objects are filmed in seconds and rearranged
Animated Sub-genresAnimated Sub-genres
Claymation
Same process as Stop-Motion, using clay figures
Film Genres- CrimeFilm Genres- Crime
Crime films feature the sinister actions of criminals, mobsters, bank robbers, underworld figures, and ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and murdering their way through life.
Crime Sub-genresCrime Sub-genres
Detective Gangster Police Courtroom Dramas
Crime Sub-genresCrime Sub-genres
Detective
Came out in the 1930s, involves a police investigation- Dick Tracy
Crime Sub-genresCrime Sub-genres
Gangster
Initially, criminal activity involving prohibition and gambling, 1920s
Crime Sub-genresCrime Sub-genres
Police
Illegal activity
Crime Sub-genresCrime Sub-genres
Courtroom Dramas
Characters on trial
Film Genres- FantasyFilm Genres- Fantasy
Fantasy films deal with fairy tale adventures, or plots from the dark ages.
Fantasy Sub-genresFantasy Sub-genres
MagicSword and Sorcerer
Fantasy Sub-genresFantasy Sub-genres
Magic
Magical powers, hocus-pocus
Fantasy Sub-genresFantasy Sub-genres
Sword and Sorcerer
Films take place during medieval times
Film Genres- SuspenseFilm Genres- Suspense
Suspense films that keep a secret from the audience.
Suspense- Sub genresSuspense- Sub genres
MysteryThriller
Suspense Sub-genresSuspense Sub-genres
Mystery
Murder mysteries, Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes
Suspense Sub-genresSuspense Sub-genres
Thriller
The audience is still gripped until the end, Alfred Hitchcock films
Film Genres- Film Genres- DocumentaryDocumentary
Documentaries offer a report on a subject or issue, through narration, interviews, film clips, re-enactments, etc.
Film Genres- Film Genres- DocumentaryDocumentary
Documentary
Realistic subject told thru interviews, exploration, news clips
Documentary Sub-Documentary Sub-genresgenres
Mockumentary
UNrealistic subject, presented in documentary style
Film Genres- MusicalsFilm Genres- Musicals
Musicals/dance films are cinematic forms that emphasize full-scale scores or song and dance routines in a significant way, or they are films that are centered on combinations of music, dance, song or choreography.
Musicals Sub-genresMusicals Sub-genres
Broadway/film musicals Concert/Performance Films
Musicals Sub-genresMusicals Sub-genres
Broadway/Film Musicals
Singing and dancing
Musicals Sub-genresMusicals Sub-genres
Concert/Performance Films
Film version of a live musical performance
Film Genres- FamilyFilm Genres- Family
Family films contain subject mater suitable for all ages
Film Genres- WesternsFilm Genres- Westerns
Westerns are the major defining genre of the American film industry - a eulogy to the early days of the expansive American frontier. They are one of the oldest, most enduring genres with very recognizable plots, elements, and characters.
Western Sub-genresWestern Sub-genres
Cowboys and IndiansFrontierOutlaws
Western Sub-genresWestern Sub-genres
Cowboys v. Indians
Native Americans vs. Cowboys
Western Sub-genresWestern Sub-genres
Frontier
Settlers, homesteaders in early America
Western Sub-genresWestern Sub-genres
Outlaws
Bandits and criminals in the Old West
Film Genres- WarFilm Genres- War
War films acknowledge the horror and heartbreak of war, letting the actual combat fighting (against nations or humankind) on land, sea, or in the air provide the primary plot or background action for the of the film.
Film Genres- WarFilm Genres- War
War films are based on battles recorded in human history
War Films
Bonus Film Genres- Bonus Film Genres- ExploitationExploitation
A Sub-genre of allA Sub-genre of all
Exploitation films were most popular in the 1950s. These films present the worst characteristics in human beings in graphic detail.
Bonus Film Genres- Bonus Film Genres- ExploitationExploitation