Film Genres

Lecture prepared 11/16/08

by John M. Grace,
film worker and instructor

D.A.T.A. Charter High School

Albuquerque, NM
© 2008, John M. Grace
All Rights Reserved
for use availability,
email Newestprod@aol.com
 Film Genres
Film genres are identifiable types, categories,
classifications or groups of films that have
similar techniques or conventions such as:
 content  recurring icons
 subject matter  stock characters
 structures  narrative events
 themes  situations
 mood  motifs
 period  styles
 plot  props
 settings  stars
 Film Genres
Primary film genres include the following:
 Action Films  Horror Films
 Adventure Films  Musicals
 Comedy Films  Science Fiction
 Crime Films  War Films
 Dramas  Westerns
 Epics
 Sub-genres
Are identifiable sub-classes within the larger
film genre, with their own distinctive subject
matter, style, formulas, and iconography.
 Film 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-genres

 spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time
 Action Sub-genres

 spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time
 Action Sub-genres

 spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time
 Action Sub-genres

 spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time
 Action Sub-genres

 spy
 espionage
 political thrillers
 martial arts films
 races against time
 Film Genres
ADVENTURE:
Adventure films are
exciting stories, with
new experiences or
exotic locales, very
similar to or often
paired with the Action
film genre.
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Adventure Sub-genres

 swashbucklers
 serialized films
 historical epics
 expedition films
 treasure hunts
 disaster films
 strange mysteries
 Film 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-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Comedy Sub-genres

 slapstick
 screwball
 spoofs
 parodies
 romantic comedies
 black comedy
 satirical comedy
 Film 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-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Crime Sub-genres

 gangster films
 detective films
 film noir
 mysteries
 serial killer films
 suspense films
 thrillers
 courtroom dramas
 Film Genres
DRAMA:
Dramas are serious, plot-
driven films, portraying
realistic characters,
settings, life situations, and
stories involving intense
character development and
interaction.
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Drama Sub-genres

 melodramas
 romance
 biographical films
 'adult' films
 sports films
 road movies
 “guy” films
 Film Genres
EPICS:
Epics take an historical or
imagined event, mythic,
legendary, or heroic figure,
and add an extravagant
setting and lavish
costumes, accompanied by
grandeur and spectacle,
dramatic scope, high
production values, and a
sweeping musical score.
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Epic Sub-genres

 historical dramas
 costume dramas
 war films
 medieval romps
 period pictures
 adventure films
 religious films
 Film 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-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Horror Sub-genres

 slasher
 science fiction
 supernatural
 teen terror
 serial killers
 satanic
 monsters
 Film 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-genres

 Broadway musicals
 musical comedy
 concert films
 performance films
 music biographies
 Musicals Sub-genres

 Broadway musicals
 musical comedy
 concert films
 performance films
 music biographies
 Musicals Sub-genres

 Broadway musicals
 musical comedy
 concert films
 performance films
 music biographies
 Musicals Sub-genres

 Broadway musicals
 musical comedy
 concert films
 performance films
 music biographies
 Musicals Sub-genres

 Broadway musicals
 musical comedy
 concert films
 performance films
 music biographies
 Film Genres
SCIENCE FICTION:
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-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Sci-Fi Sub-genres

 futuristic films
 visionary
 horrific
 graphic novels
 medical miseries
 devil machines
 mad science
 space invaders
 Film Genres
WAR MOVIES:
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.
 War Sub-genres

 war dramas
 military operations
 anti-war films
 POW stories
 military training
 War Sub-genres

 war dramas
 military operations
 anti-war films
 POW stories
 military training
 War Sub-genres

 war dramas
 military operations
 anti-war films
 POW stories
 military training
 War Sub-genres

 war dramas
 military operations
 anti-war films
 POW stories
 military training
 War Sub-genres

 war dramas
 military operations
 anti-war films
 POW stories
 military training
 Film 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-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"
 Western Sub-genres

 epic Western
 the 'singing cowboy'
 the "spaghetti" Western
 contemporary Western
 revisionist Western
 comedy Western
 "post-apocalyptic"