primary film genres and sub-genres. film genres film genres are identifiable types, categories,...

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