Movie Genres Explained — Types of Films & the Art of Subverting Film Genres

Movie genres explained — a filmmaker’s guide to Hollywood film genres and their conventions, how film genres are made, and why they are so important to understanding the relationship between audience and filmmaker.

─────────────────────

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Film Genre
00:52 - Genre Definition & History
01:44 - The Purpose of Genre
04:41 - Plot
07:29 - Characters
09:31 - Presentation
11:46 - Creative Exceptions
16:26 - Takeaways

─────────────────────

WHAT ARE MOVIE GENRES

Most films belong to at least one (sometimes many) of the various movie genres. Whether you’re browsing a video store or Netflix, you can see all kinds of movies separated into categories. Drama, comedy, horror, romance, etc. But what are movie genres, really? Or perhaps a better question is how are film genres created in the first place? This video is an introduction to film genres, how they work, how they’re created, and why filmmakers should know film genres and their conventions.

WHERE DO MOVIE GENRES COME FROM

The term ‘genre’ comes from the French meaning “kind” or “sort.” But the concept of genre goes back to Ancient Greece where writers like Aristotle started with only two genres: poetry and drama. Since then, in theater, literature and eventually film, we’ve seen a multitude of categories. The type of movies we see today have been molded and refined over centuries, splintered off into smaller categories called subgenres. This process can be understood as a form of evolution, where less popular genres die out and those that remain relevant and interesting thrive to this day.

FILM GENRES AND HOLLYWOOD

Hollywood is an industry built by combining art with commerce. If certain movie genres make money, Hollywood makes more of them and vice versa. When the studios advertise their latest film, they almost always lean heavily into the genre. This is because audiences want to know what kind of story they’re going to be told. Movie stars are a big draw, but the type of movie is arguably the most important deciding factor.

FILM GENRES AND THEIR CONVENTIONS

So, how are movie genres constructed? We can boil the ingredients down to three essentials — plot, characters, and presentation. Subgenres like zombie movies or romantic comedies often function with recognizable patterns in their story structures, types of characters, and the formal elements of their presentation (cinematography, editing, music, etc.).

SUBVERTING FILM GENRES

Audiences want to know what they’re getting. On the other hand, it can’t be too familiar either. There should be enough familiarity with a dash of something unexpected. And there are a number of ways filmmakers are successful at subverting film genres. One is switch genres at some point in the story. Another is to work with hybrid genres — films that blend two or more genres from start to finish.

Once writers and directors understand these “rules” and expectations, they will be better able to deliver what the audience wants along with something unexpected.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

─────────────────────

♬ SONGS USED:

“The Throne Room” - John Williams
“Walk Hard” -
“Skip to the End” - The Futureheads
“Quantum IV” - Makeup and Vanity Set
“Outlandish d’Amour” -
“Wait for Me” - Vangelis
“Cornfield Chase” - Hans Zimmer
“Susanne” - Weezer
“Hurry Gurdy Man” - Donovan
“Carbon Dioxide” - James Horner
“Re-Entry Splashdown” - James Horner
“We Belong Together” - Randy Newman
“Down to Earth” - Peter Gabriel
“Beyond the Sea” - Bobby Darin
“Danke Schoen” - Wayne Newton
“Vespertilio” - Hans Zimmer
“Doc Returns” - Alan Silvestri
“Salome” - Makeup and Vanity Set

─────────────────────

— Join us on Social Media! —

[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Film Genre
00:52 - Genre Definition & History
01:44 - The Purpose of Genre
04:41 - Plot
07:29 - Characters
09:31 - Presentation
11:46 - Creative Exceptions
16:26 - Takeaways

[Cytrillex]

My favorite movie that completely breaks multiple genres is Parasite. It's a drama, a thriller, a comedy, and a political criticism all at once!

[OldMovieRob]

One addition to "hybrid genre" I would have included would have been Ghostbusters, blending elements of comedy, sci-fi, horror with a little romance too.

[burbex]

it's interesting what you said about westerns being defined by the wide open shots. if you look at a movie like *The Hateful Eight*, it turns that idea on it's head, as it's very claustrophobic.

[ThinkTwice]

We need a video about why films and shows fail... The bad, Strange world, she hulk, etc... Vs the good, Amsterdam, monument men, etc

[srsaito]

One perfect movie that changes genres in the midle is High and Lown from Akira Kurosawa, it begins as a supense movie only to change in to a detective genre, and always keeping the audience interteined.

[ashleylodewyk]

Once again, you scored a goal with this video too. Even though I already know most, if not all the stuff you mentioned in this video, it was a good reminder or refresher about subvervion in movies. Great one as always, Studio Binder! You're the bomb! Now subvert that.

[nebojsaikonic]

Tim Burton movies can easily be used as an example for the genres mashup, they are never truly horror films.

[rayancedrichaddad]

A Complete Masterclass about Movie Genres in Cinema. I Am really Inspired. Thank you StudioBinder.

[Pizzaman-jfrg]

I just found your channel a few days ago and I'm blown away. The quality of your videos is amazing and incredibly useful for someone who wants to learn more about movies.

[zolarenard]

This is the most detailed movie genres explanation I had ever watched. You also closed it with two very phenomenal actress and actor, Jenna Ortega and Daniel Kaluuya, who both can act so well in one very short scene and yes, as an audience, I was disturbed with how much emotion they both can make me feel. Great work!

[GauravKumar-hbic]

the ending of the every video of this channel is something, just amazing.

[sabrinaf]

I'm so happy that Scream was included in this; I'm a huge fan and I think a lot of people who have never seen it brush it off as a cheesy horror when it's really an intelligent, funny, meta slasher that had a real impact on the horror genre and especially the slasher subgenre because of how subversive it was at the time.

[OldMovieRob]

This was excellent as usual. I appreciate the inclusion of film noir at +7:45, a genre I've really grown to respect and enjoy more recently as a goldmine of great cinema.

[snehitm]

I fricking love Creative Exceptions might just be my favorite genre....Thank you StudioBinder for another amazing video...

[cankoklu]

The cabin in the woods was the best subversion of genre it expectations movie I've ever seen. So happy that I saw it without any spoilers.

[yassinebenyamina]

The king of comedy is also an amazing creative exception

[landolphia]

"Anatomy of genre" by J. Truby just came out last week. Maybe syncsynchronicity, maybe coincidence. All the same tome, i eat it all up. Thanks

[chriswright]

Another one smashed out the park. Monday lunch massively improved. Cheers, Studio Binder.

[fujoshirants]

Shyamalan needs this lesson. The village started in one genre and ended up in another.