What Is Genre and How Is It Determined?

English Language defines genre as “a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a
particular style, form, or content.”

In other words, genre categorizes movies. Categorizing movies makes it easier for the viewer to discover what
he or she likes and will want to see. Putting a movie into a particular genre or category does not diminish the
quality of the movie by assuming that if it can be put into a genre, the movie is ordinary and lacks originality
and creativity.

Genre consists of four elements or parts: character, story, plot and setting. An equation for remembering the
genre is: Story (Action) + Plot + Character + Setting = Genre. This becomes an easy way to remember the
elements of a genre.

The above elements of story, plot, setting, and character equal a specific category of movie. These elements
are discussed regarding how their variations create a different category of movie.

Some genres may be as general as comedy but do not have sub-genres like comedy. The sub-genres of comedy
differ from one another based on the fluctuations of the characters and the story.

Other genres are crime, war, Westerns, spy, adventure, science fiction, horror, fantasy, biography, and
mystery. This is why this chapter is longer than the others because of the discussion of these variations.

Drama can be considered a genre, even though some critics do not consider it a genre because it is too
general. If the movie elements are serious and cannot fit into a more limited genre, then it can be considered a
drama.

Categorizing a movie indirectly assists in shaping the characters and the story of the movie. The shaping
determines the plot and best setting to use.

Movies often have genres that overlap, such as adventure in a spy movie, or crime in a science fiction movie.
But one genre is predominant.

Other movie labels cannot be considered genres. Film noir, thrillers, and action movies are not actually genres
but a director’s style, which will be discussed in a later chapter. They are considered director’s style because
their characteristics include cinematography and editing, which are not among the four elements that make up
a genre. These labels reflect or accentuate the movie genre rather than defining the genre.

Likewise, musicals and animation are not considered genres but rather “treatments” as to how a particular
movie genre is told, even though people, over generations, refer to these types of movies as genres.

You have to be very specific in the discussion of movie terminology, sticking within the particular definition of
the terms. Some people will say that genres are labels that are given to stock movies, stating that these movies
are routine. Being labeled in a genre is not a negative action.

Movies have their own personalities. Each movie is different. Having a movie labeled in a genre assists people
to find a particular movie that they may be interested in watching. Many people like a specific genre or two
and will only watch movies in those genres.

What People Like the Most about a Movie

People will state that a particular movie had a good plot or an intriguing story. What people are actually
referring to is that they enjoyed the characters, the problems/conflict the characters got into, and how the
characters got out of the problems and conflict.
People love a movie because they like to watch characters/people. How many people do you know who like to
go to the mall, plaza, or beach and state that they like to people watch? How many people are nosey
neighbors because they like to watch what is going on with the people around them?

People may like to watch crime movies or Westerns. They like characters within this particular type of story
because of the amount of action or the time period setting. People may like Westerns because they wish they
lived in the 19th century because it was considered a simpler time.

13 Classic Movie Genres

Film genres are important for screenwriters and film audiences because they establish a tonal
expectation. Some basic movie genres include:

Action: Movies in the action genre are fast-paced and include a lot of action like fight scenes, chase
scenes, and slow-motion shots. They can feature superheroes, martial arts, or exciting stunts. These
high-octane films are more about the execution of the plot rather than the plot itself. Action movies
are meant to be thrilling to watch and leave audience members on the edge of their seats. Cop
movies, disaster films, and some spy films all fall under the action category. Learn how to write an
action screenplay in our comprehensive guide here.

Adventure: The adventure genre is so similar to the action genre that adventure films are often
categorized as action/adventure movies. Films in the adventure genre usually contain the same basic
genre elements of an action movie with the setting as the key difference. Adventure movies are
usually set in an exotic, far away, or unfamiliar locale.

Comedy: Comedy films are funny and entertaining. The films in this genre center around a comedic
premise—usually putting someone in a challenging, amusing, or humorous situation they’re not
prepared to handle. Good comedy movies are less about making constant jokes, and more about
presenting a universally relatable, real-life story with complex characters who learn an important
lesson. Mockumentary, dark comedy (or black comedy), romantic comedy, parody/spoof, and
slapstick comedy are all examples of comedy subgenres.

Drama: The drama genre features stories with high stakes and a lot of conflicts. They’re plot-driven
and demand that every character and scene move the story forward. Dramas follow a clearly defined
narrative plot structure, portraying real-life scenarios or extreme situations with emotionally-driven
characters. Films that fall into drama sub-genres include historical drama, romantic drama, teen
drama, medical drama, docudrama, and film noir.

Fantasy: Films in the fantasy genre feature magical and supernatural elements that do not exist in
the real world. Although some films juxtapose a real-world setting with fantastical elements, many
create entirely imaginary universes with their own laws, logic, and populations of imaginary races
and creatures. Like science fiction films, fantasy films are speculative but are not tied to reality or
scientific fact. High fantasy, fairy tales, and magical realism are all fantasy subgenres.

Horror: Horror films feature elements that leave people with an overwhelming sense of fear and
dread. Horror movies often include serial killers or monsters as persistent, evil antagonists to play on
viewers’ fears or nightmares. Audiences who love the horror genre seek out these movies
specifically for the adrenaline rush produced by ghosts, gore, monsters, and jump-scares. Films that
fall into the horror sub-genres include ghost stories, gothic horror movies, science fiction horror
movies, supernatural movies, dark fantasy movies, psychological horror movies, and slasher movies.
Learn how to write a horror screenplay with our comprehensive guide here.

Musicals: Musical films weave songs or musical numbers into the narrative to progress the story or
further develop the characters. Musicals are often tied to romance films but are not limited to that
genre. Musical movies involve big stage-like productions, integrating important premise or character
elements into the sequences.

Mystery: Mystery films are all about the puzzle, and often feature a detective or amateur sleuth who
is trying to solve it. Mystery films are full of suspense, and the protagonist searches for clues or
evidence throughout the movie, piecing together events and interviewing suspects to solve the
central question. Hardboiled noirs and police procedurals are two subcategories that often fall under
the mystery genre.

Romance: Romance films are love stories. They center around two protagonists exploring some of
the elements of love like relationships, sacrifice, marriage, obsession, or destruction. Romance
movies sometimes feature hardships like illness, infidelity, tragedy, or other obstacles for the love
interests to overcome. Romantic comedies, gothic romance, and romantic action are some popular
romance subgenres.

Science fiction: The sci-fi genre builds worlds and alternate realities filled with imagined elements
that don’t exist in the real world. Science fiction spans a wide range of themes that often explore
time travel, space travel, are set in the future, and deal with the consequences of technological and
scientific advances. Sci-fi movies typically involve meticulous world-building with a strong attention
to detail in order for the audience to believe the story and universe.

Sports: Movies in the sports genre will center around a team, individual player, or fan, with the sport
itself used to motivate the plot and keep the story advancing. These movies aren’t fully focused on
the sport itself, however, mainly using it as a backdrop to provide context into the emotional arcs of
the main characters. Sports movies can be dramatic or comical, and are often meant to be
allegorical.

Thriller: Thrillers expertly blend mystery, tension, and anticipation into one exciting story. Successful
thrillers are well-paced, often introducing red herrings, divulging plot twists, and revealing
information at the exact right moments to keep the audience intrigued. Thrillers often include a
“ticking clock” aspect, where the stakes are set against a finite amount of time. Crime films, political
thrillers, and techno-thrillers are all featured in the thriller genre.

Western: Westerns tell the tale of a cowboy or gunslinger pursuing an outlaw in the Wild West. The
main character is often seeking revenge and will face off with the criminal in a duel or shootout at
the end. Westerns are vivid productions set in the American West—such as the desert, mountains,
or plains—that can inspire and inform the characters and the action. Spaghetti westerns, space
westerns, and sci-fi westerns are all subgenres within the Western category.