Guide to Movie Subgenres: 42 Subgenres in Film

In film, a subgenre is a specific style of filmmaking that falls within a broad genre category like comedy, horror, or drama. Subgenres differ stylistically. For instance, romantic comedies and slapstick cartoons both qualify as comedies, but the two vary greatly in terms of storytelling, dialogue, visual style, and humor. Any one film genre may include myriad distinct subgenres that share commonalities and often overlap.

All comedy films involve humor, but they achieve it in wildly different ways.

1. 1. Slapstick: Slapstick humor is based on physical comedy.
2. 2. Farce: Farces involve absurd situations stacked precariously atop one another
3. 3. Romantic comedy: Rom-coms follow a common structure and find humor in love and romance.
4. 4. Black comedy: Dark comedies have bleak, sometimes nihilistic, viewpoints.
5. 5. Comedic thrillers: This type of comedy borrows genre elements from thriller movies, blending suspenseful plots and humor.
6. 6. Mockumentary: Thes fake, comedic documentary films are generally satirical.
7. 7. Musical comedy: Musical comedies typically include dance numbers and scenes where characters break into song.
8. 8. Parody: Parodies mock the genre elements of other film styles.
9. 9. Buddy comedy: This type of comedy centers on an odd couple who makes an unlikely pair.
10. 10. Sports comedy: Sports comedies play up absurdity within the world of sports.

Dramatic films focus on human emotion, high-stakes situations, and highly compelling main characters.

1. 1. Tragedy: A tragedy is a drama that centers on human suffering and generally has a sad ending.
2. 2. Romantic drama: Romantic dramas are based on the highs and lows of love.
3. 3. Biopic: A biopic is a film devoted to the life story of a real person.
4. 4. War movie: Military dramas tell stories rooted in the machinations of war.
5. 5. Costume drama: A costume drama is a period piece set during another era.
6. 6. Crime drama: A crime drama is a film mining the dramatic story of a criminal or a detective who stops them.
7. 7. Coming-of-age drama: This type of film includes the storyline of a young person growing into adulthood.

Sci-fi is now one of the most marketable film genre categories in Hollywood.

1. 1. Disaster: Disaster movies include tales of natural disasters or human-caused atrocities.
2. 2. Dystopian: Dystopian movies are set in a future society on the edge of collapse.
3. 3. Space opera: Space operas are epic tales set in outer space.
4. 4. Fantasy: Fantasy movies are set in mystical, supernatural worlds.
5. 5. Time travel: Time travel stories feature characters who travel using a time machine.
6. 6. Fairy tale: Fairy tail movies are generally for children, and they often include dragons, giants, fairies, and other mythological creatures.
7. 7. Cyberpunk: Cyberpunk films often blend elements of dystopian and tech-centric film genres.

Crime is one of the oldest movie genres, with several major subgenres.

1. 1. Film noir: This type of crime movie typically features hardboiled detectives, femme fatales, and a cynical outlook on life.
2. 2. Neo-noir: These contemporary crime films mimic the stylistic idiosyncrasies of classic film noirs.
3. 3. Mafia: This type of crime movie delves into the world of organized crime.
4. 4. Military thriller: Military thrillers are a cross between war films and police dramas.
5. 5. Psychological thriller: Psychological thrillers are anchored around a conspiracy or lurking menace.

Horror films come in a variety of subgenres, each with its own devoted audience.

1. 1. Slasher: Slashers involving a serial killer who typically leaves a gory trail.
2. 2. Zombie: Zombie horror movies include an undead menace.
3. 3. B-movie: B-movies originated as low-budget movies that were shown alongside feature films in theaters.
4. 4. Vampire: Vampire movies center around the threat of vampires.
5. 5. Monster: A monster movie generally stars an iconic monster like Godzilla or Frankenstein.
6. 6. Found footage: A found-footage horror film purports to be real-life found footage from a terrifying event.
7. 7. Paranormal film: Paranormal thrillers typically involve ghosts or humans with supernatural qualities.

Action movies generally involve characters who have to fight their way out of dangerous situations.

1. 1. Superhero: Starring an extraordinarily powerful hero, superhero movies are often sourced from comic books.
2. 2. Martial arts: Martial arts movies are typically based in a martial arts tradition from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, or Korea.
3. 3. Adventure: This type of action movie involves a quest or journey.
4. 4. Treasure hunt: Treasure hunt stories require protagonists to fetch valuable treasure or information.
5. 5. War action-adventure: These war films play up action elements and daring stunts.
6. 6. Action comedy: Action comedy films are high energy with high stakes, but many of the stunts are played for laughs.

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