action film
/ækʃən fɪlm/
nouna film genre that has a lot of exciting events, and usually contains violence
Examples
disaster film
/dˌɪsˈæstɚ fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of film that typically portrays a catastrophic event or situation, such as natural disasters or human-made crises, and the resulting impact on characters and society
Examples
Heroic Bloodshed
/hɪɹˈoʊɪk blˈʌdʃɛd/
nouna Hong Kong action film subgenre characterized by stylized gunfights, themes of brotherhood and honor, and a personal code of justice
Examples
martial arts film
/mˈɑːɹʃəl ˈɑːɹts fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of action films that feature extensive combat scenes, often highlighting the skills of the performers, and are typically associated with East Asian cinema
Examples
spy film
/spˈaɪ fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of cinema that often involves espionage, secret agents, and political plots, and typically features action, suspense, and espionage techniques such as gadgets and disguises
Examples
superhero film
/sˈuːpɚhˌiəɹoʊ fˈɪlm/
nouna film genre featuring a heroic protagonist with extraordinary abilities or powers, often in a comic book format, fighting a supervillain or a threat to humanity
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Amazing, Black Panther made history being the first Superhero Film to ever be NOMINATED for BEST actor.
war film
/wˈɔːɹ fˈɪlm/
nouna type of movie that shows stories about wars and the people involved, with a focus on action, drama, and the effects of war
Examples
pirate film
/pˈaɪɹət fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of movie that is mainly about pirates, their way of life, and their adventures
Examples
adventure film
/ɐdvˈɛntʃɚ fˈɪlm/
nouna movie genre where the characters go on an exciting and sometimes dangerous journey to different places
Examples
swashbuckler film
/swˈɑːʃbʌklɚ fˈɪlm/
nouna type of adventure film that typically features flashy sword fights, heroic characters, and romance, often set in historical periods or fictional worlds
Examples
samurai film
/sˈæmjʊɹˌaɪ fˈɪlm/
nouna movie genre that features Japanese warriors known as samurai, often set in feudal Japan, and typically involves sword fights, honor codes, and themes of loyalty and sacrifice
Examples
animation
/ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/
nouna movie in which animated characters move
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Stop motion animation.
2. I understand animation.
3. All right, animation is done.
4. You watched animation.
5. I love animation.
comedy film
/kˈɑːmədi fˈɪlm/
nouna film genre that aims to entertain and make audiences laugh, typically through humorous situations, exaggerated characters, witty dialogue, and clever plot twists
Examples
action comedy
/ˈækʃən kˈɑːmədi/
nouna movie genre that combines elements of both action and comedy, typically featuring fast-paced action scenes and humorous moments to create an entertaining and often lighthearted film
Examples
buddy comedy
/bˈʌdi kˈɑːmədi/
nouna type of comedy film that centers around the humorous interactions and adventures of two unlikely friends or partners, often with contrasting personalities or backgrounds
Examples
black comedy
/blˈæk kˈɑːmədi/
nouna genre of comedy that uses topics and situations that are usually considered taboo or tragic, such as death, disease, war, and crime, to create humor
Examples
mockumentary
/mˌɑːkjuːmˈɛntɚɹi/
nouna fictional film or television show presented in a documentary style, often using satire and humor to comment on real-life events or social issues
Click to see examples
Examples
1. So is this your first mockumentary?
2. -What do you mean by mockumentary?
3. Its mockumentary film style was a decade ahead of its time.
4. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer as members of the band Spinal Tap, the brilliant mockumentary has a huge fan following and spawned some truly classic catchphrases.
5. It's impossible not to love this mockumentary.
parody film
/pˈæɹədi fˈɪlm/
nouna comedic work that intentionally imitates and exaggerates the style, tone, and content of another film or genre, often for the purpose of satire or ridicule
Examples
romantic comedy
/ɹoʊmˈæntɪk kˈɑːmədi/
nouna genre of movie that depicts the comic events resulting in the development of a romantic relationship
Click to see examples
Examples
1. This is my romantic comedy.
2. This is a time-loop romantic comedy.
3. MILA KUNIS: Romantic comedies.
4. But we love romantic comedies too.
5. It's a romantic comedy?
screwball comedy
/skɹˈuːbɔːl kˈɑːmədi/
nouna type of romantic comedy characterized by fast-paced humor, witty dialogue, and unconventional romantic relationships involving eccentric characters
Examples
slapstick film
/slˈæpstɪk fˈɪlm/
nouna type of comedy that relies on physical humor and exaggerated, often violent, actions and movements, typically with little to no dialogue, to create comedic effect
Examples
docudrama
/ˌdoʊkəˈdɹæmə/
nouna movie or television show based on real events, but not accurate in all the details
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Have people seen From the Earth to the Moon, the amazing HBO mini-series docudrama about the Apollo program?
2. Discover the legendary Chinese general Han Xin who never lost a battle in this groundbreaking docudrama.
legal drama
/lˈiːɡəl dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna genre of television, film, or literature that focuses on legal cases and the courtroom, often involving lawyers, judges, and the legal system
Examples
medical drama
/mˈɛdɪkəl dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna genre of television, film, or literature that focuses on medical cases and the lives of healthcare professionals, often involving intense situations and medical emergencies
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Your first job was a Medical Drama er.
2. I would LOVE to be in a Medical Drama.
melodrama
/ˈmɛɫəˌdɹɑmə/
nounan exaggerated dramatic genre that aims to elicit strong emotional responses from the audience
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Melodrama was originally a musical form.
2. He's giving us high velocity melodrama.
3. It was called "Melodrama."
4. Melodrama doesn't work as well when you're threatening a reproduction.
5. Clearly, family life issues are a perfect subject for melodrama.
political drama
/pəlˈɪɾɪkəl dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna genre of television, film, or literature that focuses on political conflicts and the workings of government, often involving power struggles, scandals, and controversies
Examples
psychological drama
/saɪkəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna play or motion picture that mainly focuses on the psychological condition of the characters rather than the events
Click to see examples
Examples
1. The director gave the British starlet her big break when he cast her in 1994's Heavenly Creatures, a psychological drama based on a famous New Zealand case involving two teenage killers.
2. As is typical in his writing, Tolstoy recounts in detail the vast philosophical and psychological dramas going on inside his hero’s head.
3. It's one of the most magnificent psychological dramas in the Bible.
4. It's a very realistic sort of psychological drama.
5. If the Armstids represent the dramatic arm of the novel, where Faulkner can give us high, human psychological drama, when it comes to Lena, what he gives us is kind of very small upheavals on what is basically a level platform.
teen drama
/tˈiːn dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna genre of television, film, or literature that focuses on the lives and experiences of teenagers, often exploring themes related to adolescence, such as identity, relationships, and coming of age
Examples
fantasy
/ˈfænəsi/, /ˈfæntəsi/
nouna type of story, movie, etc. involving magic and adventure, not facts
Click to see examples
Examples
1. To use fantasies.
2. The drawings were fantasies.
3. So what's the difference between the mental time travel and, like, fantasy?
4. They have fantasies.
5. Fantasies come from a variety of different places.
historical film
/hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of cinema that depicts past events and people, often with an emphasis on historical accuracy, costumes, and settings
Examples
biographical film
/bˌaɪəɡɹˈæfɪkəl fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of cinema that depicts the life story of a real person or group of people, often with a focus on their achievements, struggles, and personal relationships
Examples
historical drama
/hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl dɹˈɑːmə/
nouna genre of storytelling that depicts historical events and people in a dramatic style, often with a focus on authenticity and accuracy, and can be found in film, television, or theater
Examples
horror film
/hɔːɹɚ fɪlm/
nouna film genre that has a lot of unnatural or frightening events intending to scare people
Click to see examples
Examples
1. It's a Horror Film, REALLY.
2. It's a real-life Horror Film, in many ways.
3. This one is called, Answer these Yes-or-No Questions and We'll Tell You How You Die in a Horror Film.
slasher
/ˈsɫæʃɝ/
nouna horror movie in which characters are brutalized and murdered by an unknown person
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Latrell Sprewell, another newcomer well into his 30s, but still the perfect lively slasher to compliment Garnett from the wing.
2. 1989's Clownhouse is a slasher in the same vein as every other low-budget entry in the genre from that era.
3. The Friday the 13th series is one of the most enduring mainstays in slasher cinema.
4. Not long after the original slasher duo, a second duo took up the identity of Ghostface again, this time the mother of one of the previous killers and a university student who sought the fame of being Ghostface.
5. I love slashers.
splatter film
/splˈæɾɚ fˈɪlm/
nouna subgenre of horror cinema that focuses on excessive graphic violence and gore, often depicting the spraying or splattering of blood and bodily fluids
Examples
zombie film
/zˈɑːmbi fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of horror cinema that typically features undead creatures who rise from the dead and hunger for human flesh
Examples
musical
/ˈmjuzɪkəɫ/
nounany theatrical performance that combines singing, dancing, and acting to tell a story
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Musicals are the gateway drug.
2. He likes musicals.
3. I love musicals.
4. You wrote musicals.
5. Are your parents musical?
epic
/ˈɛpɪk/
nouna long movie or book full of adventure that could be about a historical event
Click to see examples
Examples
1. My mom is epic!
2. That little drive was epic.
3. That humor was epic.
4. That math class was epic!
5. The search was epic.
film noir
/fˈɪlm nwˈɑːɹ/
nouna type of movie involving crime including shadowy footage and dark background music that depicted cynical characters caught in dangerous situations
Click to see examples
Examples
1. First up, Blade Runner took inspiration from film noir.
2. Because it's sort of like a film noir.
3. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is a frightening film noir that finds Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels, a detective who's investigating a disappearance on an Alcatraz-style mental hospital.
4. For example, a film noir is a movie about murder and other crimes.
5. This is the film noir New York.
neo-noir
/nˈiːoʊnwˈɑːɹ/
nouna subgenre of film noir with a contemporary setting, complex characters, and elements of other genres, while still featuring a dark and pessimistic tone
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Interestingly, while the film has the feeling of a neo-noir thriller, the directors have said that there wasn't a lot of noir influence on John Wick.
tech-noir
/tˈɛknwˈɑːɹ/
nouna subgenre of science fiction and crime films that blends film noir and cyberpunk elements, with a focus on advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and dystopian futures
Examples
romance
/ˈɹoʊmæns/, /ɹoʊˈmæns/
nouna novel or movie about love
Click to see examples
Examples
1. - Yes. - Sibling romance.
2. When he speaks about matters of chivalry he uses archaic words drawn from the romances of chivalry.
3. So in English, 'romance' means a story with a linear plot and unchanging characters.
4. Romance, write a romance novel, Chelsea.
5. Romance the flowers.
historical romance
/hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl ɹoʊmˈæns/
nouna genre of cinema that typically features a love story set in a historical period, often with a focus on the social customs, clothing, and architecture of the time
Examples
paranormal romance
/pˈæɹənˌoːɹməl ɹoʊmˈæns/
nouna subgenre of romance films that often features supernatural creatures, such as vampires, werewolves, or ghosts, as the love interest or as a key element of the story
Examples
romantic fantasy
/ɹoʊmˈæntɪk fˈæntəsi/
nouna subgenre of fantasy films that typically combines elements of romance and fantasy, often featuring a love story between human characters and mythical creatures or set in a magical world
Examples
romantic thriller
/ɹoʊmˈæntɪk θɹˈɪlɚ/
nouna subgenre of thriller films that typically combines elements of romance and suspense, often featuring a love story between the main characters amidst a dangerous or thrilling plot
Examples
science fiction
/sˈaɪəns fˈɪkʃən/
nounbooks, movies, etc. about imaginary things based on science
Click to see examples
Examples
1. This new arm is not science fiction.
2. None of this is science fiction.
3. The dude wrote dystopian science fiction.
4. The crystal ball part is science fiction.
5. According to science fiction, a bigger brain means superhuman intelligence.
dystopian film
/dɪstˈoʊpiən fˈɪlm/
nouna subgenre of science fiction that often portrays a bleak and oppressive future society, with themes of totalitarianism, environmental disaster, or other societal collapse
Examples
post-apocalyptic film
/pˈoʊstɐpˌɑːkɐlˈɪptɪk fˈɪlm/
nouna subgenre of science fiction that often depicts a world after a catastrophic event, such as a nuclear war, pandemic, or environmental disaster
Examples
military science fiction
/mˈɪlətˌɛɹi sˈaɪəns fˈɪkʃən/
nouna subgenre of sci-fi that focuses on military themes, including futuristic warfare and interstellar travel
Examples
steampunk film
/stˈiːmpʌŋk fˈɪlm/
nouna subgenre of science fiction or fantasy that typically features steam-powered machinery, Victorian-era fashion and design, and alternate histories or retro futuristic worlds
Examples
utopian film
/juːtˈoʊpiən fˈɪlm/
nouna subgenre of science fiction or speculative fiction that often depicts an idealized society or world that is free from conflict, inequality, or other societal problems
Examples
thriller
/ˈθɹɪɫɝ/
nouna movie, novel, etc. with an exciting plot that deals with crime
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Next movie is Orphan, another thriller.
2. I love thrillers.
3. - I like pretty exclusively read thrillers.
4. The thriller, filler, spiller recipe still works.
5. I do some light thrillers.
psychological thriller
/saɪkəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl θɹˈɪlɚ/
nouna subgenre of thriller that often explores the inner workings of the human mind, with a focus on psychological suspense, manipulation, and paranoia, rather than physical action or violence
Click to see examples
Examples
1. It is classified as a Psychological Thriller.
mystery
/ˈmɪstɝi/
nouna movie, novel, or play in which a crime takes place, especially a murder, and the story starts unraveling as it goes on
Click to see examples
Examples
1. Mystery solved.
2. Mystery solved.
3. Mystery solved.
4. Mystery solved.
5. Pisces men love mystery.
techno-thriller
/tˈɛknoʊθɹˈɪlɚ/
nouna thriller subgenre that focuses on technology and often features computer systems, hacking, and high-tech elements as key plot points, with the threat of technological disaster or misuse being central to the story
Click to see examples
Examples
1. It's a techno-thriller.
2. It's a techno-thriller.
Western
/ˈhwɛstɝn/, /ˈwɛstɝn/
nouna movie or book that usually involves the lives and adventures of cowboys in western US
Click to see examples
Examples
1. And this dependency on Taiwan worries western countries.
2. Back in this country, Western states faced another day of searing heat, with no relief in sight until next week.
3. He did westerns.
4. Western science requires exact measurements, visible proof, statistics.
5. The sixth type of movie are westerns.
epic western
/ˈɛpɪk wˈɛstɚn/
nouna subgenre of the western film that features a larger-than-life story and typically spans a significant period, often including historical events or figures, with a grand scale and cinematic style
Examples
revisionist western
/ɹɪvˈɪʒənˌɪst wˈɛstɚn/
nouna film that subverts or reimagines traditional western tropes and themes, often presenting a more nuanced and critical portrayal of the American West and its history
Examples
Spaghetti Western
/spɐɡˈɛɾi wˈɛstɚn/
nouna western movie that is produced in Italy with a low budget
Click to see examples
Examples
1. But he said, just like with spaghetti westerns, he said, "I'm making what's called a macaroni combat."
2. And so I'm playing my spaghetti Western soundtracks.
3. "It's basically like a spaghetti Western in space."
4. Who knew there was science to all those spaghetti Westerns?
5. The film is also chockfull of asides to Rick's faux movies and TV shows, from his heyday as the star of the '50s TV show Bounty Law, to his later spaghetti westerns, war movies, and exploitation films.
road film
/ɹˈoʊd fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of film in which the main characters embark on a journey or a road trip
Examples
gangster film
/ɡˈæŋstɚ fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of film that centers around criminal organizations or individuals, often with a focus on organized crime in the United States during the Prohibition era
Examples
erotic film
/ɪɹˈɑːɾɪk fˈɪlm/
nouna type of movie that has a strong focus on sexual themes and content
Examples
crime film
/kɹˈaɪm fˈɪlm/
nouna genre of film that focuses on criminal activity, either from the perspective of the criminals or law enforcement officers trying to solve the crime
Examples
documentary
/ˌdɑkjəˈmɛnɝi/, /ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntɝi/, /ˌdɑkjuˈmɛnɝi/, /ˌdɑkjuˈmɛntɝi/
nouna movie or TV program based on true stories giving facts about a particular person or event
Click to see examples
Examples
1. A documentary about 90's rock bands called Bowling for Bowling for Soup.
2. His documentaries employ artistic techniques, narrative techniques, narrative momentum, character development.
3. I do documentaries.
4. A to Z TV made a documentary on dabbawalas.
5. The documentary has my name Wolfgang.
docufiction
/dˌɑːkjuːfˈɪkʃən/
nouna genre of filmmaking that blends elements of documentary and fiction film, using real people or events but often fictionalizing certain aspects of the story for dramatic effect
Examples