More than 100 years ago, the world was introduced to movies; moving images were something that impacted the world and continue to do so. In the early days of cinema, there were no film genres like there are today. What was done was to present the viewers with elements that helped them comprehend the plot.
How were the genres of cinema generated and what exists today? This is something we are passionate about at the production company, and to understand more about cinema, it is necessary for you to know the answer.
What was the industry like before film genres?
Although the types of plots in movies were not divided into film genres, those that existed in the early years of cinema were tragedy and comedy. In the latter, everyday situations were shown, and in tragedy, transcendental situations and ethical dilemmas were posed.
Viewers were satisfied with these two genres, as movies were something new that they wanted to enjoy. However, that changed over time, and after the world wars, film experts realized that a transformation was needed.
The best thing that could be done was to adapt to the new circumstances and apply various methods. Starting in the 1950s, movies began to emerge with genres that captured people's attention. Which ones were created?
Film Genres: Existing Types
After World War II, the two existing genres began to change and even mix. In addition, the experiments that directors had conducted before 1950 in the plots of films gave rise to the birth of new genres.
Those that are known today and their respective origins are the following:
Action Genre
It was recognized as a film genre in the 1980s, but in the 1920s, films with this theme had already been made. The first ones to be released were mixed with comedy, which is why action took time to be recognized as a genre of cinema.
After World War II, it gained more prominence, as many films were inspired by the two great wars. What characterizes action movies the most is that they require a larger budget since there are many specialists behind the scenes, such as stunt doubles.
Some examples of this genre are:
- “The Mark of Zorro” from 1920.
- “Return from Hell” from 1955.
- “Mission Impossible” from 1996.
- “No Time to Die” from 2020.
Science Fiction Genre
This type of movie combines elements based on phenomena that do not exist, such as aliens and time travel. It also uses futuristic factors like robots. The film "A Trip to the Moon" from 1902 is considered science fiction; at that time, the genre had humorous purposes.
In the 1950s, science fiction was not given much attention, as many of the films had low budgets. Years later, in the late 1970s, successful films that were part of this genre were released, such as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Star Wars”. Other examples of science fiction are:
- “The Terminator” from 1984.
- “Avatar” from 2009.
Fantasy Genre
One of the film genres that viewers enjoy the most is fantasy, where creatures like fairies, dragons, vampires, and more are presented. The elements that these films focus on are fantastical. One of the earliest films of this genre is “Dracula” from 1931.
Over the years, other films emerged, most of which are very popular, some include:
- “The Wizard of Oz” from 1939.
- The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
- The “Harry Potter” saga.
Drama in Film Genres
The plots of dramatic films aim to present human conflicts, some contain unexpected twists. This is one of the genres that has existed since the origin of cinema, as evidenced by the fact that “La vie et la passion de Jésus-Christ” was released in 1898.
In the 1960s, viewers focused more on dramatic films, such as “The Human Beast” from 1966 and “To Kill a Mockingbird” from 1962. Both colors and music play an important role in these films. Sound helps create dramatic effects, and color adds realism; cool tones are the most used.
Musical Genre
This is known because, in the development of films, fragments are presented where characters sing and even dance. “The Broadway Melody” from 1929 is considered the first musical film.
In the 50s and 60s, the genre gained prominence, with successful films such as “Singin' in the Rain,” “An American in Paris,” and “Mary Poppins”. Later, Disney included musicals in its animated films, which contributed to the development of the genre. Some modern examples of musicals are:
- “Moulin Rouge” from 2001.
- The “High School Musical” trilogy.
- “La La Land” from 2016.
Romantic Genre
As its name indicates, it features plots that focus on love and romantic relationships. The popularity of the genre increased with the advent of sound films, and it contains other sub-genres, which are as follows:
- Romantic comedy.
- Romantic drama.
- Romantic thriller.
Some famous examples of the romantic genre are: “Dirty Dancing” from 1987, “Titanic” from 1997, and “The Phantom of the Opera” from 2004.
Suspense and Horror Genre
One of the most well-known film genres is horror, with the objective of making the viewer feel fear, concern, and even disgust. A film considered horror (but with comedic touches) is “The Haunted Castle” from 1896.
On the other hand, suspense is characterized by the viewers experiencing a state of tension or a feeling of uncertainty. This is achieved through the actions of the characters and the developments of the plots. Among the most prominent directors of this genre is Alfred Hitchcock.
Throughout his film career, he directed about 50 films, many of which had espionage or police plots and were suspenseful. Most are still well-known today, such as “Vertigo” from 1958 and “Psycho” from 1960. Other well-known suspense and horror films include:
- “Psycho” from 1960.
- “The Exorcist” from 1973.
- “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” from 1974.
- “A Nightmare on Elm Street” from 1984.
- “It” from 2017.
All film genres have been successful and offer films that will keep viewers entertained, amuse them, or even scare them.