Genre | Subgenre | Examples | Description |
action | disaster-action | The Day After Tomorrow | Contains one or more disasters such as natural disasters, accidents, or global catastrophes such as a pandemic. |
action | martial-arts-action | Enter the Dragon | Plot and action is centered on a martial artist or a group of martial artists. |
action | spy-action | Casino Royale | Contains espionage by one or more of the main characters. |
action | superhero-action | Avengers: Endgame | The main character(s) have superhuman powers, or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, which are are typically used to protect the public. |
action | sword-and-sandal-action | Gladiator | Set in the Greco-Roman or biblical time period. |
action | epic-action | 300 | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
action | one-person-army-action | Kill Bill, Die Hard, Rambo | Contains the primary character fighting many enemies. |
action | b-action | Miami Connection | Produced on a low budget. |
action | team-action | Predator, Aliens, Red, A-Team, The Suicide Squad | The key action scenes involve a group of people working together. |
action | car-action | Fast and the Furious | The key action scenes involve motor vehicles. |
action | gun-fu-action | The Matrix, John Wick | The gun fu subgenre features highly choreographed gun battles that incorporate stylized martial arts, acrobatics, and fluid gun handling. These battles often involve close-quarters combat, dynamic camera work, and rapid editing to create a sense of frenetic energy and excitement. |
action | kung-fu-action | Ip Man, Enter the Dragon | The kung fu subgenre features the practice and mastery of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese, "kung fu" refers to any skill acquired through practice. Born as a backlash against the supernatural tropes of wuxia, the kung fu subgenre depicts realistic, unarmed fight choreography, highlighting the skill, speed, and agility of the martial artists involved, as well as the discipline, patience and strength required to become a master. |
action | samurai-action | Yojimbo, Seven Samurai | The samurai subgenre, also known as chanbara, features the samurai warrior class and their way of life. These stories often relfect bushido, or "the way of the warrior," a moral code that guides samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle. Often set in feudal Japan during the Edo period (1603–1868), samurai stories depict the tension between tradition and modernization, the struggle for power and justice, and the decline of a traditional way of life. |
action | wuxia-action | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tragon (2000), Hero (2002) | The wuxia subgenre features the adventures of sword-wielding, chivalrous heroes in ancient China who possess extraordinary martial arts skills, sometimes bordering on the supernatural. Often led by a code of chivalry, wuxia heroes strive to redress wrongs, fight for righteousness, remove oppressors, and bring retribution for past misdeeds. Wuxia stories depict highly stylized action sequences, characterized by gravity-defying stunts, intricate choreography, and the use of various weapons. |
adventure | space-adventure | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | An adventure set primarily in space. |
adventure | sea-adventure | Master and Commander | An adventure set primarily at sea. |
adventure | jungle-adventure | Jumanji, Jungle Book, Tarzan | An adventure set primarily in a jungle or rainforest. |
adventure | snow-adventure | Ice Age, The Revenant, The Grey | An adventure set primarily in a snowy environment. |
adventure | desert-adventure | Sahara | An adventure set primarily in the desert. |
adventure | urban-adventure | The Warriors | An adventure set primarily in a city, town or village. |
adventure | road-trip-adventure | Mad Max: Fury Road | An adventure set primarily on the road. The mode of transport doesn't matter. |
adventure | survival-adventure | The Edge, Cast Away | An adventure in which one or more characters are in danger and trying to survive natural elements. |
adventure | quest-adventure | Fellowship of the Ring | An adventure in which one or more characters are trying to achieve something besides surviving. |
adventure | swashbuckler-adventure | Pirates of the Caribbean | An adventure involving pirates. |
adventure | epic-adventure | Ben-Hur | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
adventure | mountain-adventure | Cliffhanger | An adventure set primarily in mountains or significantly hilly terrain. |
adventure | dinosaur-adventure | Jurassic Park | An adventure involving dinosaurs. |
adventure | globetrotting-adventure | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Skyfall | An adventure that takes place in more than one continent and more than two countries. |
adventure | teen-adventure | Hunger Games | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
adventure | island-adventure | Six Days Seven Nights | An adventure set primarily on one or more islands. |
animation | anime-animation | Akira | Animation originating from Japan, or emulating the style of Japanese animation. |
animation | isekai-anime-animation | Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! | Isekai is a subgenre of Japanese animation that features characters who are transported from their ordinary lives into parallel worlds or alternate dimensions. These anime follow the characters' adventures as they navigate their new surroundings, encounter fantastical creatures, and embark on missions or quests. |
animation | iyashikei-anime-animation | Natusme's Book of Friends | Iyashikei is a subgenre of Japanese animation that aims to provide a sense of healing, relaxation, and comfort. These anime are characterized by their gentle pacing, serene atmospheres, and focus on everyday life and nature. |
animation | josei-anime-animation | Kids on the Slope | Josei is a subgenre of Japanese animation that is intended for adult women. These anime typically focus on realistic portrayals of relationships, emotions, and everyday life. |
animation | seinen-anime-animation | Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Seinen is a subgenre of Japanese animation that is intended for adult men. These anime often explore mature themes and complex narratives, such as psychological drama, crime, and existentialism. |
animation | slice-of-life-anime-animation | Barakamon | Slice of life is a subgenre of Japanese animation that portrays everyday life, often without a central plot or overarching narrative. Instead, slice of life anime captures the ordinary experiences, interactions, and emotions of its characters, offering a glimpse into their daily routines and struggles. |
animation | classic-animation | Pinocchio | Animation produced during the 20th century. |
animation | 2d-animation | The Iron Giant | Traditional or computer animation that exists in a two-dimensional space. |
animation | cg-animation | Toy Story | Computer-generated animation. |
animation | for-grown-ups-animation | Sausage Party | Animation catered specifically to adult interests. |
animation | hand-drawn-animation | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Anastasia, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Batman: The Animated Series | Hand-drawn animation, also known as traditional animation, is a technique in which each frame is created by hand. It involves the process of drawing individual images, known as frames or cels, by skilled animators and then photographing or filming them in sequence to create the illusion of motion. |
animation | holiday-animation | A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) | The holiday animation subgenre features animated stories that focus on winter holiday themes, traditions, and celebrations. These stories use animation techniques including hand-drawn animation, computer animation, and stop motion animation to bring festive stories to life, often targeting audiences of all ages. |
animation | stop-motion-animation | Fantastic Mr. Fox | The animation technique of photographing physical objects that are manipulated between frames. |
animation | live-action-animation | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Features a combination of live-action and non-photo realistic 2D or 3D animated characters or settings. |
comedy | stand-up-comedy | Eddie Murphy: Delirious | One or more comedians performing in front of a live audience, in real life. |
comedy | farce-comedy | Some Like It Hot, A Fish Called Wanda | A farce is a subgenre that features exaggerated situations, slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and chaotic, rapid-fire events. Farces are known for their absurd and over-the-top comedic elements, often involving misunderstandings, physical comedy, and improbable scenarios. |
comedy | mockumentary-comedy | Best in Show | A spoof documentary depicting fictional events. |
comedy | crude-humor-comedy | The Hangover | The key humoristic features of the title are distasteful, uncomfortable or even gross. |
comedy | cringe-comedy | Borat, Bad Trip | The key humoristic features of the title make audiences purposefully uncomfortable. |
comedy | stoner-comedy | Pinneapple Express | The key humoristic features of the title come from the main character(s) consuming marijuana. |
comedy | teen-comedy | American Pie, Clueless etc. | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
comedy | quirky-comedy | New Girl, Napolean Dynamite | The key humoristic features come from peculiar or unexpected traits in the characters, situations, or filmmaking. |
comedy | surreal-comedy | Monty Python, Tim & Eric | The key humoristic features come from deliberate violations of causal reasoning, resulting in situations and behaviors that are obviously illogical, irrational or absurd. |
comedy | dark-comedy | Death to Smoochy | The key humoristic features make light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered too serious or painful to discuss. |
comedy | alternative-comedy | Election, Being John Malkovich | Makes a conscious break from the mainstream comedic style of the era it was released. |
comedy | parody-comedy | Spaceballs, Hot Shots! | A comedy that imitates the style or character of one or more other works. |
comedy | satire-comedy | The Campaign, Borat | The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. |
comedy | buddy-comedy | Booksmart, Step Brothers | A comedy where the main characters are a comedic duo. |
comedy | buddy-cop-comedy | Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour | The buddy cop subgenre features two main characters, typically police officers with contrasting personalities, who are forced to work together to solve a crime or achieve a common goal. The interactions and dynamics between the two characters, often from different backgrounds or with conflicting approaches to police work, create both humor and tension, resulting in entertaining and action-packed narratives. |
comedy | high-concept-comedy | Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty | A comedy with a clear comedic premise or 'what if…' scenario. |
comedy | holiday-comedy | Christmas Vacation (1989), The Night Before (2015) | The holiday comedy subgenre combines elements of humor with the festive spirit of the holiday season. These movies are typically light-hearted, often featuring comedic situations, humorously exaggerated characters, and amusing plots set against the backdrop of a holiday celebration, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, or other cultural and religious celebrations. |
comedy | road-trip-comedy | Little Miss Sunshine, Vacation | A comedy where most of the plot develops on the road while traveling. |
comedy | showbiz-comedy | The Producers | A comedy where the main character(s) work within or around the entertainment industry. |
comedy | raunchy-comedy | American Pie | A comedy where sex and relationships drive the key comedic aspects of the plot. |
comedy | romantic-comedy | When Harry Met Sally, While You Were Sleeping | The romantic comedy subgenre, also known as "rom-com", feature romantic relationships and interactions between characters while incorporating elements of humor and comedic situations. These stories blend the emotional journey of falling in love with lighthearted and funny scenarios, creating an entertaining and feel-good experience for the audience. |
comedy | body-swap-comedy | Freaky Friday, 13 Going on 30 | A comedy where the main character(s) finds themselves in a different or changed body. |
comedy | screwball-comedy | Bringing Up Baby, It Happened One Night | The screwball comedy, which emerged in the 1930s and 1940s, is known for its fast-paced, zany, and often absurd humor. They feature witty dialogue, comedic misunderstandings, and unconventional romantic pairings. These comedies often incorporate elements of farce, slapstick, and satire to create a unique and entertaining blend of humor. |
comedy | slapstick-comedy | Clue, Rat Race, The Bellboy, A Fish Called Wanda | The key humoristic features of the title involve exaggerated actions, and absurd, usually mildly violent situations. |
crime | scandi-noir-crime | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | The plot follows police officer(s) trying to solve a crime in Scandinavia or Nordic countries. Typically has a dark and bleak mood to it. |
crime | heist-crime | Heat, The Town, Heist | The plot follows the planning, execution and aftermath of a large robbery. |
crime | true-crime | GoodFellas, The Wolf of Wall Street | The plot features a crime that actually occurred in real life. |
crime | organized-crime | Gone In 60 Seconds | The plot follows the members and dealings of a gang of criminals. |
crime | gangster-crime | The Godfather (1972), American Gangster (2007) | The gangster subgenre features the perspectives of characters involved in criminal organizations. These stories typically center on the tragic rise and fall of an antihero in their pursuit of wealth, power, and status. |
crime | police-procedural-crime | Law & Order | The plot follows police proceedings in detail. |
crime | serial-killer-crime | Seven | The plot follows a series of murders committed supposedly by the same person. |
crime | drug-crime | Sicario, Breaking Bad | The plot follows drug-related crimes. |
crime | caper-crime | The Sting, Oceans 11, Logan Lucky | The plot follows one or more crimes perpetrated by the main characters in full view of the audience, typically with elements of humor, adventure, or unusual cleverness or audacity. The main characters often have comical idiosyncrasies and the law enforcement individuals are characterized by ineptitude or inadequacies. |
crime | buddy-cop-crime | Lethal Weapon | The main characters are a law enforcement duo. |
documentary | art-documentary | Basquiat The Radiant Child, Banksy Does New York - Going After Him, Le mystère Picasso, The Cool School, Gerhard Richter: Painting, Tim's Vermeer | Non-fiction title about any of the art forms. |
documentary | crime-documentary | Inside Job | Non-fiction title about a crime. |
documentary | entertainment-documentary | Jim & Andy | Non-fiction title about people in the entertainment business or the making of a movie or TV show. |
documentary | environmental-documentary | I Am Greta | Non-fiction title about environmental issues. Titles about the environment from a mere natural sciences perspective may fit better under nature-documentaries. |
documentary | food-and-drink-documentary | Julia (2021) | Non-fiction title about food and drink. |
documentary | history-documentary | They Shall Not Grow Old (2018), 13th (2016) | The history documentary features historical events, figures, periods, and cultural developments using visual storytelling techniques. These documentaries provide insights into the past, offering a detailed and often educational exploration of historical topics and aim to inform, educate, and engage audiences. |
documentary | military-and-war-documentary | They Shall Not Grow Old | Non-fiction title about war and/or military. |
documentary | music-documentary | When You're Strange | Non-fiction title about music and/or the art of artists or bands. |
documentary | nature-documentary | The Year Earth Changed | Non-fiction title about nature, including all life-forms and earth sciences. Documentaries about sustainability might fit best under environmental-documentary. |
documentary | politics-documentary | Fahrenheit 9/11, RBG | Non-fiction title about politics, or focused socio-political themes. |
documentary | religion-and-spirituality-documentary | Becoming Nobody | Non-fiction title about religion and spirituality. |
documentary | science-and-technology-documentary | An Inconvenient Truth | Non-fiction title about science and/or technology. |
documentary | social-documentary | Flee, Waiting for Superman | Non-fiction title about social issues. |
documentary | sports-documentary | Deigo Maradona | Non-fiction title about a sport or game. |
documentary | travel-documentary | The Last Tourist | Non-fiction title about locations. |
drama | docudrama-drama | The Wolf of Wall Street | A drama based on a true story. |
drama | domestic-drama | CODA, American Beauty, Lady Bird | A drama based on family issues and relationships. |
drama | dramedy-drama | Parasite, Inside Llewelyn Davis, About Schmidt | Used to categorize titles with comedic undertones that qualify for the Drama genre but not necessarily the Comedy genre |
drama | epic-drama | The Godfather, There Will Be Blood | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
drama | financial-drama | Wall Street, The Big Short | The financial drama subgenre features characters and situations in the financial industry, corporate boardrooms, or economic crises. Financial dramas explore the complexities of money, power, greed, and the impact of financial decisions on individuals and society as a whole. |
drama | legal-drama | 12 Angry Men | The plot takes place in a legal setting or around court proceedings. |
drama | medical-drama | John Q, Contagion | The plot takes place in a medical setting, such as a hospital. |
drama | political-drama | Vice | The plot takes place in a political setting. |
drama | prison-drama | The Shawshank Redemption | The plot takes place in a prison. |
drama | psychological-drama | Uncut Gems, Whiplash | The plot features the viewpoint of stressed characters, revealing their distorted mental perceptions. |
drama | supernatural-drama | The Green Mile, Annihilation, The Sixth Sense | The plot features the suspenseful and mysterious presence supernatural creatures or happenings within the real world, where magic and fantastical creatures are not perceived as normal. |
drama | teen-drama | The Breakfast Club | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
drama | tragedy-drama | Requiem for a Dream, The Godfather Part II | The plot follows sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by the main character(s). |
drama | workplace-drama | Working Girl, Up In The Air | The plot takes place in an office setting that's not covered by other sub-genres (ex: medical-drama, legal-drama, academic-drama). |
drama | period-drama | Pride and Prejudice, Godfather | A drama set in a specific time period at least a decade before the release date. |
drama | cop-drama | Training Day | The main character(s) are police officers. |
drama | coming-of-age-drama | Booksmart, Juno, Eighth Grade | The plot features the psychological and moral growth or transition of the main character(s) from youth to adulthood. |
drama | academia-drama | Dead Poet's Society, Mona Lisa Smile, The Chair, Kill Your Darlings, Good Will Hunting, Social Network | A drama set in a higher-education academic setting. |
drama | costume-drama | Marie Antoinette, The Great, Bridgerton | A drama set between the middle ages and the start of World War I. |
drama | disaster-drama | Don't Look Up, Chernobyl, San Andreas | An impending or ongoing disaster is the center of the plot. |
drama | showbiz-drama | A Star Is Born | The plot takes place in an entertainment business setting. |
family | animals-family | Marley & Me, Beethoven, Babe, Black Beauty | A family-friendly plot that features non-human animals as the main character(s). |
family | holiday-season | It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (1947) | The holiday genre features winter holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, or other cultural and religious celebrations. These stories often capture the spirit, traditions, and emotions associated with these special times, making them ideal for seasonal viewing. The holiday genre can further branch into subgenres like holiday comedy, holiday romance, and holiday family. |
family | holiday-family | Home Alone (1990), A Christmas Story (1983) | The holiday family subgenre features themes related to the holidays, with a focus on family dynamics, cultural traditions, and the magic of the holiday season. These films are often heartwarming, light-hearted, and family-friendly as they capture the spirit of various winter holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, or other cultural and religious celebrations. |
family | kids-family | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Blues Clues Movie | A family-friendly plot catered specifically for young children (7 and under). |
fantasy | epic-fantasy | Fellowship of the Ring | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
fantasy | dark-fantasy | Pan's Labyrinth | Incorporates dark or unsettling themes. |
fantasy | fairy-tale-fantasy | Jack the Giant Slayer | Draws on themes, characters and images from the classic folklore. |
fantasy | sword-and-sorcery-fantasy | Dragonheart | The main character(s) yield swords or wands in their quests. |
fantasy | steampunk-fantasy | Wild Wild West | Incorporates retro-futuristic technology and/or aesthetics. |
fantasy | teen-fantasy | Harry Potter | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
fantasy | superhero-fantasy | Thor | The main character(s) have superhuman powers, or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, which are are typically used to protect the public. |
fantasy | supernatural-fantasy | Ghostbusters | The plot features the suspenseful and mysterious presence supernatural creatures or happenings within the real world, where magic and fantastical creatures are not perceived as normal. |
history | epic-history | Braveheart | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
history | sword-and-sandal-history | Troy | Set in the Greco-Roman or biblical time period. The plot is based on real-life events of historical significance and features real-life characters (allowing for some artistic license). |
horror | supernatural-horror | The Ring | The plot features the suspenseful and mysterious presence supernatural creatures or happenings within the real world, where magic and fantastical creatures are not perceived as normal. |
horror | psychological-horror | It Follows | The plot features the viewpoint of stressed characters, revealing their distorted mental perceptions . |
horror | zombie-horror | Dawn of the Dead | The main character(s) are or fight zombies. |
horror | vampire-horror | Dracula | The main character(s) are or fight vampires. |
horror | witch-horror | The Witch | The main character(s) are or fight witches. |
horror | werewolf-horror | Wolf | The main character(s) are or fight werewolves. |
horror | monster-horror | The Thing | The main character(s) are or fight a non-natural creature. Natural creatures (sharks, anacondas) may fit best under nature-horror. |
horror | folk-horror | Midsommar, The Witch, The Ritual | Derives horror from naïve outsiders coming up against the actions and beliefs of people rather than explicitly supernatural elements. Often in rural settings. |
horror | found-footage-horror | The Blair Witch Project | Produced to generate the impression that the footage was found as shown. |
horror | nature-horror | Lake Placid | The main character(s) fight, flee, or survive a dark side of nature. |
horror | slasher-horror | Halloween | The plot involves a killer stalking and murdering a group of people, usually by use of bladed tools. |
horror | splatter-horror | Saw | Focuses on graphic portrayals of violence and gore. |
horror | b-horror | Dead Alive | The title is produced on a low budget. |
horror | teen-horror | Jennifer's Body | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
horror | body-horror | Old, The Fly | Focuses on grotesque or psychologically disturbing depictions of the human body. |
music | blues-music | The Blues Brothers, Summer of Soul | Contains significant elements of blues music. |
music | classical-music | Amadeus | Contains significant elements of classical music. |
music | concert-music | Stop Making Sense, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | The concert music subgenre features live musical performances and events, including recordings of musical artists or bands performing their music in front of a live audience. |
music | country-music | A Star Is Born, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Walk the Line | Contains significant elements of country music. |
music | dance-music | Footloose, Step Up, Human Traffic | Contains significant elements of dance music. |
music | disco-music | Saturday Night Fever | Contains significant elements of disco music. |
music | electronic-music | I Dream of Wires | Contains significant elements of electronic music. |
music | folk-music | Inside Llewyn Davis | Contains significant elements of folk music. |
music | funk-music | Get on Up | Contains significant elements of funk music. |
music | hip-hop-music | 8 Mile, Straight Outta Compton | Contains significant elements of hip-hop music. |
music | jazz-music | Whiplash, La La Land | Contains significant elements of jazz music. |
music | latin-music | La Bamba, Selena, El cantante | Contains significant elements of Latin music. |
music | pop-music | Bohemian Rhapsody, Pitch Perfect | Contains significant elements of pop music. |
music | rap-music | All Eyez on Me | Contains significant elements of rap music. |
music | reggae-music | The Harder They Come, Rockers, Marley | Contains significant elements of reggae music. |
music | rock-music | Bohemian Rhapsody, Almost Famous, Yesterday | Contains significant elements of rock music. |
music | soul-music | Ray, Dreamgirls, Summer of Soul, The Blues Brothers | Contains significant elements of soul music. |
musical | stage-musical | Sing 2, West Side Story, Hamilton | Features a live stage performance. |
musical | jukebox-musical | Sing 2, Sing, Mamma Mia! | Features well-known songs as opposed to original ones. |
musical | pop-musical | West Side Story, Encanto, West Side Story (1961) | The score is largely of the pop musical genre. |
musical | rock-musical | The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rent, Grease 2 | The score is largely of the rock musical genre. |
musical | bollywood-musical | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, Devdas | Of Indian origin, featuring original song and dance. |
musical | operetta-musical | The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Pirates of Penzance, The Pirate Movie | Contains spoken dialogue as well as song, and stands somewhere between an opera and a musical. |
musical | classic-musical | West Side Story, Les Misérables , The Sound of Music | Genre staple, either because it was produced during the golden age of cinema, or because it has subsequently defined the genre. |
mystery | hardboiled-mystery | Chinatown, The Maltese Falcon | The plot features a detective rendered cynical by cycles of violence and a corrupt justice system. |
mystery | whodunnit-mystery | Murder on the Orient Exp, Knives Out | A detective unravels a complicated plot to identify the author of a crime. |
mystery | suspense-mystery | Searching, Shutter Island | Features a mystery that generates uncertainty and psychological unease. |
mystery | bumbling-detective-mystery | Pink Panther, The Naked Gun | The main characters investigate a crime, but are incompetent or perhaps inexperienced, generating some comic relief. |
romance | feel-good-romance | Notting Hill | A romance with a happy ending, often a romantic comedy. |
romance | teen-romance | Little Women | The main character(s) are teenagers (ages 13-19). |
romance | tearjerker-romance | Titanic | The plot explores emotional themes of longing, heartbreak, and loss in romantic relationships. |
romance | epic-romance | Pride & Prejudice | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
romance | dark-romance | Lolita,Unfaithful, Indecent Proposal | The plot explores emotional themes of fear, danger, and pain in troubled romantic relationships. |
romance | tragic-romance | A Star is Born | A romance with a tragic ending. |
romance | holiday-romance | Love Actually | The plot is centered around the winter holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or New Years Eve. |
romance | steamy-romance | Love | Features repeatedly explicit intimate scenes. |
sci-fi | space-sci-fi | Interstellar | The plot is set in space. |
sci-fi | alien-invasion-sci-fi | Independence Day | The plot features an alien invasion. |
sci-fi | giant-monster-sci-fi | Godzilla etc. | The main character(s) or villain(s) are giant creatures (e.g. Godzilla). |
sci-fi | steampunk-sci-fi | Wild Wild West | The plot features retro-futuristic technology and/or aesthetics. |
sci-fi | cyberpunk-sci-fi | The Matrix | The plot is set in a dystopian future that futures a combination of high-tech and lowlife. |
sci-fi | dystopian-sci-fi | Finch | The plot is set in a future where a controlling institution or a calamitous disaster has created a state of great suffering and injustice. |
sci-fi | robot-sci-fi | Transformers, The Terminator, Ex Machina, Blade Runner | The main character(s) are robots or androids (robots designed to look human). |
sci-fi | cyborg-sci-fi | Robocop, Upgrade, Ghost in the Shell, Inspector Gadget | The main character(s) are cyborgs (humans with technological enhancements). |
sci-fi | biotech-sci-fi | Prometheus | Focused on the implications of biotechnology. |
sci-fi | artificial-intelligence-sci-fi | Ex Machina | Focused on the implications of AI. |
sci-fi | time-travel-sci-fi | Back to the Future | Focused on time travel. |
sci-fi | space-opera-sci-fi | Star Wars | Focused on space warfare, with melodramatic and romanticized elements. |
sci-fi | epic-sci-fi | Dune | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
sci-fi | b-sci-fi | They Live | The title is produced on a low budget. |
sci-fi | superhero-sci-fi | Guardians of the Galaxy | The main character(s) have superhuman powers, or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, which are are typically used to protect the public. |
sci-fi | interdimensional-sci-fi | The Butterfly Effect | Set in a world where multiple dimensions collide, or where traveling or communicating between them is possible. |
sport | american-football-sport | Remember the Titans | The plot features American football. |
sport | aquatic-sport | Blue Crush | The plot features water sports. |
sport | baseball-sport | Moneyball | The plot features baseball. |
sport | basketball-sport | Space Jam | The plot features basketball. |
sport | combat-sport | The Karate Kid | The plot features combat sports. |
sport | cycling-sport | Rad | The plot features cycling. |
sport | extreme-sport | Sunshine Superman | The plot features extreme sports, such as climbing, basejumping, or skateboarding. |
sport | soccer-sport | Bend It Like Beckham | The plot features football (soccer). |
sport | motorsports-sport | Ford v Ferrari | The plot features motorsports. |
sport | boxing-sport | Rocky | The plot features boxing. |
sport | teen-sport | The Mighty Ducks | The plot features teens playing a sport (ages 13-19). |
sport | underdog-sport | Major League | The plot features an underdog team or athlete. |
sport | other-sport | Seabiscuit | The plot features a sport without a defined sub-genre. |
sport | winter-sport | I Tonya | The plot features winter sports, such as ice skating, bobsledding, or snowboarding. |
sport | racket-sport | King Richard | The plot features racket sports, such as tennis, badminton, or ping pong. |
thriller | conspiracy-thriller | The Game | The plot features a suspected conspiracy. |
thriller | cyber-thriller | The Net | The plot features cybercrime, or futuristic technology. |
thriller | erotic-thriller | Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction | The erotic thriller subgenre features elements of sexual desire, romantic relationships, and sexual intrigue while incorporating elements of danger, suspense, or crime to create tension and suspense. The erotic thriller genre typically features adult themes and explicit sexual scenes, making it distinct from traditional thrillers. |
thriller | political-thriller | Zero Dark Thirty | The plot features a political power struggle. |
thriller | psychological-thriller | Shutter Island | The plot features the viewpoint of stressed characters, revealing their distorted mental perceptions. |
thriller | spy-thriller | No Time To Die | Contains espionage by one or more of the main characters. |
thriller | supernatural-thriller | Last Night in Soho | The plot features the suspenseful and mysterious presence supernatural creatures or happenings within the real world, where magic and fantastical creatures are not perceived as normal. |
thriller | techno-thriller | Tenet | The plot features a technology becoming the enemy of humanity whether through its own intelligence or in the hands of nefarious people. |
thriller | legal-thriller | A Few Good Men | The plot takes place in a legal setting or around court proceedings. |
thriller | giallo-thriller | Deep Red | A mid-20th Italian-produced murder mystery horror-thriller film that often contains slasher, psychological thriller/horror, sexploitation, and, less frequently, supernatural horror elements. |
war | epic-war | 1917, Saving Private Ryan | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
war | fictional-war | Red Dawn, Dr. Strangelove | The plot features a war or battle not based on any historic wars or battles. |
western | classical-western | High Noon | A western produced during the golden age of the genre, subsequently defining the genre. |
western | spaghetti-western | The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly | A western produced in Italian locations or by Italian top crew. |
western | contemporary-western | Hell or High Water, No Country for Old Men, HUD | The plot takes place after 1950. |
western | epic-western | Unforgiven | Features large-scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle - often focused on a heroic character. |
western | revisionist-western | The Power of the Dog | Subverts the myth and romance of the traditional westerns by adding realism and complexity to the "old west" setting. |
western | b-western | 7 Men from Now | Produced on a low budget. |