Whether it’s to make us laugh, cry, get scared or reflect, each film provokes us in a different way. This happens, in part, thanks to film genres — categories that organize narratives according to their themes, structures and intentions. But have you ever stopped to think about how and why these genres emerged?
In this article, you will understand the origin of genres in cinema, how they have evolved over time and why they continue to be so important for creators and viewers to this day.
🎬 What is a film genre?
In cinema, genre is a way of classifying films based on common characteristics . This includes the type of story, emotional tone, setting, narrative structure, and even the visual and sound elements used.
Examples of popular genres:
- Comedy
- Drama
- Terror
- Action
- Romance
- Science fiction
- Fantasy
- Documentary
In addition to the main ones, there are also subgenres (such as romantic comedy or psychological horror) and hybrid genres , which mix elements of more than one style.
How did genres emerge?
Genres began to form in the first decades of cinema , between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, as a way to facilitate the production, promotion and consumption of films .
Studios realized that by following similar formulas, they could deliver films with greater commercial appeal, in addition to guiding audience expectations.
Factors that drove the genres:
- The growth of the audience and box office
- The need to organize studio catalogs
- Standardizing narratives to speed up production
- The influence of theater, literature and opera
Thus, films began to be produced with recognizable patterns , such as good guys and bad guys in Westerns or monsters in horror films.
The first genres in the history of cinema
In silent cinema, the first genres to stand out were:
1. Physical comedy (slapstick)
Popularized by artists such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, it was based on exaggerated gestures and comical situations without dialogue.
2. Melodrama
Emotional stories, with great family tragedies, forbidden romances and suffering characters — very common in the theater of the time.
3. Western
Set in the Old American West, depicting cowboys, duels and the struggle between “civilization” and “savagery”. An important genre in the formation of the identity of American cinema.
4. Terror
Inspired by Gothic literature and German Expressionism, films such as Nosferatu (1922) pioneered the dark and frightening style.
These genres helped shape public tastes and build the first “success formulas”.
The Golden Age of Genres: Classic Hollywood
During the 1930s to 1950s, Hollywood studios invested heavily in genre films , creating visual and narrative standards that are still used today.
Genres that were consolidated in this phase:
- Musicals (like Singin’ in the Rain )
- Police noir (with dark tones, investigations and anti-heroes)
- Romantic comedies
- War
- Animations (mainly Disney)
Audiences already went to the cinema with an idea of ​​what to expect based on the genre, which made it easier to promote films and build loyalty.
Changing genres: from rebellion to hybrids
From the 1960s onwards, filmmakers began to subvert and reinvent traditional genres , creating more complex and mixed narratives.
Examples:
- Bonnie & Clyde (1967) — a mix of crime, romance and social criticism.
- The Exorcist (1973) — took horror to another emotional and technical level.
- Alien (1979) — science fiction with claustrophobic horror elements.
- Pulp Fiction (1994) — a mix of crime, dark humor and narrative non-linearity.
This phase opened space for hybrid genres , which defy simple classifications and reflect the complexity of the modern world.
The importance of genres for the public
Genres help audiences choose what to watch based on their tastes and interests. They act as an emotional shortcut , guiding our expectations.
Benefits:
- Easy search for content
- Emotional connection with specific themes
- Creating fan communities (such as horror or sci-fi lovers)
- Controlled predictability (we know more or less what to expect — and that’s a good thing!)
Additionally, genres make it easier to recommend movies on streaming platforms and search engines.
And what about filmmakers?
For directors, screenwriters and producers, understanding genres is essential to creating more effective stories , with a well-defined structure and commercial appeal.
Many screenwriters follow narrative structure models typical of each genre. For example:
- The hero on a journey in the fantasy epic
- The couple in conflict and reconciliation in the romantic comedy
- The mysterious killer in the police thriller
Even when a film breaks the rules of a genre, it needs to know them in order to subvert them intelligently.
Genres that are coming back with a vengeance
Some genres go through cycles of popularity and reappear in updated guises:
- Musicals came back with a bang with La La Land and Hamilton .
- Psychological horror gained new momentum with Get Out and Hereditary .
- Social science fiction brought modern reflections in Ex Machina and Don’t Look Up .
- Westerns revisited appeared in films such as Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight .
These renewals keep the genres alive and adapted to the new times.
Genres: the compass of cinema
Cinematic genres are not rigid formulas — they are tools that guide creators and viewers through the vast array of possible stories .
They help organize creative chaos and transform cinema into a universal language, where we can all find something that moves, surprises or entertains us.
The next time you choose a film by genre, remember: behind this choice there is more than a century of evolution, adaptation and passion for the art of storytelling.