Given the rising popularity of online streaming platforms like Amazon, Netflix, Hotstar, and many more, it is pretty obvious that most of us today prefer binging on the content that we like from the comfort of our homes.

As humans, we’ve always been keen storytellers and we’ve never stopped inventing new ways to tell those stories. From fantasy to horror, there are different types of genres in film and many more sub-genres nesting within them.

We all know that ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ is a romantic film, while ‘Hera Pheri’ is a comedy film, and this categorization of movies is what makes a film’s genre. These genres have seen a lot of evolution and a variety of hybrid scripts are now being written by screenwriters to provide the audience something new.

If you’re a student at film school or are looking to give your career a head-start in filmmaking, here are some types of genres in the film you should know:

Classification of different types of genres in film

Action –

Most popular and one of the oldest genres known in filmmaking. They are usually loaded with high-octane action sequences, fights, stunt-based scenes and are usually fast-paced. Action films thrill the audience and are definitely one of all-time favorite genres.

What are the sub-genres of action films?

• Cop and Thief
• Martial Arts
• Western
• War and Military Action

Romance –

Tales of love have been with us for ages, and have been an important genre of the film industry for a long time as well. This genre gets mingled with other genres easily and there must hardly be any blockbuster without romance at its core.

‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaenge’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ are proof that romance is an all-time favorite genre. Be it old-time classic romantic films or new-gen romance, this genre will probably never go out of fashion.

What are the sub-genres of romance films?

• Romantic – Comedy (Rom-Com)
• Historical Romance
• Romantic Tragedy
• Romantic Drama
• Chick Flick

Thriller –

Thriller films have come a long way with huge doses of mystery and suspense. It has always been considered one of the most stylized methods of filmmaking. Movies like ‘Don’, ‘Rajneeti’ and ‘Pink’ fall into this category.

What are the sub-genres of thriller films?

• Crime Thriller
• Political Thriller
• Legal Thriller
• Spy Thriller

Comedy –

Comedy is an art to make one smile! Some of the pioneers of comedy like Charlie Chalpin expressed humor through their gestures alone and didn’t even need any dialogues to make their audience laugh. From the beginning of the cinema, the comedy genre has been a fun-loving and innovative genre making it everyone’s favorite.

What are the sub-genres of comedy films?

• Romantic Comedy
• Slapstick
• Dark Comedy
• Spoof

Sci-Fi –

A concept of alternate realities where aliens, superheroes, and robots come to life. In the sci-fi genre, the filmmaker can be as creative as he wants as here there are no boundaries. It takes the audience’s fantasy to another level and they have caught the attention of millions of people around the world.

What are the sub-genres of sci-fi films?

• Time Travel
• Space Travel
• Robots and Monsters
• Alien Invasions

So, we hope you’ve mastered the various forms and types of film through this article. Understanding the movie genre classification is crucial for a filmmaker in order to offer an innovative and ever-evolving cinematic experience to the audience.

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