Monster in the house: This type of film consists of some sort of 'monster', normally of supernatural origin, that the characters in the film must escape from to find safety/ peace. Their lives are normally threatened, and thus to survive, they must kill the creature or escape from it throughout the film. The 'monster' is usually provoked by the human characters at some point, which ultimately leads to the events of the film. there are many examples of this genre, such as the Alien series and the Exorcist, but a more contemporary examples could be Insidious and Paranormal Activity.
Golden Fleece: This particular genre is named after the iconic tale of Jason and the Argonauts, significantly visualized in the 1963 film. The plot for these films revolves around a hero going on a journey/quest to achieve a goal/retrieve an item. This often leaves it open for character development and for them to 'discover themselves' while away on their quest. A notable series of this genre is Star Wars, but a more recent blockbuster would be The Hobbit: an Unexpected journey.
Out of the bottle: This genre follows a main character who is experiencing unordinary occurrences, sometimes those of 'magical' origin. The film takes the audience through the characters process of trying to understand said happenings, usually resulting in the main character coming to some sort of realisation about a good moral, which is the message of the film. Famous films of this genre are Bruce/ Evan Almighty and even Yes Man.
Dude with a problem: These films depict an an average man who finds himself in an extreme/unusual situation. This can include fighting a human or natural threat, in order to save the lives of innocent people. In most instances, the main character has to make some sort of self-sacrifice or change their ways somewhat in order to complete their task. Classic examples of this genre would be Die Hard and Speed, with the Taken Franchise being a more recent example.
Rites of passage: The premise to most of these films is that the main character is faced with some sort of life problem, like old-age or a loss in the family etc for which they must overcome to acheive a bigger goal, which is usually happiness. The character's experiences throughout the film are often relatable which makes the film more entertaining for the audience as they can often empathise with the character directly. These films are often comedies, however some have taken a more serious tone. Films of the genre include American Pie franchise.
Buddy Love: These films normally focus on a pair of characters and the things that they experience with each other. This normally strains their relationship but makes it stronger in the end. This is not always applied to 'buddies' as it can be applied to relationships, even those with animals, such as Free Willy. A modern example could be Paul, or Ted.
Whydunit: Some films of this genre go against the grain for most and focus on the villain, and why they committed their act/ crime etc. They try to explain the character that is rarely explained in true depth, and so this time, the audience get to learn of what it is like to be in the mind of the villain. A classic example of this would be The Silence of the Lambs. Films of this genre can also focus on more common occurrences like murder etc where the 'good guy' police officers have to try and solve the case.
The Fool Triumphant: This genre focus' on the underdog who appears to have no chance of succeeding at their life goals etc. As the film goes on, the audience can watch as they see the character expand and grow as a person, ultimately reaching ever closer to success. An example of this could be Django Unchained.
Institutionalised: This genre revolves around a group of characters who belong to a certain institution within society. These films are normally used to reflect said institutions in a certain light, be that positive or negative. Very famous films of this genre include One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Shawshank Redemption.
Superhero: This genre places an unusual person, a superhero, in a usual, everyday world that can be related to immediately by the audience. The character has to try and explain themselves but are usually misunderstood or even underestimated. Iconic films belonging to the genre would be the multiple Batman variations, but more recently, The Wolverine, a sequel to the spin-off of the famed X-Men series.
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