The movie industry is constantly changing; certain movies that may have been a hit if released years ago may be ignored by viewers today. Some genres of movies are now left almost completely neglected, fading into obscurity. Other kinds however are more dependable and almost always perform well. A final few are gaining traction in the modern film landscape. Which genres are most popular at the moment? And which are more rarely produced?
Most Dependable: Action and Adventure
According to past film statistics, action and adventure movies are very consistently popular film genres. This is unsurprising, as almost any movie can fit this category. Whether it’s the Guardians of the Galaxy crew fighting to save the universe yet again, or Coriolanus Snow from The Hunger Games franchise trying to make a name for himself in the Capitol, action and adventure can insert itself into many different worlds, tones, and storylines, making these movies appeal to a wide array of audiences.
Popular Action and Adventure Movies from the Past Year and a Half: Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Avatar: The Way of Water
Currently Popular:
Animation:
Animated films have always been relatively favored by audiences, but they seem to have been getting increasingly more appreciation as of late. Animated movies have become some of the biggest hits of the last couple of years, such as the record-breaking Inside Out 2, and the award-winning Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse from 2023. Viewers seem to appreciate animated films’ art quality and design, along with the wide age range that they are able to entertain.
Popular Animated Movies from the Past Year and a Half: Inside Out 2, Despicable Me 4, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Trolls Band Together, The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Comedy:
Comedy is another genre of movie that has maintained its prominence through the years, as a large majority of successful modern films belong to this category. Unless a film is specifically created to be a grim thriller or suspense, a fan can almost count on a newly-released movie being filled with some kind of humor. Films such as Wonka were well-liked largely because of their levity, positivity, and the ability to make their audiences laugh.
Popular Comedy Movies from the Past Year and a Half: Barbie, Wonka, Anyone But You, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Thriller:
The thriller genre is one that has seen a recent rise in popularity. If a moviegoer isn’t traveling to theaters for comedic experience, they are likely attending for a thrilling one instead. Several recent blockbuster films fit under this genre, like the pop-culture phenomenon Oppenheimer, or the fourth installment of the ever popular John Wick series. Thrillers often satisfy a variety of fan’s desires—suspense, high stakes, quick pacing, and well developed main characters to root for.
Popular Thriller Movies from the Past Year and a Half: A Quiet Place: Day One, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Oppenheimer, John Wick: Chapter 4
Less Popular:
While the movies listed above describe some of the most in-demand movie genres for films released recently, there are some genres that are being slowly faded out of the industry. Movies such as dystopians, hand drawn animations, superhero films, and westerns are all less commonly created or successful. Although dystopian movies may be slowly coming back with The Hunger Games prequels, other dystopian films outside of The Hunger Games franchise don’t really exist. The last 2D animated Disney movie was The Princess and the Frog, which was released in 2009. Superhero movies, while not gone completely, as many of the successful films listed above fit into this genre, are becoming less prominent as moviegoers are faced with “superhero fatigue”. Many superhero movies released in the last few years were flops, such as The Marvels, The Flash, Madame Web, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. And finally, westerns also don’t have much of a place in modern cinema anymore. Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga may be the exception to this rule, depending on how the film ends up performing.
Overall, the genres found in the modern movie industry are constantly shifting. While action and adventure films seem secure in their place of stability, other rising categories like animation or thrillers may eventually take their place as the top genre. Dystopian, superhero, and western films might soon find their footing again, or they may fade into obscurity like 2D animation has. Whatever happens, movies and their popularity will always be a fluid subject, changing with the culture and fans that surround them.
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