Types of Movies in the American Cinema Today
A movie, also known as a motion picture, short film, or short video, is an artistic work of video art typically designed to replicate events that convey ideas, stories, emotions, beauty, or environment through the use of visual images. Although not specifically created for entertainment purposes, movies have become an influential and highly entertaining form of entertainment, with profound impact on the lives of millions. One of the most popular genres of movies today is independent film. Independent films are generally less expensive than Hollywood productions and offer a more honest form of entertainment. Independent films can be made by anyone with a genuine interest in making movies and a willingness to put in the time and effort to complete a project. Unlike big budget production movies, independent movies are often made with the help of a small filmmaking team and are often completed in a very short period of time.
The early days of cinema are often associated with great artistic breakthroughs in the field of film, such as the invention of the first moving image camera or the birth of the first mass-market film genre, the comedy film. However, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger who reinvented the genre with his movie ‘Pumping Iron’. After working for the United States military, Schwarzenegger decided to pursue a career in acting, which led him to make one of his biggest and most successful films to date, ‘Terminator’. Although originally intended as a low-budget film, Terminator changed the landscape of cinema when it was released in the summer of 1987 and became a box-office hit. Its success led to a host of other popular action/adventure films, including ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ and the science-fiction epic ‘The Terminator’.
Over the past few decades, other movie genres have also emerged, including thriller, fantasy, mystery, horror, war action and science-fiction films. Many of these genres have proven to be lucrative worldwide, but perhaps none has had quite the impact on American culture as the comedy film. There is little question that the success of films like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones have provided a huge boost to the American film industry, giving rise to an entire new generation of moviegoers and spawning a number of popular franchises. The success of the Harry Potter franchise in particular has created a major resurgence of interest in Hollywood films and Hollywood production companies have begun to create hit movies in this popular genre.
As the popularity of science-fiction movies has waned in recent years, however, the silent film genre has also flourished. One of the most popular of these films is Doctor Who, which is arguably the best-selling science-fiction franchise in history. There are many reasons why Doctor Who has remained a firm favorite throughout the years, but one of the most important factors is its consistent adherence to the classic pulp-fiction format. Classic horror films such as The Exorcist, Dracula or the Frankenstein monster all utilize some elements of the modern mythos to give them their edge over the competition, and the British movie studios have capitalized on this by creating a long list of iconic monsters and characters that they can create a whole franchise around.
Another one of the biggest movie genres in the U.S. is the action genre. Although it started out with blocky, low budget films, today’s action films feature a myriad of elaborate special effects and the intense combat we have become accustomed to. One example of this type of film is the Mission Impossible series, which has taken a whole new approach to filmmaking. Instead of following a strict formula, the movies now feature an ensemble cast, interspersed with a myriad of chase sequences and explosions. The success of this series has led to numerous sequel projects, the latest of which is Ghost Protocol.
Perhaps the most enduringly popular genre theory is the psychological thriller. The psychological thriller revolves around a psychological thriller, usually set in a small town or large city. Many films have been produced under this structure, and they have been successful because they tap into the fears of the audience. If the movie persuades the audience that they should be afraid for something, then the movie has succeeded. However, this type of movie has also produced some of the best-selling thrillers of all time, including the Friday the 13th, Hostage, and The Shining.