Films are often divided into genres, which describe the typical subject matter--what the film is about. This is distinct from film styles, which describes filmic conventions which can be applied to any genre. Of course, the more that genres are defined, the more likely that a filmmaker will try to combine, transcend and evade categories, so not every film can be neatly labeled.
Some of the most common film genres are:
- 3-D film
- Action-adventure film
- Animated film
- Art film
- Blaxploitation
- Comedy film
- Disaster film
- Documentary film
- Drama film
- Ephemeral film
- Family film
- Fantasy film
- Film noir
- Gangster film
- Historical drama film
- Horror film
- Machinima
- Martial arts film
- Mockumentary film
- Musical film
- Pornographic film
- Propaganda film
- Romantic comedy film
- Science fiction film
- Short film
- Silent film
- Sports film
- Spy film
- Surrealist film
- Sword and sandal
- Thriller film
- War film
- Western film
