Other Film Categories

Other
Film Categories

Other Film Categories (or Types): (see examples below)
There are many other (non-genre) film categories that cross-over many traditional genre film types, such as: animated films, UK films, classic films, family-oriented children's films, cult films, documentary films, serial films, sexual/erotic films, and silent films.

OTHER FILM CATEGORIES

These are some of the most common and identifiable other (non-genre) film categories (or types). Select an icon or film category below, read about its development and history, and view chronological lists of selected, representative greatest films for each one (with links to detailed descriptions of individual films).

There are obvious Genre Biases in the Selection of Best Picture Oscar Winners by AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). Top Films by Genre indicates the 'Greatest Films' by main genre type. In 1999, the Guinness Book of Film selected their Top 100 Films, categorized into a Top 5 for twenty different genres. If you're interested in the chronological history of film by decade - visit the section on Film History or the multi-part section on Milestones in Film History. If you're interested in the chronological history of film by genre - visit the section on Film Genres and Sub-Genres.

Other
Film Categories
Iconic symbols represent the different types of films Descriptions of
Other Film Categories

Animated Films Animations are not a strictly-defined genre category, but rather a film technique, although they often contain genre-like elements. This section presents an historical overview of these kinds of films, noted for frame-by-frame creation. Also includes claymation (use of clay objects), anime (a style of animation with its roots in Japanese comic books, usually adult-oriented sci-fi and fantasy) or CGI (computer-generated animation). Animated films are often considered kids or family-oriented films, although they may be enjoyed by all ages. See also Film Milestones in Visual and Special Effects.

British (UK Films) A short section designed as a tribute to various memorable British (UK Films) with a link to the 100 Favorite British Films of the 20th Century.

Childrens - Kids - Family-Oriented Films These are non-offensive, wholesome, and entertaining films (usually rated G for 'suitable for general audiences') that do not include topics or scenes with violence, foul language and other profanity, religious issues, gratuitous sexuality and so on, and are specifically designed for children 12 and under (or for family viewing). Children's and family-oriented films may actually be suitable for all age groups, and cover a wide range of genre categories (comedy, adventure, fantasy, musicals, etc.). Classic films from Hollywood's 'Golden Era' may be very appropriate for this type of film audience. See a listing of 100 Recommended Children's Movies.

Classic Films This 'classic films' category, not a film genre, identifies many films from Hollywood's distinguished Golden Era and other 'classics' that have held up over time.

Cult Films Not a specific genre in itself, since cult films can be science fiction, horror, etc. Cult films have limited but special appeal, and are usually strange, quirky, offbeat, eccentric, oddball, or surreal, with outrageous and cartoony characters or plots, garish sets - and often considered controversial. Includes various camp films, B-movies (low-budget, with little-known actors and rough scripts), or other trashy or sleazy selections. Also included in this section is the listing of Entertainment Weekly's choices for Top 50 Cult Movies.

Documentary Films Strictly speaking, documentary films are non-fictional, factual works of art. Originally, the earliest documentaries were either short newsreels, instructional pictures, or travelogues (termed actualities) without any creative story-telling or staging. But they have branched out and taken many forms, and have sometimes become propagandistic and non-objective. Mockumentaries are comedic parodies of documentaries. Some documentaries have been considered propagandistic.

Serial Films One of the earliest forms of film that originated during the silent era and lasted to the 1950s, often episodic in form, that were shown over a period of weeks or years. Included attractive heroines, action heroes, comic-book characters, western figures, and villains in melodramatic sequences that often ended with a cliffhanger.

Sexual or Erotic Films A hybrid category of sexual/erotic films that focus on themes with either suggestive, erotic or sensual scenes or subjects, sometimes with depictions of human nudity and lovemaking, but not always of an extremely explicit, gratuitous or pornographic nature. A mini-history of Sex in Cinema is included in this category. This category may include films often directed at teen audiences, with gross-out sexual subjects. Also see this site's Sex in Cinema: Greatest and Most Influential Erotic / Sexual Films and Scenes.

Silent Films Films that have no synchronized soundtrack and no spoken dialogue, until the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s. Films without dialogue featured titles for dialogue segments, and often were accompanied by live music. For additional information on the silent era, see Film History sections: the Pre-20s and the Decade of the 1920s.

Results open in new browser window
Find the film genre you're looking for at Movies Unlimited!

Other Film Categories Iconic symbols represent the different types of films	Descriptions of Other Film Categories
Animated Films	Animations are not a strictly-defined genre category, but rather a film technique, although they often contain genre-like elements. This section presents an historical overview of these kinds of films, noted for frame-by-frame creation. Also includes claymation (use of clay objects), anime (a style of animation with its roots in Japanese comic books, usually adult-oriented sci-fi and fantasy) or CGI (computer-generated animation). Animated films are often considered kids or family-oriented films, although they may be enjoyed by all ages. See also Film Milestones in Visual and Special Effects.
British (UK Films)	A short section designed as a tribute to various memorable British (UK Films) with a link to the 100 Favorite British Films of the 20th Century.
Childrens - Kids - Family-Oriented Films	These are non-offensive, wholesome, and entertaining films (usually rated G for 'suitable for general audiences') that do not include topics or scenes with violence, foul language and other profanity, religious issues, gratuitous sexuality and so on, and are specifically designed for children 12 and under (or for family viewing). Children's and family-oriented films may actually be suitable for all age groups, and cover a wide range of genre categories (comedy, adventure, fantasy, musicals, etc.). Classic films from Hollywood's 'Golden Era' may be very appropriate for this type of film audience. See a listing of 100 Recommended Children's Movies.
Classic Films	This 'classic films' category, not a film genre, identifies many films from Hollywood's distinguished Golden Era and other 'classics' that have held up over time.
Cult Films	Not a specific genre in itself, since cult films can be science fiction, horror, etc. Cult films have limited but special appeal, and are usually strange, quirky, offbeat, eccentric, oddball, or surreal, with outrageous and cartoony characters or plots, garish sets - and often considered controversial. Includes various camp films, B-movies (low-budget, with little-known actors and rough scripts), or other trashy or sleazy selections. Also included in this section is the listing of Entertainment Weekly's choices for Top 50 Cult Movies.
Documentary Films	Strictly speaking, documentary films are non-fictional, factual works of art. Originally, the earliest documentaries were either short newsreels, instructional pictures, or travelogues (termed actualities) without any creative story-telling or staging. But they have branched out and taken many forms, and have sometimes become propagandistic and non-objective. Mockumentaries are comedic parodies of documentaries. Some documentaries have been considered propagandistic.
Serial Films	One of the earliest forms of film that originated during the silent era and lasted to the 1950s, often episodic in form, that were shown over a period of weeks or years. Included attractive heroines, action heroes, comic-book characters, western figures, and villains in melodramatic sequences that often ended with a cliffhanger.
Sexual or Erotic Films	A hybrid category of sexual/erotic films that focus on themes with either suggestive, erotic or sensual scenes or subjects, sometimes with depictions of human nudity and lovemaking, but not always of an extremely explicit, gratuitous or pornographic nature. A mini-history of Sex in Cinema is included in this category. This category may include films often directed at teen audiences, with gross-out sexual subjects. Also see this site's Sex in Cinema: Greatest and Most Influential Erotic / Sexual Films and Scenes.
Silent Films	Films that have no synchronized soundtrack and no spoken dialogue, until the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s. Films without dialogue featured titles for dialogue segments, and often were accompanied by live music. For additional information on the silent era, see Film History sections: the Pre-20s and the Decade of the 1920s.