Even when a movie genre seems to have fallen out of fashion, it only takes one big hit to bring about a revival. Sometimes, one movie can breathe new life into an entire genre by coming up with a fresh approach. It’s natural for audiences to tire of certain genres if there aren’t enough new ideas to go around, and any genre can go stale within a few years. The flip side is that a genre can become trendy again in an instant.
Genres fade in and out of fashion, and there’s no certainty that audience tastes will remain the same. Some genres which seem incredibly outdated may be just one creative movie away from a revival. It’s important to remember that Westerns, music biopics and spy movies were all seen as old-fashioned fairly recently, but they are now winning awards and making tons of money once again.
10
Unforgiven (1992)
Westerns
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
9.8/10
Unforgiven
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
August 7, 1992
Director
Clint Eastwood
Cast
Clint Eastwood
, Gene Hackman
, Morgan Freeman
, Richard Harris
, Jaimz Woolvett
, Saul Rubinek
, Frances Fisher
, Anna Thomson
, David Mucci
, Rob Campbell
, Anthony James
, Tara Frederick
, Beverley Elliott
, Liisa Repo-Martell
, Josie Smith
, Shane Thomas Meier
, Aline Levasseur
, Cherrilene Cardinal
, Robert Koons
, Ron White
, Mina E. Mina
, Henry Kope
, Jeremy Ratchford
, John Pyper-Ferguson
Expand
Clint Eastwood had been a legend of the Western genre ever since starring in Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy, and he brought the genre back to prominence with Unforgiven. Eastwood directs and stars in the Best Picture winner, leaving one final parting gift for the genre before moving on to other projects. Unforgiven is often credited with bringing back Westerns after a barren stretch in the 1970s and 1980s.
Eastwood’s protagonist in Unforgiven is a morally gray anti-hero. He could be the polar opposite of the Gary Cooper and John Wayne type that used to be the genre standard. This continues to influence the Western genre, and many of the 21st century’s best Westerns owe a great debt to Unforgiven in one way or another. The genre has seen a resurgence at the box office and during awards season.
9
Gladiator (2000)
Historical Epics
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
10/10
69
9.3/10
Gladiator
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
May 5, 2000
Director
Ridley Scott
Cast
Russell Crowe
, Joaquin Phoenix
, Connie Nielsen
, Oliver Reed
, Richard Harris
, Derek Jacobi
, Djimon Hounsou
, David Schofield
, John Shrapnel
, Tomas Arana
, Ralf Moeller
, Spencer Treat Clark
, David Hemmings
, Tommy Flanagan
, Sven-Ole Thorsen
, Omid Djalili
, Nicholas McGaughey
, Chris Kell
, Tony Curran
, Mark Lewis
, John Quinn
, Alun Raglan
, David Bailie
, Chick Allan
, David J. Nicholls
, Al Hunter Ashton
, Billy Dowd
, Giannina Facio
, Giorgio Cantarini
Expand
Historical epics were big business in Old Hollywood, with movies like Ben-Hur, Cleopatra and The Ten Commandments underlining the genre’s popularity. New Hollywood put an end to this trend, and it took a long time for historical epics to come back into fashion. There were a few exceptions here and there, but Gladiator was the movie that signaled the true rebirth of the genre at the beginning of the 21st century.
Related
15 Best Ridley Scott Movies, Ranked
With Gladiator II lighting up the box office, it’s worth revisiting the best movies of legendary director Ridley Scott to see where it stacks up.
Posts
1
Ridley Scott’s historical epic seems to hark back to the days of sword-and-sandal movies like Spartacus, but it inspired a new wave of similar movies. The 2000s produced Troy, 300 and Scott’s own Kingdom of Heaven. There were a few more imitators that weren’t nearly as successful, partly because historical epics require a big budget to sell the authenticity and scale of the period. The cost also explains why studios are reluctant to make historical epics unless it’s a proven trend.
8
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Music Biopics
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
5/10
8.2/10
Bohemian Rhapsody
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
October 24, 2018
Director
Bryan Singer
, Dexter Fletcher
Cast
Ben Hardy
, Aidan Gillen
, Gwilym Lee
, Mike Myers
, Rami Malek
, Lucy Boynton
, Tom Hollander
, Michelle Duncan
, Joseph Mazzello
, Allen Leech
The recent wave of music biopics can be traced back to the success of Bohemian Rhapsody. Not only did the story of Queen make $910.8 million at the box office, but Rami Malek won an Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury. There have been some great music biopics before, but Bohemian Rhapsody presents a new take on the genre, with more focus on atmosphere and entertainment than historical accuracy.
Bohemian Rhapsody is probably a big reason why movies like Elvis, Back to Black and Bob Marley: One Love have all been made in the last few years.
Bohemian Rhapsody is probably a big reason why movies like Elvis, Back to Black and Bob Marley: One Love have all been made in the last few years. Its influence could also stretch as far as Timothée Chalamet’s new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, and Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics. Actors often score big awards for playing real-life people, so the music biopic trend could continue for a while.
7
The Bourne Identity
Spy Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
10/10
9.5/10
The Bourne Identity
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
June 14, 2002
Director
Doug Liman
Cast
Chris Cooper
, Franka Potente
, Clive Owen
, Matt Damon
, Brian Cox
The spy genre was at a low ebb just before The Bourne Identity came out. The Austin Powers movies poked fun at the genre’s tropes and eccentricities, Mission: Impossible had produced two mediocre movies, and James Bond was in need of a serious update. The Bourne Identity breathed new life into the genre. It turned into a big franchise, but it also changed the other important spy franchises: Mission: Impossible and James Bond.
It turned into a big franchise, but it also changed the other important spy franchises: Mission: Impossible and James Bond.
Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond opened with one of the franchise’s best movies: Casino Royale. Many of Casino Royale‘s fight scenes in particular seem to take inspiration from the Bourne movies, with a lot of shaky camerawork and heavy punches. The Bourne franchise eschews the spy genre’s penchant for glamorous super spies, and its gritty, complex storytelling continues to inform the genre.
6
Scream (1996)
Slashers
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
9.6/10
Scream
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
December 20, 1996
Director
Wes Craven
Cast
Drew Barrymore
, Kevin Patrick Walls
, David Booth
, Carla Hatley
, Neve Campbell
, Skeet Ulrich
Slashers reached their peak in the 1970s and 1980s, an era that many of the genre’s biggest franchises can trace their roots back to. Halloween, Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more all started in this period, but the genre started to lose its vitality throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Wes Craven’s Scream was part of a new generation of slashers that employed self-referential techniques to deconstruct the genre from within.
Many new slashers follow in Scream‘s footsteps by introducing humor and murder mysteries.
One thing that Scream does to break the mold is it introduces elements of mystery movies. It’s as much a whodunnit as it is a slasher, and this inspired plenty of imitators. The Scream franchise has continued to set trends for the genre as it has grown. Many new slashers follow in Scream‘s footsteps by introducing humor and murder mysteries these days. The upcoming Scream 7 will likely be as self-satirical as ever.
5
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Western Animated Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
9/10
8/10
The Little Mermaid
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
November 17, 1989
Director
Ron Clements
, John Musker
Cast
Jodi Benson
, Samuel E. Wright
, Pat Carroll
, Christopher Daniel Barnes
, Kenneth Mars
, Buddy Hackett
, Jason Marin
, Rene Auberjonois
, Paddi Edwards
, Ben Wright
, Edie McClurg
, Will Ryan
, Sherry Lynn
, Mickie McGowan
, Nancy Cartwright
, Frank Welker
, Hamilton Camp
, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte
Expand
Disney led the way in Western animation for a long time, and the so-called “Disney Dark Age” of the 1970s and 1980s coincided with an overall dropoff in animated movies across the board. There were a few gems here and there, but overall Western animated movies didn’t reach the heights of the old Disney classics like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. The Little Mermaid was a triumphant return to form.
For the first time ever, there were plenty of movies to rival Disney’s animation domination, like The Iron Giant, Anastasia and The Prince of Egypt.
The Little Mermaid kicked off the Disney renaissance of the 1990s in style, and big hits like The Lion King, Mulan and Aladdin soon followed. The 1990s also saw the rise of other animation studios. For the first time ever, there were plenty of movies to rival Disney’s animation domination, like The Iron Giant, Anastasia and The Prince of Egypt. Of course, Toy Story‘s computer-generated animation was another game-changer in 1995.
4
John Wick (2014)
Classic Action Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
7/10
31
9.4/10
John Wick
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
October 24, 2014
Director
David Leitch
, Chad Stahelski
Cast
Keanu Reeves
, Adrianne Palicki
, Willem Dafoe
, Bridget Moynahan
, Jason Isaacs
, Alfie Allen
The first John Wick gave rise to a new generation of action thrillers. Its success proved that there was still a huge audience for gritty, pared-back actioners in an era when superhero movies were still the dominant force in the genre. John Wick stood out for its practical stunts and its intense, almost balletic fight choreography. David Leitch and Chad Stahelski blended martial arts with explosive shoot-em-ups, and Keanu Reeves’ performance sealed the deal.
2:43
Related
Ballerina Everything We Know About the John Wick Spinoff Movie
Ballerina and everything we know about it, The John Wick spin-off starring Ana de Armas, release date, cast, and story!
Posts
There have been a ton of movies inspired by John Wick in the last decade, some of which are derivative ripoffs, and some of which are gloriously entertaining. Monkey Man, The Beekeeper and Sisu are among the best. Not content to rest on its laurels, the John Wick franchise has kept reinventing itself with each sequel. John Wick: Chapter 4 is more eccentric and complex than the first entry, and there are more sequels and spinoffs in the works.
3
Gravity (2013)
Space Exploration Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
10/10
7.2/10
Gravity
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Release Date
October 3, 2013
Director
Alfonso Cuarón
Cast
Sandra Bullock
, George Clooney
, Ed Harris
, Orto Ignatiussen
, Paul Sharma
, Amy Warren
Before Gravity, there hadn’t been a truly great astronaut movie for a long time, perhaps as far back as 1995’s Apollo 13. However, the time was right for the genre to come back, as news headlines promised a new dawn for space exploration with scientists setting their sights on Mars. Gravity also made the most of the 3-D movie craze, and it became a must-see event that resulted in a box office haul of $723.2 million.
Interstellar, The Martian, Hidden Figures, First Man and Ad Astra all drew big stars and big directors to the genre over the next few years.
Gravity‘s success is one reason why so many of the best space exploration movies came out in the 2010s. Interstellar, The Martian, Hidden Figures, First Man and Ad Astra all drew big stars and big directors to the genre over the next few years. The trend seems to have died down now, but there was a good few years when plenty of major studios were trying to replicate the success that Alfonos Cuarón had with Gravity.
2
Cloverfield (2008)
Kaiju Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
9/10
6.6/10
Cloverfield
Release Date
January 15, 2008
Director
Matt Reeves
Cast
Lizzy Caplan
, Jessica Lucas
, T.J. Miller
, Michael Stahl-David
, Mike Vogel
, Odette Annable
Cloverfield combines the kaiju genre with found-footage horror. It doesn’t immediately seem like a natural fit, since kaiju movies are often about big-screen spectacle, and found-footage works best on a smaller scale. Against the odds, Cloverfield works brilliantly, and it kickstarted an entire franchise. The unorthodox style makes it feel much more realistic than older kaiju movies, and this has a greater impact.
As well as its stylistic innovations, Cloverfield returns the kaiju genre to its roots by tying the monster to a real-world disaster. The original Godzilla referenced the nuclear bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and Cloverfield is an allegory for the September 11 attacks. The 2014 reboot of Godzilla and Pacific Rim seem to emulate some of Cloverfield‘s techniques, and the kaiju genre is back after a long period of dormancy.
1
Ocean’s 11 (1960)
Heist Movies
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Your changes have been saved
Email is sent
Email has already been sent
My List
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date
August 3, 1960
Director
Lewis Milestone
Cast
Frank Sinatra
, Dean Martin
, Sammy Davis Jr.
, Peter Lawford
, Angie Dickinson
, Richard Conte
, Cesar Romero
, Patrice Wymore
, Joey Bishop
, Akim Tamiroff
, Henry Silva
, Ilka Chase
, Buddy Lester
, Richard Benedict
, Jean Willes
, Norman Fell
, Clem Harvey
, Hank Henry
, Lew Gallo
, Robert Foulk
, Red Skelton
, George Raft
Expand
Heist movies were a staple of the film noir genre, and there were some outstanding movies produced in the 1950s, like Jules Dassin’s Rififi and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing. However, the genre needed some reinvention before it would become truly popular again. This reinvention came in the form of Ocean’s 11, a more stylish and less violent kind of heist movie that had more in common with British crime capers like The Ladykillers and The Lavender Hill Mob than American gangster movies.
Related
20 Best Heist Movies Of All Time, Ranked
The best heist movies can be comedies, dramas, or thrillers. But they all need an eclectic crew and a big score waiting for them at the end.
Posts
1
Thanks to the charms of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and their Rat Pack friends, Ocean’s 11 was a big hit. It soon inspired a new style of heist movie, and many of the best heist movies of the 1960s were just as suave, like The Thomas Crown Affair and How to Steal a Million. Ocean’s 11 also stood out because it allowed the criminals to win. Danny Ocean and his gang may not get the money, but they escape as free men without any casualties. Coincidentally, the 2001 remake with George Clooney and Brad Pitt revived the genre once again.