The last 10 years have been a major period of change for the movie industry. With the increase in streaming services, we’ve seen a wide variety of movies and TV shows able to take risks and dip into all sorts of genres we haven’t seen for a while.
Of course, no genre ever really truly disappears but some have made a comeback in a huge way. Here are 10 old-school genres that are now experiencing a resurgence over the past decade and can be seen in both theatres and on the small screen in your home.
The Western
The western genre might not have reached the height it was once at, but its influence is everywhere. Not only have old classics been remade with modern stars, but other major franchises such as The Mandalorian, have taken references from the genre.
Aside from the Magnificent Sevens and Hateful Eights, other genres are heavily pulling on the western concept to help them with their own narratives. Westworld for instance expertly takes this old school genre and gives it a new world twist.
Fantasy
It seems bizarre to suggest that the fantasy genre ever really went away, however, the 2010s have certainly seen fantasy worlds become even more important in our cinematic language. In fact, fantasy has even crossed over to science fiction, creating aliens and magic in the same universe.
With Netflix having created a tonne of fantasy series, the genre is clearly set up for the next 10 years; aside from sci-fi, fantasy has become the resurgence of the decade. Yet, there’s been no one defining fantasy franchise as there was in the previous decade with Harry Potter.
The Romantic-Comedy
The romantic comedy (or rom-com if you prefer) was once a major cinematic draw, with couples across the world enjoying the various tropes of the genre. However, perhaps due to a series of terrible scripts, the rom-com kind of slipped away, with fans returning to old classics instead of new films.
However, over the last decade, the genre has slowly rebuilt itself and there are now more hits than misses. Maybe it’s because of a more diverse set of storytelling talent creating hits like Always Be My Maybe or it could be that the genre needed a creative break.
The Thriller
The thriller is a difficult type of film to crack. It involves elements of an action flick and can quickly turn more into a blockbuster than something that carries real suspense. It’s a genre that requires a lot of subtlety that was absent for a while.
Genuine thrillers seem to be returning to the big and small screen over the last decade. Screenplays are drenched in ominous tension and the brilliant performances of today’s actresses and actors have allowed for this genre to truly come alive again.
The Musical
The musical genre every so often has a hit on its hands but was never revived in the way that old school Hollywood used to produce them. With La La Land setting the trend however, the genre seems to be bigger than ever.
There’s a way in which this has been brought into the realm of the biopic with Bohemian Rhapsody, but other films such as Yesterday have showcased the many possibilities that the musical genre has for storytelling.
Retro
The retro genre is not like the other types of films on this list. The retro idea is based around calling back to the cinema of old and trying to incorporate elements; whether it’s through the music chosen or perhaps the time period and tone.
Netflix’s Stranger Things is, of course, a major example of this, as is the awesome mixtape soundtracks that accompany Marvel’s premium galactic team, The Guardians Of The Galaxy. This longing for the past is set to continue, as this type of film making seems more popular than ever.
The Teen Drama
Teen dramas were extremely popular in the ’80s and again in the early 2000s. They have resurfaced once more for a new generation of young adults who are just trying to understand an ever-changing world, as their own lives shift dramatically.
We’ve seen a full range of these types of films and TV shows. Whether it’s Sex Education or the Edge of Seventeen, each one has something quite unique to say about growing up in the 21st century and especially the last 10 years.
Martial Arts
During the golden age of cinema, martial arts films were a huge part of the blockbuster scene, with Bruce Lee obviously becoming a major star. The genre has faded for some time, but perhaps with a new wave of stuntmen and women, it’s on the verge of an even bigger return.
The last decade has certainly seen a resurgence, catapulted by a range of international talent bringing their expert skills into the world of Hollywood. Even action films are taking these kinds of hand to hand combat moves into their repertoire; look at John Wick as an example.
Historical
The sword and sandal concept probably won’t return for quite some time as audiences just aren’t interested in that right now. However, that doesn’t mean the history genre as a whole has fallen by the wayside, never to return.
In fact, certain aspects of the historical genre have had a big resurgence. The most obvious examples are the WWI and WWII stories we’ve been seeing as of late, although period pieces, in general, have also been extremely popular.
Spy
The spy genre was huge back in the day, with James Bond obviously leading the charge. Even that series of films took a backseat to other action classics and parodies made sure that the spy genre could never rise to the same level again.
Yet, there are countless projects that draw from this world of spies and espionage to the point of which it’s fair to say it’s had a resurgence. The cool gadgets and mysterious identities are still appealing and the action elements make for great cinema experiences.
