Action Genre
Typical target audience of the genre:
Action films are usually targeted at male audiences, ages 13 to the 30s across global markets.
Genre conventions – both within content and production techniques:
Content:
- Fast Moving Plot
- Scenes of Violence
- Extended fight scenes
- Frantic Chases
- The plot includes Good VS Evil -represented by individuals or groups.
- Themes include Good VS Evil, revenge, escape, family issues.
- Events usually occurring in a city or area of urban development (Skyscrapers or underground tunnels or city landscapes)
- Many establishing shots thought the film
- Fast paced shots
- Tracking Shots
- Close-ups to establish an emotional connection to the good guy or reveal something personal/dark about the bad guy (further character development).
- Wide shots (Many of which have explosions in the background)
- Use -or heavy use- of CGI
- A fast and energetic soundtrack
- Comedic relief
- Hollywood “A-listers” or “Big names” starring -or making cameos-
Production:
- Expected to have a big budget
- Elaborate stunts
- Elaborate sets - most common in superhero movies-
- Elaborate/Detailed costuming
- Building a “universe” around the action franchise
Institutional conventions – narrative image, marketing, etc. :
Narrative Image: Action films promise a fast-moving plot with many fight scenes but yet manage to remain “mysterious” to the viewer; action movies are known for attention-grabbing trailers that depict parts of the film's climax, this intrigues the audience to watch the movie as they don't know what caused the high tension moment and most times aren’t completely sure if it’s the climax at all. In a franchise, the narrative image of the film must relate to the previous films and should, therefore, build on the audience’s previous experience with the franchise. Action franchises like Avengers, The Hunger Games, Fast & Furious, and Kingsman presented VERY similar plots in different contexts, the previous cinematic experience drew the audience in while the new character developments and situations (the context of the plot) keep them going back.
A scene from Kingsman: The Golden Circle that has the exact same setup & style as the iconic bar fight from Kingsman: Secret Service.
Marketing: It is common for action movies to spread by common word of mouth among the young demographics of its target market, this is due to the widespread of social media and the natural excitement and anticipation for the release of an action franchise. For first-time action movies, word of mouth can organically help market the film after it entertained the audience.
Movie theaters filter the previews they show before each movie, normally categorizing them and showing the trailers to their target markets, this helps market the film among action lovers as they are more inclined to make plans to watch the upcoming film because they are already in the “mood” for action (Because they are about to watch an action movie).
In most actions movies in which there are teams, the studio will choose the most popular/the main character, or the timeline leader (For example, Iron Man for the Avengers Franchise) to be the face of the narrative. It is common for the studios to release many posters and ad campings focused on a specific character in the group, and recreate the same process for other characters in the movie (character posters). This allows the studios to reach as many preferences in their target market, by making them believe that their favorite character has a “big” role in the plot of the movie.
Film samples within the genre:
Film #1: The Avengers
Film #2: Deadpool
Deadpool is such a ridiculously perfect embodiment of the action genre that this became recurring joke thought the movie. It is THE embodiment of an action film, except for the comedic exaggerations; the film has grotesquely violent scenes, a fast-moving plot, many wide shots, elaborate stunts, and an overly abundant comedic relief. Deadpool characters have detailed costuming, so much that an accurate cosplay costume can reach the $500 price tag. 21st Century Fox, the studio that owns and produces Deadpool, targets the older demographic of action movies -unlike most superhero movies-, as the movie is rated R due to its violence, language, and other controversial depictions. The plot follows a common theme in action, revenge. ( “A fast-talking mercenary with a morbid sense of humor is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and a quest for revenge.”- IMDb)
Other Action Films:
