Hollywood has been linked to the American film industry for centuries. From the early days of silent films, directors and actors have perfected the craft of making films that enrich the values of moviegoers. SinceThe Count of Monte Cristograced the silver screens in 1908 and wowed viewers, the vast wealth of entertainment that has come from the famed Tinseltown is unlike any other form of entertainment. As the years passed and the development of modern filmmaking tech progressed, so did film and its storytelling magic.
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The silent era of film introduced fundamental techniques still in use today while the Golden Age of Hollywood gave the world complex plot lines and stellar narratives. Theexplosion of the independent era in the 1990sled to the success of home videos and horror subgenre. Outside of Hollywood, the world at times progressed at a slower pace than the likes ofSteven SpielbergandAlfred Hitchcock. Today’s box office is dominated by the likes of Marvel, DC, and other fantasy-based studios to which people refer to as the Superhero Era.
10Silent Film (1894-1931)
Held as “the beginning of the film industry,” films would cease to exist without this important piece of the film era. A silent film is a film with no dialogue spoken. Films during this era usually explained the on-screen action with title cards. The era effectively came to an end around the release ofThe Jazz Singerin 1928.
The silent era gave early Hollywood its first stars. The likes ofCharlie Chaplin,Busters KeatonandMary Pickfordheadlined an era that set the tone for what Hollywood and the American film industry could be.
9Gangster Film (1930s)
The emergence of big-screen criminals getting away from the law began around the Great Depression, a time when America was at its worst. In a sense,gangsters films held more of the traditional American values, leaning more on the “work hard, play hard” mentality to fund their businesses. 1930s gangster filmLittle Caesar, Hollywood’s first gangster film, showcased the gangster trope unlike many before.
Hollywood saw this goldmine ofLittle Caesarand ran with it, churning out more than 50 gangster films over the next few years. With such an impact on the box office and the audience, many worried about gangster films' effect on society. Towards the end of the 1930s, gangster films would begin to fade from public interest and, ultimately, Hollywood itself.
8Hollywood Studios (1920s-1950s)
With Hollywood newly formed in Los Angeles, the race for valuable real estate and mass dominance in the area began just a few years later. Film studios began rapid production on various projects to create a new generation of media around the 1920s. The inclusion of the studio system helped generate more revenue.
Society’s interest in film and television led to the creation of the five film studios such as Paramount, MGM, Fox, Warner and RKO. While many other independent studios tried to capture the essence of these powerhouse studios, none reigned supreme over the big 5 during the 1920s.
7Slasher Films (1978-1984)
The slasher film era saw the emergence of a niche brand of horror that launched some of the most successful film franchises. The slasher film genre is a sub-genre of horror that usually sees a masked figure stalking and murdering a lect group of people. Born out of John Carpenter’s classic slasherHalloween, the slasher genre dominated the better part of the 90s.
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To this day, slasher film standards have been passed down over the years, many attempting to recreate their own. Even after the peak of slasher films began to fade, the genre managed to hold its impactful grip on Hollywood.
6Disaster Film Revival (1990s)
Disaster films is a genre that has an impending disaster as its main subject with humans playing a sort of co-starring role. Disasters may range from natural disasters to supernatural events. The film genre first saw its golden peak back in the 1970s with the release ofAirport.
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Although the era didn’t begin during the late 90s,the invention of CGI ultimately gave new life to the genre. With many studios investing in the new technology, the disaster genre saw the likes ofTwister,Independence DayandTitanicas moneymakers.
5Blockbusters (1970s)
The term “blockbuster” was used as a term for a feature film, by a major studio, that becomes highly profitable. The team became a mainstay in the American film industry with the release of action packed films. Spielberg’sJawsis known as the first “blockbuster” film withStar Warsflowing close behind.
Fast-forward a few decades and studios have largely invested in the production of blockbusters. The success of said movies usually led to film studios creating franchises to further increase their profits.
4Rom-Coms (1990s)
The 1990s saw the rise of romantic comedies withWhen Harry Met Sally. A lighter tone than traditional romantic films, rom-coms used the best of comedies while still maintaining the plot line of the film.
Using quirky characters and a colorful soundtrack, rom-coms became widely successful against a box office dominated by horror slasher films. The era brought classics like10 Things I Hate About You,You’ve Got MailandHow to Lose A Guy in 10 Day. Rom-coms would begin to decline in the 2000s, just as the superhero era began its rise.
3Westerns (1930s-1950s)
Westerns films were one of the first genres to introduce viewers to the world of cowboys and outlaws. Westerns films were usually based on a lone cowboy on the frontier and their many tangles with outlaws along the way.
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The era of Westerns was one of Hollywood’s longest running and successful eras of Old Hollywood. Despite its simple premise, the genre managed to keep its roots while pushing the boundaries of western storytelling.
2Independent Cinema (1990s)
As the awe of blockbusters began to fade, the interest in unique storytelling and freedom of expression grew.Gary BeerandSterling Van Wagenenhelped usher in the independent movement with the creation of the Sundance Film Festival in 1978. Along withRobert Redford, they created a movement unlike any other to showcase filmmakers.
As the stock of indie films became to rise, Hollywood major studios began to take notice and invest in building their own independent studios. The era gave birth some classic indie films likePulp Fiction,ClerksandThe Mask. The Sundance Film Festival still rings as the epicenter of independent cinema.
1New Hollywood (1970s)
New Hollywood was the result of filmmakers going against what Hollywood wanted. By the 1970s, the film industry had run dry with inspiration. The years prior had held immeasurable success and the years had not been kind. Movie studios were losing money as the same old movies didn’t work. Up-and-coming filmmakers were looking to crave their own path forward.
Wes Craven,Martin ScorseseandFrancis Ford Coppolabecame visionaries for New Hollywood with their films marking the start point for the rest to follow. Films likeBonnie and Clyde,The GodfatherandNight of the Living Deadbecame launchpads for various successful franchises and subgenres.
