What Are the 11 Super Genres in Screenwriting?

The 11 super genres come from Eric R. Williams’ Screenwriters Taxonomy. They are Action, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Life, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Thriller, War and Western. Each describes the core experience a story delivers to its audience, and writers use them to understand what their script promises.

• The framework groups stories by the experience they deliver.
• Life covers dramas about everyday personal struggles.
• Knowing your super genre clarifies your script’s promise.

Where does the list come from?

The 11 super genres come from The Screenwriters Taxonomy, developed by screenwriter and professor Eric R. Williams. He grouped films by the core experience they give an audience, rather than by tone or style. The super genres are Action, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Life, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Thriller, War and Western.

What does each super genre promise?

Action promises physical danger and spectacle. Crime explores people breaking the law and the consequences. Fantasy takes place in a world with magical rules. Horror confronts characters with a monster or force that threatens body or soul. Life covers stories about everyday human experience, from family dramas to coming-of-age films.

Romance centers on a relationship. Science Fiction explores how technology or science changes people and society. Sports uses competition as the engine of the story. Thriller builds suspense around a threat the protagonist must stop. War puts characters inside armed conflict. Western uses the frontier and its codes.

How do super genres differ from subgenres?

A super genre is the main experience. Subgenres narrow it down: a heist film is a kind of crime film, a slasher is a kind of horror film. Separately, the taxonomy treats things like comedy, drama and satire as types of story or tone that can be applied to any super genre. A romantic comedy is a Romance told as a comedy.

How do you use the super genres?

Choose one as the main promise of your film. That decides what scenes the audience will expect and what the climax needs to deliver. A Horror film has to frighten. A Sports film needs a big competition. Then add a subgenre and a tone to make it specific.

When your script feels unfocused, check whether it is trying to deliver two super genres equally. Usually one should lead and the other should support.

Why it helps with pitching

Producers and buyers think in genre because audiences do. Saying clearly what super genre your film belongs to, and naming two or three comparable films, helps them understand quickly what you are offering and who it is for.

Questions

Is comedy one of the super genres?

In this framework, comedy is treated as a style or voice that can apply to any super genre, rather than a super genre itself.

Do I have to use this framework?

No. It is one of several genre frameworks. It is useful as a way to check that your story delivers what its genre promises.

Related course: Screenwriting 101