RE: What genre do the Star Wars films fit into?

Star Wars films DO fit into the Science Fiction Genre, and that is because sci-fi is actually one of the most wide-ranging genres in existence. It's probably the hardest genre to describe, simply because it is amazingly broad. Star Wars should be most accurately described as Space Opera. I don't think its terribly closely related to the Western. The Original Star Trek is a space western: I don't think Star Wars actually has too many of the trappings of a western.

-JDR.

 

actually, star wars does and doesn't fit in sci-fi. first of all, most sci-fi/action films (aliens) have weapons using bullets.

 

First of all, you might want to check out the Star Wars = sci-fi? It´s your choice! thread, as it discusses the same topic.



In my opinion, Star Wars is its own genre. Granted, it has concepts from both science fiction, fantasy, drama, romance, etc., but the true basis and catagorization is unique.


Star Wars has brought a number of new asects and ideas to the table, both in the advancement of story telling, character development, and the way movies work in general IRL.


Even though it contains a number of congruent ideals with even western type ideals, Star Wars is in its own league.


That is what Star Wars is.


Most of this can be summed up easily in my favorite George Lucas quote of all time:


"I've always loved adventure films. After I finished AMERICAIN GRAFFITI, I came to realize that since the demise of the western, there hasn't been much in the mythology fantasy genre available to the film audience. So, instead of making, "isn't-it-terrible-what's-happening-to-mankind" movies, which is how I began, I decided to try and fill that gap. I'd make a film so rooted in the imagination that the grimness of everyday life would not follow the audience into the theater. In other words, for two hours, they could forget.
I'm trying to reconstruct a genre that's been lost and bring it to a new dimension so that the elements of space, fantasy, adventure, suspense, and fun all work and feed off each other. So, in a way Star Wars is a movie for the kid in all of us."

-George Lucas


That quote in itself shows how Star Wars is both unique and interesting in its own light.

Star Wars is, plain and simple, Star Wars. It is its own catagory. It's own genre.


Ken Kenobi- And you have a nice day

 

I put the Star Wars Saga in the genre of science-fiction.

Lord of the Rings is fantasy.

 

I've commonly heard Star Wars called 'space opera', which fits well, IMHO.

 

Yes, its a Space Opera, which is not true science fiction, but more of a fantasy in a sci-fi setting.

 

I used to think of SW as pure sic fi, but now that I've been reading on the mythogical meanings behind star wars I see it as Mythogoical Fantasy type movie. Just look at the other movies GL helped in the writing Willow and Indiana Jones movies they're all fantasy, myth and adventure movies. Star Wars just looks like Sic Fi cause it takes place in outer space oh well thats my opinion.

 

Star Wars fits best into Fantasy I think. It is my opinion that it is closer to LOTR than to Star Trek. cbjedi brings up good points about the strong influence of the Western on Star Wars. That is through and through the films. Lucas has said it himself. Still I think Star Wars belongs in Fantasy. Saying it is nothing like LOTR is true... superficially. But two things: First, the two are much more similar under the surface, when you delve a little deeper and second, even things within a certain genre can be very different.

 

its a comedic drama with a touch of horor

 

comedic? yes. but horror? i don't think so. there's mystery, though.

 

well i think its a touch of shakespear...

 

Its really a mixture of many different Film Genres.

 

Fantasy/soap opera/drama/comedy/action/adventure/science fiction/suspense

I think that sums it up

 

In addition to the Science Fiction genre, the Star Wars films have created a genre within themselves.

 

They are like Musical Westerns
only there is not alot of singing or any references to the old west.

Seriously though, if you went into block buster, you would not expect to find them in comedy , mystery, horror, drama, or exercise video even though they have elements of each.

 

I GOT IT!!!


Its a horrific musical



I actually think it would be a SCI-FI

 

Personally, I'm not much for the concept of genres. You just can't put everything into a nice neat box. When you start classifying creative works you start building barriers. Well this is a so and so type of film so it will have to have so and so kind of characters and a so and so kind of plot. No, no, no. Don't put barriers on creative thinking. Don't adhere to stereotypes.

I understand the functionality of genres, it's so we can know what we're about to watch. But don't get fixated on them. The best films are the ones that cross genres. They don't play nice. They don't fit in neat little boxes. And like KenKenobi said, Star Wars is its own thing.