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Most Popular Genres, 1995-2022: Super-Hero Movies Are Most Popular, Documentaries Are Least Popular

Photo by Felipe Bustillo via Unsplash

Most Popular Genres, 1995-2022:

Super-Hero Movies Are Most Popular, Documentaries Are Least Popular

By MOVIEGUIDE® Staff

Sources:  MOVIEGUIDE® and The Numbers. 

An analysis of the box office earnings of the major movie genres in North America shows that, between 1995 and 2022, the most popular film genre was the Super Hero movie, and the least favorite was Documentary movies.

The second and third most popular genres were Kids Fiction and Action Adventure, followed by Science Fiction movies.

Drama movies were the second least favorite, averaging only $6.47 million per movie, though movies that dramatized real events averaged $13.26 million and Historical Fiction movies averaged $12.38 million.

Super Hero movies averaged a whopping $160.08 million per movie.

Finally, American moviegoers prefer movies that were totally animated or had at least some animated scenes in them.

Animated movies averaged $68.83 million per movie in the United States and Canada, but live action movies averaged only $14.11 million. Movies that were totally animated, with no live action, averaged nearly $97.92 million.

The fact that animated movies and children’s movies do so well clearly shows that American moviegoers want family-friendly entertainment.

Rank

Type/Kind

Average B.O.

1.

Super Hero

$160,080,672

2.

Kids Fiction

$57,060,122

3.

Action Adventure

$51,518,025

4.

Science Fiction

$40,631,924

5.

Fantasy

$27,994,981

6.

Musical

$21,359,121

7.

Horror

$18,653,778

8.

Romantic Comedy

$16,804,071

9.

Thriller/Suspense

$16,251,212

10.

Comedy

$13,835,643

11.

Dramatization

$13,261,046

12.

Contemporary Fiction

$12,882,986

13.

Historical Fiction

$12,381,541

14.

Black Comedy

$10,294,358

15.

Drama

$6,471,943

16.

Documentary

$1,037,052

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.