B1 Vocabulary — Types of movies & TV shows
Key words and phrases to talk about film genres and kinds of TV programmes.
B1 Intermediate
Entertainment
Movies & TV
1. Light & funny films
- comedy = a film or show made to make you laugh. The comedy was so funny that we couldn’t stop laughing.
- rom-com = a romantic comedy about people falling in love. At the end of the rom-com the main couple got married.
- family film = suitable for adults and children. We watched a family film that everyone enjoyed.
- musical = part of the story is told through songs. She loves musicals and sings along to the music.
2. Exciting, scary & emotional films
- action film = fast, with fights, chases and explosions. I don’t enjoy action films; they’re too violent for me.
- adventure film = about exciting trips and journeys. We watched an adventure film about a man walking to the South Pole.
- drama = serious story focused on feelings and relationships. The drama was good, but a little depressing.
- horror film = made to frighten the audience. After that horror film I was afraid to turn off the light.
- thriller = very tense and full of suspense. The thriller was so gripping I couldn’t look away.
3. World & setting of the film
- fantasy film = magic, unreal places or creatures. My sister prefers fantasy films; I like more realistic stories.
- sci-fi film = about future technology, space, robots, etc. We watched a sci-fi film set in space in the year 4099.
- western = cowboy film set in the 19th-century American West. As a child I loved cowboys, so I watched a lot of westerns.
4. Story-based TV shows
- TV series = a story told in many episodes. It’s my favourite TV series; I’ve seen every episode.
- sitcom = comedy series with the same characters in funny situations. We tried a new sitcom on Saturday night and loved it.
- soap opera = long-running series about everyday life and problems. She’s watched the same soap opera since she was a child.
- cartoon = show with animated characters instead of actors. He enjoys watching cartoons because he’s into animation.
5. Guests, games & real people
- chat show = a host talks with celebrity guests. One guest on the chat show was in the film we saw yesterday.
- game show = people play games or answer questions to win prizes. On that game show the contestants solve maths problems.
- reality show = ordinary people in real-life situations. Reality shows don’t use actors, just people playing themselves.
- talent show = people compete with singing, dancing or other skills. The winner of the talent show had a fantastic voice.
6. Factual & information programmes
- documentary = factual programme about a real person, event or topic. We watched a documentary about the sinking of the Titanic.
- wildlife show = about animals and nature. There was an amazing wildlife show on sharks last weekend.
- sports show = covers sports news, results and interviews. On the sports show the coach talked about yesterday’s match.
- cookery show = chefs show how to prepare dishes. I followed a cookery show to learn a new pasta recipe.
7. Useful phrases for talking about films & shows
- Use It’s a … to say the type: It’s a comedy / It’s a reality show.
- Use adjectives like funny, scary, boring, exciting, moving to describe how you felt.
- To recommend something, say: You should watch it — it’s a great thriller.
Exercises:
Types of movies & TV shows
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
We watched a
and laughed from the beginning to the end.
Correct:
A comedy is a funny film that makes you laugh.
2
The new
has car chases, explosions and lots of fighting scenes.
Correct:
An action film has a lot of fights, chases and explosions.
3
They argue, fall in love and everything ends happily – it’s a classic
.
Correct:
A romantic comedy / rom-com is a funny love story.
4
The hero travels to dangerous places to find treasure – it’s an exciting
.
Correct:
An adventure film is about journeys, danger and exploration.
5
In this
the characters often start singing and dancing instead of just talking.
Correct:
A musical has many songs and dances as part of the story.
6
The film is a serious
about a family with real-life problems and strong emotions.
Correct:
A drama is a serious story about people and their feelings.
7
I can’t sleep after that
– there were ghosts, blood and lots of very scary scenes.
Correct:
A horror film is made to frighten you with very scary scenes.
8
This
has dragons, magic and a world that doesn’t exist in real life.
Correct:
A fantasy film is about magic, strange creatures and imaginary worlds.
9
The
shows spaceships, robots and life on another planet in the future.
Correct:
A sci-fi film (science-fiction film) is about space, technology or the future.
10
The
was very tense – I was nervous the whole time and didn’t know what would happen next.
Correct:
A thriller is a very exciting, tense film, often about crime or danger.
11
In this
there are cowboys on horses, deserts and small towns in the American past.
Correct:
A western is a film about cowboys and life in the old American West.
12
We chose a
so that both the children and the adults could enjoy it together.
Correct:
A family film is safe and fun for children and adults to watch together.
Types of movies & TV shows
Match the sentences with the types of movies
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