Film noir (/ nwɑːr /; French: [film nwaʁ]) is a style of Hollywood crime drama that emphasizes cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic …

Nov 14, 2025 · Film noir, style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark lighting effects, and frequent use of flashbacks.

Sep 10, 2024 · Definition & Complexity: Film Noir is a 1940s cinema category featuring psychological crime thrillers with dark, stylized visuals. It defies strict genre classification, …

Dec 2, 2024 · Film noir is a stylized genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. The term was originally used in France after WWII, to describe American thriller or detective …

Sep 22, 2025 · Although French critic Nino Frank coined the term “film noir” in 1946, the genre’s classic period began in the early 1940s and lasted through the 1950s. The misanthropic …

Film noir emerged in the early 1940s as a distinctive style within American cinema, marked by its dark, moody aesthetics and cynical narratives. Noir films often delve into psychological depth, …

Oct 29, 2025 · Find out about film noir, what defines it, the history of this movie style, the themes it features and the best examples of the genre.

Film Noir is one of Hollywood’s only organic artistic movements. Beginning in the early 1940s, numerous screenplays inspired by hardboiled American crime fiction were brought to the …

Dec 14, 2025 · The term “Film Noir” is French for “black film,” which reflects the dark and pessimistic tone of these movies. Film Noir is characterized by its moody lighting, complex …

Film Noir is the sultry, shadow-laced genre that revolutionized cinema with its moody aesthetics and morally ambiguous characters. It’s a world where the line between right and wrong is as …