Action films originated in the 1920s-1930s as adventure films, then evolved to include war and western genres. The Bond films in the 1960s came to dominate the genre. Popular actors of the 1980s like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone helped make action films famous. Common directors include Christopher Nolan for intricate plots and Michael Bay for high-budget spectacles. Jerry Bruckheimer and Joel Silver are prolific producers of the genre. The target audience is typically male teens to young adults, but the genre appeals more broadly, with some films like "Salt" targeting female viewers. Action films conventionally feature fights, weapons, missions, and fast-paced scenes with violence and explosions.

1. The History, Directors, Actors, Producers, Target Audience and conventions
ACTION FILMS

2. THE HISTORY
In the early stages of action films (around the 1920-30s)… they were often adventure films.
The stereotypical action films went from being adventure films, to war or cowboy films the
1940-50s.
This then changed once again with the bond films being made starting in the 1960s, which
dominated the genre, and are still being made now, over 50 years on.
The 1980s is known for its action films, mostly made famous by the large amount of popular
actors there were in the genre at the time, such as: Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris

3. THE DIRECTORS
Christopher Nolan- known
for his hands on attitude,
and films that include: the
dark night, inception, and
interstellar.
Michael Bay- known for
making high budget action
films, such as the
transformer trilogy, bad
boys 1&2 as well as one
off films such as Pain and
gain

4. THE ACTORS
Jason Statham
Tom Hardy
Daniel Craig
Bruce Willis
Starred in films such as:
The Expendables 1,2&3
The Mechanic
Homefront
Snatch
Death Race
Starred in films such as:
Inception
Warrior
The dark night rises
Locke (not an action film)
Lawless
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Starred in films such as:
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Skyfall
Girl with the dragon tattoo
Defiance
Layer cake
Starred in films such as:
Die Hard (5 films)
The Expendables
Looper
Pulp fiction
Red 1&2
GI Joe

5. THE PRODUCERS
Jerry Bruckheimer
Produced films including:
Bad Boys 1&2
Pirates of the Caribbean’s
Top Gun
Beverly Hills Cop
Prince of Persia
Joel Silver
Produced films such as:
The Matrix
Die Hard
Sherlock Holmes(2009)
Barbara Broccoli
Produced the
bond Films
(1987- now)

6. THE TARGET AUDIENCE
A type of genre has a primary target audience that the advertising and
aspects of the film are tailored towards, they can also appeal to people
outside of that audience, this could be referred to as the secondary
audience, for example Shrek, being an animated kids film, children are the
main audience, however the producers have accounted for the parents
often watching it with then and so have adapted the film to acquire for both
tastes, with the primary audience more so.
For action films the target audience would stereotypically be male and teens
to young adults (15-25), it is however very popular among a broader
audience, with it being a popular genre, and having many big actors that will
attract more than just that niche audience. And this is also evident in the
films now also being targeted and filmed in mind of different target
audiences than the stereotypical action fanatic, for example ‘Salt’ shows a
strong and capable female role played by Angelina Jolie, making it more
appealable to a female audience.Stereotypical audience,
Male, 15-25 etc.

7. THE CONVENTIONS
Typically in actions films there
are many conventions that are
consistent and define that of
the action genre, these are:
fights, weapons, missions,
good and bad characters, fast
paced scenes, explosions,
killings, cars, crashes, chases,
violence etc. these
stereotypical characteristics of
the action genre are not
always in every action film,
however they are in the vast
majority, and are what define
and make the action in the
action genre.