Holly Neiland conducted research on movie preferences that included interviewing strangers and having friends/family fill out a questionnaire. The results showed that horror was the most popular favorite genre at 20%, while romance was the most disliked at 40%. Further analysis found differences by age, with those under 10 preferring cartoons and those over 50 preferring fantasy and war films. Gender differences also emerged, with romance highly preferred by females but disliked by males, and action highly preferred by males but disliked by some females who found it unappealing and bewildering.

1. Research task
Holly Neiland

2. So what have I learned from my
research?
My peers and I, (Kelly and Bella) circled Enfield town in our study and lunch
breaks questioning random strangers, whilst on camera, asking them three simple
questions;
1. What’s your favourite movie genre?
2. What’s your least favourite movie genre?
3. Why are the first two minutes of a movie important to you?
This allowed us to really get a feel of today’s trends in terms of film, and if there
are any certain patterns depending on age and gender.
As well as this, I individually asked 20 people such as; close family, neighbours and
friends to fill out a questionnaire I made. (As seen on the next slide)
From the results of this questionnaire, I was able to quote figures to comprehend
certain statements such as, the commonly preferred genre specified to each
gender and even age group.

3. • Q1: Gender? MALE / FEMALE
•
• Q2: Age
• 10 OR UNDER 11-14 15-18 19-25 26-35 36-50 50+
•
• Q3: What is your favourite movie genre (Romance, horror, comedy etc?)
• …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
•
• Q4: What is your LEAST favourite movie genre?
• …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
•
• Q5: Why?
• ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
•
• Q6: what influences you to watch a movie? (Posters, trailers, actors etc?)
• ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
•
•
• Q7: What is your all time favourite movie?
• ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Results.
Horror Comedy Action Cartoon War action Fantasy Sci-Fy Romance Adventure Crime/thriller
Horror 6
Comedy 5
Action 3
Cartoon 3
War action 1
Fantasy 1
Sci-Fi 2
Romantic 5
Adventure 3
Crime 1
Favourite movie genres
20%
17%
10%
10%
3%
3%
7%
17%
10%
3%

5. Least favourite movie genres
Horror Action Documentrys Romantic Adventure Crime/thriller
20%
7%
13%
40%
10%
10%
Horror 6
Action 2
Faction 4
Romance 12
Adventure 3
Crime/thriller 3

6. The two previous pie charts illustrate
the results of questions three and
four. (What is your favourite and
least favourite movie genre)
Evidently, the favoured film genre is
horror, racking in 20% of votes,
with favourite movies listing from
the conjuring, the ring and the
exorcist. As well the genre comedy
creeping in behind at 17%.
Whereas the most common answer to
“what is your LEAST favourite
genre” were in fact ‘romantic’
scoring 40% and funnily enough
horror AGAIN! At 20%.
However, these results do not show
any of the common patterns within
specific genders or age groups.
So I investigated a little deeper into
my data and created a few more
crafty graphs as seen on the next
slide.

7. 3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Age groups
Favourite genres
Horror Comedy Action cartoon War
action
Fantasy Sci-Fy Romanc
e
Crime/thrille
r
10 or under 11_14 15-18 19-25 26-35 36-50 50+
Comedy Action cartoon War action Fantasy Sci-Fy Romance Crime/thriller Adventure Horror
Adventur
e
10 or
under
0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
11_14 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
15-18 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1
19-25 2 2 0
26-35 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
36-50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
50+ 1 1

8. The results from the bar chart clearly show the differences in movie preferences depending on
the age group.
For example the first grouping (10 or under) selected only the genre ‘cartoon’ indicating the
youngest in our society watch predominantly animated films, ones with the ‘fairytale,
princess-y’ approach, perhaps because of parental guidance, as well the frequently watched
child channels (Disney channel and cartoon network etc) showing mainly ‘cartoon’ films.
This contrasts with the oldest age category’s choices. Despite the fact I only interviewed two
over the age of 50, they both selected the genre ‘fantasy’ and ‘war action’, these two genres
will often be described as ‘dreary’ and ‘boring’ by the younger generation, mainly because
of the lack of adulthood and maturity, perhaps.
Lastly the ‘adolescent’ aged groups (11-14 & 15-18) both share an interest in horror, action and
comedy, most likely as films such as 21 jump street and ‘X-men’ holding a similar lifestyle to
which they desire and most of the time hold themselves(the comedy side most likely, unless
they’re mutants?) . More so the 15-18 age group seemed more interested in the genre
horror; perhaps due to the restrictions of age certificates for the younger age groups.
Additionally the age group 19-25 mutually was interested in horror , possibly because they
are more ‘mature’ and able to deal with ‘going to sleep afterwards’ which was a major
reason for horror being peoples LEAST favourite genre.

9. Gender and the least favourite genre.
Horror
10
8
6
4
2
0
Action
Faction
Romanc
Crime/t
hiller
Advent
ure
Male Female
Horror 2 4
Action 0 2
Faction 2 2
Romance 10 2
Adventure 1 2
Male
Female
Crime/thille
r
1 2

10. Gender and the favourite genre.
Horror
5
4
3
2
1
0
Comedy
Action
Cartoon
War
action
Fantasy
Male
Female
Crime/thri
Ski-Fy
Adventure
Romance
ller
Male Female
Horror 5 1
Comedy 2 3
Action 3 1
Cartoon 1 2
War action 1 0
Fantasy 0 1
Ski-Fy 2 0
Romance 0 5
Adventure 2 1
Crime/thrill
er
1 0

11. After studying the data collected for the different gender groups, the divide in film
interest is obvious.
For instance the genre ‘romance’ sparked quite a bit of controversy. 25% of women
stated ‘romance’ was their favourite genre, following on, 0 of men stated the same
fact, however a whopping 50% of men claimed romance was their least favourite
genre, reasons listed include ‘cringey’ ‘unrealistic expectations’ and simply the
genre makes the men ‘feel sick.’ One male actually went on to say romance is
‘purely for girls,’ funnily enough, the stats actually back up, what some may deem
as a very sexist view. Many females told me they enjoy watching films such as ‘the
notebook’ and ‘dear john’ not just for the hunky actors, but because they like to
‘envision’ themselves, as the female protagonist being ‘swept of their feet’ by the
‘perfect man’ often connoted as Channing Tatum. No comment.
Nonetheless the same pattern is seen again with ‘action.’ The ratio of men to women
picking action as their favourite genre is 3:1, several men reported the over-sexualisation
of female characters attracts them to certain movies, more
commonly action films. With two females affirming action as their least favourite
genre, stating that it is ‘completely unappealing’ as well as being entirely
‘bewildering,’ No males choose it as their most avoided genre. This could be in
consequence of males worshiping the ‘die hard series’ for example, as well as
idolising ‘tough’ figures much like James bond.