Unraveling the Generational Divide: Audience Preferences Across Movies and Genres

Delving into the insights provided by Parrot Analytics' Audience Solutions, we unveil the intriguing age and gender dynamics that shape the viewership of movies and shows. While some titles may boast a relatively balanced audience, our analysis has identified films where the audience is heavily skewed towards a particular generation, offering a fascinating glimpse into the content preferences of different age groups.

Uncovering the Generational Tastes in Entertainment

Gen Z's Affinity for Animation and Comedy

The youngest cohort, Gen Z, has a clear affinity for animation, with over 40% of the movies with a heavily Gen Z-skewing audience being animated. This is a significantly greater share compared to the other generations. Additionally, over 50% of movies with Gen Z-skewing audiences were comedies, showcasing their preference for lighthearted and humorous content.

Zennials: Bridging the Gap with Romance and Nostalgia

The Zennial generation, sandwiched between Gen Z and Millennials, exhibits a unique blend of content preferences. While their tastes sometimes align more closely with Gen Z or Millennials, one genre that clearly sets them apart is romance. Among movies with a strongly Zennial-skewing audience, 31% were in the romance genre, a significantly higher share compared to the older generations.

Millennials' Penchant for Horror

Millennials have carved out a distinct preference for the horror genre, with nearly 20% of titles with a heavily skewing Millennial audience being horror films. This is in stark contrast to the other generational cohorts, where fewer than 10% of titles with audiences skewed toward them were in the horror genre.

Gen X+: Embracing Westerns and Historical Narratives

The oldest generational cohort, Gen X+, showcases a clear distinction in their genre preferences. Over 3% of the movies with Gen X+ skewing audiences are Westerns, a significantly higher share compared to the younger generations. Additionally, 10% of titles that are heavily skewed toward this generation are in the history genre, reflecting their affinity for nostalgic and historical narratives.

Shifting Preferences: From Comedy to Drama

As audiences age, there is a noticeable shift in their genre preferences. While over 50% of movies with Gen Z-skewing audiences were comedies, this share drops significantly for the older generations, reaching just 25.6% for Gen X+. Conversely, the relative preference for dramas over comedies flips, with 42% of movies with a Gen Z-skewing audience being dramas, compared to 61% of movies with audiences skewed toward the oldest generation.

Curating for Diverse Audiences

Understanding the content preferences of different generations is crucial for platforms seeking to curate a diverse and engaging catalog that caters to a wide range of age groups. By recognizing the unique tastes and trends across genres, platforms can strategically build a library that resonates with audiences of all ages, ensuring that there is something for everyone.