Baz Luhrmann once said, “All good, clean stories are melodrama; it’s just the set of devices that determines how you show or hide it.” He should know: The director is the king of melodrama, from the evocative extravagance of the elephant love song medley in “Moulin Rouge!” to the candlelit, montage-heavy double suicide in “Romeo + Juliet.” Like melodramas as a whole, these moments are intense, featuring impassioned characters and BIG feelings. Let’s explore this sensationalist and sentimental genre, from its definition to iconic examples.
Melodrama is a genre that combines narrative storytelling with expressive and emotional content. Originating in the 18th century, melodramatic works have since evolved across various media formats including theater, film, and television. They often involve plots that center around romantic entanglements, family conflicts, or injustices in society that are designed to provoke a strong emotional response from the audience.
Characteristics of melodrama
Melodramas, such as Tom Hooper’s 2012 “Les Misérables” film adaptation of the musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel, include the following characteristics:
- Exaggerated emotions: Characters often display extreme feelings, such as the desperation, sorrow, and horror grisette-turned-sex worker Fantine (Anne Hathaway) feels at what her life has become. Powerful emotions like these create heightened tension and a sense of urgency and excitement for the audience, drawing them further into the narrative.
- Moral clarity: The genre creates a clear distinction between good and evil, often portraying heroes like the sympathetic Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) and villains like the authoritarian Javert (Russell Crowe) without moral ambiguity. This creates a sense of clarity, making it easier for viewers to understand the story and empathize with the characters.
- Sensationalism: Over-the-top plot elements, such as Javert throwing himself into the Seine after Valjean shows him mercy, serve as a form of escapism for viewers looking for a distraction from everyday troubles.
- Visuals and music: Expressive sights and sounds, such as Éponine (Samantha Barks) singing the devastating “On My Own,” are used to enhance a scene’s emotional impact.
- Stock characters: Common archetypes like the virtuous hero (Jean Valjean), innocent victim (Cosette), and villainous antagonist (Javert) are typically included in melodramas. These familiar faces allow emotions, rather than character development, to take the lead.
Stock Characters: How to Spice Up the Usual Suspects as an ActorDrama vs. melodrama
The primary difference between drama and melodrama comes down to degree. Both genres deal with emotional content, but drama focuses more on realistic situations with subtle character development, while melodrama amplifies the stakes and emotions to create a clear-cut victim and situations of black-and-white morality.
Notable melodrama directors
Prominent directors known for their work in the melodrama genre include:
- Douglas Sirk: “Written on the Wind” (1956), “Imitation of Life” (1959)
- Todd Haynes: “Far From Heaven” (2002), “May December” (2023)
- Pedro Almodóvar: “Volver” (2006), “Parallel Mothers” (2021)
There are some avant-garde filmmakers, such as Luhrmann and Damien Chazelle (who directed 2016’s “La La Land” and 2022’s “Babylon”), who use melodramatic elements within their films in a more modern, unconventional way—proving that melodrama is still alive and well in the entertainment ecosystem.
1. “Gone With the Wind” (1939, dir. Victor Fleming) tells the story of a Southern belle’s struggles during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The controversial film features dramatic and exaggerated emotions, such as when Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) declares she’ll “never be hungry again.”
2. “Mildred Pierce” (1945, dir. Michael Curtiz) focuses on themes of motherhood, class differences, and sacrifice. As a melodrama, it also includes plot twists and intense conflicts—like the “cheap and horrible” slap heard ’round the world—that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
3. “All That Heaven Allows” (1955, dir. Douglas Sirk) explores gendered societal pressures and expectations in the 1950s, intertwining romance, classism, and tragedy. Even the trailer will get you all up in your feels.
4. “Downton Abbey” (2010–2015) is an upstairs/downstairs series depicting early 20th century English norms and classism through the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. In this deathbed scene, Lavinia Swire (Zoe Boyle) implies that she’s dying of a broken heart—it can’t get much more melodramatic than that!
5. “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005–Present) is a popular, seemingly interminable medical show that captures the personal lives of the doctors working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. It keeps watchers waiting with bated breath to see what will happen next as it navigates insane plot twists and heart-wrenching moments with ease. Just watch these top saddest moments from the show to get an idea of the heightened emotions…if you dare.
6. “This Is Us” (2016–2022) is a series known for consistently making its viewers cry; and if that isn’t melodramatic, who knows what is? With multi-generational storylines centered around character struggles, the show is renowned for its weepy scenes—like this one when Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) finally heal.
7. “A Doll’s House” (1879, by Henrik Ibsen) is a three-act play exploring the themes of oppression and traditional marriage roles. Its intense portrayals of societal norms and the characters’ reactions to them made it groundbreaking at the time of its release—and still powerful today, as seen in the most recent Broadway revival.