film noir

[ nwahr ]

noun

1. a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.

film noir

/ nwɑː /

noun

1. a gangster thriller, made esp in the 1940s in Hollywood characterized by contrasty lighting and often somewhat impenetrable plots

Word History and Origins

Origin of film noir¹

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

Word History and Origins

Origin of film noir¹

C20: French, literally: black film

Example Sentences

But even that doesn’t seem fitting for works that nod to centuries-old chant music and film noir.

From New York Times

A radical restaging of Hollywood film noir musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ was the big winner on Sunday at the London stage Olivier Awards.

From Los Angeles Times

It wraps its comic book book tropes in a mantle of film noir, a genre where such distinctions were not always so clear.

From Los Angeles Times

Some are horror stories, some have a tinge of film noir.

From Los Angeles Times

While Hollywood’s film noir golden age peaked in a postwar America that welcomed cynical detectives and wise-guy crooks, today’s hard-boiled crime stories continue to find an audience.

From Los Angeles Times