mumblecore

American  

[muhm-buhl-kawr] / ˈmʌm bəlˌkɔr /

noun

1. a genre of film or television typically characterized by naturalistic dialogue, a small budget, relatively unknown actors, and a plot focused on interpersonal relationships.

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Etymology

Origin of mumblecore

mumble ( def. ) + -core ( def. ); said to have been coined in 2005 by Eric Masunaga, a sound editor at the South by Southwest festival

Example Sentences

He kept costs low, cast his friends and family in his movies and pursued an improvisational production style that preceded the early-2000s film genre mumblecore.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2025

This is unsurprising given that the movie is directed by indie darling Greta Gerwig, who achieved early fame in the mumblecore movement, acting in very small, self-conscious films about relationships between offbeat people.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2023

The filmmakers' approach is rooted in "fly on the wall" documentary, which is certainly appropriate for their closeup examination, which is, for better or worse, reminiscent of mumblecore.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2021

There’s a laid-back, mumblecore vibe to the film that might have worked had there been more irony or humor in the script, or more personality in the lead performances.

From New York Times • May 7, 2020

Joe Swanberg’s improvised mumblecore Netflix anthology Easy operates at its own pace.

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2020