film noir

American  

[nwahr] / nwɑr /

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.

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film noir British  

/ nwɑː /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of film noir

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

film noir

She tells Newsbeat that it gives a more "fatalism" vibe, adding the series "is being so open about being such an homage to film noir".

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Given a slight tweak, “The Stranger” could be a film noir about a man who simply drifts along the currents of a cruel universe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

But the film noir lighting on Anderson’s eyes is spot-on, as are two sight gags that are built around the set’s extreme shadows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2025

Hamlet, it is explained after his death, was an overage film student pursuing “an over-budget period film noir piece of crap.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House programme, he said the "list of imagined assassination methods" on his life "reads like a film noir".

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2025