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

If we must have a fourth and fifth “Avatar,” Cameron should ditch these increasingly prosaic battlefield thrills for something really bold: Follow the kids to alien college for a mumblecore movie.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 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

From Will's first line: "I'm sorry. I'm not sure I understand what's going on," and Ricamora's deadpan, mumblecore delivery, we know this is a Darcy for the ages.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2022

It became a blueprint for intimate, meandering movies like Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy; the navel-gazing mumblecore genre; and semi-autobiographical shows from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to “Ramy.”

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2021

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

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2020