James at 2011-09-02 01:10:44:
Love seeing genre laid out like that. I think you're missing one:

RomCom

I know it's a hyphenate, and generally gets lumped in with Comedy, but I'd argue it has its own set of rules and expectations apart from pure COMEDY or pure ROMANCE. It also feels like the only true hyphenate.

The other thing I find interesting are the genres that haven fallen out of film over the years. Mainly,

WESTERN
ROMANCE
ADVENTURE

These were staples of early film. Now they generally only resurface as pet projects.
Godwin at 2011-09-02 11:25:24:
Bridesmaid was partly drama. For some it might even be more drama then comedy. It was drama because of the focus on relationships dramas. Therefore it became so much less then it could be. You do not bend the concept into the genre. Its the concept that fits into genre. If trying to fit another genre into a concept, then the concept becomes diluted. Just like in Bridesmaid.
Atlanta at 2011-09-02 12:23:58:
The Matrix meets Forrest Gump. Life in a vat was hard. His brain took a licking, but he's still ticking. Not quite what the team expected, but turns out he's just what they needed, the glue to hold them all together, so they can rise up to vanquish humanity's oppression. The Trump.
Laura Deerfield at 2011-09-02 12:49:36:
I just started developing the story for a romantic thriller. Though I'd market it as an erotic thriller, since, as mentioned above, Romance is nearly dead as a genre outside of comedies. The macguffin is the object of desire, who also has their own, separate revenge story.

I actually think those barely-breathing genres are perfect for combining. Like the Western-Adventure-SF of Firefly
Scott at 2011-09-02 12:59:04:
Good Will Hunting started as a thriller. Per Wikipedia:

"Ben Affleck and Matt Damon originally wrote the screenplay as a thriller: Young man in the rough-and-tumble streets of South Boston who possesses a superior intelligence is targeted by the FBI to become a G-Man. Castle Rock Entertainment president Rob Reiner later urged them to drop the thriller aspect of the story and to focus the relationship between Will Hunting (Damon) and his psychologist (Williams). At Reiner's request, noted screenwriter William Goldman read the script and further suggested that the film's climax ought to be Will's decision to follow his girlfriend Skylar to California."

That is a case of bending the genre: from thriller to drama. Won Damon and Affleck an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Genre-bending is a great tool to brainstorm story concepts. It can also completely revitalize a story you have that just isn't working. Play around and switch genres, see if it sparks to life.
debbiemoon at 2011-09-02 13:01:55:
Bridesmaids as a psychological thriller: Picked as maid of honor, lovelorn, broke and slightly psycho Annie knows she cannot fail her best-friend-since-childhood. Faced with an oddball group of bridesmaids, she realises her 'bestie' has friends she knew nothing of - and they're going to steal her limelight and screw up the wedding. They have to be discredited, driven away or even murdered if Annie is to dominate the big day and be the perfect maid of honor...

Actually, done as black comedy, that could be almost as funny as the original! :)
Malefice at 2011-09-02 13:27:52:
Zombie movie bending !
Dawn of the Dead meet Love Potion no 9.

A scientist tests on himself a new drug againt depression.He becomes infected and the disease is similar to a LSD Trip that goes viral when you kiss someone else .

Few hours later , all the people in town think they can fly , hug themselves to death etc ...
All the things that will get you killed when you 're overjoyed.
A small group try to survive led by a potential "emo goth teen " couple who can't admit that they 're in love.
Scott at 2011-09-02 14:17:03:
@debbiemoon: There you go, dark comedy. That's some good brainstorming.

@Malefice: How about Bridesmaids meets zombies? Bridesmaids bond together to make sure their friend gets married, despite an outbreak of zombies near the church.
Laura at 2011-09-02 14:25:51:
Bridesmaid - the thriller: a variation:

Annie realizes that the new maid of honor is a dangerous psychopath who plans to kill the bride at the wedding. As time runs out, Annie plays a game of cat-and-mouse with the psycho as she tries to convince her friend-the-bride that her actions are motivated by informed fear, not petty jealousy.