GCSE Film Studies Topics by Exam Board: Full List

If you're studying GCSE Film Studies, you're probably wondering exactly which films you need to watch and what topics you need to revise. Getting the right list is super important for exam prep, because studying the wrong films is basically wasting your time.

Let's break down everything you need to know about GCSE Film Studies topics, organised by exam board.

Key Takeaways

• Eduqas is currently the only exam board offering GCSE Film Studies (OCR stopped offering it)

• You'll study six films in total – three from the US and three from around the world

• The course splits into three components: two written exams and one production piece

• Film lists change every few years, so always check you're studying the current set films for your exam year

What Is GCSE Film Studies About?

GCSE Film Studies is all about understanding how films work. You'll learn how directors use camera angles, lighting, sound, and editing to create meaning and emotion. You'll explore different genres, study films from various countries and time periods, and even create your own film or screenplay.

It's perfect if you love watching films and want to understand the craft behind them. Plus, you'll get to analyse everything from classic Hollywood movies to modern independent films from around the world.

Want to know more about what the course involves? Check out our article on what GCSE film studies is. 

Eduqas GCSE Film Studies: Topic Breakdown

Eduqas (opens in a new tab) is the exam board you'll be using for GCSE Film Studies. The course is structured around three main components, and here's exactly what you need to study.

Component 1: Key Developments in US Film

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes | 35% of your GCSE

This component focuses on American cinema. You'll study three US films total:

Section A: US Film Comparative Study (two films)

You must choose one pair of films from these options:

• Dracula (Browning, USA, 1931) and The Lost Boys (Schumacher, USA, 1987) – Both horror films exploring vampire mythology across different eras

• Singin' in the Rain (Donen & Kelly, USA, 1952) and Grease (Kleiser, USA, 1978) – Musical classics looking back at different historical periods

• Rebel Without a Cause (Ray, USA, 1955) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Hughes, USA, 1986) – Teen rebellion films challenging authority in different ways

• Pillow Talk (Gordon, USA, 1959) and When Harry Met Sally (Reiner, USA, 1989) – Romantic comedies examining gender roles and relationships

• Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Siegel, USA, 1956) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Spielberg, USA, 1982) – Science fiction films with contrasting views on "aliens"

You'll compare these films looking at how genres develop over time, how contexts influence filmmaking, and how film technology evolved.

Section B: Key Developments in Film and Film Technology

You need to know about major milestones in cinema history:

• The first moving images and silent film (1895 onwards)

• The rise of Hollywood and development of sound (1920s-1927)

• Introduction of colour film (1935)

• Widescreen technology and 3D film (1950s)

• Portable cameras and Steadicam technology (late 1950s-1970s)

• Computer-generated imagery (CGI) (1990s onwards)

• Digital filmmaking developments (2000s-2010s)

Section C: US Independent Film (one film)

Choose one independent film from:

• Juno (Reitman, USA, 2007) – Teen girl facing unplanned pregnancy

• The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, USA, 2008) – War film exploring masculinity in combat

• Whiplash (Chazelle, USA, 2014) – Intense relationship between musician and perfectionist teacher

• Lady Bird (Gerwig, USA, 2017) – Coming-of-age story with mother-daughter conflict

• The Hate U Give (Tillman Jr., USA, 2018) – Explores racism and social justice through a teen's perspective

For your independent film, you'll also study specialist writing and film criticism set by Eduqas.

Assessment Objectives:

• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding (assessed in all sections)

• AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to analyse and compare films (weighted more heavily in extended responses)

Component 2: Global Film – Narrative, Representation and Film Style

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes | 35% of your GCSE

This component takes you beyond Hollywood. You'll study three films from different parts of the world.

Section A: Global English Language Film (one film)

Choose one from:

• Slumdog Millionaire (Boyle, UK, 2008) – Mumbai orphan's journey from poverty to game show success

• District 9 (Blomkamp, South Africa, 2009) – Science fiction exploring segregation and discrimination

• The Babadook (Kent, Australia, 2014) – Horror film dealing with grief through supernatural creature

• The Breadwinner (Twomey, Ireland, 2017) – Animation about girl living under Taliban rule

• Jojo Rabbit (Waititi, New Zealand, 2019) – Black comedy set in Nazi Germany

Focus: Narrative structure and storytelling techniques

Section B: Global Non-English Language Film (one film)

Choose one from:

• Tsotsi (Hood, South Africa, 2005) – Gangster's transformation after finding a baby

• The Wave (Gansel, Germany, 2008) – School experiment exploring fascism's roots

• Wadjda (Al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia, 2012) – Young girl challenging social constraints in Saudi Arabia

• Girlhood (Sciamma, France, 2014) – Four young Black women in suburban Paris

• The Farewell (Lulu Wang, China/USA, 2019) – Family dealing with terminal illness diagnosis

Focus: Representation of people, cultures, and ideas

Section C: Contemporary UK Film (one film produced after 2010)

Choose one from:

• Submarine (Ayoade, UK, 2010) – Quirky coming-of-age with understated humour

• Attack the Block (Cornish, UK, 2011) – Science fiction comedy addressing urban London social issues

• Skyfall (Mendes, UK, 2012) – Bond film with sophisticated cinematography

• Rocks (Gavron, UK, 2019) – Multi-cultural London coming-of-age drama

• Blinded by the Light (Chadha, UK, 2019) – Musical drama mixing realism and escapism

Focus: Film style and aesthetic qualities

Assessment Objectives:

• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding

• AO2: Apply knowledge to explore and analyse (weighted more heavily in extended responses)

Component 3: Production

Non-exam assessment | 30% of your GCSE

This is where you become a filmmaker. You'll create your own work and analyse it.

The Production (20% of GCSE)

Create either:

• A 2-2.5 minute film extract from a genre film (you do the camerawork and editing)

• An 800-1000 word screenplay extract with a shooting script

Choose from these genres:

• Science fiction

• Romance

• Horror

• Teenage film

• Action

Your extract must be either:

• The opening of the film

• An extract introducing a character

The Evaluative Analysis (10% of GCSE)

Write 750-850 words analysing your work, including:

• Your aims and target audience

• How professional films influenced your choices

• Evaluation of your production compared to professional examples

Assessment Objectives:

• AO3: Apply film knowledge to production (20%)

• AO2: Analyse and evaluate your work against professional films (10%)

Important note: All work must be completed individually, though you can have actors in your film (performance isn't assessed).

For more detail, check out the GCSE Film Studies specification.

Our GCSE Film Studies resources will give you a boost if you choose to pursue the course!

Do Other Exam Boards Offer GCSE Film Studies?

Short answer: no, not anymore.

OCR used to offer GCSE Film Studies, but they discontinued it. Eduqas is now the only exam board in England and Wales offering this qualification.

If you're in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the education systems work differently, but Eduqas qualifications are still recognised there.

How to Use This GCSE Film Studies Topic List for Revision

Now you know what to study, here's how to revise effectively:

Create flashcards or mind maps for each film

Make cards for key scenes, characters, themes, and film techniques. Visual learning really helps when you're trying to remember specific camera angles or editing choices.

Focus on key scenes and how they illustrate techniques

Don't try to memorise entire films. Pick 3-4 crucial scenes from each film that show important cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing, or sound techniques. These become your go-to examples in exams.

Practise comparison and analysis questions

Especially for Component 1, get comfortable comparing your two US films. Write practice answers looking at genre conventions, how contexts influenced the films, and how technology changed between the two time periods.

Use past papers and mark schemes

This is huge. Past papers show you exactly what examiners want. Pay attention to how marks are awarded and what makes a Band 5 answer different from a Band 3.

Watch with purpose

When studying your films, watch them multiple times with different focuses:

• First watch: enjoy the story

• Second watch: focus on cinematography and mise-en-scène

• Third watch: analyse sound and editing

• Fourth watch: consider representation and context

Learn specialist terminology

You need to use proper film language in your answers. Terms like diegetic sound, mise-en-scène, continuity editing, and shot-reverse-shot aren't just fancy words – they show examiners you understand film studies properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What films do I need to study for Eduqas GCSE Film Studies?

You'll study six films total: two US mainstream films from the past (your comparative study pair), one US independent film, one global English language film, one global non-English language film, and one contemporary UK film. The exact films depend on which options your school chooses.

Do all schools teach the same films?

No. Your school or college chooses which films to study from the options Eduqas provides. So your mate at another school might be studying completely different films, even though you're both doing Eduqas Film Studies. Check with your teacher which specific films your course covers.

Can I choose which films I study for the NEA?

You can choose the genre for your production (science fiction, romance, horror, teenage film, or action) and whether to make an opening or character introduction. But you can't change the overall production brief – that's set by Eduqas and changes every few years.

Final Thoughts

Knowing exactly which topics and films you need to study is the first step to smashing GCSE Film Studies. With Eduqas being the only exam board offering the course, at least you don't have to worry about studying the wrong specification.

Remember, the film lists do change every 3-5 years, so always double-check you're working from the current set for your exam year. The list in this article is accurate for assessments from Summer 2024 onwards, but when the next update happens (likely around 2027), make sure you've got the latest films.

The beauty of GCSE Film Studies is that "revision" means watching films – though obviously you need to watch them with a critical eye, not just for entertainment. Focus on understanding how films create meaning through cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound, and you'll be well on your way to success.

Good luck with your studies. Now go watch some films!

If you’re looking for help with your GCSEs, Save My Exams has the resources you need to get ahead. We provide board-specific revision notes, flashcards, past papers, video explanations, and examiner-written solutions for revision and exam preparation.

References

Film Studies WJEC GCSE Specification (opens in a new tab)