Cinema, as a storytelling art and medium, has always sought the best narratives to present in the form of films. Among various types of stories, mythological tales have attracted the attention of cinema audiences more than others. Filmmakers, driven by this audience interest and the diversity of such stories, began producing mythological films. Iranian cinema, compared to other countries, has been a pioneer in this genre. Early Iranian directors, drawing on the rich resources of classical Persian literature, produced films based on the lives of Iranian myths in their initial cinematic endeavors. Subsequently, other Iranian filmmakers, either consciously or unconsciously aware of the significance and function of mythology, created films with similar stories or themes. This research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology with a typological approach, based on credible library sources in the fields of mythology and cinema studies. We demonstrate that, based on typological criteria, an independent genre called the "mythological genre" can be defined in cinema, distinguishing such films from others. Furthermore, defining this cinematic genre within Iranian cinema could pave the way for producing esteemed films suitable for international presentation. Recognizing the mythological genre in cinema not only separates films with ancient and even modern mythological narratives from other genres in cinematic studies but also familiarizes adolescents and young adults with these cultural foundations of society.
Research Objectives:

To identify the characteristics and typological features of mythological films in Iranian cinema.
To familiarize and encourage Iranian directors to engage with this cinematic genre.

Research Questions:

What is the history and extent of mythological cinema in Iran, or how prevalent are Iranian myths in Iranian cinematic works?
What are the characteristics of the mythological genre as an independent category in Iranian cinema?