The Titling

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Titles of the definite-article + gerund format, i.e. "The [verb]ing".

The use of this format for titling Horror Films is sometimes parodied, and is usually a good indicator that the film is very definitely a B-Grade one. It's also a very easy way to give your sequel a memorable subtitle.

Compare Verbing Nouny. See also Stock Subtitle.


The Listing

Film

Literature

Live Action TV

  • An in-universe example occurs on iCarly: Carly, Sam and Freddy help some friends make a trailer for a movie called... The Blowing.
  • The Killing

Tabletop Games

Video Games

Webcomics

Western Animation

  • Ruthlessly parodied in season 3 of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, with such episode titles as "The Shaving", "The Cubing", and of course, "The The".
  • Also parodied in The Simpsons, when it is mentioned that Lenny had a bit part in a movie called "The Redeadening".
    • The episode "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken" involves the kids wanting to see a movie called The Bloodening (a parody of Village of the Damned).
  • Invader Zim: episode title "The Wettening".
  • Futurama: episode title "The Honking".