Have you ever noticed that the visual feel of many modern movies and TV shows seems remarkably consistent? It’s not just about high definition or slick cinematography, there’s another trick at play: a carefully chosen color palette. A show’s color choices can have a big impact on the mood and atmosphere of a movie or series and can contribute significantly to the story that is being told.
Take, for example, the recent Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s “Missing You.” This thriller is a study in cool blues and earthy browns, a color scheme that appears in nearly every scene. From the clothing of detective Kat Donovan (played by Rosalind Eleazar) to the walls of her apartment and the furniture in the police station, blue is a dominant color. This isn’t accidental. Blue can suggest both a sense of calm and a feeling of sadness, and it works to create the mood that is prevalent throughout this show. The brown tones, on the other hand, evoke a sense of stability and groundedness, a nice counterpoint to the more melancholy blues. The interplay of these colors not only makes the show visually cohesive, but also reinforces the thematic content, a story about loss and secrets.
This use of a specific color palette is not unique to “Missing You.” Take the world of Wes Anderson for instance. His films, such as “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The French Dispatch” are immediately recognizable by their pastel hues, which create a sense of whimsy and nostalgia. These shades of pink, lavender, and light blue not only give his movies a distinct visual identity, but also reinforce the themes of childhood innocence and romanticized history. Anderson’s color palettes are not accidental choices; they are a key element of his style. The colors work in tandem with the symmetrical compositions and deadpan humor to create a specific and singular effect.
“The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix, set in the 1950’s and 1960’s, makes extensive use of rich, warm tones of mustard yellow, burnt orange, and deep greens, these colors feel evocative of the period, and create a sense of luxury and sophistication, as well as the more muted tones that help to underscore the claustrophobic environment of the orphanage. The colors really emphasize the journey of Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), from a lonely orphan to a world-class chess prodigy.
Another good example is the show “Euphoria” which features a heavily saturated color palette of blues, purples, and pinks, often with a neon quality. These vibrant colors help to create a very particular mood and atmosphere that captures the emotional intensity and chaos of the teenage experience. This palette, often coupled with glitter and intense lighting, makes the show visually striking and almost dreamlike in its visual tone. It also matches the more chaotic lifestyle of the characters featured on the show.
Even in darker, grittier shows like “Mindhunter” or “True Detective,” the color palette is very specific and serves a distinct purpose. “Mindhunter” favors a muted, almost monochromatic look, utilizing shades of gray, brown, and beige, which help to create a sense of institutional coldness and psychological unease. “True Detective,” particularly the first season, leans into earthy tones and desaturated colors, contributing to the atmosphere of decay and moral ambiguity.
These examples demonstrate that the use of a consistent color palette is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s a powerful tool for storytelling. Colors have the ability to evoke emotion, set the tone of a scene, and reinforce the underlying themes of a show or movie. While it is true that some color palettes can feel repetitive and almost generic across multiple productions, when done well, color palettes can elevate the storytelling, and create something that feels more coherent and professional. Color palettes are here to stay, and they will undoubtedly continue to shape how we experience our favorite stories.
