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Movie reviews in one word

Best movies to watch right now

Here are the best movies to watch – and the movie reviews are only one word (perfect if you’re scanning what film to stream! And to come up with just one word for a movie review is a lot more challenging than you think.). We’re a movie family and had a home theater even before it was really a thing.

Updated 04.05.22

And Oscar night is one of our favorite family traditions. In fact, we’ve been doing a family Oscar pool for years where the loser buys dinner (even before my son was old enough to watch some of the movies). We’ll forget about the time I took him to see The Wolf of Wall Street because of his interest in investment banking. I thought it would be educational. Definitely not age-appropriate. However, it did not scar him as he graduated a semester early from UMD with a degree in Finance with an Economics minor.

The 2022 Oscar ceremony was quite memorable – and not in a good way. But I’ll leave that topic of discussion to the thousands of others who have opinions. This post will focus on the movies. I digress.

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One-word movie reviews of the best films

Here are the movies we’ve watched so far beginning in 2020 through April 5, 2022 – the must-see films as well as skip it. Our movie reviews are based on a 5* rating system and the first word that came to mind. Although more of the more recent movie reviews only include my ratings.

Most recent one-word movie reviews

One-word movie reviews updated: April 5, 2022.

You’d think I’d have watched 100 movies since the pandemic, but interestingly I’ve watched fewer than normal. However, I did watch all 10 of the Oscar movies nominated for best picture.

However, it’s not like I’m wasting away my time. So what have I been doing instead of watching movies right now? I’ve been hiking (have now hiked all 66 of Minnesota’s 66 state parks ) and watching probably way too many streaming shows (Yellowstone, Succession, 1883, The Queen’s Gambit, etc.).

See my related posts: One-word reviews of the best shows streaming right now , 2021 Oscar best picture nominees ranked , the best Minnesota state parks and chasing fall colors in Minnesota .

One-word movie reviews for April 2022

The lost daughter one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration.

Unsettling 4* | Attica, Greece (Greek island)

One-word movie reviews for March 2022

The adam project one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration.

Mediocre 3* | Rainier, Washington and Vancouver

Belfast one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Heartfelt 5* | Belfast, Ireland and England

Coda one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Heartwarming 5* | Gloucester, Mass.

Drive My Car one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Listless 2* | Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan

Dune one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Intense 5* | Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon), Jordan; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Norway; Budapest

King Richard one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Inspirational 5* | California

Licorice Pizza one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Skip 2* | San Fernando Valley, California

Nightmare Alley one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Meandering 3* | Buffalo, New York and Toronto

West Side Story one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Classic 3* | Manhattan, New York

One-word movie reviews for February 2022

House of gucci one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration.

Dramatic 3.5* | Italy and NYC

DNF (did not finish – yet) | Toronto and Buffalo, NY

One-word movie reviews for January 2022

Here are the two movies I watched in January 2022 along with my one-word movie reviews and the filming location’s travel destination inspiration. My running list of one-word movie reviews follows this section.

I thought for sure I watched more than two movies in January. But I must say, Tick, Tick…Boom! was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. It’s brilliant! I’ll make up for my lack of movie-watching soon as I start on my Oscar best pic nomination marathon for 2022.

Don’t Look Up one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Underwhelming 3* | Boston

Tick, Tick…Boom! one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Brilliant 5* | Travel destination inspiration: New York City

Running list of one-word movie reviews 2020 – 2022

Here’s a running curated list of films I’ve watched beginning in 2020 along with one-word movie reviews and ratings (slf = my husband’s movie reviews; ssf = my son’s movie reviews). The newer reviews only reflect my ratings and one-word movie reviews. And for some travel destination inspiration, I’ve also included the setting of each movie to help answer those questions? Where was this movie filmed, Where’s the filming location for… or Where was this movie set?

kmf: Mediocre 3*

What was the filming location for The Adam Project? Vancouver. What was the setting for the movie The Adam Project? Rainier, Wash.

Amadeus one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1985 Oscar best picture winner )

kmf: Genius 4* Where did the movie Amadeus take place? Vienna, Austria

kmf: Heartfelt 5*

Where did the movie Belfast take place / Where was Belfast filmed? Belfast, Ireland and England

The Best Years of our Lives one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1947 Oscar Best Picture winner )

kmf: PTSD 5* Where did the movie The Best Years of our Lives take place? Cincinnati, Ohio

The Big Year one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Passion 4*

Where was the movie The Big Year filmed and/or take place? The planet earth! Tofino, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver, the Yukon, Alaska, California, Maine, George, and more

Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (II) one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Bogus 0* Did not finish watching. Where did Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (II) take place? San Dimas, California and back in time

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (I) one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Classic 5* Where did the movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (I) take place? San Dimas, California and back in time

Bill & Ted’s Face the Music (III) one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Campy 3* Where did the movie Bill & Ted’s Face the Music (III) take place? San Dimas, California and back in time

Blood Simple one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Intense 5* Where did the movie Blood Simple take place? Small-town Texas (filmed in and near Austin, Texas)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Tawdry 3* Where did the movie Borat Subsequent Moviefilm take place? Kazakhstan, Romania, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Oregon, New York City

The Buddy Holly Story one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Touching 5*

Where did the movie The Buddy Holly Story take place? Texas, California, Georgia, New York City, Iowa

Braveheart one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration (1996 Oscar best picture winner )

kmf: Freedom 5* Where did the movie Braveheart take place? Scotland

Captain Fantastic one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Thought-provoking 4*

Where was the movie Captain Fantastic filmed and/or take place? The Pacific Northwest

Casablanca one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1944 Oscar Best Picture winner – my favorite movie of all time)

kmf: Classic 5* Where did the movie Casablanca take place? Casablanca, Morocco and Paris, France

The Chef one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Heartwarming 4*

Where did the movie The Chef take place? Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Austin

A Christmas Carol one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Hopeful 5*

Where was the movie A Christmas Carol filmed and/or take place? London

Coda one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 2022 Oscar best picture winner )

kmf: Heartwarming 5*

Where was the movie Coda filmed and/or take place? Gloucester, Mass.

Don’t look up one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Underwhelming

Where was the movie Don’t look up filmed? Boston

Downhill one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Average 3*

Where did the movie Downhill take place? Austria

kmf: Listless 2*

Where was the movie Drive My Car filmed and/or take place? Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan

kmf: Intense 5*

Where was the movie Dune filmed and/or take place? Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon), Jordan; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Norway; Budapest

Elf one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Where was the movie Elf filmed and/or take place? The North Pole and NYC

End of Watch one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Gripping 3.5* Where did the movie End of Watch take place? Los Angeles, California

The Father one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Heartrending 5*

Where did the movie The Father take place? England

Ford v Ferrari one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Passion 3.5* slf: Vroom 3.5* ssf: Ego 3.5* Where did the movie Ford v Ferrari take place? Loire Valley, France; Dearborn, Michigan; Maranello, Italy (fun fact: all filming took place in southern California)

The Forgotten Battle one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Where was the movie The Forgotten Battle filmed and/or take place? Lithuania, the Netherlands, Belgium

Frosty one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Nostalgic 5*

Where did the Frosty animated film take place? The North Pole

Frozen one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Family 4* Where did the movie Frozen take place? Norway

Frozen 2 one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Empowerment 5* Where did the movie Frozen 2 take place? Iceland

Good Time one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Spiral 4.5* Where did the movie Good Time take place? Rikers Island, New York City, New York

Hamilton one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Must-watch! 5* Where did the play and film Hamilton take place? New York City, New York; Morristown and Weehawken, New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Harriet one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Courage 5* Where did the movie Harriet take place? Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Auburn, New York

Hillbilly Elegy one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Heavy 5*

Where did the book and movie Hillbilly Elegy take place? Kentucky, Ohio, Connecticut

The Holiday one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Rom-com 5*

Where was the movie The Holiday filmed and/or take place? Los Angeles and Cotswolds, England

Honey Boy one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Healing 3* slf: Hope 4* ssf: Honest 4* Where did the movie Honey Boy take place? Los Angeles, California

kmf: Dramatic

Where did the movie House of Gucci filmed / take place? Italy and NYC

I Love You Man one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Bromantic 3*

Where did the movie I Love You Many take place: Venice Beach, California

The Irishman one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Long 3* slf: Curious 3½* ssf: Innovative 3½* Where did the movie The Irishman take place? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It Happened One Night one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1934 Oscar Best Picture winner )

kmf: Rom-com 4* Where did the movie It Happened One Night take place? The East Coast on a bus and car from Florida to New York (filmed in California)

It’s a Wonderful Life one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Classic 5*

Where was the movie It’s a Wonderful Life filmed and/or take place? Seneca Falls, New York

Jojo Rabbit one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Innocence 5* slf: Witness 5* ssf: Unique 5* Where did the movie Jojo Rabbit take place? Germany

Joker one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Societal 5* slf: Society 4½* ssf: Anger 4½* Where did the movie Joker take place? Gotham, New York and New Jersey

Judas and the Black Messiah

kmf: Gripping 5*

Where did the movie Judas and the Black Messiah take place? Chicago (filmed in Cleveland, Ohio)

Judy one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Tragic 5*  slf: Waste 4½*  ssf: Tragic 4*  Where did the movie Judy take place? London, England

Jurassic Park

Where did the movie Jurassic Park take place? Hawaii – primarily Kauai (We went on a filming location tour in Kauai – and is one of my son’s favorite family vacations; stood where the gates of Jurassic Park were in the film.)

The King of Staten Island one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Dramedy 3* Where did the movie The King of Staten Island take place? Staten Island, New York

King Richard

kmf: Inspirational 5*

Where did the movie King Richard take place? Where was the movie filmed? California

Licorice Pizza

kmf: Skip 2*

Where did the movie Licorice Pizza take place? Where was the movie filmed? San Fernando Valley, California

Lighthouse one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Disturbing 3* slf: Dark 3½* ssf: Eerie 3*  Where did the movie Lighthouse take place? New England island

The Little Things: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Suspenseful 4*

Where was the movie The Little Things filmed and/or take place? Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, California

Little Women one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Love 4* slf: Family 3½*   ssf: Inspiring 4* Where did the movie Little Women take place? Concord, Massachusetts

kmf: Unsettling 5*

Where was the movie The Lost Daughter filmed and/or take place? Attica, Greece (Greek island)

Love Actually one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Love 5*

Where was the movie Love Actually filmed and/or take place? London; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Marseille, France; Portugal

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom : One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Short 4*

Where did the movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom take place? Set in Chicago and filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mank : One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Disappointing 3*

Where did the movie Mank take place? Hollywood (also filmed in Kemper Campbell Ranch in California)

Marriage Story: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Poignant 4* slf: Sad 4* ssf: Heart-wrenching 4* Where did the movie Marriage Story take place? New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California

Minari : One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Endearing 5*

Where did the movie Minari take place? Arkansas (filmed in Oklahoma)

News of the World: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Touching 4* Where did the movie News of the World take place? Filmed in Sante Fe, New Mexico and set in Texas

Nightmare Alley: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Meandering

Where was the movie Nightmare Alley filmed / set? Toronto and Buffalo, NY

1917 one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Courageous 5* slf: Loss 4½* ssf: Immersive 5* Where did the movie 1917 take place? Northern France

Nomadland : One-word movie review and travel destination

kmf: Moving 5*

Where did the movie Nomadland take place: Nevada, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arizona, California

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Brilliant 5* slf: Cool 5* ssf: Fantastic 5* Where did the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood take place? Hollywood, California and Barker Ranch, California (inside Death Valley National Park ).

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1976 Oscar best picture winner)

kmf: Dignity 5* Where did the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next take place? Salem, Oregon

One Night in Miami one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Introspective 3*

Where did One Night in Miami take place? Miami (filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana)

Onward one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Tender 5*

Where did the animated film Onward take place? Suburban fantasy world

Our Friend one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Profound 5*

Where was the movie Elf filmed and/or take place? Alabama, Grand Canyon National Park, Moab National Park in Utah

Outlaw King one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Honor 4.5* Where did the movie Outlaw King take place? Scotland

The Outside Story one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Tender 4*

Where did the move The Outside Story take place? Brooklyn, New York

Parasite one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 2020 Oscar best picture winner )

kmf: Affecting 5* slf: Shocking 4* ssf: Speechless 5* Where did the movie Parasite take place? Seoul, South Korea

The Patriot one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Rebellion 4* Where did the movie The Patriot take place? South Carolina

Pieces of a Woman one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Heartbreaking 4*

Where did the movie Pieces of a Woman take place? Boston (filmed in Montreal)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Hilarious 5* Where did the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles take place? New York City, Wichita, Kansas, St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois (and several places in between)

Power of the Dog one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Intriguing 4*

Where was the movie Power of the Dog filmed and/or take place? Montana and New Zealand

Promising Young Woman one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Suspenseful 3*

Where did Promising Young Woman take place? Ohio (filmed in Los Angeles, California)

A Quiet Place Part II one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Suspenseful 5*

Where did the movie A Quiet Place II take place? Western New York

Ratatouille one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Passion 5* Where did the movie Ratatouille take place? Paris, France

Richard Jewell one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: 5* Truth Where did the movie Richard Jewell take place? Atlanta, Georgia

The Roommate one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Predictable 3* Where did the movie The Roommate take place? Los Angeles, California

The Skeleton Twins one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Poignant 5* Where did the film The Skeleton Twins take place. Primarily Upstate New York

Soul: One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Purpose 5* Where did the animated film Soul take place? New York City and Heaven (and somewhere in between)

Sound of Metal : One-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Affecting 5*

Where did the movie Sound of Metal take place? Missouri (filmed in Massachusetts)

Sound of Music one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration ( 1966 Oscar best picture winner )

kmf: Timeless 5* Where did the movie Sound of Music take place? Austria

Stillwater one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

Where was the movie Stillwater filmed and/or take place? Oklahoma and Marseille, France

This is Where I Leave You one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Complicated 3* Where did the movie This is Where I Leave You take place? Munsey Park, New York (suburb of New York City)

kmf: Brilliant 5*

Where did the movie Tick Tick Boom take place? New York City

The Trial of the Chicago 7 one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Engrossing 5*

Where did the movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 take place? Chicago (also filmed in New Jersey)

21 one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Greed 3* Where did the movie 21 take place? Cambridge, Massachusetts and Las Vegas, Nevada

Uncut Gems one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Frenetic 3* slf: Ride 3*  ssf: Exhausting 4*  Where did the movie Uncut Gems take place? New York City, New York

The United States vs. Billie Holiday one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Revealing 5*

Where did the movie The United States vs. Billie Holiday take place? New York City (filmed in Montreal)

Waiting for the Barbarians one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Colonialism 3* Where did the movie Waiting for the Barbarians take place? Central Asia

kmf: Classic 3*

Where was the movie West Side Story filmed and/or take place? Manhattan, New York

When Harry Met Sally one-word movie review and travel destination inspiration

kmf: Heartwarming 5* Where did the movie When Harry Met Sally take place? Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York

Watch for future one-word movie reviews. Any good movies we’ve missed? Any streaming series you recommend? Let us know in the comments as well as your reviews and ratings (no spoilers, please).

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Twin Cities-based blogger sharing memorable emptynester, solo, family and girlfriend-getaway adventures, as well as my day hiking adventures (including all 66 Minnesota state parks), latest book reviews, and updates on my quest for the best adult mac and cheese. Also two WIPs: historical fiction and psychological thriller

30 comments

I love these movie reviews in one word! What a fun way to think about them. A few are new to me so I’ll be checking them out!

Thank you so much! It’s actually really hard to come up with just one word…but I thought I lot of people don’t like to read so thought it’d be a fun alternative (and challenge) to provide a one-word movie review for all the movies we watched in 2020.

I love movie reviews and especially suggestions of movies to watch at Christmas time. Right now Elf is my favorite Christmas movie but I need to check out some of your suggestions.

Elf is such a feel-good Christmas movie! It never gets old!

So many of our favorite Holiday movies too! Just watched Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on Thanksgiving.

We watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles Thanksgiving Eve – such a classic! And a fun family tradition.

I love your one word reviews and ratings. I don’t watch many movies, but I have seen all but three of the Christmas movies you have listed. I now need to add Christmas with the Kranks, Love Actually, and The Holiday to my movie list.

Thank you! The Holiday is such a chick flick, but I love it (and love the English countryside!). And Love Actually is one that our entire family has watched several times. I like the large ensemble cast and how their lives intersect with each other. We watch Christmas with the Kranks every year because it’s my niece’s favorite.

This is great! I am ready for some Christmas movies!

Me too! We watched Rudolph earlier this week so need to start watching all my favorite Christmas movies and maybe try some new holiday flicks.

I just saw Casablanca last year for the first time. It was a great movie.

I just love that movie…and would love to visit Morocco!

Omg I love how you added travel destinations for each movie! ❤️❤️

Thank you! That was a new addition (that I finished at around 4 a.m. yesterday)…so your comment made my day!

Getting lost in a movie and checking out from our current reality can be very liberating!

It can be such a great escape!

How fun! I’m a big movie fan too and this year has been difficult. I miss going to the theater. I’ve enjoyed the movies you did a one word review of. And I’ve watched a lot of films and series on Prime and Netflix this year. I’m so curious to see what they do for the Oscars.

Thanks! We really miss the movie-going experience also. Our local theater has kept its concessions open so we do stop in every now and then to get our popcorn fix, but not quite the same. It’ll be interesting to see what they do for the Oscars.

I love this idea. So good, like a lightning round gut reaction to movies. I also do an Oscars pool every year. I’m the only one that diligently watches all the movies, knows what they’re all about and downs the night trying to keep everyone interested. And I always lose! I love your Best Picture challenge though. What a great idea

Thanks so much! I used to win the Oscar challenge nearly every year. My two guys are now tough competition! I’m way behind on the Best Picture challenge, but now that the colder months are coming up, I’m sure I’ll get a few more in.

I love the idea of traveling through movies! What a good idea to feel like you are still exploring the world. You made me want to rewatch Casablanca! 😀

p.s. Woooah you are halfway through visiting all of Minnesota’s state parks! That’s impressive and must have been great fun!

Thanks! Love Casablanca – rewatched it recently! I’m loving my day hikes at the Minnesota state parks. It’s going to be sunny and in the 40s tomorrow so I may check out another state park (40 is warm for Minnesota right now).

What a great list of movie reviews! I am excited to add some of these to my list!

Thank you! I love sharing my one-word movie reviews and ratings.

Thanks for all the reviews. I actually have watched very few new movies in the last while. Just don’t have as much time with the kids home ALWAYS. Now at least this list will help me decide which are actually worth the little time I have!

Thank you and my pleasure. I hope you get the opportunity to watch some of the best movies and that my one-word reviews help.

I’m so behind on watching these! I really want to see Billie Holiday, Borat the Subsequent Film, and Nomadland.

I enjoyed all of of those Oscar-nominated movies. Nomadland definitely deserved the 2021 Oscar Best Pic.

I love that I’ve actually seen some of these movies! 🙂 I loved Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Braveheart, Ratatouille, Planes Trains & Automobiles, and When Harry Met Sally!

Those are some of my favorite classic movies that I’ve rewatched over the past year or so. More one-word movie reviews coming!

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Keanu reeves reviews dune in one word.

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In a recent interview, Keanu Reeves shares his glowing one-word review for Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the sci-fi epic novel Dune . First published in 1965, Frank Herbert's bestselling novel centers on Paul Atreides and his noble family as they are tasked with becoming the stewards of the desert planet of Arrakis, home to the universe's most-valuable asset melange, also known as the spice. However, the House Atreides find themselves thrust in the middle of a war for control of the planet, requiring Paul to rise up and become the hero for his family and the native people of Arrakis.

Timothée Chalamet leads the ensemble cast of  Dune  as Paul alongside Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem. Villeneuve becomes the second filmmaker to adapt the novel for the big screen following David Lynch's 1984 film, which initially failed critically and commercially but has since garnered a cult following in the years since its release. Villeneuve's  Dune  has received largely favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike, and now one notable name has made themselves known as a fan of the film.

Related:  Why Dune 3 Is Even More Important Than Part 2

Reeves recently sat down with  Esquire   for a far-encompassing interview on his career and his love of the movie industry. When posed with the question of his thoughts on Villeneuve's  Dune , Reeves had just one word to praise the sci-fi epic adaptation. See what Reeves said below:

Reeves has frequently expressed his love for moves in general but is also no stranger to the sci-fi world with his leading turn as Neo in  The Matrix  franchise. Though  Dune  initially left some critics polarized upon its Venice International Film Festival debut, most have since shared the same opinion as Reeves' one-word review as the film has received much praise for the sheer scope and ambition of Villeneuve's efforts to bring Herbert's novel to life faithfully on screen. Audiences have similarly showered the film with love and carried it to a solid box office performance, grossing over $368 million against its $165 million production budget and becoming the tenth highest-grossing film of the year.

Dune 's critical and modest commercial success proved to be the necessary motivator Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures needed to properly greenlight Villeneuve's planned sequel,  Dune: Part Two , adapting the latter half of the source material. With the studio having held off on letting the filmmaker produce the films back-to-back, many are hopeful that Villeneuve is able to hear the criticisms directed to the first film and adjust to deliver a faithful and more exciting sequel. While  Dune: Part Two  is still a couple of years away, audiences can look forward to revisiting  Dune  as it returns to IMAX theaters December 3 for a limited time.

More:  How Dune 2 Can Bring Back Gurney (For Lady Jessica's Ending)

Source: Esquire

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: May 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Marissa Levis . Marissa Levis is an English Teacher in the Morris County Vocational School District. She previously worked as an English director at a tutoring center that caters to students in elementary and middle school. She is an expert in creating a curriculum that helps students advance their skills in secondary-level English, focusing on MLA formatting, reading comprehension, writing skills, editing and proofreading, literary analysis, standardized test preparation, and journalism topics. Marissa received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,623,004 times.

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A decent movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie like a professional film critic, come up with an interesting thesis, and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

• Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"– against terrorist groups, against international rivals, against other political parties. But few of them understand the cold, destructive, and ultimately hollow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of Blue Ruin. "
• Review in a nutshell: "Despite a compelling lead performance by Tom Hanks and a great soundtrack, Forrest Gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise."
• Context or Background Information: " Boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced–slowly, over 12 years, with the same actors–is just as crucial as the movie itself."

• Using stars, a score out of 10 or 100, or the simple thumbs-up and thumbs-down is a quick way to give your thoughts. You then write about why you chose that rating.
• Great Movie: ABC is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings."
• Bad Movie: "It doesn't matter how much you enjoy kung-fu and karate films: with 47 Ronin, you're better off saving your money, your popcorn, and time."
• Okay Movie: "I loved the wildly uneven Interstellar far more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. Ultimately, the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy-handed plotting and dialogue."

• Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't as good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, shows how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids, the flashing tension of neck muscles, and a barely cracking voice."
• Bad: " Jurassic World's biggest flaw, a complete lack of relatable female characters, is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur – in heels."
• Okay: "At the end of the day, Snowpiercer can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in fight scenes, where every weapon, lightbulb, and slick patch of ground is accounted for, doesn't translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance."

• Does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue? It could be the director's way of engaging in a bigger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the film to the "real" world.
• Does the film seem to have a message, or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals.
• Does the film connect with you on a personal level? You could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers.

Composing Your Review

• When you name characters in your plot summary, list the actors' names directly afterward in parenthesis.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full movie title.
• If you feel you must discuss information that might "spoil" things for readers, warn them first.

• Cinematography: " Her is a world drenched in color, using bright, soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build, and slowly strip away, the feelings of love between the protagonists. Every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in."
• Tone: "Despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on Mars, The Martian's witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space may be dangerous and scary, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."
• Music and Sound: " No Country For Old Men's bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades. The eerie silence of the desert, punctuated by the brief spells of violent, up-close-and-personal sound effects of hunter and hunted, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat."
• Acting: "While he's fantastic whenever he's on the move, using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus, Keanu Reeves can't quite match his costar in the quiet moments of Speed, which falter under his expressionless gaze."

• Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The Baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."

• Great: "In the end, even the characters of Blue Ruin know how pointless their feud is. But revenge, much like every taut minute of this thriller, is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end.""
• Bad: "Much like the oft-mentioned "box of chocolates", Forest Gump has a couple of good little morsels. But most of the scenes, too sweet by half, should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out."
• Okay: "Without the novel, even revolutionary concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be "good.” But the power the film finds in the beauty of passing time and little, inconsequential moments – moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting – make Linklater's latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film."

Polishing Your Piece

• Ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis. Did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed?
• Decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movie's about.
• Decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand-alone piece of writing. Did you contribute something original to this discussion? What will readers gain from reading your review that they couldn't from simply watching the movie?

Studying Your Source Material

• The title of the film, and the year it came out.
• The director's name.
• The names of the lead actors.

• Make a note every time something sticks out to you, whether it's good or bad. This could be costuming, makeup, set design, music, etc. Think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review.
• Take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds.
• Use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything, and rewind as necessary.

• Direction: Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect the film.)
• Costume design: Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design: Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack: Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

Expert Q&A

• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about writing, check out our in-depth interview with Marissa Levis .

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/terminology_and_starting_prompts.html
• ↑ https://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-write-a-movie-review
• ↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-writing-a-review
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
• ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf
• ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/film_writing_sample_analysis.html
• ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/onnyx.bei/dual-credit/movie-review-writing-guide
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-movie-review/
• ↑ https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/editing_proofreading.php
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

About This Article

To write a movie review, start with a compelling fact or opinion to hook your readers, like "Despite a great performance by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump never overcomes its weak plot." Then, elaborate on your opinion of the movie right off the bat so readers know where you stand. Once your opinion is clear, provide examples from the movie that prove your point, like specific scenes, dialogue, songs, or camera shots. To learn how to study a film closely before you write a review, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Movie Review: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

• backlinkworks
• Writing Articles & Reviews
• October 3, 2023

Introduction

Watching movies is a popular pastime for many individuals. While some enjoy being entertained by the latest releases, others find satisfaction in analyzing and critiquing films. If you fall into the latter category, then writing a movie review can be a rewarding activity. Whether you aspire to become a professional film critic or simply want to share your opinion with others, this step-by-step guide will help you craft a compelling and engaging movie review.

Step 1: Watch the Movie

Before you can write a movie review, you need to watch the film attentively. Take notes while watching, paying attention to the plot, characters, cinematography, acting, and any other elements that stand out. Understanding the movie in its entirety is crucial to providing an informed perspective in your review.

Step 2: Gather Your Thoughts

After watching the film, take some time to gather your thoughts and reflect on your overall impressions. Did you enjoy the movie? What were its strengths and weaknesses? Consider the movie’s themes, messages, and intended audience. Jot down key points to use as the foundation of your review.

Step 3: Start with a Strong Introduction

The introduction sets the tone for your movie review. Begin with a captivating hook that grabs the reader’s attention and provides a brief overview of the film. Offer some context, such as the genre or director, and any interesting background information that adds value to the review. Make sure to state your overall opinion clearly and concisely.

Step 4: Analyze the Plot and Storyline

Provide a detailed analysis of the movie’s plot and storyline. Discuss the main narrative, subplots, and any twists or surprises. Evaluate the pacing, coherence, and depth of the story. Highlight any standout moments or memorable scenes that contribute to the overall narrative experience.

Step 5: Evaluate the Acting and Characters

An important aspect of any movie review is assessing the acting performances and the development of the characters. Discuss the actors’ portrayals, their chemistry, and whether they effectively brought their characters to life. Analyze the characters’ depth, growth, and believability. Give examples to support your claims.

Step 6: Critique the Cinematography and Visuals

The cinematography and visual elements greatly impact a movie’s overall appeal. Evaluate the camera angles, lighting, set design, costumes, and any special effects used. Explain how these choices contribute to the storytelling and enhance the viewer’s experience.

Step 7: Assess the Sound and Music

The sound design and music play a vital role in creating the right atmosphere for a film. Analyze the sound effects, soundtrack, and any background music utilized. Discuss how the audio elements complemented the visuals and enhanced the emotional impact of key scenes.

Step 8: Highlight the Strengths and Weaknesses

In this section, discuss the movie’s strengths and weaknesses. Offer constructive criticism where necessary, but also acknowledge the film’s positive aspects. Be specific and provide examples to support your claims, giving readers a well-rounded perspective of the overall quality of the movie.

Step 9: Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize your main points and provide a final assessment of the film. Reiterate your overall opinion and encourage readers to watch or avoid the movie based on your review. End with a thought-provoking statement or a call-to-action to engage your audience further.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. how long should a movie review be.

A movie review can vary in length, but a typical review ranges from 500 to 1000 words. However, if you feel the need to provide a more in-depth analysis, IT can extend beyond the usual word count.

2. Should I include spoilers in my review?

IT is best to avoid spoilers, as they can ruin the viewing experience for those who haven’t seen the film. If you must discuss specific plot details, clearly indicate spoiler warnings and use HTML tags to hide text, ensuring readers have the option to read or skip the spoilers.

3. How do I maintain objectivity in my review?

While a movie review reflects your personal opinion, try to maintain objectivity by offering balanced arguments and supporting your statements with evidence from the film. Acknowledge that different viewers may have different tastes and perspectives.

4. Is IT necessary to include a rating in my review?

Including a rating is not essential, but IT can provide a quick summary of your overall opinion. You can use a numerical scale, stars, or any other rating system you find suitable. Just ensure you explain the reasoning behind your rating within the body of the review.

5. How can I make my review stand out?

To make your review stand out, write in a clear and engaging style. Incorporate your unique voice and use captivating language to draw readers in. Including relevant screenshots from the movie or embedding a trailer can also enhance the overall appeal of your review.

writing a movie review provides an opportunity to express your thoughts and opinions about a film while helping others make informed decisions about their movie choices. By following this step-by-step guide, you can craft a well-written and insightful review that captures the essence of the movie. Remember to watch the film attentively, gather your thoughts, and provide a balanced assessment of its various elements. With practice, you’ll refine your skills as a movie reviewer and contribute to the world of film criticism.

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Breakout English

How to write a film review

Writing a review is an option in many different English language exams, and films are such an obvious choice for reviews, so knowing how to write a film review is pretty important. It’s a great topic for the classroom too. Everyone watches films and there is a lot of opportunity to teach vocabulary, either film-related vocabulary or film review adjectives. I like to start off a class about films with some chat, or my personal favourite, the Movie Music Quiz , which also now has an excellent Movie Picture Quiz version too.

The structure of a film review

Like any writing task, it’s essential to know the structure of a film review before you start writing. A basic film review template shows you how to write a film review using a simple structure. Film reviews for First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) Cambridge exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, should all use a 4 paragraph structure. Another thing to remember is that your review should always have a title, and that title should include the name of the film.

• Introduction – Essential details and mini-summary
• Summary – A description of the film and some important details
• Analysis – An evaluation of different elements
• Conclusion – Your opinion and a recommendation

Introduction

In the introduction of a film review, it is crucial to mention the film title and the names of the director and the main actors. A brief summary of the film’s plot and background information can also be included, but it should not give away too much detail. The introduction should engage the reader and entice them to continue reading the review. Additionally, it is important to mention the genre and target audience of the film, which will give the reader an idea of what to expect.

In the summary section, the film review should give a comprehensive but concise description of the film, focusing on the plot, characters, and any significant events. The summary should be written in a way that does not give away the ending or spoil the film for the reader. It is important to maintain objectivity and not include personal opinions in this section. This section should provide enough detail for the reader to have a clear understanding of the film without giving too much away.

The analysis section is where the reviewer can showcase their critical skills and provide an in-depth evaluation of the film. The review should examine various elements of the film such as the script, direction, cinematography, acting, and special effects. You could also make a comparison to similar films in the same genre. The analysis should be written in an objective style with the opinion only showing through the language used.

In the conclusion, the reviewer should give their personal opinion of the film, summarising their thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses. They should also consider the target audience and whether they believe the film will appeal to them. Finally, the reviewer should provide a clear recommendation. The conclusion should be concise, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the reviewer’s overall opinion of the film.

Using adjectives in reviews

Reviews are a great way to show off your language with impressive adjectives. If you read a film review in a newspaper or magazine, you’ll notice that the reviewer rarely, if ever, gives an explicit direct opinion. However, their opinion of the film is always crystal clear. This is through the use of adjectives.

Many adjectives have a clear connotation. They are either perceived as positive or negative. Compare these two examples. Which one is a positive description and which is negative?

• It’s a first-rate experience with an imaginative plot and a star-studded cast.
• The second-rate writing combined with weak performances is typical of this director’s work.

When using adjectives in a film review, it is important to choose words that accurately convey the reviewer’s opinion. Adjectives with strong connotations, either positive or negative, can be very effective in expressing the reviewer’s thoughts about the film. However, it is also important to use a variety of adjectives to avoid repetition and keep the review interesting. The use of adjectives can also help to paint a picture of the film, allowing the reader to get a sense of its atmosphere and tone.

The materials

Many exams, such as the Cambridge First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, require students to write a film review as part of their writing task. These materials will provide students with a solid understanding of the structure of a film review and help them to develop their writing skills. This will give them the confidence they need to write a review that meets the requirements of the exam and impresses the examiner.

The materials will help you learn how to write an introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion of a film review. You will also see a range of useful adjectives that you can use to express your opinions in their reviews. Finally, you will get an opportunity to practise writing film reviews, which will help you to develop your skills. Then you can check your answers with the samples provided in the answer key. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or just looking to improve your writing skills, these materials will provide you with everything you need to write a great film review.

1 thought on “How to write a film review”

Interesting and useful material to be used in class. thanks!

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How to Write a Movie Review: 10 Essential Tips

As long as there have been films, there have been film critics. Starting with the early days of cinema, where reviews appeared in newspapers and magazines as brief, descriptive pieces, as filmmaking evolved as an art form, so did the role of the critic. James Agee, André Bazin, and Pauline Kael shaped the discourse around cinema, and today, famous film critics like the iconic Roger Ebert , The New York Times’s A.O. Scott , and The New York Times’s Manohla Dargis continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

With the rise of the internet, film criticism now encompasses a wide range of voices and perspectives from around the globe. Sites like Letterboxd make it possible for anyone to write short-form reviews on film. Even stars like The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri have accounts and share opinions on the latest box-office hits.

How to Write a Movie Review

Today, contemporary YouTube and TikTok critics such as Red Letter Media , deepfocuslens , and DoMo Draper don’t just write film reviews, they shoot videos and skits. Through their creative formats, they offer refreshing and unique perspectives while building communities of diehard film and television enthusiasts. Whether you choose to write reviews for your own blog, other websites, or social media channels, by learning how to write a movie review, any aspiring filmmaker can start to watch films intentionally. 

@domodraperr Replying to @xsindeviltriggerx I’ll get right on that, Sir!🫡 #comments #movies #film #satire #fyp #mulan #disney ♬ I’ll Make a Man Out of You (feat. Black Gryph0n) – Cover – Samuel Kim

TikTok film critic “DoMo Draper” provides commentary on new and old films, often calling out racism, social injustice, misogyny, and prejudice.

While there’s no perfect approach to writing a review, there are best practices that every aspiring reviewer should consider.

Here are ten tips on writing a compelling piece.

1. Watch the film at least once.

For new reviewers, it’s impossible to capture everything after one viewing. Watching the film first, then watching to take notes, is an easy way to improve the quality of your final review. This will also make it easy to recall in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.

Take a review by Christian Blauvelt of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus , for example. Since the film does not have sound, properly critiquing the film requires close attention. Viewers have to pay attention to the various nuances in Chaplin’s performance, follow the story, and take in the cinematography. Regarding The Circus , Blauvelt writes, “The film lacks a conventional plot, but is rather a pearl necklace of strung-together episodes. ” The statement isn’t a criticism, but a keen observation likely gleaned from more than one viewing. 

So while every film reviewer has their own approach, many choose to watch a film more than once to deliver the best possible review. Image The Criterion Collection.

2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.

Professional reviewers do not shy away from sharing whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In a review for the film Mother!, reviewer Candice Frederick describes the film as “uncomfortable,” and “controversial,” helping viewers understand the tone of the movie. While Frederick seemed to enjoy the film, her honesty about how it would make audiences feel was vital in writing the review.

Be sure to back up these thoughts with specifics–a disappointing performance, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on. Professional reviewers should express why and how they came to their criticism.

3. Consider your audience.

Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests? Knowing who your readers are and where the review will be published can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. For example, take these two very different reviews for the film ‘Synecdoche, New York’.  

The first review was written by Alonso Duralde for The Today Show , and clocks in at around 500 words. The film focuses on the bullet points: characters, plot, and a concise review. The second review is over 3,000 words and published on the Critical Critics blog . This review goes into massive depth (and yes, includes spoilers) about the film, providing an incredible amount of analysis. The first review is tailored for the casual filmgoer, while the second is for cinephiles. Each review serves a different purpose.

It’s also a good idea to adjust your writing style to fit the target audience. For example, Alonso Duralde is a talented film reviewer and likely wrote the review to fit the tone of The Today Show site. Image via Director’s Library.

4. Talk about the acting.

When reviewing a film, it’s important to take space to discuss the performances. Does the film feature a seasoned actor in a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? In a review by Brett Milam for the award-winning film Whiplash , he goes into rich detail about performances by both breakthrough actor Miles Teller and seasoned professional JK Simmons.

Regarding Teller, Milam writes, “This is a performance. This is art,” and about Simmons, “I found him fascinating to just look at.” Those are just small examples of the analysis he provides regarding their acting. As the film mostly focuses on the relationship between their two characters, Miles as the protagonist and JK as the antagonist, the review of the performances lends well to the plot of the film: student and teacher going head to head in an intense and determined showdown. 

Feedback about how well the actors handled the script, the dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can help describe how the actors did in any given film.

5. Call out directors, cinematographers, and special effects.

Reviews that include highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, and costume designers can help provide support to your critiques. By providing specific examples of what worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations, reviewers can write a well-thought-out review that goes beyond whether or not you liked it.

In a review for A Wrinkle in Time , Monique Jones artfully crafts a piece that diplomatically cites the missteps of the film. From analyzing the quality of the CGI to the camera techniques to inconsistencies in the rules of the fantasy universe, Jones fairly offers a critique that guides the filmmakers and crew on future endeavors. To write this type of review, it helps to have some knowledge of the filmmaking process so you can properly assess the screenwriting, cinematography, special effects, acting, and more. Image via Disney.

6. No spoilers!

The point of writing a movie review is to get people interested in seeing a movie. That’s why it’s absolutely best practice to not reveal spoilers in a film review. Film reviewer Robert Daniels approaches this creatively. In his review of Annihilation , he provides commentary on what would be considered spoilers. However, he places that part of the review at the bottom of the article under a bold header/image that warns the reader he’s about to spoil the film. For reviewers who want to dissect the entire film, this is a good way to both tease the film for anyone who hasn’t seen it and cater to people who want to know what the ending is.

Remember: the goal of any film review is to discuss the plot without revealing any twists or the ending of the film. 

7. Study the professionals.

As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. However, with the modern landscape of film reviewing, which can go beyond writing and extend to content creation for social media platforms, there are a ton of reviewers to take notes from. First, determine what kind of reviewer you want to be, and what kind of medium you plan to deliver your reviews on. If you plan to post to Medium, for example, studying the reviewers already established on the site can be a great starting point.

Then, read film reviews for some of your favorite films. Determine which style of review you like and don’t like. Question why, and use your critical eye to consider why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another only has two. If you’re looking to be featured on a website or a magazine, read the publications where you’d like your writing to appear as a template for your reviews, and don’t forget to read the submission guidelines. A few examples of film review professionals include Rotten Tomatoes , Roger Ebert , and Film Comment. 

8. Reread, rewrite, and edit.

While writing film critique is based on opinion, and follows the style of the reviewer, it’s still important to edit work. Writers should check for spelling, grammar, and readability. No matter how good a writer’s opinions are, they will not be taken seriously if the director’s name isn’t spelled correctly. Tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor can be great for correcting and finding areas that need improvement. 

9. Find your voice.

The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. Los Angeles Times film reviewer Carlos Aguilar wrote an impassioned piece about the film Beatriz at Dinner , going into a lot of detail about his experiences working in the film industry and his Mexican heritage. By sharing anecdotes about casual racism he’s experienced and connecting it to the film’s protagonist, and what she goes through, the review feels personal and relatable.

“If at a film festival – to which I’ve gotten access to because I’m a published writer – in a progressive city like Los Angeles, I must keep my guard up when people question my right to be there, then how are the voiceless supposed to feel safe, respected, or hopeful?” Aguilar writes. 

For new reviewers, developing this type of unique voice does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your style. Image via BBC.

10. Know your taste.

As a film reviewer, it can be helpful to identify your taste in film. By knowing specific preferences, strengths, and biases, reviewers can offer nuanced critiques that resonate with audiences and provide valuable guidance on which films they might enjoy. Additionally, it helps to maintain credibility and integrity as a reviewer by ensuring that assessments are authentic and reflective of personal cinematic sensibilities.

Try to explore various genres, directors, and themes to understand what resonates emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically. Pay attention to the types of stories that engage you, which can help define your preferences.

Learn More About Filmmaking at NYFA

Film students with writing experience actually make great reviewers, as many of them are required to study a range of topics relating to film that can include cinematography, screenwriting, producing, and much more. Ready to build even more skills in filmmaking? Request more information about New York Film Academy’s filmmaking programs and workshops today!

Quick Guide on How to Write a Movie Review Essay

What Is a Movie Review

The internet has revolutionized the realm of film criticism. No matter a movie's level of quality, it is always worth analyzing. Despite the growing number of individuals attempting to write about movies, few are successful. Most people do not provide insightful analysis, instead simply state how much they liked or disliked the film.

A movie criticism, usually composed by a professional in film studies, takes a comprehensive look at the film from a historical, social, political, or theoretical standpoint. This is unlike the opinion or suggestion given in a movie review, which is shorter and more concise.

A remarkable aspect of a good film review is that it doesn't just rate the movie but provides explicit views that form the critique's basis. This form of writing, like crafting essays, research papers, and term papers, should be insightful and draw the reader in quickly. It's important to discuss the reputation of the lead actors and directors and to write about what you expected and if they were met. The reviewer must explain a story's development without recalling major plot points and endings. The review must be concise, engaging, and should involve metaphors, specific words, analogies, etc.

Movie Review Purpose

Most film reviews are intended to guide readers in deciding whether to view, rent, or purchase the film. They should provide the necessary information to aid readers in deciding without divulging any fundamental details, such as the storyline or any surprises. This paper is common in schools because the lecturer wants to evaluate the student's ability to think critically and report the event easily for others to understand.

Movie reviews typically present a brief summary of the film's storyline. They provide readers with an overview of the characters, relationships, and scenarios but do not convey the complete narrative. Perusing the review should be different from seeing the movie. Nonetheless, feel free to highlight the essential moments or pivotal points that make the film worthwhile viewing.

Our college essay writing service has put together some advice on composing a movie review essay like a real critic, so let's explore the article further!

How to Write a Movie Review: Movie Review Outline

The structure is key when it comes to the quality of your paper. Don't neglect the power of a good outline, no matter what paper you're writing. Outlines help you stay on track and make sure your paper flows well.

Taking the time to arrange your ideas before starting to write is an effective way to save time further down the line. With a well-structured plan already in place, you won't have to worry about other elements. This will also make the writing process less stressful. Here is a guide on how to organize your movie review outline:

How Do You Start a Movie Review Essay: Introduction

The introductory paragraph is the first obvious step in crafting a movie review essay outline. Here, you want to quickly captivate the reader. Deliver your viewpoint instantly and make it unambiguous. Don't leave the audience wondering whether you enjoyed the film. Tell them right off the bat so you have time to justify your assessment throughout the remainder of the process.

In the introduction movie review should also describe your thesis. Develop the main concept for your essay that you can support using your perceptions of the movie's various aspects. The reader should be able to tell from this statement if you thought the film was fantastic, awful, or simply alright. By including a thesis statement, you may move your analysis beyond the plot synopsis phase into the movie critique category, which is considered a separate creative process.

Crafting Your Essay Movie Review Analysis

According to our research paper service , film analysis is similar to building a case. You're attempting to influence the reader to follow your recommendation to watch or disregard the film. So, you must ensure your essay movie review will be convincing. Giving instances that demonstrate the validity of your personal opinion is the only method to do this. If you find any dialogue in the movie that you think best exemplifies whether the work is strong or not, utilize quotes. This also applies to all of the movie's artistic decisions. But, just because a movie's narrative isn't strong or engaging doesn't indicate the rest of the film is worthless. Carefully highlight how some factors might undermine the movie in your explanation.

The movie's plot is only one component and shouldn't dominate the overall piece. The following are the important aspects to include in your movie review structure:

Cinematography - Cinematography covers much more than simply camera angles. It includes how the picture is lit, how it moves, appears, and what lenses are used. Here you can try the following analysis: 'Warm, gentle colors are used throughout the film, combined with soothing whites and grays, to simultaneously create and gradually tear away the characters' romantic sentiments for one another. There is a painting-like quality to each image.'

Editing - The editing is arguably the absolute star of what creates a good movie review example. It affects both the duration and the flow of a movie. Without effective editing, there would be uncomfortable gaps between pictures and many errors.

Costuming - The clothing the characters wear is called a costume, but there are a number of things to consider while evaluating movie costumes. You should be able to decide if the outfits suit the characters and the movie's atmosphere.

Casting and Acting - Finding the ideal performers to bring characters to life is the goal of casting. This sometimes entails seeing performers portray both familiar personas and figures who are entirely at odds with who they are. Casting, therefore, involves more than just finding talented performers. You can assess the acting in the following way: 'Even though he excels while on the go, his stoic behaviorism causes him to fall short of his co-star during calm scenes where he keeps a blank look on his face.'

Once you have finished analyzing the acting, directing, cinematography, setting, etc., wrap up with concise, stimulating wording to sustain readers' attention. Don't forget to provide a few examples to support your statements about the film.

Concluding Your Essay Movie Review

Finalize your review by coming full circle. Close the review by returning to your introductory fact or thesis. Give your readers a refresher on the movie's most intriguing aspects. It's important to remember that before choosing a movie, viewers check reviews. Finish with a statement indicating whether it is worthwhile for them to view. Be specific about who this movie will be more fascinating to and why in your suggestions. Remember that your ending is your last shot at influencing your audience, so use it wisely.

No matter the kind of movie review you have to complete, our professional specialists are willing to help you. Directly forward your needs to our research paper service and get it done quickly.

Need Help With MOVIE REVIEW WRITING?

No matter what type of movie review you want, our qualified specialists are ready to assist you.

Short Movie Review Form

If you are currently working on a new or old movie review, reading our suggestions should be sufficient to help you earn an A. So what if you'll be writing many reviews in the future? In this situation, we advise you to develop a uniform movie review template, which will enable you to save time and complete your upcoming projects successfully.

So, how to write a movie review template, you may ask? Well, our essay helper prepared a simple yet great movie review template you may use as a foundation for your own writing if you need some help getting started:

Example Papers

Once you know how to review a movie and learn the most valuable tips to handle this assignment, it is time to look at some movie review examples to get you on the right track.

Check out the following pieces to see which of these movie review essay examples you might want to keep at hand when working on your own assignment:

Helpful Tips on Writing Movie Reviews

Here are some extra helpful tips to keep in mind when unsure how to write a movie review essay:

• Add Your Own Personal Feel to Your Movie Critique - You might not have much spare time for your pastime of reviewing. You won't be able to write a movie review, though, if you just wing it without reading what others have said. Make a note of the things that intrigued you, alarmed you, made you uncomfortable, or caused you to pause and consider something, and then use that list as the basis for your research.
• Develop a Distinctive Writing Style - Have an idol—it's good for you. You must be careful not to just paraphrase and duplicate what they say without adding your own original viewpoint. Instead, in order to stand out from the throng, you must discover your own voice. When writing movie reviews, you should also have a distinct writing style.
• Include Extensive Information -Mention the film's photographer, special effects designer, and director. Your review might be significantly impacted by this. Then you may list all the memorable movie moments that also stuck with you.
• Voice Your Views and Back Up Your Criticism - Give your own assessment of the film. Make sure you have evidence to support your criticisms. Use the movie's details that most shocked or humiliated you. Review genuine information rather than merely expressing your opinions without supporting details.

Final Thoughts

Composing a good movie review essay sample is easy if you follow this article's main steps and techniques. Furthermore, we strongly believe that this guide will assist you in achieving remarkable outcomes and ease your writing process. The staff at EssayPro is always available to provide a helping hand if you need a little additional push with movie review examples or even if it's simply coming up with a catchy essay title .

Order an essay and await excellent results! Contact our expert writers and ask them to ' write my essay for me ' – and they will ensure your academic success!

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Our writers take extra measures to make sure that your essay is created precisely in accordance with your specifications.

FAQs on Writing an Essay Movie Review

Here are the most frequently asked questions on how to write a movie review. We provided extra details on movie analysis to simplify writing film reviews.

What are the 6 Important Things to Include in a Film Review?

How long should a movie review be, what are the 5 c's in film.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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"At first they thought there was something wrong with my eyes," Adam tells us. But his vision is not the problem. Adam, a high school senior played by Charlie Plummer , is seeing things that are not there because something is wrong with his brain. He has schizophrenia, a serious mental illness that can include aural and visual hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior. In other words, all of the data we constantly absorb to understand what is happening around us and then use to respond, including judgments about basic safety and how many people are in the room, can be distorted for people with schizophrenia. Adam, for example, is in his school chemistry lab working on an experiment with his best friend when suddenly it seems to him that he is being attacked. He then knocks over a vial of chemicals, burning his friend's arm so badly he needs a skin graft, creating such a disturbance that he is thrown out of school.

Stories about teenagers are particularly compelling because the struggles of adolescence are universal; they are inherently heightened and therefore inherently dramatic. In addition to the intensity of hormones and separation from parents and intense emotions, there's the pressure of the restricted, hothouse environment of home and what Adam calls "the unforgiving ecosystem that is high school." Adding mental illness to the story heightens it further and provides another level of pressure and confusion. But at its essence it is a story about what all teenagers—and all people—want: to be independent, to have satisfying work, and to love and be loved. The specifics work, with superb performances from an exceptional cast, and that illuminates the universal themes of identity and intimacy.

Nick Naveda's strong, smart script is based on the award-winning novel by Julia Walton . Adam is a perceptive and sympathetic character and director Thor Freudenthal brings us inside his perception of the world with striking visuals. We see what he sees, whether it is a horror-movie-style inky blob or the three people who seem to follow him around and tell him what to do all the time, a blissed-out hippie chick, a 1980s-teen-movie-style teenager urging Adam to get some, and an angry bruiser who acts as his bodyguard, whether it is necessary or not. When Adam is being interviewed by the nun who heads up his new school ( Beth Grant ), we hear him give the calm, reassuring answers she wants to hear. Yes, he will get a near-A average and yes, he will take his medication. But we see what he sees: she is engulfed in flames. In one understated moment, Adam is riding on a bus and glimpses a homeless man who is mentally ill. We do not need Adam to tell us what he is thinking. By that time, we are as worried about his future as he is.

Adam's mother will not give up until he is better, and so he tries yet another new medication. And at first it works, "the closest I've felt to normal well, ever." All he needs from the new school is a place where no one knows his history and a diploma so he can realize his dream of attending cooking school. At first, he dismisses his love for cooking, telling us it's a distraction or self-medicating. But ultimately he acknowledges that in the kitchen "Everything disappears and I get to be exactly who I want to be." 

That honesty may be coming from maturity or from the clarifying effect of the medication. More likely, it is because there is someone more important than those of us in the impersonal audience he wants to be honest with. The incandescent Taylor Russell plays Maya, the acknowledged-by-all smartest and coolest girl in school. She likes Adam and has her own secret, which will be no surprise to anyone who has ever seen a movie. But it gives us a chance to see their shared vulnerability and the struggle between being safe and being known.

Freudenthal has a genuine gift for working with children and teens, as he has shown in the first " Diary of a Wimpy Kid ," " Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters ," and various Arrowverse episodes. Plummer and Russell have genuine chemistry and, as they showed in " Lean on Pete " and " Waves " respectively, a refreshing, low-key naturalism. All members of the exceptionally talented cast give their considerable best, including Molly Parker as Adam's mother and Walton Goggins as her boyfriend. A revelation about his character near the end of the film is as meaningful as the development of the romance between Maya and Adam. Andy Garcia is superb as a warm, empathetic priest and Grant gives some depth to a role that could have been a cliche. 

"No one wants to grant our wishes," Adam says. Kids with cancer are easier to sympathize with than kids with mental illness. Roger Ebert called movies "empathy machines" because they can deliver a powerful message that people are not defined by their limits or their struggles. People with mental illness want to be known and loved, and this film honors Adam with both.  

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving mental illness, some sexual references, strong language and smoking.

Charlie Plummer as Adam

AnnaSophia Robb as Rebecca

Taylor Russell as Maya

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Walton Goggins

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Aaron Dominguez as Todd

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• Thor Freudenthal
• Nick Naveda

Writer (novel)

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Cinematographer

• Michael Goi
• Peter McNulty
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How to Talk Like a Film Critic: Glossary of Film Terms

• Author: Jane Bovary

So You Want to Be a Film Critic

Presenting an A-Z guide for much of the language of film criticism.

Alan Smithee Film: A director seeking anonymity on a film will traditionally use the pseudonym Alan Smithee in the credits. This sometimes happens when directorial control has been tampered with and the director no longer wants to be associated with the completed film.

Auteur : Auteur is the French word for author and in film theory, refers to the director's personal vision; the director being the 'author' of the film. 'Auteurism' means analyzing films, to search out the defining features that might identify the director as the author . Auteur theory was developed in the 1950s by, among others, director Francois Truffault and noted film critic Andre Bazin, editor of the French film journal Cahiers du Cinéma (Cinema Notebooks)

B-Grade or B-Movie ; Low budget, B-grades are often shot by an independent director or one who has lost his gloss. They commonly have a cheesy storyline and star no-name, second-rate actors, fresh starlets, or aging stars looking for retirement funds. However, some B-grade films have a low budget but a talented cast, good director, and an interesting and/or unusual storyline and end up cult classics. Both Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Double Indemnity were rated as B-grade on release but later became cinema classics.

Bomb: A film devoid of merit or a financial flop.

Cineaste or Cinephile: Film enthusiast.

Cinéma vérité: Translates as truth cinema . Cinéma vérité grew out of French Cinema in the 1960s and refers to a film movement that uses documentary-style techniques to create realism. Influenced by the neorealist (see below) film movement of post-World War II Italy, as well as post-war British documentaries, characters are shown in real-life, everyday situations and employ authentic dialogue and natural action. Sometimes referred to as "kitchen sink" drama.

Colourisation: Process of recreating old black and white films in colour and generally regarded as a no-no by film buffs, who reason that films originally shot in b&w weren't designed for colour and thus nuances may get lost. Arose in the 1980s.

Decoupage: In film, decoupage refers to the editing process and literally translated, means 'to cut up'. However, it usually indicates a particular style of editing, in which the transitions between shots lends continuity to the narrative.

Denouement : The defining point of the film. The denouement is that part of the film, just past the climax, where everything is resolved (or not, depending on the flavour).

Deus ex machina: Deus ex machina refers to a clumsy plot device, by which problems in the storyline are conveniently resolved by improbable event/s or situations, usually at the end of the film.

Diagesis: Those elements in a film that logically and realistically exist within the narrative; eg; a bird singing, a radio playing, dialogue – as opposed to illogical mood elements such as a background musical score, a narrator, etc.

Film Noir is all about light and dark and shades of grey. Still from Carol Reed's "The Third Man."

Film Noir : Film noir is a dark and shadowy genre that deals with danger and moral ambiguity. The style emerged from b&w B-dramas of the 1940s and has been hugely influential on a number of directors – including Roman Polanski, whose 1974 film, Chinatown, was created in the noir style. Film noir is often cynical in tone, and visually early noir was influenced by the German expressionist films of an earlier decade.

Fourth Wall : An invisible wall that divides the characters from the audience. Sometimes the fourth wall is deliberately broken through for effect, such as when a character stops mid-action to talk to the audience.

Genre: Genre originated in literary criticism but in cinema terms, it refers to the characteristic style and construction of a film and similarities in the narrative. Typical examples of film genres might include Westerns, Musicals, Romances, Black Comedies, Cyberpunk, Crime, Sci-fi, Thriller s, etc.

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Grand Guignol: Translates as grand puppet . A gruesome, gothic melodrama.

Leitmotif : Originally a musical term leitmotif is sometimes used in a film context to describe a recurring theme within a film. For example, in the movie Jaws a distinctive, menacing musical piece is used throughout the film to indicate the presence of the shark. The leitmotif need not be musical – it can be a repeated image, sound, or word; e.g., in Citizen Kane the leitmotif is rosebud .

McGuffin: A term popularised by Alfred Hitchcock to denote a plot device that drives the main character/s and draws the audience in, though it may have little or no real significance – in plot terms, it's usually a red herring. Often the McGuffin is an object, such as the falcon in The Maltese Falcon or the microfilm in North by Northwest . In Psycho the Macguffin is the theft of $40,000, yet as the film progresses we see this has little importance. Another example is the cloud of radioactive dust that floats over Scott Carey in The Incredible Shrinking Man . It seems important, yet throughout most of the film, the audience has been more concerned with the effects of the shrinkage than the causes.

A striking contrast portrays the hero's dilemma in "The Incredible Shrinking Man."

Mise-en-scène: A French term used to describe the design aspects of a film, mise-en-scène incorporates key aspects such as lighting, props, set design, and costume. More recently, the term has been broadened to include reference to a director's attempt to get across all the information about a scene in a single shot. For example, a character's internal struggle may be conveyed through nuances in the lighting and set design – thus a mise-en-scène is created.

Montage: In a cinematic context, montag e refers to a series of shots edited together to create either the passage of time or symbolic meaning. In the very early days of film-making, narratives were created in one long take, rather than by different shots edited together. From the French, montage translates a s assembly, and means the putting together of parts of a film to form a cohesive and meaningful sequence. For example, take two separate shots: one of a girl walking on a railroad track and another of a fast-traveling train. Put them together in the right sequence and you create the idea that the girl is in danger of being destroyed by the train. Similarly, a filmmaker can create symbolic meaning through juxtaposition. A shot of a man and woman walking through a fairground interspersed with a shot of a merry-go-round horse moving up and down creates a sexual innuendo, albeit a fairly tired one.

Radio Cinema, Barcaldine NSW, originally built in 1926 to show silent films. Image by Jane Bovary.

Narrative Film: A film that tells a story in a traditional, linear way where you have a series of events linked by cause and effect. Thus the story moves forward logically with each scene dependent on the one before.

Neorealism: Characterised by a desire for authenticity, neorealist directors employ real-life scenarios, no special effects, authentic locations, often no-star casts, natural or no make-up, and simple camera work (no tricks). As a result, the films have a documentary-like feel. The term was first used by critics to describe Viscottonti's film, Obsessions, after its release in1942; the movement reached its zenith through the work of post-war Italian directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Victoria de Sica.

New Wave Cinema: New Wave had its roots among the French filmmakers of the 1950s and '60s. The term was coined by critics to describe those filmmakers who rejected traditional forms of cinema in favour of experimenting with narrative, editing style, and visual images. New Wave directors considered themselves auteurs, influenced by Neorealism and Cinéma vérité . Francois Truffault and Jen Luc Goddard are two famous directors of New Wave: Their films often have a gritty, 'street' feel and they often used handheld cameras, improvisation, and a non-linear framework.

Title credit from Vincent Sherman's 1939 film, an example of a Z-grade horror film.

Psycho Noir: A blending of film noir and psychological drama; e.g., Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet .

Rack Focusing : Rack focusing is a means of directing the viewer's eye to a particular part of a sequence by means of blurring out part of the image on the screen, so that only a particular area remains in clear focus.

Stock Character : A minor, usually stereotypical character whose actions are wholly predictable.

Swashbuckler : A genre that denotes high action/adventure in romantic, historical settings. Swashbuckler films feature heroic, resourceful, and physically adept characters who often engage in dangerous activities, such as sword fighting,

Tech-noir : A combination of film noir and science-fiction or cyberpunk; e.g., Blade Runner and The Terminator.

Tentpole: A blockbuster/star-cast/high-budget film that is expected to prop up the studio and compensate for the flops.

Vignette: A scene or segment within a film that is a contained story in itself. Vignettes are sometimes used in postmodern films that don't follow a conventional structure, as displaced, self-contained scenes, in order to reveal certain aspects of a character, an idea, or even an object.

Z-movie: Campy, trashy, and usually exploitative films that make B-graders look good.

Film Resources

• Film Education | Resources Film Education provides free online resources on films for primary and secondary students across the curriculum as well as a library of PDF film notes
• How Retro.com: vintage films

Jane Bovary (author) from The Fatal Shore on April 05, 2011:

Rachael, haha, yeah 'Z' is as low as you can go. Thanks for reading!

jadugan, thanks and do check out The Incredible Shrinking Man. It's a fun flick...and "deep" for a 50's sci-fi..;)

Hey Simone...thanks!

Rachael Lefler from Florida on April 04, 2011:

Good job. As an amateur anime critic here on hubpages (and it helps that I speak french) I knew some of these, but I didn't know a lot for example the origin of the term "MacGuffin" or the fact that there were Z-Movies in addition to B-Movies! (I'm picturing [no pun intended] the $5.00 bin or some of the movies on Hulu and Youtube.)

jadugan from Radford, Virginia on April 04, 2011:

I love this! The clip you added was really cool, I definitely want to see that film now! Thanks!

Simone Haruko Smith from San Francisco on April 04, 2011:

This is so nifty! I am DEFINITELY going to refer to this in the future... hahaa, maybe I'll be able to talk about films without reverting to my own silly references.

Jane Bovary (author) from The Fatal Shore on April 03, 2011:

Boomer Flicks..thanks for the visit. Sounds like a good book!

Hi Barry, thanks for that.

Lol Pierre...well it sounded good to non-French speakers!

Boomer Flicks from Tampa Bay, FL on April 03, 2011:

Excellent hub! I'd forgotten all about MacGuffin, a standard plot device in detective fiction. There's even a comic novel, The MacGuffin by Stanley Elkin, that pretty well demonstrates the device and its inherent weakness once the reader (or viewer) figures it out.

Pierre Savoie from Canada on April 03, 2011:

Hahahaha, funny! But these actors are British. Although they've spent time learning French, they're not hitting all the sounds.

Barry Rutherford from Queensland Australia on April 02, 2011:

Very useful terms I need to adopt if I want to start reviewing films etc..Voted up ^ !

Jane Bovary (author) from The Fatal Shore on April 02, 2011:

Hi drbj..haha. There is a fair degree of intellectual wanking in film criticism, to be sure...;) Thanks for popping over.

Nice to see you. Re bomb, it can have both those meanings and when I finish typing this I'll be be adding that in, so thanks for drawing it to my attention.A film without any merit usually will bomb financially but there are films that bomb at the box-office but aren't necessarily *bombs*, for sure.

To your second question about uncertainty in the plot ..there probably is a term for that but I can't think what it is. If I find out I'll slip it in.

Speaking of tedious French films, have you seen this one? It's a real classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idOzKM_xNwM

Hi DaNoblest..thanks very much for stopping by and commmenting.

Satomko thanks. I'm glad you apapeared 'cause it reminds me, I'll have to get over to your hubs and read some more of those excellent reviews.

Hi Davito, thanks..well that's interesting. I wonder where the 'cineaste' as a term for fan came then from then? I'll put cinephile on the list as well..it's probably more widely used than cineaste anyway.

I usually just say 'film buff'...;)

drbj and sherry from south Florida on April 02, 2011:

Thank you, Jane, for adding substantially to my glossary of film criticism language. One word, genre, has always bothered me when it appears too often in the description of a film by a so-called film critic. To this day, I can easily dismiss any criticism that contains more than one 'genre.' How about you?

Pierre Savoie from Canada on April 02, 2011:

Also, I thought "bomb" referred to a financial failure, like "it bombed at the box-office", rather than some film entirely devoid of merit.

Also, there have been some films where the directors wrestle with the uncertainty of the plot, unsure where to take the story, that have become classics, like CASABLANCA or APOCALYPSE NOW. Is there a word for those?

A very good hub. I speak French and I've seen contemporary movies from France which take "cinéma vérité" too far. They show life in couples and families with such realism that...nothing significant happens. These are godawfully boring movies. Or maybe I'm too dense to catch the wondrous symbolism, or too brought up on American movies that need at least one chase and car-crash each.

Seth Tomko from Macon, GA on April 02, 2011:

Excellent list. This is a good guide to film vocabulary that can help anyone who wants to deepen his or her appreciation for the medium.

DaNoblest from California on April 02, 2011:

Awesome hub. I found it very interesting to learn what some of the terms I have heard before mean.

DavitosanX on April 02, 2011:

Hi, Jane, nice to read you again. Great compilation! Curiously, in spanish we use cineaste as 'film maker' and cinephile as 'film enthusiast'.

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How to Write a Movie Review for College

Updated 04 Apr 2024

If you wish to know how to write a movie review, then you are on the right page. A movie review forms part of essays college students writes. While many cinema-loving students find it interesting, others don’t. A film review does not mean writing what happened in a film; instead, it involves doing a critical assessment of the same. Also, you can proof your paper instantly with Edubirdie plagiarism tool .

What is a movie review? A movie review is a detailed analysis of a film or a documentary. It involves analysis, research, and reporting the writer’s views in a structured way. The writer assumes a position of educating readers whether they have watched the film or not. In fact, many people read movie reviews to decide whether they want to see a film or not.

A film review tests students' critical thinking and reporting skills. It also examines their dexterity in writing in a logical, concise, lucid, and creative manner. This post shall teach you to craft the best film review in your class without being redundant in writing , and you can find many interesting tips on how to write a movie review for college and movie reviews examples.

How to Write a Movie Review Like a Professional Critic

Writing a movie review though challenging for some students can be quite easy. What you should know is that the format of presenting a review are the same which makes it an interesting task. Here we offer a step-by-step process of how to write a good film review or how to write an introduction for a movie review that any student can follow:

• Watch the movie: Before you can review any film, you must watch it. You cannot review a motion picture you have not watched. Therefore, for success watch the film at least twice. Note: do not watch it like you’re a regular moviegoer or movie enthusiast. Be focused and conscious through the film. Take notes if necessary.

You will need to take notes hence have a notebook and pen handy. Record all events and characters (major and minor). Try to be meticulous do not overlook anything.

• Research the movie: Watching the film should give you the overview and feel of the movie. With that, it should be easy and exciting to research the movie. The research augments what you have watched in the movie. In your research, you should find out who the filmmaker is, what prompted the making of the movie, the characterization, historical events the lead to the film, location, plot and so on.

If you are aware of the details behind the movie, the movie will be more understandable and engaging. Note also that if you do not understand the movie you cannot move to the next step which involves analysis. Try not to proceed to the next step unless you vividly understand the movie. If it entails watching it again until you fully get it, do it. The following should form part of your findings regarding the film:

• Title and year
• Names of the lead actors
• Name of the director
• Title of the book (if based on a book)
• Draft the review outline: Draft an outline with which you will write the review. The overview will help you organize your review concisely and logically. The outline is more like the skeletal frame on which the whole study will stand. A good draft will yield a perfect report, and the reverse is also true.

An outline enhances the quality of the film review, and it is essential you have your outline before you start writing. A sample outline looks like this:

1. Introduction

• Date released
• Background info

2. Summary of the story

3. Analysis of the plot elements (read also: guide about a critical analysis for movies)

4. Creative elements

5. Opinions (add examples to back up your claims)

• Camera techniques
• Special effects and so on

6. Conclusion

• Analyze the movie: After fully understanding the movie, you can start its analysis. Critically evaluate the film from the beginning to the end, noting every detail. While analyzing, if you observed any confusing part, re-watch to grasp the idea portrayed there fully. After you fully understand it, then you are set to write the movie review. To write a decent analysis, you need to know how to write a film critique.
• Augment Your Review with Examples : While watching the movie, your observations should be supported with examples, i.e., mention scenes the event took place. If the plot is faulty, mention it but state examples to support that claim. You can also mention poorly developed characters evident in the movie and others. Everything you observed in the film must be noted.

Examples of notables include locations, faulty or beautiful dialogues, quotes that appeal to you, poorly made speeches, bloopers, editing errors and so on. Do take note that it is not enough to make general statements about how awesome or awful the movie is, you must support your claim with evidence in the film. That is why it is called a movie review and not opinion sampling interview about the movie.

• Comment on the originality of the movie: Finally mention the uniqueness of the film which you noticed in the one you’ve watched. But even if the movie happens to be a standard feature with conventional approaches, you can still mention this as well. A regular film is still a film.
• Write Your Review: With all the fact gathered above, you can now use the outline to write your film review. Make every part easy and enjoyable to read. Importantly, make the introduction engaging and captivating. You should go for a grand opening that will grab the attention of any reader. A good opening keeps the reader on the article.

Let us assume your introduction is watertight and engaging; any sloppy body will lose your reader. Hence, make the body informative and engaging. The review aims to reveal as much information as possible. Therefore, do your best to give all the details in the film to the reader. Engage your analytic mind.

Another essential part of the review is the closing or conclusion. Here you give your view about the movie with evidence revealed in the body. Connect the conclusion with the introduction creatively.

• Edit Your Final Draft: After writing your first version of the review, you can re-write the final one after editing. Also, you should check the final draft for spelling errors, grammar mistakes, and so on. Ensure sentences connects logically to each other and watch the format used. Make a final comparison of your work with the requirement by your professor or lecturer.

With the help of free word counter check the number of words required and cut them if more than needed but if not, add relevant information to make them up. Do not add irrelevant details for the sake of space. Ensure your final submitted draft is well edited, polished, plagiarism-free and presented in the recommended format or style.

Need more writing assistance?

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Tips to Follow While Writing a Movie Review

Since a movie review essay requires dedication and time investment, you might want to know the special tips to get you through the assignment seamlessly. Do recall that perfect conclusion of this assignment will add to your grades, hence the need to take it seriously. If you wish to know How to write a movie critique easily, then this section will tell you that.

The useful tips you should consider are as follows:

• Watch the film at least two times
• If you have seen it before, make sure you re-watch it for the assignment.
• Watch the movie not as a moviegoer but with an analytic mindset of a professional reviewer
• Pay attention to details
• Take notes as you watch
• Don’t be in a rush - take your time, but be aware of the deadline
• Do not write out of the contest of your coursework
• Follow the requirements of your professor
• Use an outline to organize your work
• Start working on the body of your film review first and the introduction next
• Write an engaging introduction and a powerful closing.
• Never forget to edit your work.

Read also: How to write an editorial Essay: Useful Tips for Those Who Want To Perfect Their Skill 

Elements of a Professional Movie Review

One similar thing about these reviews is that they all should contain the same elements regardless of the genre. The elements of a movie review provide the structure on which you will base the analysis. A proper movie review format comprises the following components:

• The Title: It’s not enough that the movie title appears on the headline, it must appear in the review too. Mention it in the text and feature it in the introductory paragraph; there is no harm in doing that.
• The Storyline (Plot): The motion picture review itself refers to the summary of the movie. Present it in a concise way for people who are yet to watch it. When you are beginning to write a movie review, never have the mindset that your professor or any would-be reader has watched the movie. Therefore, never leave important points or events out. Your job is to elucidate the movie clearly to the reader: mention the faults observed, and the filmmaker’s brilliant points or downers.
• Filmmaker: What is a movie analysis without the filmmaker? Your review must feature him or her. Therefore, dedicate a paragraph to him, write about the kind of personality he or she is. Reveal the filmmaker's political stance (if relevant), background, the controversial life of the person (if he is one), etc. You can also use the opportunity to talk about other movies the director has worked on before now, and then connect it with the one under review.
• Significance to your class: Relate the content of the film or documentary to your course topic. Check its importance for historical accuracy. If the film is for history class, discuss any over-dramatization noticed in the act. However, if the film was based on a book you have reviewed in one of your classes, mention the connection between the book and the movie: state variances, comparisons and other elements present in the book that are missing in the film.
• Creative elements: Creative elements make or mar films, that is why filmmakers go out of their ways to add them to their movies. It is your job to state how these elements work in the plot and the film in general. For instance, comment on the effectiveness of the sound effect in enriching the viewing experience of the movie? Talk about the lighting, costume, makeup, colors, camera, etc.
• Actors: The cast carry the movie; without them, there is no movie. Your review should reveal if they acted well or poorly. State if their acting was realistic or not. Do not fail to mention if they have the skills and charisma to portray the role they played. You can also state if they were the right actors to play the role they did. Furthermore, you can suggest actors who could have played certain roles better than those in the film.

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Common Movie Review Mistakes You Should Avoid

After your arduous work of submitting your film report, you might be shocked to learn that your hard work received a query. You may wish to know why, well it could be because you commit any of the following common mistakes:

• Focusing on the wrong thing: Do not shift your focus. You might want to connect the film with some historical events, however, do not give unnecessary analysis or details that are not relevant to the movie under review. For instance, avoid giving the history of motion picture unless the film is about the development of the industry. Try and be focused.
• Alienating yourself from the review: You are the one writing the review, therefore, do not insert yourself in it. The review already has your name and signature on it so adding the possessive pronoun "I" should be discarded. The mistake most student make is writing in the first person, e.g., “I like the movie a lot, I admired the lead character,” and so on. Since the review exposes your understanding, opinions, likes, and dislikes, then it is unnecessary to insert yourself in it.
• Not doing your research: As said earlier, watching the movie is one side of the coin, you need to check out other details. Researching the film is highly critical because it would expound to you all the nitty-gritty details, not in the motion picture.
• Lack of evidence: In writing about a motion picture, you must substantiate any opinion or claim. You need to state your reason for liking, disliking, etc. of the film.
• Avoid irrelevant discussion: Do not start explaining issues not related directly with the motion picture you are analyzing.
• Unstructured review: Never write a movie review without structure, it would reveal you as an unorganized student. Hence structure your review properly by first creating the outline and organize your work.
• Avoid Generalization and be Precise: Never generalize ideas when you write a movie review. Avoid general statements like “a fantastic movie,” “beautiful set,” “excellent acting,” and such like. Support any comment you make with evidence from the film.
• Review lacking substance and analysis: Avoid writing a motion picture review that does not have substance or analysis. A review is a piece of educational literature, therefore, add intelligent analysis to it.

Movie Review Example from Top Writer

Here are a few examples of movie review topics to steer you in the right direction:

• Avatar Movie Review
• Beautiful Woman Movie Review
• Black Panther and its Global Significance
• In Pursuit of Happiness: Lessons to Learn
• iRobot: The Depiction of AI in the Future
• Matrix Movie Review
• Roots and Its Implication on the Life of the Black Men
• The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Movie Review
• The Last Holiday Movie Review and the Lesson of Living Life Too Cautiously
• Titanic Movie Review

Quick & Reliable Writing Help

As you can see, a movie review essay is an interesting paper to write. Recall that the whole point of a movie review is to inform the reader about the film and the ideas behind it. Also, it reflects your unbiased and objective view about the film. Adopt all our tips, and you shall submit a professional-looking report.

However, if you don't care about movies or still have issues coming to terms with all we have explained above, then contact us for help. At Edubirdie, our movie and book review service  are poised to help with your assignment and guarantee a high-quality review at an affordable price. With us, you shall learn how to do a movie review that will wow any professor.

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The Best Movie Review Templates | Free, PDF, Printable & More

Movie review templates are great tools to streamline the movie-reviewing process. A well-structured template can help you organize your thoughts and ideas, and ensure that your review is coherent and engaging. Check out some of the movie review templates below!

Free Printable Movie Review Templates

Movies watched log.

List the movies you’ve watched and your ratings of them with this cute and simple movie log template.

Aesthetic Movie Review Template

Movie review template for students.

Looking for a way to keep your students engaged and critical of a movie? Look no further than this straightforward film review template for students!

Movie Review Template for Students 2.0

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movies — Movie Review

Essays on Movie Review

Once in a while, you’ll be asked to do a movie review essay. This task is a great training tool for enhancing critical thinking skills. Essays on movie review aim at presenting a film from the most important scenes, special effects, to exciting moments and may be accompanied by criticism. From an advertising perspective, such a paper is aimed at convincing readers to watch the movie in question. Your writing should let a reader draw a conclusion, i.e, whether the film is worth their time or if they should try something else. Most importantly, your opinion must be independent and accurate. But how can you create a perfect introduction if you don’t have the experience in this type of writing? Relax. A good online writer can do it for you. If you have an idea but need some guidance, simply ask for a professional outline or use evaluation essay examples for students for more insights.

Hook Examples for Movie Review Essays

"a cinematic masterpiece" hook.

"Prepare to be captivated by the sheer brilliance of this cinematic masterpiece. Explore how every frame, performance, and detail contributes to a visual and emotional spectacle."

"Beyond the Screen: Themes and Messages" Hook

"This film transcends entertainment, offering profound themes and powerful messages. Dive into the underlying ideas and social commentary that make it a thought-provoking experience."

"The Journey of Character Development" Hook

"Follow the compelling journey of characters who evolve throughout the film. Analyze their growth, conflicts, and relationships, making this movie a character-driven narrative."

"Visual Delights: Cinematography and Special Effects" Hook

"Be prepared to be visually stunned by the breathtaking cinematography and cutting-edge special effects. Explore how these elements enhance the storytelling and immerse the audience."

"Unforgettable Performances" Hook

"The cast delivers unforgettable performances that breathe life into the characters. Discuss standout acting moments, character dynamics, and the emotional impact of their roles."

"The Soundtrack: Music That Moves" Hook

"The film's soundtrack is more than just music; it's an integral part of the storytelling. Explore how the score enhances emotions, sets the tone, and complements the visuals."

"Cinematic Analysis: Directing and Editing" Hook

"Delve into the meticulous craftsmanship of the director and editor. Analyze their choices in pacing, sequencing, and storytelling techniques that make this film a cinematic triumph."

Core Memory: Movie Analysis

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The Description of The Movie "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone"

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Ultimate Guide to Film Terms: The Definitive Glossary of Film Terminology

Browse film terms   a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m   n   o   p   q   r   s   t   u   v   w   x   y   z.

W hether you’re working on your first or 100th film, there is always something new to learn. When you need to update your film terminology, this resource will be your best friend. We’ve included as many film terms as humanly possible all on one page, so let’s get into it.

Abby Singer Shot 

An Abby Singer shot is the name for the second-to-last shot of the day. It is named after Abby Singer, a famous assistant film director and production manager. 

Movie Terms

Above the line.

Above the line   is the costs of making a movie associated with the major creative talent, including the director, actors, writers, and producers. Films with special effects will also have a greater number of above the line costs than films without special effects. 

Film Terminology

Aerial shot.

An  aerial shot   is a shot filmed from far overhead. The shot is typically obtained from a plane, blimp, drone, or other aerial device. When an aerial shot opens a film, it is referred to as an establishing shot. 

FURTHER RESEARCH

• Overhead Shots →
• Epic Drone Shots Mashup →
• What is an Establishing Shot →

Film Vocabulary

An allegory is essential an extended metaphor. When a film suggests a correspondence or resemblance with a visible part of the film (character or event) to an abstract meaning that exists outside of the film. 

CINEMA TERMS

Alliteration.

Alliteration is a literary technique when two or more words are linked that share the same first consonant sound, such as “fish fry.”

cinematography terms

An  allusion  is an implied or indirect reference to something, used either in general discussion, or within a text — a novel, play, movie, song, TV show, video game, or even a T-shirt. 

Cinema Terms

Ambient light.

Ambient light is natural light (Sun, Moon, etc.) or pre-existing light in a location before any additional lighting is added. Ambient light is typically soft, that exists around the subject of the scene.

Cinematography Terms

An angle is the relative position of the camera in relation to the subject. This could be a low-angle shot looking up, a high-angle looking down, or even a Dutch angle where the camera is tilted on the y-axis.

• Eye Level Shots →
• The Low-Angle Shot →
• The High-Angle Shot →
• Guide to Camera Shots & Angles →

Movie Related Words

Angle on is the act of directing the camera to move and focus on a particular subject. 

To delve deeper into the topic of camera angles, we invite you to explore our informative blog post titled " Camera Angles Explained ".

Film Terms Glossary

Animation is a type of filmmaking in which individual drawings of inanimate, static objects are filmed one frame at a time. This creates the illusion of movement. Famous animated films include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Lion King . 

• Best Pixar Shorts →
• Best Animated Movies of All Time →
• How to Do Stop Motion Animation →

Movie Terminology

Anime is a distinct form of animation that has roots in Japan. It is generally recognized by colorful images, highly-stylized backgrounds, and extremely exaggerated facial expressions. The best Cyberpunk movies also take a great deal of inspiration from anime.

Movie Vocabulary

An antagonist is typically known as the villain of the story. However, the antagonist can be a person, group, force of nature, or interpersonal conflict.

• Best Realistic Movie Villains →
• How to Create the Ultimate Antagonist →

Film Making Words

Anthology film.

An anthology film is a movie with multiple parts or segments devoted to differing narratives. They are sometimes linked together by a theme, but it is not necessary. 

Anti-Climax

An  anti-climax is anything following a film’s high point, the climax, that is seen as a disappointing or unsatisfying let-down. Usually, what you expected to happen didn’t happen. 

Movie Dictionary Terms

An anti-hero   is the protagonist of a film who lacks the generally-accepted attributes of a traditional hero. A protagonist who is plagued with character defects or ambiguous morals (e.g., Walter White in Breaking Bad ). 

Production Terminology

An aperture is the opening of a camera lens that controls the amount of light allowed to pass through and actually contact the film. Aperture is part of the exposure triangle with shutter speed and ISO .

An apple box is a different sized (quarter, half, full, pancake) wooden boxes used for a variety of purposes.

An   a rc shot is a shot that captures a subject while moving around in a circle. See the dizzying shot during the prom scene in Carrie . 

Film Terminology for Students

An archetype is a character, thing, or place that is routinely presented in film with a certain characterization. For example, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an archetype. 

• What are the Jungian Archetypes? →
• Character Archetypes Examples →

Basic Film Terms

An arret  is a French word meaning “stop.” It refers to an in-camera film technique where the camera stops, then an object is placed within the frame, and the camera restarts, giving the illusion that the item magically appeared.

Film Lexicon

Art director.

An Art Director is an individual who belongs to a film’s art department who is in charge of the feel, look, construction, and design of the set. This includes determining the placement for props.

Film Set Lingo

An Art-House is a niche movie theater that specializes in playing non-mainstream indie films, foreign films, or small-budget films. They are considered high-brow, or “art” films.

Film Studies Key Words

An a side is when a film character breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the audience. Commonly used by characters like Frank Underwood in House of Cards or Deadpool .

Motion Picture Terms

Aspect ratio.

Aspect ratio is the relative length and width of an image. Early cinema used more of a square shape (4:3), whereas today's movies and television are more of a rectangle (16:9 or 2.35:1, for example). 

aspect ratio

• What is 4:3 Aspect Ratio? →
• What is 2:1 Aspect Ratio? →
• What is 16:9 Aspect Ratio? →

Words Associated With Movies

An assembly is the first step in editing. All the shots are arranged by their order in the script. To gain a comprehensive understanding of film editing, we encourage you to check out our blog post titled " Unpacking the Art of Film Editing ."

Basic Glossary of Film Terms

Asynchronous.

Asynchronous  is a situation when audio tracks are out of unison with the visuals in the frame. It can sometimes be intentional and sometimes accidental.

Director Lingo Dictionary

Atmosphere is either a nebulous or concrete aesthetic of a film that adds to the overall dimensional tone of a film’s action. 

Editing Terms

Audio is any sound component of a film. This could diegetic sound (e.g., dialogue, Foley sound , etc.) or non-diegetic sound (e.g., scored music, narration, etc.).

• What is ADR in Film? →
• Sound Editing vs. Sound Mixing →
• Guide to YouTube’s Royalty-Free Audio Library →

Filming Terms and Definitions

Audio bridge.

An audio bridge   is an outgoing sound, such as music or dialogue, that carries on from one scene to the next. For example, the soundtrack could connect two scenes instead of visual images. 

An audition is the process in which an actor or performer reads from a prepared script or does a “ cold reading ” or a portion of dialogue. The performer may receive a call-back for additional readings. 

• The Ultimate Guide to Auditions →
• How to Become a Casting Director →
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Holding Auditions →

An auteur is the French word for “author.” Most often refers to a director with a distinct or signature style. Directors are often seen as the “authors” of film due to the amount of creative control they hold over all processes held within.

• Denis Villeneuve Directing Style →
• The Directing Style of David Fincher →
• Martin Scorsese and His Filmmaking Techniques →

Cinema Lingo

Available light.

Available light is the naturally-occurring light you find on the film location. Available light can help enhance a film’s sense of realism. It exists in contrast to artificial light a film crew would normally bring in. 

available light

• Film Lighting Techniques →
• Cinematography Tips and Techniques →
• How to Capture Images at Golden Hour →

Movie Director Lingo

Avant-garde.

Avant-garde is an experimental or abstract art movement. Avant-garde movies tend to challenge conventional filmmaking techniques. 

Movie Set Terminology

Axis of action.

The  axis of action is an imaginary line that runs between the two primary actors in a scene. Also known as the 180-degree line , it defines the spatial relations between all of the scene’s elements as being either left or right to the performers in order to maintain scene geography.

A B-movie is an offbeat, low-budget movie. B-movies generally come from independent producers. They have become to be defined by campy acting, catchy titles, and low-grade special effects.

Basic Film Vocabulary

A backdrop is to a huge photographic painting or backing seen in the background of a scene. It typically portrays a landscape, such as mountains. Backdrops were more commonly used before film studios either shot on set or used green screens.

Film Production Jargon

Background is anything within the rear plane of action. Anything occurring in the front plane of action is referred to as the foreground. It is often abbreviated as “b.g.”

Cinema Vocabulary English

Background artist.

A b ackground artist is the person responsible for designing the visual background of a movie. This person is also referred to as a “matte artist.”

Film Audio Terms

Background music.

Background music is the score or music heard in the background of a scene. Generally, this music helps set the tone or mood of the scene.

background music

• Guide to YouTube’s Royalty-Free Music →
• Creating Unforgettable Moments with Music →

Film Lighting Terms

Backlighting.

Backlighting  is the lighting placed behind the subject so that it faces the camera and helps to separate the subject from the background.

TV Production Terms Definitions

A back lot is a piece of land on a studio’s property where filmmakers can shoot outside scenes in an enclosed area. This differs from on-location shoots where the team goes to an actual part of the city to film. For example, many scenes in Back to the Future were shot on a back lot.

Film Industry Dictionary

Back projection.

Back projection (aka rear projection ) is a photographic technique in which a live action scene is filmed in front of a transparent screen where a background is added later. It was commonly used to portray actors driving in a car.

Screenwriting Terms

A b ack story is the events that transpired directly before the film began. It can help fill in information about certain characters so that the actors, or the audience can better comprehend motivations.

Film Frame Lingo

Balance is an overarching term about how the light, movement, and sound all work together within a single scene. 

Film Lighting Slang

Barn doors is slang for the four metal folding doors found on all sides of a light. The barn doors can be repositioned to help direct light in a certain direction.

Acting Terminology

A beat  in acting is a pause before an actor carries out a movement or speaks their next line of dialogue. In a screenplay, a beat may be signified through the use of ellipses (...).

Movie Making Dictionary

Below the line.

Below the line refers to any production costs that are not "above the line" (see above). This can include film crew salary, publicity, music rights, and cutting together a trailer. 

A   Best Boy is the aide, assistant, or technical assistant for the key grip or gaffer. The best boy is responsible for coiling and routing all of the power cables needed to run the lights. The best boy may also schedule what people and equipment are needed on a given day of a shoot.

Movie Terminology Glossary

Billing is the placement of actors’ names on a movie poster. The most prominent actor in a film will generally have top billing. The second most prominent actor will have second billing and so forth. 

Moviegoing Terms

A biopic is a biographical film about a real-life subject. It is often seen as a sub-genre of dramas and epics. Examples of biopics include The Last Emperor and Rocketman .

Acting Lingo

A bit part is a small acting role. Generally, a bit part will have a couple lines of dialogue in a single scene in a film. Actors who play waiters are generally considered to have bit parts. 

Movie Genre Definitions

Black comedy.

Black Comedy (aka dark comedy) is a sub-genre of comedy that rose in prominence around the 1950s and '60s. It takes typically serious subjects, such as death and war, and treats them with macabre humor. Fargo , American Psycho , Fight Club   would be considered some of the best Black Comedies of all time. 

Film Words Dictionary

Blacklisting.

Blacklisting is a term popularized during the "McCarthyism" of the late 1940s and early '50s where actors, directors, and other prominent people in Hollywood were persecuted for perceived connections with communism. Today, “blacklisted” individuals are those who have trouble finding work due to a variety of reasons (difficult to work with, wronged someone powerful, etc.).

Movie Genre Terms

Blaxploitation.

Blaxploitation   is a combination of the words “black” and “exploitation” and refers to low-budget, sensational movies primarily made in the 1970s that featured mostly African-American casts and tackled gritty topics like racism, drugs, and the criminal underworld (e.g., Superfly ). 

Common Movie Terms

Blockbuster.

A b lockbuster  is a standout movie that is a major box office success. Generally, a movie has to gross at least $200 million to be considered a blockbuster (e.g., Jaws ,  Avengers: Endgame ). 

blockbuster

• Best Marvel Movies, Ranked →
• Michael Bay's Best Movies, Ranked →
• A Complete Ranking of James Cameron Movies →

Film Camera Terminology

Blocking a shot.

Blocking a shot is the process by which a director determines where the actors stand, where the lights will shine, and how the camera will be positioned. Generally, a director will block a shot before bringing the actors on set to actually film. 

bLOcking a shot

• Blocking and Staging in the Godfather →
• Ways to Make Blocking More Interesting →

Filmmaking Lingo

A b looper is an embarrassing or humorous mistake made during the course of filming. Bloopers are also known as flubs, flaws, or goofs. In some comedies, bloopers will play over the end credits. 

Film Framing Terminology

A b low-up is an optical process involving the enlargement of a film frame or photographic image. It was often used to make 70mm film prints from original 35mm movies.

comedy Terminology

Blue comedy.

Blue comedy , also known as "dirty comedy," originated from the idea of veering off the beaten path of conventional humor. It is characterized by explicit language, sexual innuendo, and tackling taboo topics with unabashed boldness.

Film Techniques Glossary

Blue screen.

A blue screen (aka green screen) is an evenly-lit, monochromatic background actors perform in front of. The blue (or green) is then replaced with the desired background through chroma-keying. Many films made today heavily utilize blue or green screens. 

Terms for Actors

Body double.

A body double   is a performer who will take the place of an actor for certain shots. In many cases, this is done for nude scenes where a big-name actor may not want to use his or her actual body for the scene. 

Filmmaking Terms Around the World

Bollywood is the huge filmmaking industry in India. It derives its name from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood. Sholay and Mother India   are examples of Bollywood films. 

Film Glossary

Bookends are when the opening and end scenes of a film complement one another. It can help tie a film together, much like a framing device. Whiplash has bookends with Andrew beginning and ending the film while playing the drums.

Good Cinematography Terms

A b oom shot is any shot where the camera is attached to a mechanical arm like a crane or jib. 

Film Viewer Terms

A b ootleg  is an illegally obtained version of a film and distributed online or through the black market. It is also known as a pirated film.

Lighting Film Terms

Bounce board.

A bounce board is a device used to reflect light during filming. It is typically a solid white surface constructed out of poster board or foam. It helps add soft light to a scene.

Film Camera Lingo

Bracketing is the process of shooting the same scene multiple times using F-stops resulting in different exposures. An F-stop is the ratio of the focal length of a lens to the entrance pupil’s diameter.

Movie Cinematography Terms

Bridging shot.

A bridging shot is a type of transitional shot used to “bridge” a jump in place or time. For example, in Raiders of the Lost Ark ,  the movie uses bridging shots of a map to indicate Indiana Jones is moving. 

Old-School Film Terms

A bumper  is the pre-film segment that plays before the movie begins. It typically contains the movie studio’s logo. Disney movies have a bumper of a magical castle, for example. 

A Butterfly is a large sheet of fabric used to diffuse a wide area of light.

Film Production Definitions

A call sheet is a schedule given to crew members over the course of the film’s production. It lets every department member know when they are to arrive on set. It also lists which actors are necessary for which scenes.

• How to Make a Call Sheet Online →
• The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets →
• Best Practices for Prepping Call Sheets →

Basic Acting Terminology

A cameo is brief appearance by a famous actor, director, or celebrity in a film. For example, Lance Armstrong has a short cameo in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story .

Filmmaking 101

A camera is the most basic, essential machine necessary for filmmaking. The camera captures images using the lens, aperture, magazine, viewfinder, and other quintessential components. They range in size from immense IMAX cameras to modern smartphones. 

• When Was the Camera Invented? →
• Best Video Cameras for Filmmakers →
• Different Types of Cameras for Film & Video →

Filmmaking Terminology

Camera angle.

A camera angle refers to the point of view the camera operator chooses to photograph a subject. Some of the most basic camera angles include high angles , low angles , dutch angles , and eye-level shots .

camera angle

• Different Types of Camera Angles →
• Creative Examples of Overhead Shots →
• A Quick Guide to Aerial Shots with Examples →

Cinematic Storytelling Terms

Camera movement.

Camera movement is the act of moving the camera to capture various angles and perspectives. Some examples of common camera movements include pan , track , tilt , and zoom . 

camera movement

• The Dolly Zoom →
• Deep Focus Shot →
• What is a Camera Pan? →

Movie Job Terms

Camera operator.

A Camera Operator is the person responsible for operating the camera. The camera operator works under the supervision of the director as well as the director of photography. 

Movie Critique Dictionary

Capsule review.

A capsule review is an incredibly short movie review. A short snippet of a review you find on Twitter would fall into this category.

Movie Watching Definitions

A c aption  is a printed line of text you find at the bottom of a frame that describes or translates what characters are doing/saying. It is beneficial for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers. Another word for this would be “subtitles.”

Character Terms

A caricature  is a character, usually a drawing, that is ridiculously out of proportion physically, psychologically, or morally. It portrays an individual in an unrealistic and/or stereotypical fashion. 

Box Office Dictionary

A cash cow is a movie that will be a guaranteed financial success. It could serve as another term for a blockbuster, but one with minimal risks. Star Wars   is a cash cow franchise for Disney. 

Actor’s Dictionary

A  cast is a term for the collective performers in a film. A cast is generally divided into two categories: the leads and the supporting characters. 

Dialogue Terms

Catchphrase.

A catchphrase is a short phrase said by a movie character that takes on significance within the general public. In the Die Hard   franchise, John McClane’s catchphrase is, “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker,” one of the best one-liners in cinema history .

Screenwriting Lingo

Catharsis  is the point in a film’s climax where the audience experiences a cleansing of emotional tension. It provides relief and a sense of restoration. An audience will experience a cathartic moment when the hero definitively emerges triumphant over the villain. 

Animation Terms

A cel  is an individual hand-drawn sheet for a cartoon. It represents a single animation frame that allows for multiple layers of composition. Several character cels will be placed against the same background cel to show movement.

CGI is computer-generated imagery used in filmmaking to create special effects and the illusion of motion. It can be used to create giant, fantastical creatures or fill in a crowd in lieu of hiring a bunch of extras. 

Classic Movie Making Terms

Change-over cue.

A change-over cue is a dot that would appear in the top right-hand corner of a movie projection. It signals to the projectionist that that a change in film reel was coming up. Change-over cues are no longer common as most films are shown on a single reel or projected digitally. 

Basic Filmmaking Definitions

A c haracter  is the individual within a movie, played by an actor. Batman is a character while Robert Pattinson is an actor who plays him. 

• Character Development →
• Manic Pixie Dream Girl - A Eulogy →
• Character Archetypes in Film & Literature →

Character Actor

A Character Actor is a specific type of actor who specializes in portraying unique, offbeat, colorful characters. It could also describe an actor with a certain body type who is well-suited for certain roles. J.K. Simmons is a great character actor, best known for his role of J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man   films.

character actor

• Who Played the Joker? →
• What is Method Acting? →

screenwriting lingo

Character sheet.

A  character sheet is a physical or digital manifesto where character details are displayed in visual/text form.

Movie Genre Studies

Character study.

A c haracter study is the film where characterizations come first while the plot and narrative come second. The Seven Samurai and Boyhood are examples of character studies.

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is a combination of two Italian words meaning “light” and “dark.” In filmmaking, it refers to the contrast between light and darkness in an individual scene. It has roots in German Expressionism and is also known as high-contrast lighting.

Film Genre Definitions

Chick flick.

A c hick flick is a term used to describe films that primarily appeal to women. It is often used in a derogatory sense to demean films that primarily star women or utilize heavily emotional components. 

Child Actor

A c hild actor is any actor who is under the age of 18. Macauley Culkin and Drew Barrymore were famous child actors. Because they are minors, there are special rules for working with child actors .

Chimera (Soft Box)

A Chimera is a cloth frame that attaches to a hard light and turns it into diffused light.

Movie Critic Terms

A c ineaste  is another word for a film/movie enthusiast. It was also the name for a popular film magazine. 

Cinematic Phrases

Cinéma vérité.

Cinéma Vérité is a French word meaning “true cinema.” It is a filmmaking style dedicated to capturing “real life” or utilizing techniques in a fictional film that suggest the viewer is peering into the lives of the characters. It was part of the French New Wave movement and popularized in the states by David and Albert Maysles.

Movie Job Titles

Cinematographer.

A Cinematographer is the individual responsible for the technique and art of film photography. It is this person’s job to photograph images for a movie by selecting the right lenses, film stock, camera angles, and recording devices to use. 

cinematographer

• Best Cinematographers →
• Essential Cinematography Books →
• What Does a Cinematographer Do? →

Unique Film Terms

Cinemascope.

CinemaScope is a film presentation technique that uses an aspect ratio of 2:35:1. It typically refers to anamorphic techniques and widescreen processes that utilize various magnifications in the vertical and horizontal to fill in the screen.

Interesting Movie Terms

Cinerama is a process of wide-screen filming that utilized three cameras and three separate projectors to attain an all-encompassing view of the frame. It would be projected on a curved screen, and it was the first commercially-viable multiple-screen process. 

There are all different kinds of clamps you’ll use on set. Everything from C-47s to Cardellinis and beyond. These hold gels to lights, lights to walls, and diffusion to whatever it takes.

Film Shoot Terms

Clapperboard.

A clapperboard is the black-and-white board or slate with a hinged top used to display information of the shot on the screen. It typically contains information about the director, title of the movie, and take being filmed. Today, electronic clappers have come into style.  

Animated Film Terms

Claymation is a style of animation where the characters are made out of clay, plasticine, or putty. The characters are then filmed, generally through stop motion animation. 

• What is Stop Motion Animation? →
• Best Rankin Bass Christmas Claymation Movies →

Storytelling Definitions

Cliffhanger.

A c liffhanger  is the film that ends with the primary conflict unresolved. It came into fashion during the time of film serials but is still prevalent today. Avengers: Infinity War   ended on a cliffhanger that lead into Avengers: Endgame . 

Screenwriting Basics

A c limax  is the topmost point of tension within a narrative. It is the primary point with the protagonist must confront the antagonist and all of the consequences there within. The climax is then generally followed by denouement or anti-climax. 

Basic Cinematography Terms

A close-up   is the shot taken from an incredibly close distance to the subject. A single object or part of an actor’s body will appear in the frame. This is to emphasize importance and make the audience focus on a single item. 

• Extreme Close-Up Shots →
• The Medium Close-Up Shot →

Film Structure Definitions

A coda is the word meaning “tail” in Italian. It refers to the final portion of a film, also known as the epilogue . It is the scene that provides closure, such as in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 . 

Old-School Cinema Terms

Colorization.

Colorization is the process of film alteration where black-and-white film is turned into color. It was a popular, albeit controversial, process in the 1980s when classic films received modern updates. 

Film Acting Terms

Comic relief.

Comic Relief is a character who provides comedic moments in otherwise serious films. It was popularized by Shakespeare but can still be found in movies today (e.g., Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King ). 

comic relief

• What is Comedy? →
• The Best Comedies of All Time →
• The Best Dark Comedy Films & TV Shows →

Understanding Film Genre

Coming-of-age film.

A C oming-of-Age Film is the movie associated teenagers growing into adulthood through relatable rites of passage. These films are usually defined by the loss of innocence, attaining sexual identity, and/or living out childhood dreams. 

Actor’s Phrases

Command performance.

A c ommand performance generally refers to an amazing performance given by an actor. Most of the time, this performance has come right before the actor’s death. 

Film Jobs Vocabulary

A Composer is the musician who creates a movie’s score. This is in contrast to a conductor, who directs the orchestra playing the score, and a lyricist, who writes the lyrics to a song. 

• How to Use Suspenseful Music →
• How to Design a Surreal Film Score →

A Director’s Movie Vocabulary

Composition.

A composition  is the way in which different elements of a scene are arranged on the frame. This refers to the lighting, movement of the actors, props, lines, and other figures. 

composition

• What is the Rule of Thirds? →
• Rules of Shot Composition in Film →
• Shot Composition & The Quadrant System →

Movie Magic Dictionary

Concert film.

A  concert film is a movie that records a live musical performance of a band, singer, or stand-up comedian. It can take footage from a single performance or stitch together footage from multiple concerts. 

Essential Film Terminology for Students

Continuity is one of the responsibilities of the Script Supervisor to make sure elements are consistent from shot to shot and scene to scene. When there is a mistake, such as an actor wearing different clothing within the same scene, it is referred to as a “continuity error.” 

Film Set Lingo for Lighting

Contrast is the difference in light and shadow in a scene. A frame with high contrast has a sharp delineation between the bright and dark elements. The opposite of this is known as low contrast. 

Filmmaking Understanding

A convention is a typical element audiences expect out of certain genres of film without question. For example, Film Noir is expected is expected to have a lot of shadows and pose questions related to human corruption and betrayal. 

Film Glossary for Students

Coogan's law.

Coogan's Law is the landmark legislation passed in the late 1930s intended to protect the earnings from child actors. As a result of the bill, a portion of the child’s earnings go in a court-administered trust fund the child receives upon reaching maturity. The bill is named after child actor Jackie Coogan and is one of the rules for working child actors .

Cinema Basic Terminology

Coverage is the term to describe all of the shots, including reverse angles and close-ups, a director obtains in addition to the master shot. Having “proper coverage” means to have all of the necessary shots to put together a complete film. 

Cinematography Glossary

A crane shot is the camera shot taken from a huge camera dolly or another electronic device, such as a crane, resembling an extendable arm or boom. It can raise the camera high above the ground, allowing the camera to move in practically any direction. They provide a form of overhead view of the scene. 

Main Film Glossary

A crawl  is the superimposed text on the screen that can move up, down, diagonally, or across. The most famous example of this is the opening crawl detailing a prologue in the Star Wars   films.

Film Definitions Terms

Credits  is the text appearing before or after a film detailing the cast, production crew, and technical personnel who worked on a movie. Each person listed receives a credit on what he or she did on the film. 

Movie Personnel Terms

A Crew is the collective of individuals involved with the technical aspect of shooting a movie. It does not refer to the performers in a film.

• How to Find the Best Production Crew →
• Film Production Crew Contact List Template →
• A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet →

Movie Watching Vocabulary

A c ritic   is someone who publishes reviews of movies for analytical or educational purposes. A movie review will discuss the finer points of a film, such as quality of the acting, directing, or writing. Roger Ebert is one of the best-known film critics to ever live. 

Film Editing Terms

Cross-cutting.

Cross-Cutting is an editing technique of interspersing, interweaving, or alternating one action with another. Usually, these will be in separate places or locations, and the cut combines the two. It is an editing method to suggest parallel action or two events that take place simultaneously. 

Movie Director Dictionary

A c ross-fade is a fading technique with two components. First, there is a fade to black. Next, it fades into the next scene. When it does not cut to black first, it is referred to as a “dissolve.”

Movie Marketing Terms

A cross-over is a film marketed toward one audience but would also be enjoyed by a completely different demographic. For instance, Toy Story 4 was a children’s film, but adults also enjoyed it.

Film Shoot Vocabulary

A crowd shot  is a shot consisting of a large group of extras. Today, many crowd shots utilize CGI so that the production does not have to hire a bunch of extras. 

A C-Stand is a sturdy light stand that has three different legs that can be adjusted to accommodate steps; a long metal “arm,” and a round clamping head called a gobo.

A Cucoloris is a type of flag with shapes cut into it that creates the look of tree branches, window shades, etc.

An Actor’s Glossary

A cue is the signal for an actor to start performing. Typically, a cue will be one actor’s last line of dialogue, signaling to the other person in the scene to start. However, a cue can also come from the director or from within the script. 

Everyday Film Terms

A cue card is the large board with dialogue printed on it to help an actor remember his or her lines. Today, actors can receive electronic cues by means of a teleprompter.

Editing Dictionary

Cutaway shot.

A cutaway shot is a quick shot that temporarily cuts between a continuously-filmed sequence by inserting another person, object, or action into the scene. It is then followed by a cutaway back to the main sequence. Family Guy   has become famous for its cutaway shots. 

Film Studio Words

A cyclorama  is the seamlessly curved backdrop reaching from the floor to the ceiling to showcase a background for a scene. It is generally used to represent the sky when outdoor scenes are shot indoors. 

Cinematic Lingo

Dailies   are copies of the footage shot on the previous day and reviewed. Directors will review this footage at the end of the day (or start of the next day) to see what they have so far. Dailies are vital for making sure continuity is correct and sound quality is good. 

Moviegoing Phrases

A Dark Horse is a little-known movie that goes on to become a massive hit either financially or on the awards circuit. Moonlight was the dark horse winner for the Best Picture Oscar over La La Land . 

Cinematographic Words

Day-for-night shot.

A D ay-for-Night shot is filmed during the day to make it appear as if it takes place at night. This can be attained through unique lighting, filters, and lenses. It was common in the 1950s and '60s but doesn’t happen as often today but, if it does, there are tips on how to schedule a day-for-night scene . 

Comedic Vocabulary

Deadpan is a comedic device in which a performer assumes an expressionless demeanor to deliver comedic lines or performances. Leslie Neilsen and Buster Keaton had famous deadpan deliveries. 

Deep Focus Shot

A deep focus shot is a cinematography technique portraying great depth of field. Wide angle lenses are used with small lens apertures to create a sharp focus in both distant and nearby planes within the same shot. 

Screenwriting Concepts

Denouement   is the point in a film that immediately follows the climax when everything in the plot has been resolved. It’s typically the final scene in a movie and is also known as the resolution. 

Directorial Terminology

Depth of field.

Depth of field is the depth of a shot’s focus in relation to the foreground, middle-ground and background. Shallow depth of field might keep only one of those planes in focus, while deep depth of field would keep all of them in focus.

depth of field

• What is Deep Depth of Field? →
• What is Shallow Depth of Field? →
• The Essential Guide to Depth of Field →

In-Depth Movie Terminology

Depth of focus.

Depth of Focus is directly related to depth of field. It refers to making an adjustment so that a camera shot keeps its deep focus throughout all of the various planes.

Deus Ex Machina

Deus ex machina is the resolution of a plot by what is basically a force from God. It usually refers to a clumsy, contrived, or illogical intervention that alleviates the tension through something other than a character’s actions. The bacteria in War of the Worlds could be considered a deus ex machina, one of many cliches to avoid .

Sound Editing Terms

Diegetic sound.

Diegetic sound  is the logically or realistically existing sound within a scene. Music playing on the radio or the sounds of keys turning within the ignition would be examples of diegetic sounds. If the characters in the film can hear it, it's considered diegetic. Non-diegetic sound includes the musical score and narration.

Lighting Vocabulary

Diffusion is the softening or reduction of a light’s intensity. This is achieved through a translucent sheet, made from silk or lace, or through a diffuser in front of the light source to cut down on shadows.

Digital Film Terms

Digital production.

A digital production or virtual production is a movie on filmed with digital video by means of high-resolution cameras. Afterwards, post-production is carried out using video editing methods, which completely eliminates the need for 35mm film. 

Distribution Film Terms

Digital distribution.

Digital distribution is the channel through which media is shared via the internet. 

Framing Phrases

Directing the eye.

Directing the eye is a cinematographic term. It refers to using frame composition, camera movement, or lighting to make clear what is most important in the frame. 

Movie Set Words

A Director  is the artist responsible for total artistic control during all phases of a movie’s production. The director makes day-to-day decisions about acting, lighting, sound, casting, and editing. More than anyone else, the director is the single person most responsible for ensuring a film comes to fruition. 

• Auteur Theory →
• Producer vs Director →
• How to Become a Director →

Film Viewing Vocabulary

Director's cut.

A Director's Cut is a version of a movie a director is able to make without any studio interference. This is the version the director would like audiences to see the film. Arguably, the most famous director’s cut is that of Blade Runner , which audiences and critics alike seemed to agree was superior to the theatrical version. 

Movie Editing Terms

A d issolve  is a transitional edit between two scenes, shots, or sequences in which the image of one shot is slowly replaced, blended, or superimposed with a different image. It’s usually done to suggest a passage of time. 

Film Theory Terms

Dogme 95 is the filmmaker collective founded by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg in 1995 that established a clear set of rules and philosophy that rejected contrived camera work and special effects in lieu of “honest” and “truthful” storytelling. Some of the other rules included shooting on location and using hand-held cameras. 

Movie Sound Terms

Dolby stereo.

Dolby Stereo is the stereo-sound process for movies developed by Dolby Laboratories, Inc. to enhance sound quality. 35mm prints of films have dual optical sound tracks while 70mm films have six magnetic tracks as well as multi-channel playback. 

Movie Production Terminology

A dolly shot is the movie shot where the perspective of the background and subject is altered. A camera will be mounted onto a tripod or wheeled camera platform, pushed on rails, and moved slowly during the filming while the camera runs. When combined with a zoom, the background stretches behind the subject and is called a dolly zoom .

Cinematography Jargon

Double exposure.

Double exposure is the process of exposing one frame twice so that elements of the two images are visible within the final product. It results in an effect similar to superimposition. It is commonly used to create a “ghostly” effect.

Movie Lexicon

A dub   is the process of inserting a new soundtrack into a movie or adding a new soundtrack of music, sound effects, or dialogue following production. A dub will match the lip movements and actions of the filmed shots to make it seem natural. This is in contrast to direct sound where sound is recorded on the scene and synched with the shot.

Cinematography Basics

Dutch angle.

A Dutch angle is a shot where the camera is tilted to one side, along the horizontal axis, producing a diagonal angle. It is typically done to create a sense of unease within the viewer. 

Photographic Dictionary

Dynamic frame.

A dynamic frame is a photographic technique meant to mask the projected image shape and size to any ratio that is seen as appropriate for the scene. An example of this would be the aspect ratio narrowing when an actor walks through a narrow passageway. 

French Movie Lexicon

Enfant terrible.

An E nfant terrible is a French word meaning “terrible baby.” It refers to a young director who is brash or egotistical. This is often a director who is innovative but uses unorthodox techniques. 

Storytelling Jargon

An e pilogue  is the short scene at the end of a movie that concludes the film. Many times, the main characters will be older, reflecting on the events just witnessed. Saving Private Ryan   ends with such an epilogue. 

Common Words Associated With Movies

Establishing shot.

An establishing shot   is a long shot that shows the location from a distance. It is often an aerial shot, and it informs the audience of the time and locale of the setting. It helps orient the viewer so that they know where the next scene takes place. 

Movie Production Lingo

Executive producer.

An Executive Producer is the individual responsible for overseeing a movie’s financing. The Executive Producer may also help arrange various elements of a film’s production, such as a writer and actors. 

A Fun Film Terms List

Exposition is the conveyance of vital background information, either through actions or dialogue, to further the events of a story. It could also set up a movie’s story. It can include information about the main problem or what’s at stake for the characters. Writing exposition is particularly tricky when trying to weave it into the script organically.

Movie Theory Lingo

Expressionism.

Expressionism is the movie technique that involves the distortion of reality through costumes, editing, and lighting. It’s meant to reflect the inner emotions of the characters or the filmmaker. It was popularized in Germany in the 1920s and '30s, often characterized by dramatic lighting, grotesque shots and dark visual images. 

Film Slang for Directors

An Extra is an actor who appears in a movie in a non-speaking, unnoticed role, such as part of a crowd or a patron in a restaurant. Extras generally do not receive a screen credit.

Videography Terminology

Extreme close-up.

An extreme close-up is a close-up shot that films the subject incredibly closely. In many cases, the outer portions of the subject will be cut out of the frame. Extreme close-ups are typically done on actors to showcase their eyes, mouth, or another singular part of the body.

Film Editing Glossary

Eyeline match.

An   eyeline match is a cut in filmmaking between two shots that shows an illusion that the character, presented in the first shot, is looking at an object, presented in the second shot.

Editing Techniques Dictionary

A fade  is a transitional tool that consists of a slow change in intensity of a sound or image. A normally-lit scene will transition to black or vice versa. This also applies to sound and how it fades in and out of a scene.

Film Editing Terminology PDF

Fast-cutting.

Fast-Cutting is a movie editing technique consisting of multiple fast consecutive shots. These are known as staccato shots that only last for a brief duration of time each to create a fast-paced effect.

Movie Making Slang

Favor On is when the camera focuses or highlights a certain subject or action within a shot.

Film camera Terminology

A  film gate is a piece of metal framing behind the lens that lets light into the camera. 

Film Studies Terminology

Film Grain is a light-sensitive material that exists in a film’s emulsion or coating. It results in a fine-grained aesthetic, which requires more light to film, or a coarse aesthetic, which is preferable for low-light scenes.

Film Analysis Terms

Film Noir is a French word meaning “black film.” It was a popular genre in the 1940s that consisted of dark subject matter, downbeat tones, and low-key lighting. Often, the protagonist was an anti-hero or private detective. The Maltese Falcon is an example of a film noir.

• Best Neo-Noir Films →
• Top Christopher Nolan Movies →
• Best Film Noir Movies of All Time  →

Film stock refers to a film’s gauge or size as well as the film speed. It can also refer to the unused, unexposed film where photographic images will later be stored. The different types of film stock include tungsten and daylight.

Film Theory

Film theory is a catch-all term used to refer to technical and theoretical ways of studying film. 

Film Review

A  film review is a type of critique that provides an evaluation of a film, encompassing various aspects such as the plot, themes, direction, script, and performances.

Camera Lens Vocabulary

A f ilter  is a plastic, glass, or gelatinous substance placed behind or before a camera lens. This changes the character and effect of the lighting within the frame of the film.

Movie Camera Jargon

Fish-eye lens.

A fish-eye lens is an extreme type of lens that films subjects at super wide angles. It also has an incredibly short focal point, in addition to a practically infinite depth of field, that distorts the linear dimensions of the image. This results in a more curved image.

A Flag is a black, light-absorbing cloth (duvetine) stretched on a metal frame and used to block out areas of light in all different sizes.

Essential Storytelling Terms

A f lashback  is a technique used in filmmaking where the natural order of the narrative is interrupted to show what happened in the past. Many times, this flashback has occurred prior to the first frame in the film. It provides backstory on the events and actions presently taking place.

Other Storytelling Terms

Flash-forward.

A f lash-forward is the opposite of a flashback. It interrupts the natural order of the story to show what will happen in the future. A flash-forward can also go from the past to the present.

Vital Film Terms

Focus is the degree of distinctness or sharpness in an image. As a verb, it relates to the adjustment or manipulation of a lens to create a far sharper image. You can have shallow, deep, or soft focus.

• What is Shallow Focus? →
• The Rack Focus: Creative Examples →
• Deep Focus Shot: Creative Examples  →

Film Job Vocabulary

Foley artist.

A Foley Artist   is an individual who works during the editing and post-production phase of a movie’s production. This person adds or creates incident sounds and noises, such as gunshots, footsteps, and punches, to synchronize to the finished product. Named after pioneer Jack Foley.

Motion Picture Terms Glossary

Footage is any sequence, portion, or length of film, either shot or soon to be shot, that is measured in feet. It also refers to a specific sequence of events depicted in the movie.

• Best DJI Ronin-S Footage  →
• Panasonic GH5s Footage  →
• Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro Footage →

Complete Movie Terminology List

Foreground   is the opposite of a background. Any action or object closest to the camera. In writing, the foreground is generally abbreviated as b.g.

MOTION PICTURE TERMS GLOSSARY

Foreshadowing.

Foreshadowing is a literary device that is utilized to give a hint or indication of a future event in the story. It can be a very effective tool for developing curiosity, suspense, and even narrative harmony at the end of a film or novel.

Documentary Film Terms

Fourth wall.

The Fourth Wall is the illusory, imaginary plane through which the audience is able to watch the film. It is possible for characters or the narrative to break the fourth wall, letting the audience know then are, indeed, watching a movie.

Movie Terms to Know

A f rame  is a single image. It is the smallest compositional unit you can have in a film’s structure. A series of frames will be shown in rapid succession to make up the moving picture.

Movie Phrases for Students

Frame Rate is the rate at which film stock passes through the camera. Most modern films run at 24 frames per second. Older films ran at 18 fps while some films made today crank at 48 or 96 fps.

A Fresnel (pronounced “fruh-NELL,”) is is a hard-lensed light that comes in different sizes. Each size of fresnel has a different nickname. 

A Guide to Film Terms

A Gaffer is the head electrician in the film crew on a movie set. This individual is responsible for the design and final execution of the production’s lighting on the set.

Gaffer Tape

A Gaffer Tape is a strong fabric-backed tape that is easily removed when no longer needed. Used for all kinds of things on set.

Movie Projector Terms

A Gate is a mechanism inside a camera or projector that holds the film steady as it passes by the lens. "Checking the gate" is a phrase used when someone on the camera crew makes sure no dust or particles obstruct the exposure on the film.

Movie Filter Vocabulary

A Gel   is a tinted, transparent colored plastic sheet used as a movie light’s filter. It creates a colored glow over a scene. This is typically done to evoke a certain mood.

Film Distribution Terms

General release.

A g eneral release is the widespread distribution and simultaneous exhibition of a movie. This is in contrast to a limited release where a movie only plays at select theaters for its initial run.

Dictionary of Movie Terms

Genre  is a French word meaning “type” or “kind.” It refers to a specific class of film, such as science-fiction or musical. All films in a given genre share common, distinctive thematic or artistic elements.

Pre-Production Lingo

Greenlight   is a term used when a film has received the go-ahead to into production. This is in contrast to a redlight, where a film remains stuck on a shelf to not enter production.

Film Genre Vocabulary

A Grindhouse   was originally a burlesque theater, often in a red-light district, that would show exploitation and B-films. They became popular in the 1960s and '70s, and Grindhouse films today are those that carry on that aesthetic. 

Film Crew Member Terminology

A Grip is a crew member who sets up dolly tracks, moving props, camera cranes, and other pieces of equipment. The key grip is the head grip who coordinates all of the duties with the other grips in the crew. The head grip receives direction from the gaffer.

Box Office Glossary

Gross is the total box office take. The total amount of money a movie brings in during its theatrical release. It does not include earnings from DVD/Blu-Ray sales or rentals.

Student Filmmaking Lingo

Guerrilla film.

A g uerrilla film is a low-budget film made without acquiring filmmaking permits and often using non-SAG actors. Escape From Tomorrow is a guerrilla film shot without permission in Disneyland.

guerrilla filmmaking

• How to Make a Movie with No Budget?  →

Movie Studies Phrasing

Handheld shot.

A h andheld shot is captured through a handheld camera deliberately designed to look wobbly, shaky, or unstable. It’s often used in documentary films or Cinéma Vérité works.

Film History Terms

The  Hays Code is a series of censorship restrictions imposed in the 1920s and enforced until the late 1960s. The code stated what could and couldn’t be shown in films, such as nakedness, methods of crime, illegal drug use, alleged sexual perversion, and other taboo subjects at the time. Named after Will Hays, chairman of the MPPDA, the organization in charge of regulating censorship in Hollywood.

Basic Cinematography Jargon

Head-on shot.

A h ead-on shot  is where the action comes directly to the camera. It works to increase the audience’s feeling of participating in the film. It works particularly well for 3D movies.

Moving Camera Terms

Helicopter shot.

A helicopter shot is a moving shot, often used as an establishing shot taken from a bird’s eye view. It is generally taken from a helicopter, allowing it to weave through a landscape.

Movie Director Lingo Dictionary

Helm is another word to refer to the director of a film. A director can also be referred to as a “helmer.”

A Cinematographer’s Terminology

High angle shot.

A high angle shot is where the scene or subject is filmed from above. The camera looks down upon the action, making the subject appear small or vulnerable. It is the opposite of a low angle shot .

High Definition

High Definition is an image with a resolution with a minimum of 480 scan lines with the average being 720 and 1080 scan lines. 

Blocking Film Term

Hitting a mark.

Hitting a mark is for actors moving to the correct position during rehearsals and while the camera rolls. Sometimes, a mark will be set with a physical piece of crossed tape on the floor to help the actor stand in the right spot.

A HMI is a powerful hard light that can be used in place of sunlight.

Movie Analysis Dictionary

A h omage   is a respectful tribute to something or someone. In film, this generally occurs when one movie is referenced in a different film. Many Star Wars   films pay homage to classic samurai movies.

Movie genres

Horror  is a genre of storytelling intended to scare, shock, and thrill its audience. Horror can be interpreted in many different ways, but there is often a central villain, monster, or threat that is often a reflection of the fears being experienced by society at the time. 

Movie Terms and Definitions

A hybrid  is a movie that combines elements of two distinct genre types. As a result, it can’t be defined by a single genre. Little Shop of Horrors is a hybrid of a horror film and a musical.

Film Icon Terms

Iconography.

Iconography is the use of a famous icon or symbol. It is designed to analyze the themes and various styles present within a given film. The rose in Beauty and the Beast has become an icon.

Movie Production Glossary

IMAX   is a large-screen film format roughly 10 times larger than the traditional cinema format (35mm). It debuted in 1970, and initially, it was used to showcase nature films or short documentaries. It produces amazing high-definition sharpness on movies projected onto screens eight-stories high.

Glossary of Film Editing Terms

In-camera editing.

In-camera editing is used for filming in the precise order needed for the final product. It eliminates much of the need for post-production editing. It is a quick, but unprofessional, way to create a film, often used by amateur filmmakers or students.

Film Slang Terms

Ink is a word used when people sign a contract to work on a film. It is often phrased as “[Actor] inked a deal to star in [film].”

Good Editing Terms

Insert shot.

An insert shot is a shot occurring in the middle of a larger shot, typically a close-up of another object or some otherwise minor detail. It draws the audience’s attention to the item, providing more information. It is filmed at a different focal length or angle from the rest of the scene.

Dictionary of Screenwriting Basics

Inside joke.

An i nside joke is an obscure, generally show business-related joke, that is only understood by few in the audience. You have to understand the reference to get. For example, the great white shark in Finding Nemo is named Bruce, the name of the mechanical shark used for Jaws.

Beneficial Film Terminology

Intercut shots.

An intercut shot is a series of shots containing two simultaneous events. They alternate together to build suspense. It is often used to portray two individuals involved in a phone conversation.

List of Movie Terms

An i nterlude  is a short, intervening film sequence or scene that appears in a movie. It does not necessarily have to be tied to the plot.

The Essential Film Words Dictionary

Intermission.

An i ntermission  is a break in the middle of a movie. They provide a chance for the audience to use the restrooms or get more snacks. They are not as common today but still happen every so often, like in The Hateful Eight .

A Student’s Basic Film Vocabulary

A jump cut is an abrupt transitional device that breaks up a continuous shot. When the shot returns, time has jumped between the two scenes. This can be done to create an artistic effect showcasing discontinuity.

Filming Definitions and Terms

Juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition in film, it is the contiguous positions of two scenes, objects, characters, or images in a sequence to contrast and compare them. It can also establish a relationship between two disparate ideas.

Movie Industry Dictionary

A k ey light is the primary light on a subject. It is generally off-center and angeled. It is designed to selectively illuminate prominent features on the subject to create shadows or depth. It is the main source of light in a 3-point lighting setup.

A Kino Flo is a bank of fluorescent bulbs used for soft light.

Unique Filmmaking Terminology

A Klieglight is a powerful type of carbon-arc lamp that creates an intense light. It is sometimes used in filmmaking, but it can also be used for promotional purposes at movie premieres.

Movie History Lingo

Landmark film.

A l andmark film  is a movie deemed revolutionary. This can either be due to its artistic merits or its technological prowess. Jaws was a landmark film because it introduced the concept of the modern blockbuster.

Lap Dissolve

A l ap dissolve is a certain kind of transition between two scenes. The first scene ends with a fade out while the beginning of the next scene comes onto screen through a fade in.

Movie Technology Jargon

A l avalier  is a small microphone that is clipped or taped to an actor to record dialogue. It is generally wireless and omnidirectional as well as small enough to not be seen in the shot.

An  L-cut is also known as a delayed edit, J-cut, or split edit. It is an edit used in digital films that refers to a transitional edit in which the video and audio do not begin simultaneously. The audio may begin before or after the picture is cut.

Expansion of Film Vocabulary

A Leitmotif is a recurring, intentionally-repeated theme or element in a movie. This motif can be a person, sound, action, or idea. It helps unify the film by reminding the audience of its earlier appearance.

• What is a Motif in Film? →
• How Jojo Rabbit Uses Motifs  →

Words Associated With Movie Cameras

A l ens   is an optical glass placed in a camera through which light can pass through. The image is focused before it makes contact with the film stock. There are numerous types of lenses out there, including normal, telephoto, and wide-angle.

• Cooke Cinema Lenses →
• Carl Zeiss Cinema Lenses →
• What is a Telephoto Lens? →

Vocabulary of Filmmaking

Letterboxing.

Letterboxing   is the process of shrinking a film image so that it can appear on a television screen with black spaces below and above the image. This emulates the widescreen format typically used on older, box-shaped TV screens.

Cinematic Shot Word List

Library shot.

A l ibrary shot is a term used to describe a stock shot. It can also refer to a commonplace or unimaginative shot. A shot of the New York skyline would be a library shot for any movie set in New York.

Movie Scene Terms

Lighting is the illumination present within a scene. It also refers to the manipulation of said illumination by way of the cinematographer trying to alter shadows and brightness.

• 3-Point Video Lighting →
• The Best Video Lighting Kits  →

Occupational Movie Terms

Line producer.

A Line Producer is the movie producer who works on location. He or she is responsible for the budget of a given film shoot as well as the daily operations. The line producer manages the everyday aspects involving film expenses and all people on the crew.

line producer

• What Does a Line Producer Do? →
• Guide to Duties of a Line Producer →
• Producer vs Director: Who Does What →

Post-Production Terminology

Lip sync in film is the process of synchronizing the movement of the mouth with the words on the soundtrack.

Hollywood Lingo

A l ocation  is the places or properties used to film. A location can either be exterior or interior, and it can take place in a real location or on a studio lot. Interiors are abbreviated as “Int.” while exteriors are abbreviated as “Ext.”

• How to Secure Locations  →
• Location Scouting Checklist  →
• Essential Location Scouting Tips  →

Movie Sound Words

Location sound.

Location sound is also referred to as a buzz track. It refers to the recording of background sound while the crew is on location. Acquiring ambient noises helps improve the movie’s sense of realism.

Film Marketing Ideas

A logline  in a 1-2 sentence summary of the movie that focuses on the main character, the conflict and an emotional hook. Writing a logline is more difficult than it seems.

Video Cinematography Dictionary

A l ong shot is a camera view of a character or object from a vast distance away. This makes the subject appear small in the frame. You can also have a medium or extreme long shot.

Film Dialogue Lingo

Looping  is the process in which an actor re-records dialogue during post-production. This helps match the dialogue with the actor’s lip movements on screen. It is also known as Automated Dialogue Replacement (or ADR ).

Learn Cinematography Terms

Low angle shot.

A low angle shot is when the subject is filmed from below. The camera tilts up to capture the character or action, making the subject seem larger than life or more formidable.

Slang in the Movies

Magic Hour is the optimal time of day for filming magical or romantic scenes with the soft and warm lighting conditions naturally present. Also known as Golden Hour , it is characterized by golden-orange hues and soft shadows, which takes place 30 minutes around sunset and 30 minutes around sunrise. It is one of many different lighting techniques .

Terms in Films

A m ask  is the act of blocking out or covering up part of the camera frame with darkness or opaqueness. Most masks will be black. A mask would be necessary when portraying a character looking through binoculars.

Film Director’s Vocabulary

Master shot.

A m aster shot   is a long take or continuous shot that shows the setting or main action of a whole scene. Many scenes will have one or two master shots with the rest of the scene comprised of smaller, tighter angles.

A Film Editor’s Vocabulary

A   match cut   is a transitional technique for cutting between two unrelated shots that are deliberately linked or matched by a physical, aural, visual, or metaphorical parallelism.

Progressive Film Terminology

A   matte shot is the process of optically combining or compositing separate shots into one print. This is achieved through double exposure that masks off part of the frame area for one exposure and the opposite area for the other.

Hitchcockian Film Terms

A MacGuffin is a movie term coined by Alfred Hitchcock for a plot element or device that drives the action or logic of the plot. It is extremely important for the characters, but it is often ignored once it serves its purpose. The sled in Citizen Kane is a MacGuffin.

Main Glossary of Film Terms

Medium shot.

A medium shot is a conventional camera shot filmed from a medium-length distance. It typically captures the actor from the waist up, while a medium close-up is from the chest up. It’s abbreviated as “m.s.”

Dramatic Film Glossary

A Melodrama  is a film with an expressive plot where the characters have intensely strong emotions. It was originally a drama accompanied by music and typically contains elements of hardship, illness, and pathos.

screenwriting Film Glossary

A  metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or an analogy between them.

In-Depth Acting Terms

Method acting.

Method acting is an acting style designed by Konstantine Stanislavsky in the early 1900s. It refers to actors who draw on personal emotions and experiences to create a more realistic performance. Daniel Day-Lewis often utilizes method acting to create more realistic performances.

A  miniature  is a small-scale model photographed in a certain way to give off the illusion they are larger than what they actually are. This specific shot is known as a miniature shot.

Innovative Movie Phrases

Mise-en-scène.

Mise-en-Scène is a French phrase for “putting into the scene or shot.” It refers to the sum total of all elements that exist within the frame. It relates to the complete artistic feel and look of the shot, including the visual composition and arrangement.

mise en scene

• How Kubrick Uses Color in Mise en scene →
• Mise-en-Scène in Amazon’s The Boys  →
• How Wes Anderson Uses Mise-en-Scène →

Mixing  is a process of combining different sounds, music, dialogue, and sound effects from all sources into a movie’s master soundtrack. This is part of the post-production process. The soundtrack is ultimately blended together by a mixer.

• Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing →
• Best Sound Mixing - Oscar Winners Ranked  →

Film Parody Terms

Mockumentary.

A m ockumentary  is a fictional movie that has the style of a documentary but with irreverent humor that’s designed to mock the subject if features. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping   is a mockumentary of self-serious pop star documentaries.

Good Film Slang to Know

A m oney shot is   any climactic moment, revelation, or image that gives the audience “their money’s worth” even if it cost more money to create.

Editing Film Terms

A m ontage  is a French term meaning “assembling shots” or “putting together.” It’s a film technique for putting together a series of short shots that create a composite picture. The montage in Rocky of the titular character shows us how hard he’s worked to compete in the final match. For screenwriters, there are a few approaches to writing a montage .

Film Words Connecting Together

A motif  is a recurring thematic element in a movie that is repeated to add to its significance. A motif can be a symbol, word, object, or line in a film that relates to the movie as a whole.

Film Organization Glossary

MPAA is an acronym meaning “Motion Picture Association of America.” It is an organization that represents the interests of the primary motion picture studios including film ratings.

good film terms to know

Mumblecore is an independent film movement that originated in the early 2000s. It’s often characterized by naturalistic acting that’s occasionally improvised. The plots generally focus on a group of people in their 20s or 30s dealing with terrible jobs or bad relationships. 

Glossary of Film Techniques

Narration is telling of a story by providing supplemental information given to the audience by a voice offscreen. The narrator can either be a character in the movie or an omniscient presence.

Artistic Terminology

Naturalism is a film term signifying a hyper form of realism. With naturalism, life is depicted in an unbiased, stoic way. On the Waterfront is a naturalistic movie.

Film Philosophy Dictionary

Neo-realism.

Neo-Realism is an innovative movement in the late 1940s and '50s that has roots in Italy. It refers to movies made outside the studio system. They are shot on real locations, sometimes feature no professional actors, and often do not require a script.

neo-realism

• What is French New Wave? →
• What is Italian Neo-Realism? →
• Cinéma Vérité — Style That Keeps It Real →

College Film Studies

New Wave originally referred to a collective of non-traditional, innovative French filmmakers, such as Alain Resnais , Eric Rohmer , and Jean-Luc Godard . They espoused principles of auteur theory . French New Wave movies are characterized by non-linear storytelling, improvised direction, and jump cuts.

era of filmmaking

New hollywood.

New Hollywood is a film movement that took place in the United States from roughly 1967-1976. The movement was lead by a group of film students, such as George Lucas , Steven Spielberg , Martin Scorsese with a passion for filmmaking and the desire to challenge the stagnant status quo.

Movie Theater Terminology

Nickelodeon.

A n ickelodeon  is a business that might be described as a "movie arcade." Patrons would pay a nickel to watch short films on individual machines like a Kinetoscope or a Mutoscope. 

Movie Reel Phrases

Nitrate film base.

Nitrate film base is a type of film base that was highly-flammable. It was comprised of cellulose nitrate and was commonly in use until the late 1940s. At that point, it was replaced with an acetate base.

Non-Traditional Movie Slang

A n ut  refers to the operating expenses associated with a movie. It is the exhibitor’s calculation of what it will take to lease a theater, run it, and staff it. It is also known as a house nut.

Actor’s Lingo

Off book refers to a performer who has completely learned his or her lines. At this point, there is no need for the performer to hold a script because everything has been memorized.

Filmmaking Concepts

Omniscient point of view.

Omniscient point of view is a  in which the narrator knows everything going on. The narrator understands all of the thoughts, feelings, and events transpiring between the characters.

POINT OF VIEws

• What is Point of View ? →
• What is Third Person Point of View? →
• What is First Person Point of View ? →

A Camera Operator’s Glossary

180-degree rule.

The  180-Degree Rule is states that there is an imaginary line on a single side of the axis of action. The camera cannot cross this line or else it will create visual disorientation and discontinuity.

Glossary for Comedies

A o ne-liner is a term for a quick, one-line joke. Often in the best one-liners , punchlines will come instantaneously after a set-up. It can also refer to a few words used to describe the film’s premise.

Glossary for screenwriters

Origin story.

An  origin story is a narrative construct detailing the genesis of a character or organization.

Dictionary for Shooting a Movie

Overcranking.

Overcranking is a technique when a camera’s frame rate exceeds 24 frames per second. As a result, the image on screen appears to be in slow-motion. This is a common technique for shooting miniatures.

Movie Effect Terminology

Overexposed.

Overexposed   is an adjective describing a shot that has more light than recommended, resulting in a washed-out, blinding effect. It is typically used for dream or flashback sequences.

Knowledge of Director Terms

Overhead shot.

An overhead shot is when the camera is placed over the actors. It tends to be set at about a 90-degree angle from where the performers are located. It is also known as a bird’s eye view shot.

Techniques for Filmmakers

Over-the-shoulder shot.

An over-the-shoulder shot is a medium camera angle commonly used in dialogue scenes. The camera records the action and dialogue from behind the actors’ shoulders. The two individuals are then linked to each other, and the audience understands their positions.

Traditional Film Terms

An o verture  is the opening credits or pre-credits in a film. This is often a musical selection that helps set up the theme and mood for the rest of the movie.

Movie Slang From Decades Ago

An o zoner  is a slang word for a drive-in movie theater. It can also be referred to as a hard-top or a passion pit.

Movie Jobs Lingo

A PA is an abbreviation for “production assistant.” This is a member of the film’s crew who is responsible for numerous aspects of the production. The duties of a PA can vary greatly depending on the size of the film’s budget, as does how much a PA can make .

A Film Dictionary for Everyone

Pace is the tempo or speed of the dramatic action in a movie. The pacing can be enhanced by the speed of the dialogue, the soundtrack, and the style of editing used.

Education in Movie Terms

A pan  is an abbreviation for a panorama shot, referring to the rotation, scan, or horizontal movement of the camera in one direction. In film criticism, pan means to express a negative opinion of a movie.

Television Terminology

Pan and scan.

Pan and Scan is a technique for avoiding letterboxing of a widescreen movie. Instead, it focuses on elements of the picture that are more relevant to the plot and adjusted accordingly. The picture will then mechanically pan to the side to show whatever is missing.

EDUCATION IN MOVIE TERMS

A  paradox is a statement, proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd or self-contradictory, but which, upon further scrutiny, may be logical or true — or at least contain an element of truth. 

Screenwriter’s Glossary

Parenthetical.

A p arenthetical  is a term for screenplay directions, shown in parentheses, to express how the actor should deliver his or her lines. A parenthetical may read (angrily) or (calmly) before the dialogue.

parenthetical

• Formatting a Screenplay  →
• How to Write a Movie Script →
• How to Format a Script With Keyboard Shortcuts →

production Glossary

Pay or play.

Pay or Play is an agreement that a production company will pay a desired actor or crew member for their involvement with a production. 

P ersistence of vision

Persistence of vision is the optical phenomenon where the illusion of motion is created because the brain interprets multiple still images as one. When multiple images appear in fast enough succession, the brain blends them into a single, persistent, moving image. 

Film Production Slang

A p ipeline  refers to a film project currently in the system that is under development. It is scheduled for a future release. Some synonyms include “in process,” “in the queue,” or “in the works.”

Film Framing References

Pixilation is a technique where the illusion of continuous movement in three-dimensional subjects, typically people, is broken up and made to look jerky or uneven. This is achieved by only printing selected frames from the continuously-exposed negative.

Shot Listing Term

P.o.v. shot.

A   P.O.V. shot is a shot taken from the perspective of one character to show what the scene would look like through his or her eyes. It is generally coupled with a reaction shot to establish the point of view.

Small Movie Details

Positive print.

A p ositive print is the opposite of a negative print. It refers to the original light image captured or printed on the film reel.

Movie Terms Popularized by Marvel

Post-credits sequence.

A p ost-credits sequence is an epilogue or throwaway scene that occurs during or after the end credits. It can help generate buzz for an additional scene. Iron Man   ends with a post-credits scene of Nick Fury informing Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative.

Film Theories

Postmodern is a description of all art that rebukes more modernist themes. Postmodern films work to subvert expectations of classic narratives and film structure.

PHILOSOPHY TERM

Plato's allegory.

Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave" is a concept devised by the philosopher to ruminate on the nature of belief versus knowledge.

Film History Definitions

Pre-Code is the time period between 1930 and 1934 before the Hays Code was enforced in Hollywood. For 30 years afterward, promiscuity, adultery, and other themes were prohibited. However, pre-code films had no such restrictions.

Process of Filmmaking

Pre-production.

Pre-Production is the planning stage of a production after a movie has been greenlighted. This occurs before principal photography begins. Pre-production usually involves script treatment, scheduling, casting, set design , and financial planning.

pre-production

• How to Plan a Movie Shoot →
• The Pre-Production Process Explained →
• 7 Pre-Production Hacks for a 2nd Assistant Director  →

An Entire Film Words Dictionary

A p requel  is a later film in a franchise that presents events and/or characters that are set chronologically before the time of the original movie. It is the opposite of a sequel.

Terms for Moviegoers

A p re-screening is showing of a movie before it is released to the public. Studios will often pre-screen movies so that they can receive feedback from audiences to know what to alter before it is officially released.

Phrases for Film Productions

Principal photography.

Principal photography is when the majority of a film is shot. These are the scenes that typically involves the lead actors. This is in contrast to second-unit photography or certain VFX shots needing to be completed. 

Movie Making Terms and Definitions

Principals is a way to describe the main characters in a movie. It is usually those who have dialogue. The principals are different from the protagonists and have greater roles than extras.

production terms

Production agreement.

A  film production agreement is a contractual statement between two or more parties agreeing to the payment of film-related work.

Occupations Related to the Film Industry

A Producer   is a chief of a film’s production. The producer is in charge of raising funds, acquiring a story, hiring key personnel, finalizing the script, and arranging for distribution. The producer often serves as the liaison between the filmmakers and the financiers.

• What Does a TV Producer Do? →
• What Does a Co-Producer Do? →
• What is an Associate Producer? →

Director Jargon

Production design.

Production Design is a term for a movie’s overall visual look and design. The production designer has the job of creating all of this with the help of the art department.

production design

• Production Design Tips  →
• What Does a Production Designer Do?  →
• Masterclass: Production Design Techniques  →

Must-Know Film Production Lingo

Production value.

Production Value refers to the overall quality of a movie. This value is based on criteria like set design and costumes. It is not based on criteria like the directing, acting, and the script.

Movie Composition Terminology

A p rologue  is typically a brief scene, preface, or speech preceding the main plot of the movie. It often provides information that will help the audience better understand the plot and is the opposite of an epilogue.

Protagonist

A  protagonist   is a character who pushes a story forward. He or she is also the central force of the story. 

Better Understand Film Cameras

A p ull back is a camera shot where the camera physically moves away from the subject. It helps provide the full context of the scene. It is the opposite of a push in.

Movie Camera Experts

A p ush in is a camera shot where the camera physically moves toward the subject. It provides a closer look to see more details. It is the opposite of a pull back.

On-Screen Film Terms

Racking focus.

Racking focus is an in-camera technique that moves between focal planes in a sequence. The focus may change from an object in the background to one in the foreground or vice versa.

Student’s Guide to Making Movies

Reaction shot.

A r eaction shot is a cutaway that showcases a character’s or group’s response to a piece of dialogue or event. It is often accompanied by a P.O.V. shot in a sequence known as shot-reverse shot . 

Expert Movie Terms

Real time is when the timespan of a plot equals the running time of the film. This is in contrast to filmic time where time can be slowed down or sped up depending on the needs of the plot.

Student’s Movie Dictionary Terms

Realism is a style of filmmaking that aims to present the film as realistically as possible. Realism is further attained through deep focus shots and long, uninterrupted takes. It is in contrast to Expressionism. See also: Cinéma Vérité .

Special Effects Terms

Rear screen projection.

Rear screen projection is a photographic technique in which a live action scene is filmed in front of a transparent screen where a background is added later. It was commonly used to portray actors driving in a car.

Producer’s Glossary

A redlight is a film project that had previously been greenlighted but has now been cancelled, either temporarily or permanently. It is also known as a film in turnaround .

A r eel  is the metal or plastic spool for winding film. Older movies would be measured in reels since one reel would equal about 10 minutes of running time. More contemporary connotations refer to reels as highlights of an actor or director's work used to get more work.

cinematographer GLOSSARY

Rembrandt lighting.

Rembrandt lighting is a technique utilizing one light and one reflector or two separate lights. It’s predominantly characterized by a lit-up triangle underneath the subject’s eye on the less illuminated area of the face (fill side).

Hollywood Movies Lingo

Reshoot contingency.

A r eshoot contingency refers to funds saved by the producer in case supplementary shoots, or reshoots, are necessary to complete a film. These reshoots often occur after test screenings or when studio executives offer their input.

Terminology for Cinematographers

Reverse angle shot.

A r everse angle shot is photographed from the reverse side of the subject to offer a varying perspective. It is often used in dialogue scenes and can be combined with an over-the-shoulder shot . 

Reverse Motion

Reverse motion is a camera trick created by running the film backwards within the camera or in the middle of optical printing. It is also known as reverse action.

Theatrical Terms

Revival house.

A Revival House is an exhibition or film theaters that dedicate themselves to showing a certain kind of film. This often includes older movies, foreign films, silent movies, classics, or rarely-seen gems.

Film Crew Dictionary

A Rigger is one of the production workers on a film set who hangs, sets up, and focuses all of the lighting equipment. It is also the rigger’s job to construct the scaffolding.

Old Movie Making Terms

A roadshow is an exploitation film that contained controversial content but were often disguised as educational, medical films. They would be heavily promoted and shown on the road around the United States. They had to leave quickly to elude authorities.

Animation Cinema Lingo

Rotoscoping.

Rotoscoping is an animation technique in which live-action footage is traced frame by frame by animators. This can be done either automatically or manually. A Scanner Darkly was filmed using rotoscoping technology.

Film Editing Slang

A r ough cut is a term used for the early edited cut of a film. All of the main pieces have been assembled in sequential order, but it may not contain all of the finer details, such as finished CGI. Rough cuts are often used during focus group screenings.

Words Related to the Movie Industry

A r ush  is a print of the camera footage from one day’s worth of shooting. It is typically shown without any editing or correction. The director will look through it before shooting for the next day.

Key Motion Picture Terms

A   Satire  is a ridiculing, mocking film that targets social, religious, political, or economic institutions. Tropic Thunder   is a satire of Hollywood and overly-serious actors.

• What is Sarcasm?  →
• Various Types of Comedy  →

Movie Music Terms

A s core  is the musical portion of a film’s soundtrack. This is often music created specifically for the movie by a composer. It consists of background music as well as orchestral pieces.

• Mastering the Film Score: John Williams →

Mastering the Film Dictionary

Screen (single, double).

A screen is a mesh on a metal frame used to cut the intensity of light without blocking it out.

Screen Direction

Screen direction is the direction that characters and objects move in the scene. Some common screen directions can include “camera right” or “camera left.” A jump cut can also be a form of screen direction.

new movie genre lingo

Screenlife movies.

Screenlife   is a style of media (usually movie) that takes place entirely on “screens,” typically phone screens or computer screens.

Screen Test

A screen test is filmed during Pre-Production to test various elements, from costumes and make-up and practical effects to auditioning actors. 

screen test

• The Ultimate Guide to Auditions  →
• A Step-by-Step Guide for Holding Auditions  →

Film Industry Jargon

A screener is a physical copy of a film sent to film critics and awards voters. The movie studios send these out as a convenience during awards season.

Script Terms

A s creenplay  is the script for a movie production written by a screenwriter. The screenplay contains all of the dialogue, character movements, and essential actions.

• Best Charlie Kaufman Screenplays  →
• Academy Rules for Adapted Screenplays →
• Mastering the Screenplay: Writing Exposition  →

Terms for Film Jobs

Screenwriter.

A Screenwriter is the individual who creates a movie’s screenplay. A "scripter" can either create an original screenplay or adapt another's work, such as a book or news article, into a film.

screenwriter

• Best Screenwriting Apps →
• Inciting Incident Examples  →
• Best Script Writing Software  →
• How to Develop a Movie Script →

Blockbuster Movie Terms

Second unit photography.

Second unit photography is the unit responsible for filming less important scenes, such as foreign location backgrounds or large crowd scenes. This unit is essential for larger film productions where the main crew cannot be available. It is helmed by a second-unit director and a subordinate crew.

Film Textures

Sepia Tone is an image that was originally black and white but has been converted into a sepia tone, which is a dark olive brown. This is used to increase the dramatic effect or create an “antique” aesthetic.

Film Terms Everyone Should Know

A s equel  is a movie that continues the events, characters, and settings from a previously made film. It is in contrast to a prequel. The Dark Knight   is a sequel to Batman Begins .

Basic Film Lexicon

Setting is the time and place in which the movie’s story occurs. This includes the landscape, social structures, climate, moral attitudes, customs, and codes of behavior.

Basic film lexicon

Silent film.

A  silent  film   is a type of motion picture that does not include synchronized recorded sound or spoken dialogue.

screenwriter's lexicon

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things using the words “like” or “as.” 

Dictionary of Film Studies

Shot, scene, and sequence.

Shot, Scene, and Sequence are concepts that make up the dramatic narrative of a film. Scenes are made up of shots while sequences are made up of scenes. Films are comprised of entire sequences.

Terms for Film Crews

A s hot list is a list provided to the film crew often the day before shooting. It describes all of the shots the director wants to get that day.

• How to Make a Shot List  →
• The Only Shot List Template You Need  →
• Mastering the Shot List: Christopher Nolan →

people on set

A  showrunner  is the individual who has primary creative control and management of a TV show. They aren’t always necessarily the creator of the show, but they’re almost always a writer. 

DICTIONARY OF FILM TERMS

Shepard tone.

The Shepard Tone is an audio illusion that creates the feeling of consistent, never-ending rising/falling.

Film Terms for Cameras

Shutter speed.

Shutter Speed is the length of time in which a single frame of film is exposed. A traditional shutter angle is 180 degrees while the film itself is exposed for 1/48 second at 24 frames.

Rudimentary Film Vocabulary

A s kip frame is an optical printing effect of cutting out or skipping specific frames of an original scene. 

Dictionary of Film Terms

A s late   is the digital board held in front of the camera that identifies the camera person, director, shot number, and title. There is also the take number, and the slate operator will say “mark” before clapping. This is for sound sync purposes.

A s leeper  is a film released with minimal publicity that eventually becomes incredibly popular. It grows to become a financial success, usually thanks to positive buzz.

Good Videography Terminology

Slow motion.

Slow Motion is running film through a camera at a faster than typical rate. It is then projected at a standard speed, making the playback appear slower than in actuality.

Movie Awards Terms

A s nub  is a term that comes up during awards season when a prominent movie, crew, actor, or director is inexplicably excluded for nominations. People will say a movie was “snubbed” by the Academy.

Glossary for Film Techniques

Soft focus is an effect cinematographers use when applying vaseline or a filter over the camera lens to reduce sharpness. It will blur the image, creating a hazy light. This effect can also be attained by merely shooting out of focus, and it tends to be used for dreamy or romantic scenes.

The Fundamentals of Movie Terminology

Sound is the audio component of a movie. Sound includes dialogue, sound effects, and music. Sound effects refer to all of the sounds created for a movie excluding music and dialogue.

• What is Diegetic Sound? →
• Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing  →
• Sound Recording Basics for Video Production  →

Movie Set Terminology Dating Back Decades

A so undstage  is a huge, soundproof room used for movie productions. Elaborate sets can be constructed, allowing filmmakers more control over sound, lighting, and climate.

Audial Movie Terminology

A s oundtrack  is the audio portion of a film. Technically, it refers to the dialogue, sound effects, and musical score that accompanies a film. However, in popular circles, it refers to an assortment of songs heard through the film, which is then sold as an album.

Film Vocabulary for Genres

Spaghetti western.

A Spaghetti Western is a low-budget Western that technically classified as a B-movie. Spaghetti westerns were generally filmed in Spain or Italy during the 1960s and they were often characterized by sparse dialogue and low production values.

Movie Terminology for Those Who Want to Break In

Spec script.

A spec script is a non-commissioned or unsolicited screenplay sent to a studio by a screenwriter in hopes of landing a paid gig. There is also the hope the spec script itself will be purchased or optioned.

Basic Film Terms Everyone Knows

Special effects.

Special Effects is a broad term for fantastical audio and visual illusions that could not have been filmed by normal means. Special effects include in-camera effects, miniatures, CGI, rear-camera projections, and stop motion animation. Visual effects are a subcategory of special effects.

special effects

• How to Use a Green Screen  →
• What is Stop Motion Animation?  →
• Inception Special Effects: Explosion Animation  →

Keyword here...

A s pin-off is a derivative work of another film that can either be a sequel or prequel. It includes characters from a previous property but takes them in a different direction than a straightforward sequel would do. Alien vs. Predator   is a spin-off of both Alien and Predator .

Silent Era Film Lingo

A s plit-reel are two different short-subject movies that would be put together for showings in the silent era. They were both too brief for separate screenings, so they would be joined together onto a single reel for exhibition.

Terms From Motion Pictures

Split-screen.

Split-screen is the act of combining two actions filmed independently and then copying them into a single frame, so they appear to have taken place side-by-side. It is also known as a multiple image.

A Dictionary of Moviegoing Terms

A s poiler  is any information about plot details or a film’s ending that could hinder one’s enjoyment of watching the film if it is known ahead of time. Many critics will warn readers with spoiler alerts, so they know to stop reading.

Film Dictionary

Static shot.

A static sho t is any shot where the camera remains completely stationary. This is generally achieved through the use of a tripod to ensure there is zero movement.

Innovative Cinema Terms

A Steadicam  is a hand-held camera developed in the late 1970s. It was created by Garrett Brown, and the operator uses a mechanical harness to take smooth, steady shots, even when the camera needs to move. This allows the operator to move along smoothly with the action.

Film Image Terms

A still   is a single, immobile image. It can either be a frame still from a completed movie or a production image taken from an unfinished work. It can also be a publicity shot used to advertise the fact that a certain actor will be in the movie.

Film Industry Lingo

A stinger  is a last-minute, often surprising, piece of footage or dialogue that appears at the very end of the closing credits. Ferris Bueller breaks the fourth wall at the very end of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off .

A stinger is an extension cord.

Stock Footage

Stock footage is a previously-recorded footage of common elements, such as shots of deserts or travelogue shots. It can also include footage of historical events that have been archived.

stock footage

• Best Stock Footage Websites  →
• Stock Photo Sites for Creative Ads →
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Animated Movie Terms

Stop motion.

Stop motion is an animation technique using solid 3D models, figures, or puppets appear to move. One frame is shot at a time while the models are repositioned, giving the illusion of natural motion. The best stop motion movies are able to achieve incredible levels of realism.

Film Set Terminology

A storyboard  is a sequential series of rough sketches or stills showing what will happen in the movie. It captures what the camera lens will film so that the filmmakers can outline the various shots needed. The storyboard provides a rough synopsis of what will take place.

• Best Storyboard Software →
• Storyboard Examples From Movies →
• How to Make a Storyboard for Video and Film →

Storytelling Terms

A s ubplot  is a secondary or auxiliary plot that typically complements the main plot. The main storyline is known as the A story while the subplot is referred to as the B story. 

cinema Terms

Subjective cinema.

Subjective cinema refers to a film, scene, or shot that emulates a personal point of view. 

Cinematic Meanings

Subtext is the deeper meanings of a character’s actions or spoken lines. Subtext encourages the audience to read between the lines to discern the true meaning of a film.

Vocabulary for Filmmakers

Subtitles   are   the printed lines of text displayed at the bottom of the frame. Subtitles can be used to translate a phrase in a foreign language or to describe a place and time.

List of Film Jargon

Superimposition.

A  superimposition   is an optical printing process that exposes one image directly on top of another on the same strip of filmstock. In Vertigo ,  Scottie’s face is superimposed on a drawing.

Film Auteur Lingo

Surrealism   is an art movement that prioritizes images and narratives born from the subconscious. These works often present a fantastic, distorted, or nightmarish dream state. David Lynch is famous for his surreal films.

Filmmaking Glossary

A swish pan is a camera rotation on the x-axis that moves so quickly it creates an intentionally disorienting effect. It can be done on a dolly, gimbal, or tripod. It is also known as a whip pan.

Composition Terms

Symmetry is when two halves of an image (or a story) that distinctly mirror each other. Filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson utilize highly-symmetrical frames in their work.

screenwriting terms

Symbolism is the art of imbuing objects/things with meaning, making them represent something more than the sum of its parts. 

Movie Marketing Lingo

A tagline   is a short sentence or clever phrase that memorably summarizes the film to a general audience. It’s supposed to tease what the film will be about. In Alien , the tagline is “In space, no one can hear you scream” is one of the best taglines ever .

Talking Head

A “ talking head ” is a term that describes a camera set-up that only features the subject’s head and shoulders, giving the impression that they are a floating, “talking head.”

Cinematic Vocabulary

A t ake   is a single shot of a scene that is continuously recorded. Generally, a director will film several takes of the same shot. Once the director is happy with the shot, the crew moves onto the next set-up.

Jargon for Film Processes

Technicolor.

Technicolor is the best-known color film process. These films were described as being high saturated with vivid colors and a three-color dye transfer system. It is also known as three-strip color.

Camera Lens Dictionary

Telephoto lens.

A telephoto lens is a camera lens with an incredibly long focal length as well as a narrow angle of view. The purpose of this lens is to condense and compress depth within a space. It brings faraway objects closer to the viewer without actually having to move the camera.

JARGON FOR FILM PROCESSES

A  theme  is the inferred stance taken on the central topic or message of a story.

screenwriting jargon

Breaking the third wall refers to when a character addresses the medium in which they are situated. 

Basic Film Understanding

A t hree shot is a shot consisting of three individuals in the frame. This is in contrast to a "single" or " two shot ."

Film types lingo

A  3D movie is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception by employing stereoscopic film techniques.

Director’s Playbook

Tight on is a cinematographic term that relates to a close-up shot of the subject. A director will often say “tight on” when he or she wants an extreme close-up or tight framing on the subject.

Cinematographer’s Cheat Sheet

A tilt shot is when a camera tilts down or up along a vertical axis. It is often used to suggest a sense of imbalance or to emphasize a character’s menace or power.

Filmmaking Methodology

Time lapse is a technique where frames are shot much slower than a normal rate (e.g., 24 frames per minute instead of per second). This allows the action to progress much faster than in reality. This is typical for nature documentaries to capture clouds moving or plants growing.

Film Colors 101

A t int  is a use of color to make film stock appear in a different shading to attain a desired mood. The method behind this is generally done by hand, and it was often used in black and white movies before the widespread use of filming in color.

A Useful Film Techniques Glossary

Tracking shot.

A tracking shot is where the camera moves alongside the subject throughout a space. The camera is usually mounted on a dolly track, and it is best for side-to-side motions. It is also known as a follow shot.

Film Proposal Terms

A treatment  is a detailed summary of a movie’s story, including each major scene. It is written in prose form, and it is generally necessary when pitching a film to a studio. 

• How to Write a Film Treatment →
• How to Break Down a Music Video Treatment  →

Standard Filmmaking Terminology

24 frames per second.

24 frames per second (fps) is the standard frame rate for movies shot on film. It refers to the number of frames projected onto the screen per second. Most modern films come in at 24 frames per second, but in the past, they would be projected 16 or 18 fps.

A Film Director’s Lexicon

A two shot is a close-up or medium shot of two people, who are typically talking to one another. The two actors are often framed from the chest up, and this is meant to create a contrast between the two characters. 

Old Film Terminology

A U-matic is a ¾-inch magnetic tape, which would originally be found on a professional cassette tape format. In recent years, it has been supplanted to new digital formats. It was a competing yet inferior tape format to both beta and VHS.

TV showrunner Lingo

A TV Upfront is a presentation made by major television networks to an audience of advertisers, with the hopes that they’ll want to invest their advertising budget into certain shows to better position its success with gaining a viewership. 

Keywords for Your Film Studies

Undercranking.

Undercranking is the process of slowing down a camera’s frame rate. This is achieved by shooting at a slower speed than the usual 24 frames per second. This results in the captured images appearing in fast motion.

Glossary of Director Lingo

Underexposure.

Underexposure  is when an image is photographed with less light than what would be considered proper exposure. This results in a dimly-lit, indistinct image that lacks contrast and is the opposite of an overexposed shot.

KEYWORDS FOR YOUR FILM STUDIES

A union is an organization that represents the best interests of a certain segment of professionals in the motion picture industry. There are unions for writers, actors, directors, and others to help those workers negotiate contracts, pursue rights, and receive recognition. Therefore, there are rules and regulations when working with unions .

scriptwriter's Dictionary

Unreliable narrator.

An unreliable narrator is a character whose perspective we follow in the story but lacks a certain degree of credibility. These narrators may simply lack all the information necessary to adequately translate the story to the audience, or they have a clear bias.

Film Editing Definitions

Vertigo effect.

The  Vertigo Effect is a camera technique achieved by tracking backwards while simultaneously zooming toward the subject, or vice versa. This keeps the subject at the center of the image while the surroundings stretch or contract behind them. Also known as a dolly zoom , this effect was named after Hitchcock 's prominent use in Vertigo .

Movie Making Parlance

A v ignette  is a scene in a movie that can stand on its own. For example, the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally is often viewed and referenced on its own, separated from the rest of the film.

Dictionary For the Film Industry

Visual effects.

Visual Effects is anything added to a movie that was not in the original shot under the subcategory of special effects. They can either be achieved through CGI or through special techniques, such as rear projection and double exposures.

visual effects

• VFX in Netflix’s Mindhunter →
• How to Use a Green Screen in 4 Easy Steps →
• The Sunken Place: How to Break Down a VFX Scene →

Essential Film Terms

Voice-Over is recorded dialogue that comes from off-screen or is unseen in the frame. It is often done to convey a character’s thoughts or from a narrato. In a script, a voice-over is abbreviated as “V.O.”

A w alk-on is a role consisting of a brief appearance on the screen. It is typically done without any dialogue or credit. It differs slightly from extras, who may be on screen for an extended period of time.

Good Film Slang to Learn

Walk-through.

A walk-through is the first rehearsal done on a film’s set. It is necessary for the director to figure out camera positioning, sound, and lighting. This is done before the cameras start to roll.

Filmmaking Vocabulary

Wardrobe is the general term used to talk about the costume department. It can also refer to an individual costume and all of the accessories associated with it.

List of Film Terms

White balance.

White balance is a camera setting that establishes the true color of white. This produces a baseline from which all other colors are measured. White may not appear “white” under all lighting conditions, so this helps correct it.

Your Cinematography Terminology PDF

Wide angle shot.

A wide angle shot is taken with a lens capable of capturing a wider field of view than a regular lens. It exaggerates the disparity, depth, and distance between the background and foreground. All objects are kept in focus and within perspective.

Widescreen is a rectangular aspect ratio, wider than the standard 1:33:1 used before the 1950s. After that time, widescreen processes such as VistaVision and CinemaScope came into the mainstream and became the industry standard.

Film Terms for Editors

A w ipe  is an optical effect or transitional technique where one shot seems to be “wiped off” the screen by another shot that replaces it. It is also known as a flip-over or push-over. 

A w rap  is the completion of shooting either for the entire production or at the end of a single day. Decades ago, cameramen would say, “Wind, Reel, and Print, which would later become abbreviated as “WRAP.”

A Z-movie is an independently-made, low-budgeted, and often non-union movie with first-time directors and actors. They are generally made quickly and designed to look amateurish. They have a campy appeal and often contain exploitative subject matter, such as cheap horror flicks that are even worse than B-movies.

List of Film Analysis Terms

A zoom shot is a camera shot taken with a lens with a variable focal length. This allows the cinematographer to alter the visual distance between the camera and the subject without physically moving the camera. This moves from a wide-angle shot to a telephoto one in a single, seamless motion.

End of the Basic Glossary of Film Terms

Zoptic special effects.

Zoptic special effects is a revolutionary 3D process that was invented by Zoran Perisic. It incorporated the camera system with the projector containing synchronized zoom lenses. This created the illusion of depth movement.

Cinematography and Film Terms

Film vocabulary is expansive. Fortunately, you can return to this list any time you need a refresher or before you head back to a film set. You should also make sure to check out our glossary devoted solely to cinematography terms that really goes into depth about some key terms every filmmaker should know.

Up Next: Cinematography Terms →

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Hey movie buffs! Ready for a challenge? We’ve compiled a list of 100 one-word movie titles that will test your knowledge of film history and pop culture. From classics to modern hits, these titles cover a wide range of genres and styles. So grab your popcorn and get ready to see how many of these one-word wonders you can identify!

Table of Contents

Introduction to one word movie titles, exploring the impact of one word titles on movie marketing, iconic one word movie titles in cinema history, top 10 must-watch one word movie titles for film enthusiasts, in conclusion.

One word movie titles have a unique charm that sets them apart from the rest. These films often carry a certain sense of mystery and intrigue, leaving viewers curious about what lies beyond the single word that encapsulates the entire story. From iconic classics to modern blockbusters, one word movie titles have made a lasting impact on the world of cinema.

Whether it’s a tale of love, adventure, or even horror, these concise titles manage to capture the essence of the film in just a single word. They can be enigmatic, thought-provoking, or simply catchy, drawing audiences in with their simplicity and elegance. If you’re a fan of films with one word titles, you’ll find plenty to explore in this diverse and fascinating collection of 100 movies.

One word movie titles have long been a popular choice for filmmakers looking to capture the attention of audiences and make a lasting impression. These succinct titles can create a sense of mystery, intrigue, and simplicity, drawing in viewers with their enigmatic appeal. But what impact do these one word titles have on movie marketing? Let’s explore how these titles can shape audience perception and influence the success of a film.

Memorability: One word titles have the potential to be more memorable and easier to recall for audiences. With fewer words to remember, viewers are more likely to retain the title of the film, making it easier for them to recommend to others or search for it later.

Curiosity: A one word title can pique the curiosity of potential viewers, leaving them eager to learn more about the film and what it entails. This intrigue can lead to increased interest and engagement with the movie, both online and in theaters.

| Movie Title | |————-| | Interstellar | | Gravity | | Jaws | | Clue | | Up | | Braveheart | | Titanic | | Seven | | Casino | | Transformers |

Are you a fan of one-word movie titles? From “Jaws” to “Titanic,” cinema history is filled with iconic movies that are known and loved for their succinct and powerful titles. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of 100 one-word movie titles that have made a lasting impact on the film industry.

1. Interstellar 2. Gravity 3. Jaws 4. Clue 5. Up 6. Braveheart 7. Titanic 8. Seven 9. Casino 10. Transformers

These one-word movie titles have not only become synonymous with the movies they represent, but have also sparked interest and curiosity among audiences. Whether it’s the suspense of “Jaws” or the emotional journey of “Titanic,” these titles have a way of capturing the essence of the film in just one word. So, if you’re a movie buff or simply someone who appreciates the art of film, take a look at our list and see if your favorite one -word movie title made the cut. And if not, maybe you’ll discover a new film to add to your must-watch list!

Explore 100 One Word Movie Titles

If you’re a true film enthusiast, you know the power of a one-word movie title. These succinct and impactful titles can encapsulate the entire essence of a film in just a single word, drawing you in with their intrigue and mystery. Here, we’re diving into 100 must-watch one-word movie titles that every film buff should have on their radar.

1. Inception This mind-bending masterpiece from Christopher Nolan takes you on a riveting journey through the world of dreams, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

2. Gravity Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in this visually stunning and intense space thriller, where the vastness of outer space serves as the backdrop for a gripping tale of survival.

3. Psycho Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic horror film continues to haunt audiences with its chilling portrayal of a disturbed motel owner and his unsuspecting guests.

From classics to modern hits, these one-word movie titles are sure to ignite your passion for cinema and keep you coming back for more. Whether you’re in the mood for drama, suspense, or action, there’s a one-word movie title out there waiting to capture your imagination.

Q: What’s the article about? A: The article is about 100 one-word movie titles.

Q: Can you give me some examples of these one-word movie titles? A: Sure! Some examples include “Jaws,” “Titanic,” “Psycho,” “Grease,” and “Alien.”

Q: Are these movies well-known? A: Yes, many of the movies on the list are popular and well-known.

Q: Are there any specific criteria for the movies to be included in the list? A: The only criteria is that the movie title consists of just one word.

Q: Are there any genres or time periods represented in the list? A: Yes, the list includes a wide range of genres and time periods, from classic to contemporary films.

Q: Where can I find the full list? A: The full list of 100 one-word movie titles can be found in the article.

And there you have it – 100 one word movie titles that have left their mark on the film industry. From action-packed blockbusters to heartwarming dramas, these movies have proven that sometimes less is more when it comes to capturing the essence of a story. Whether you’re a cinephile looking for your next movie marathon or just curious about what’s out there, these one word titles are definitely worth checking out. So grab some popcorn and get ready to be immersed in the world of cinema with these iconic films.

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WONDERING. WANDERING. WHATEVERING.

50 great films with one-word titles

Sometimes when the days are slow and long and hot, I can just sort of geek-out and ponder random things related to my passions. Welcome to today, in which I spent a preposterous amount of time ticking off some of my favorite films that have one-word titles, from “Casablanca,” to “Goodfellas.”

It was a pointless exercise — massively pointless — but it was fun jogging my memory and eventually putting down a litany of terse titles, which always seem a bit more evocative than longer titles. As a lark, I chose 50 great films almost entirely off the top of my pointy head, and present them here in no order whatsoever. (Now it’s your turn.)

“Nashville” (1975); “Sunrise” (1927); “Amadeus” (1984); “Jaws” (1975); “Casablanca” (1942); “Airplane!” (1980); “Freaks” (1932); “Goodfellas” (1990); “Rebecca” (1940); “Heat” (1995):

“Detour” (1945); “Shrek” (2001); “ Rushmore” (1998); “Ran” (1985); “Magnolia” (1999); “Oldboy” (2003); “Gilda” (1946); “Brazil” (1985); “Psycho” (1960); “Frankenstein” (1931):

“Duel” (1971); “Manhattan” (1979); “Eraserhead” (1977); “Se7en” (1995); “Yojimbo” (1961); “Notorious” (1946); “Lincoln” (2012); “Boyhood” (2014); “Chinatown” (1974); “Alien” (1979):

“Deliverance” (1972); “Spellbound” (2002); “Babe” (1995); “Sleeper” (1973); “Scarface” (1932); “Network” (1976); “Memento” (2000); “Hamlet” (1996); “M” (1931); “Breathless” (1960):

“Rashomon” (1950); “Stagecoach” (1939); “Ikiru” (1952); “Zelig” (1983); “Macbeth” (1971); “Klute” (1971); “Joker” (2019); “Cabaret” (1972); “Laura” (1944); “Metropolis” (1927) :

There are many more — “Bullitt,” “Contempt,” “Up,” “Repulsion,” “Gaslight,” “Slacker,” “Clueless,” “Thief,” “Locke” — but I wanted to keep the list at a tidy 50. I’d be here till Labor Day if I rounded up all the great single-title movies. But feel free to share your own.

You’ll notice I’ve made some glaring omissions of highly acclaimed films that simply don’t astonish me, and sometimes even rankle: “Fargo,” “Gladiator,” “Vertigo,” “Unforgiven,” “Zodiac” and “Casino.” Argue with me all you want, please.

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From Reel To Real: These 13 Film-Coined Words Influenced Our Everyday Language

The world of movies delivers a lot of memorable words in the form of classic quotes and witty one-liners. Sometimes, though, the big screen also debuts entirely new words or casts an existing word in an entirely new role. Some words, of course, were created with certain movies in mind.

For this article, we put out a casting call for words that got their big break thanks to film. In return, we got an ensemble cast that spans a range of dates and genres. Holly-would you like to learn about words that were either invented or popularized by their use in movies? Then this is just the list for you!

Keep Learning New Words Every Day!

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twitterpated ( Bambi , 1942)

The wonderfully fun word twitterpated comes to us courtesy of the owl in Bambi (1942), who describes it as a state of feeling light as a feather and knocked for a loop due to seeing a pretty face. We’ve distilled Friend Owl’s definition to “excited as overcome by romantic feelings” or “smitten.” The word is a combination of twitter , as in “tremulous excitement,” and pate , as in “head” or “brain.”

bombshell ( Bombshell , 1933)

Many of us know the word bombshell to mean “an attractive girl or woman,” but lesser known is that this sense was popularized by the 1933 movie titled Bombshell starring Jean Harlow. Prior to this film, the word was primarily used to refer to a bomb or, in a figurative extension, something or someone having a sudden and sensational effect. Jean Harlow mesmerized audiences and was commonly referred to as “the Blonde Bombshell,” likely as a reference to this movie. Considering the captivating and sensational effect Ms. Harlow has on viewers to this day, the evolution of this term to refer to a particularly alluring woman comes as no surprise.

sheik ( The Sheik , 1921)

Another word that was influenced by the appearance and charisma of an actor is sheik . Prior to the 1921 movie The Sheik starring silent-film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino, this term was primarily used in Islamic countries to refer to a patriarch of a tribe or family or as a term of polite address. The film, which was based on Edith Maude Hull’s best-selling novel of the same name, gave rise to a new sense of the word sheik as “a man held to be masterful and irresistibly charming to women.” The word sheik comes from the Arabic shayḫ meaning “old man” or “chief.”

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ( Mary Poppins , 1964)

The word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was made famous in the 1964 film Mary Poppins , in which the titular character used it to summarize how she felt after winning a horse race. We define it as a nonsense word used by children to express approval along the lines of “fantastic!” Versions of the word were in circulation before Ms. Poppins came along, but it took a magical, musical nanny to make this medicine of lexical evolution go down (in a most delightful way).

Long story short—we organized a list of 15 of the longest English words according to some unique criteria.

godfather ( The Godfather , 1972)

The movie The Godfather gave us a range of memorable phrases, such as “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” and “Leave the gun; take the cannoli.” But it’s also responsible for expanding the senses of the word godfather to include “a Mafia leader.” Prior to this film, which was based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, the word godfather was primarily used to refer to a man who serves as sponsor for a child at baptism, or any male or guardian.

gaslight ( Gaslight , 1940 and 1944)

The word gaslight is used to refer to causing a person to doubt their own sanity or judgment through psychological manipulation. We are not trying to trick you when we say that this term was brought to the public spotlight in America largely thanks to the 1944 film Gaslight . In the film, a husband makes his wife doubt her own sanity by insisting real events such as dimming gas lamps are figments of her imagination. This film is even often credited with coining the term gaslight , despite the fact that an earlier 1940 British film was also based on the 1938 play Gas Light .

paparazzo ( La Dolce Vita , 1960) 

As you likely know, the words paparazzo and paparazzi refer to celebrity-obsessed photographers. The word paparazzo was popularized by the 1960 Italian film La Dolce Vita , which featured a character named Paparazzo played by actor Walter Santesso. This Paparazzo was a news photographer determined to do whatever it took to get the perfect picture. While the explanation for how director Federico Fellini came up with Paparazzo’s name is often disputed, there is no doubt that this film popularized two commonly used words for aggressive photojournalists.

Paparazzo? The singular of the word just sounds … wrong . What other uncommon singulars are out there?

red pill and blue pill ( The Matrix , 1999)

The 1999 science fiction film The Matrix had a huge pop cultural impact, but we are just going to focus on one particular scene from it for now. In a famous scene, the character Neo (Keanu Reeves) is offered a choice of accepting a red pill that will wake him up to the painful reality of the world or accepting a blue pill that will make him return to blissful ignorance. Today, variations of the terms red pill and blue pill are often used to describe people who supposedly are willing to accept harsh truths or supposedly unwilling to accept painful realities, respectively.

toast ( Ghostbusters , 1984) 

Learnin’ about words makes us feel good. The word toast is often used in a slang sense to mean something is doomed or dead. This particular sense of toast is often attributed to actor Bill Murray in the 1984 film Ghostbusters . In the original script, Murray’s line was “I’m gonna turn this guy into toast!” The final cut of the film, however, uses an ad-libbed line where Murray instead says, “This chick is toast!” Most sources suggest that Murray’s ad lib inspired the popular slang sense of toast that is still common today.

bucket list ( The Bucket List , 2007) 

The term bucket list , based on the phrase kick the bucket , is often said to have been popularized in modern use by the 2007 film The Bucket List . Its usage in the film is credited to scriptwriter Justin Zackham, who made his own personal bucket list after graduating college in the late 1990s. Zackham is often credited with coining the term bucket list by most sources, but some have suggested the term was used long before the 2007 film popularized it.

catfish ( Catfish , 2010)

The word catfish is used as a slang term to mean “to deceive, swindle, etc., by assuming a false identity or personality online.” This slang sense of catfish comes from the 2010 documentary film Catfish . In the film, a man is deceived into developing romantic feelings for a woman who doesn’t actually exist. During the movie, the trickster’s husband metaphorically compares the situation to an urban legend in which fishermen use catfish to keep live cod physically active during transport. As bizarre as it may seem, this fishy metaphor apparently inspired the title of the film and gave the world a new popular slang term for online fraudsters.

MILF ( American Pie , 1999)

The slang word MILF or milf refers to an attractive older woman, usually a mother. It is a shortening of a not-safe-for-work phrase and has inspired similar slang terms referring to attractive people, such as DILF and GILF . The term MILF has been recorded since the 1990s, but the 1999 comedy film American Pie is often credited with giving the term wide popularity. In the film, the word MILF is used to describe the character Jeanine Stifler played by Jennifer Coolidge.

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‘Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution’ Review: Netflix Doc Is an Epic Chronicle of Trailblazing Queer Stand-Up

Tribeca 2024: An ambitious, informative film unites Lily Tomlin, Margaret Cho, Sandra Bernhard, Robin Tyler and many more

The history of entertainment is a lot like the history of almost everything else, in that it’s been marred by generations of bigotry and oppression. Page Hurwitz’s new documentary “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” celebrates over 100 years of queer humor, highlighting important icons and movements, and painfully illustrating how every time social progress is made for the LGBTQIA+ community there’s a horrifying conservative backlash that sets the movement back decades.

Page Hurwitz has assembled a small army of queer comedians for the film, using the backdrop of the “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration” event from 2022. That special, co-directed by Hurwitz, united trailblazing comics like Sandra Bernhard, Lily Tomlin, Margaret Cho, Suzy Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes, Judy Gold, Scott Thompson and Marsha Warfield along with relative newcomers like Trixie Mattel, Mae Martin, Patti Harrison and Fortune Feimster. To name a few. And you can tell that was a wonderful event because every couple of minutes, “Outstanding” cuts to backstage footage of all these comics hugging each other.

That sense of camaraderie has been forged by a shared history. “Outstanding” takes us back 100 years, when queer acceptance was on the rise before getting knocked back down by conservative movements across the globe. Queerness didn’t vanish from the media, of course, it just got mutated. Humorists like Paul Lynde, Charles Nelson Reilly and Rip Taylor were ubiquitous in the mid-20th century and were openly gay in every aspect of their lives and career except they weren’t allowed to actually talk about it.

Like many of the earliest queer comedians, Lynde and Reilly and Taylor are sadly no longer with us and cannot contribute to this kind of documentary, but Robin Tyler sure is, and she’s dynamite. The comedian and activist contributes many of the documentary’s most searing quotes — “Closets are vertical coffins, all they do is suffocate you to death” — and reflects on coming out publicly on television in 1978, and the backlash that damaged her career immediately afterwards.

The fear of being publicly outed and destroying your career still lingers in the traumatic memories of many of the older comedians in “Outstanding.” Todd Glass recalls nearly dying from a heart attack and crying out to Sarah Silverman to “call my girlfriend,” because even when he thought he was dying he was afraid someone would know he had a boyfriend.

The Netflix documentary does an effective of job of explaining, in case anyone doesn’t get it, just how risky it is for queer people in entertainment. Jobs lost, shows canceled, public outcry, all of that was bad enough, but the sound of a White House press conference announcing the AIDS epidemic that immediately shifts to gay panic jokes and laughter is like a dagger in the heart of this whole country. It’s the sound of evil and there’s nothing funny about it.

“Outstanding” also isn’t afraid to point fingers at other comedians, correctly pointing out how many successful comics made homophobia a major cornerstone of their humor. Eddie Murphy, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Sam Kinison and Andrew Dice Clay all get singled out in this film, but there are lots of other stand-up comics who should probably send Page Hurwitz an expensive edible arrangement because that segment of “Outstanding” could have been a whole movie unto itself and it would have left scorched earth in its wake.

It’s worth noting that “Outstanding” isn’t afraid to point fingers at queer activism either, highlighting Richard Pryor’s set at the “The Star-Spangled Night for Rights” in 1977, when he openly discussed his own queerness before turning the tables on the almost exclusively white audience for ignoring the rights of Black people for decades. And all anyone can say to that is, well, good point. Give ‘em hell, Richard.

It’s unfortunate that “Outstanding” doesn’t have a better note to end its history lesson on than where we are now: the latest in a long line of oppressive social regressions. David Chappelle and Ricky Gervais and Bill Maher aren’t just criticized for telling transphobic jokes, they’re criticized for not telling jokes at all, frequently indulging in bigoted rants that don’t always meet the minimum technical criteria to qualify as humor.

“Humor,” Robin Tyler reminds us, “is the razor sharp edge of the truth. There’s no such thing as ‘Just kidding.’ So if anybody does homophobic jokes, they mean it.”

It’s worth noting, of course, as we point that camera inward, that “Outstanding” isn’t entirely unworthy of criticism itself. As younger comedians talk about how important it was to finally see different queer lives represented in the stand-up comedy medium, it becomes painfully evident that some queer people — like asexuals — aren’t represented in “Outstanding” in any form. And then there’s one particularly telling clip of a comedy set mocking gay panic by normalizing panic over sex work. We have a long way to go.

For better and, unfortunately, sometimes for worse, “Outstanding” shines a very bright light on the heroic, tragic, cyclical and very difficult world of queer comedy. It’s an impressive and nearly-comprehensive overview that will probably have something to teach almost everyone in the audience, regardless of how familiar they already are with the topic. It stands out, it stands up and it’s almost outstanding.

“Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” premieres on Netflix on June 18.

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8 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week

Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.

By The New York Times

Critic’s Pick

‘Bad Boys,’ good flick.

‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the latest installment of this buddy cop franchise follows Officers Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) as they set out to clear their late captain’s name after he’s falsely linked to a drug cartel.

From our review:

Smith and Lawrence also make this adventure a riotous triumph. These stars embody the care and anxieties their characters feel for each other, wielding their chemistry to smooth over abrupt tonal shifts. For example, an all-out firefight looping in a Barry White needle drop is a major highlight. And a run-in with racist good old boys, inspiring a Reba McEntire cover of the film’s theme song, makes for another memorable scene. This violent franchise has rarely felt so assured, so relaxed and knowingly funny.

In theaters. Read the full review .

A fairy tale without the happily ever after.

In this feature debut from Daina O. Pusic, a mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her terminal daughter, Tuesday (Lola Petticrew), meet and contend with Death, as embodied by a mystical parrot (voiced by Arinzé Kene).

Without much to distract from the three central characters, “Tuesday” can feel overlong and a little claustrophobic. Yet this compassionate fairy tale works because the actors are so in sync and the imagery — as in one shot of the bird curled like an apostrophe in a dead woman’s tear duct — is often magical. … The sum is a highly imaginative picture that, while considering one family’s pain, also asks us to ponder the possibility that a life without end means nothing less than a world without a future.

Out of the closet and into her 30s.

Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, an introverted and repressed 30-something who comes out (of her shell and the closet) after her best friend, Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), announces that she’s moving away and pushes Lucy to leave her comfort zone.

Directed with a light and understated touch by a power couple — the comedian Tig Notaro and the actress Stephanie Allynne — the movie feels very lived-in, the banter fresh and funny, even if sometimes it feels like it’s standing in place a bit too long.

Watch on Max . Read the full review .

The killer’s fake, the charisma’s real.

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Empire Issue Preview: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, A Quiet Place: Day One, Twisters, Horizon, The Boys

Get ready: all kinds of spooky and supernatural shenanigans are about to get underway with the return of Beetlejuice . Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is gearing up to raise hell in cinemas this September – and we have your best look at the film yet in our world-exclusive cover story.

The issue hits newsstands from Thursday 6 June – but for now, here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

The ‘juice is loose! Empire gets up close and personal with the return of Beetlejuice, going on set of Tim Burton’s throwback sequel and speaking to the filmmaker and his cast – Michael Keaton! Winona Ryder! Catherine O’Hara! Jenna Ortega! Willem Dafoe! Monica Bellucci! Justin Theroux! – about resurrecting the spectre back to cinema screens. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

A Quiet Place: Day One

Michael Sarnoski’s prequel heads back to the start of the alien invasion – and into the noise-infested New York City. Empire tiptoes around the set, speaking to the filmmaker and his stars, Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, about bringing an all-new perspective to A Quiet Place .

Weather-event cinema incoming! Empire heads into the eye of the storm with director Lee Isaac Chung to discuss the making of his sort-of-sequel to ‘90s disaster-adventure favourite Twister , and gets windswept with cast members Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos. No umbrella required.

Horizon: An American Saga

Kevin Costner is back on the big screen, and pulling no punches – directing, co-writing, starring, producing, and largely self-funding a multi-movie Western epic. With Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 about to hit cinemas, Empire sits down for a no-holds-barred interview with Horizon ’s ever-ambitious creator.

The Boys Season 4

The most shocking superhero show on TV is back – and ready to spill more V-powered blood. Showrunner Eric Kripke talks Empire through The Boys ’ wildest moments, cultural impact, and its most political season yet.

Rising Irish rap trio Kneecap are at the centre of one of 2024’s wildest films – a rip-roaring, not-entirely-factual biopic about a band who’ve barely just begun. Empire speaks to director Rich Peppiatt and rapping stars Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí about their uncompromising debut.

Deep Dive: H.R. Giger’s Alien

In our exploration of Hollywood’s greatest lore, we go deep on the creation of Alien ’s Alien, and the impact of uncompromising artist H.R. Giger on cinema ever since.

This month’s news section features a brand new look at Alien: Romulus with director Fede Alvarez; a fresh glimpse of Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Season 2; a sit-down with Yorgos Lanthimos on his gruelling anthology movie Kinds Of Kindness ; a conversation between House Of The Dragon stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke ahead of Season 2; a catch-up with The Academy on the future of the Oscars; a gladiatorial spar with director Roland Emmerich on his Roman TV epic Those About To Die ; and much, much more.

In the home entertainment section, we speak to Matthew Vaughn about the reaction to his twisty spy romp Argylle ; get the inside story on Dune: Part Two ’s stark arena sequence with cinematographer Greig Fraser; talk Wim Wenders’ greatest needle-drops with the director himself; break down the biggest moments from Bob Marley: One Love with director Reinaldo Marcus Green; and much more.

This month, you’ll find the Empire verdict on Richard Linklater’s shape-shifting romcom-thriller Hit Man ; Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things follow-up Kinds Of Kindness ; Jeff Nichols’ starry biker drama The Bikeriders ; Viggo Mortensen-directed Western, The Dead Don’t Hurt ; Lily Gladstone-starring drama Fancy Dance ; and plenty more.

Find Empire 's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice issue on newsstands from 6 June. The film hits cinemas on 6 September.

Pat Sajak’s final ‘Wheel of Fortune’ airs Friday. What to know about his spin as host

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Pat Sajak will wind down his record-breaking spin hosting “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday night . Here’s what to know about the game show icon’s decades-long tenure on the show.

When does Sajak’s final episode air?

The “Wheel of Fortune” Season 41 finale, titled “Thanks for the Memories,” airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday on KABC-7. Thursday’s penultimate episode will include a farewell message from Sajak’s longtime co-host, Vanna White.

One last spin for Pat Sajak on ‘Wheel of Fortune’: ‘It’s been an incredible privilege’

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How long has Sajak hosted?

Sajak has hosted the Hangman-style game show for more than 40 years, stepping in for original host Chuck Woolery after its seventh season in 1982, when “America’s Game” still aired on daytime television.

“Wheel of Fortune” debuted in 1975 with Woolery and Susan Stafford leading the show before the “Love Connection” host departed over a salary dispute with NBC. Legendary producer Merv Griffin hired Sajak and famous letter-turner White in 1982, and the two have become fixtures of the series. In 2019, Sajak scored the Guinness Book of World Records title for longest career as a game show host on the same show. He will retire with almost 8,000 episodes to his name.

He earned three Daytime Emmy Awards as game show host during his run and a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. He also has a People’s Choice Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame credited to his “Wheel” run.

In 2021, “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” premiered in prime time on ABC with Sajak usually serving as host.

Why is Sajak stepping down?

The 77-year-old announced his retirement a year ago, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that the current season would be his last. In an interview with his daughter, “Wheel” social correspondent Maggie Sajak, the host said that he could continue hosting the show if he wanted to but felt he needed to exit on his own terms.

“I’d rather leave a couple years too early than a couple years too late,” he said, adding, “I’m looking forward to whatever’s ahead.”

Who’s taking over ‘Wheel of Fortune’? And when?

Less than a month after Sajak revealed his retirement, “American Idol” and “On Air” host Ryan Seacrest announced that he would step into the emcee’s shoes. At the time, Seacrest lauded his predecessor for the way Sajak “always celebrated the contestants and made viewers feel at home.”

Seacrest, who signed a multiyear deal with Sony Pictures Television last June, will begin the new gig in September.

White is set to remain on “Wheel of Fortune” for the next two years. She has previously filled in for Sajak as host on a few occasions and, before the brief search for Sajak’s successor came to an end, fans campaigned for White to replace her longtime colleague.

Vanna White to play ‘Wheel of Fortune’ with ‘Jeopardy!’ hosts. Maggie Sajak fills in

Pat Sajak’s daughter is filling in for Vanna White as the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ co-host competes Wednesday against ‘Jeopardy!’ stars Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik.

May 9, 2023

What did Sajak do before ‘Wheel’?

It’s hard to think about Sajak doing anything other than soliciting consonants and vowels or declaring a player “bankrupt,” but his storied career began long before “Wheel of Fortune.”

Born and raised in Chicago, Sajak got his broadcasting start as a newscaster and announcer at a small radio station, looking to broadcast legends Arthur Godfrey, Dave Garroway, Steve Allen and Jack Paar for inspiration to shape his TV personality. He served in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s and was sent to Vietnam, where he hosted a daily show for Armed Forces Radio in Saigon shouting “Good morning, Vietnam!” each day.

After being discharged, he worked at small radio stations in Kentucky and Tennessee, spending several years as a staff announcer, talk show host and weatherman at Nashville’s WSM-TV. A talent scout for NBC-TV in Los Angeles spotted him and brought him onboard in 1977 to serve as the local NBC station’s primary weatherman. In 1981, Griffin asked him to assume hosting duties on “Wheel” when it still aired during the day on NBC, well before the syndicated version premiered in 1983.

“The nice thing about working in local TV in L.A.,” Sajak has said, “is that decision makers are watching you every night.”

The avuncular host has joked that he spent 40 years doing “a part-time job pretending it was full-time,” given how the show’s shooting schedule has allowed him to tape several episodes at a time.

“The great benefit is [my wife] Lesley and I could spend time together and do things,” he told his daughter in an interview posted this week on the “Wheel of Fortune” YouTube channel. “And I could watch you guys grow up and go to the games and all that kind of stuff that work might have taken me away from.”

What else is on Sajak’s résumé?

During his tenure, Sajak has entertained generations of fans, inspired “Saturday Night Live” and “South Park” jokes and generated numerous headlines about his behavior with contestants . He also briefly hosted the short-lived late-night talk show “The Pat Sajak Show” in the late 1980s and played himself in a number of films and TV shows, including “The A-Team,” “227,” “Airplane II: The Sequel,” “Santa Barbara,” “The King of Queens,” “Just Shoot Me!” and “Fresh Off the Boat.”

“We became part of the popular culture ... more importantly became part of people’s lives,” he said in a recent interview with his daughter, who made her “Wheel” debut as a 1-year-old when she joined her dad onstage. The Princeton and Columbia University grad has been the show’s social correspondent since 2021.

Pat sajak also has helped reformat the show, adding the Toss Up puzzle to contribute more content each episode, plus the idea of the $100,000 Toss Up.

But his awkward dad jokes have raised eyebrows in recent years, with the stalwart host fully committing to an odd voyeurism quip while bantering with White during a 2023 episode. He also has landed in hot water for asking her if she liked watching opera in the buff and repeatedly raised social media hackles when he mocked and pranked a contestant over her fear of fish, poked fun at a man and his long beard by referring to him as one of Santa’s helpers, and put a winning contestant in a chokehold.

What’s next for Sajak?

Sajak said he’s looking forward to time to “with my crossword puzzles” and family. He will continue his duties as chairman of the Hillsdale College Board of Trustees, a position he took up in 2019 .

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June 3, 2024

Travis Kelce heads to TV to host celebrity spinoff of ‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?’

April 16, 2024

‘The Talk’ ending with shortened 15th season at CBS

April 12, 2024

Jon Stewart to return as (part-time) host of ‘The Daily Show’ through 2024 election

Jan. 24, 2024

‘The Daily Show’ to fill Trevor Noah’s host seat with team of correspondents, report says

Jan. 22, 2024

How to watch the Emmys and everything else to know, from the red carpet to the nominees

Jan. 12, 2024

Ken Jennings had no idea Mayim Bialik was leaving her ‘Jeopardy!’ hosting duties

Dec. 26, 2023

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Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics, celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.

Alexandra Del Rosario is an entertainment reporter on the Los Angeles Times Fast Break Desk. Before The Times, she was a television reporter at Deadline Hollywood, where she first served as an associate editor. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

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We’re not entirely sure how the weekend weather is going to shake out, but either way there’s a whole lot going on, so let’s get to it.

Maine Roller Derby skaters competing at Happy Wheels Skate Center in Westbrook. Photo by Jim Vernier

On Saturday and Sunday, Maine Roller Derby’s first international tournament happens at Happy Wheels Skate Center in Westbrook. There will be several exciting flat-track bouts, and if you’re a Mainer, tickets are half off.

Get a discount on tickets to Maine Roller Derby’s international tournament

Max Abraham runs through Moon Tide Park while performing with the band Corpus Chicanery at last year’s Resurgam festival. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The Resurgam Music and Arts Festival is Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean Gateway marine terminal and surrounding areas. The list of performers is about 17 miles long and includes Oshima Brothers Band and professional hula hoop and circus artist Nettie Loops.

Resurgam festival returns this weekend with music, arts and more

Local musician Toby McAllister, pictured here at The Press Room in Portsmouth, would of course play at a local venue on his perfect day. Photo by Corey Fitzgerald and courtesy of Toby McAllister

Another musician you can see at Resurgam is Toby McAllister from Sparks The Rescue. McAllister unpacked his perfect Maine day for us, and it includes a hike in Grafton Notch and a stop at Puzzle Mountain Bakery in Newry for cookies.

My Perfect Day: Hiking Old Speck, eating tacos and sweets, playing a show – for musician Toby McAllister, it all strikes a chord

Comic Dave Attell plays the State Theatre in Portland, June 8. Photo courtesy of the State Theatre

There’s plenty else cooking this weekend , including Yoga in the Park on Saturday and the Walk the Working Waterfront tour. Both are in Portland. Or you can shop till you drop at Maine’s Ultimate Spring Yard Sale Saturday at Cumberland Fairgrounds. Need a few laughs? Grab a ticket to see comic Dave Attell at the State Theatre Saturday.

Waterfront tour, giant yard sale, comic Dave Attell

Zephyr proudly tells its customers that everything is made in house with real fruit and no dyes. Photo by Megan Gray

Satisfy your sweet tooth with something a little different this weekend. Zephyr Ice in Portland serves shaved ice atop a scoop of regular or vegan ice cream. Choose from a variety of syrup flavors, all made in-house with real fruit.

For cool, customizable treats, breeze on in to Zephyr Ice

Mainely Burgers food truck. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Should you fancy a food truck fix, check out our massive, always growing food truck guide and get busy chowing down.

A guide to 87 food trucks rolling through Maine

A Foodtruckalico Instagram post featuring the Ugly Dumpling food truck. Photo by Justin Velgos

For even more food truck fodder, we suggest heading to Food Truckalico on Instagram . A couple of times a week, the account shares details about where and when you can find trucks in the Portland area.

Follow the food trucks with Food Truckalico on Instagram

A newspaper article about a Comegato sighting from web series “Tracking the Comegato.” Photo courtesy of Kate Kaminski

If the weather does indeed relegate you to the indoors, curl up on the couch and fire up the new web series “Tracking the Comegato” about a beastly human-weasel hybrid that may or may not exist.

Could this human-weasel hybrid from Maine join the ranks of Bigfoot?

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