Essential film vocabulary for English learners

• English picture dictionary
• English punctuation rules
• English conversations

1. What are movies?

The terms movie and film are used interchangeably to refer to a motion picture, usually shown on TV or in a cinema as a form of entertainment. 

There are many types of movies, like action, comedy, and horror. They can make us happy, sad, excited, or scared. They can also teach us new things. Today, we can watch movies online, so we can enjoy them anytime we want.

2. Common movie terms

In this lesson, we will learn some vocabulary about movies. For example, a plot is the story of a movie. A character is the person represented in the film (an actor or actress may play a character representing a criminal or a funny person in a movie e.g., Mickey Mouse is a famous cartoon character created by Walt Disney, Homer Jay Simpson is another famous character of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons).

Special terms to describe movies

lasts between 90 and 120 minutes.

The feature film we watched last night was 2 hours long.

typically lasts than 40 minutes.

They showed a short film before the main movie at the theater.

has no synchronized recorded sound or spoken dialogue.

Charlie Chaplin was a famous actor in silent films.

a style created by drawings, paintings, or digital images to simulate movement.

Disney is well known for its animation films.

gives facts about a subject for educational purposes.

The documentary about climate change was very informative.

a preview or advertisement for an upcoming film.

The trailer for the new superhero movie looks exciting.

a continuation of a previous film.

The sequel to the action movie will be released next year.

shows events occurring before a previously released film.

The prequel showed how the characters met.

a new version of an earlier film with the same or similar story.

The remake of the classic film did not live up to the original.

the music that accompanies a film.

The soundtrack for the movie was written by a famous composer.

a text displayed at the bottom of a screen to explain what is being said by the actors.

I prefer to watch foreign films with subtitles.

a person who performs in movies.

The actor played his role well in the film.

a female actor.

The actress received an award for her performance.

all the actors in a movie.

The cast of the movie did an excellent job.

a person in a story or play.

The main character of the movie was inspiring.

another word for movie; also the place where movies are shown.

We went to the cinema to see the latest action film.

a list at the end of a movie showing the names of the people involved in the production.

We stayed until the end of the credits to see the bonus scene.

the written text of a movie that actors follow.

The script for the film was written by a famous screenwriter.

The person who tells everyone how to turn the script into a real movie.

The director of the movie is known for his innovative storytelling.

a category or type of movie.

I prefer movies of the comedy genre.

the main events or storyline of a movie.

The plot of the movie was exciting and full of twists.

a part of a film where action happens in one location.

The last scene of the movie was very emotional.

the final script including scene directions and dialogue.

The screenplay for this movie won several awards.

artificially created or enhanced sounds/visuals in a film.

The special effects in the science fiction movie were amazing.

Adjectives to describe movies

When people watch movies, they see stories come to life on the screen. Below, you find a list of adjectives that you can use to describe your experience after watching a movie.

Keepiing you on the edge of your seat.

The action film was so exciting!

Not interesting.

I fell asleep during the movie—it was so boring.

Giving motivation or encouragement.

The athlete’s determination in the face of adversity was inspiring.

Making you laugh a lot.

The comedy was hilarious; I laughed the whole time.

A film that frightens you.

I couldn’t sleep after watching that scary movie.

A movie that focuses on love and relationships.

What a wonderful love story! It was so romantic.

Causing deep feelings of sympathy or sadness.

The story of the orphaned child was so touching that I ended up crying.

Full of suspense and excitement.

The mystery film was thrilling; I was on the edge of my seat.

Holding your attention completely.

The crime drama was so gripping.

A film that makes you feel happy and pleased.

The story about the dog’s journey to find its owner was heartwarming.

Having a strong effect that causes strong feelings.

The war film was very intense; it left me feeling emotional.

Extremely impressive or startling.

The special effects in the science fiction movie were mind-blowing.

Terms related to movie making processes

Every film is created by a team of people. For example, the person in charge of how it all comes together is called the director. Below is a list of commonly used terms when talking about how a film is made.

tells who controlled the making of the movie.

The film was directed by Steven Spielberg.

introduces who the main actors in the movie are.

The movie was starred by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

This term is used to tell who provided the money for the movie.

The film was produced by Warner Bros.

The film was produced in India.

indicates who wrote the script for the movie.

The screenplay was written by Quentin Tarantino.

introduces where the movie was shot.

The movie was filmed in New Zealand.

indicates which company distributed the movie. It is also used to talk about a film that has just been made available for public viewing.

The film was released by Paramount Pictures.

Top Gun 2 was released last week.

The practice of replacing the original dialogue with a translation in a different language.

The anime series was dubbed in English for international audiences.

When a movie is based on a book, play, or other work, we say it has been "adapted" from that work.

The film was adapted from a popular novel.

When a movie is shown for the first time, we say it premiered.

The film premiered at a film festival last week.