A movie is a piece of cinematographic art that tells a story using images and sounds. Often the story is fictional but sometimes it can be based on real events. A movie can make people laugh, cry or feel scared. It can also teach them about history, culture or science. Movies can be made by professional film-makers or by amateurs. They can be made for children or adults and they may be animated or live action.
The word movie comes from the Latin word for moving picture. The word movie is also used to describe a place where movies are shown, called a cinema or movie theatre.
Movies come in different genres (types of stories). There are dramas, thrillers, romances and family movies. Dramas usually have a plot that is about relationships between people. Romances are about two people falling in love. Thrillers have a plot with twists, which are surprises. The main characters in a romance or thriller usually have to ‘overcome’ (get past) an obstacle to get what they want. A family movie is a type of drama that is safe for children to watch.
There are independent movies that tell more creative or unusual (strange) stories. These movies are not always successful in making a lot of money but can be very interesting to watch. A well-known independent movie is “The Blair Witch Project”. Some movies are based on historical events, while others are based on more contemporary issues or topics. A good example is ‘Minamata’, which is about the mercury poisoning of people in Japan. Other examples include ‘Point Break’, ‘Terminator 2’ and ‘The Breakfast Club’.