What Is a Movie?

A movie (along with the similar term, video, which describes short clips or files on your computer) is a film that combines moving graphics and pictures with sound to create an entertainment experience. It can be seen in theaters or at home on TV, and it often leaves audiences satisfied and inspired. A good movie can make you laugh, cry, fear or just feel something.

A good movie needs to have an interesting storyline that has some kind of suspense, twist or excitement to keep viewers interested throughout the film. Moreover, the film must be able to connect with audience on an emotional level, and have strong themes or messages that can help people in their day-to-day lives.

Among all movies ever made, there are some that stand out as great works of art, with memorable performances from iconic actors. Some of these films include the likes of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning The Departed, starring Christian Bale and a legendary performance from Heath Ledger as The Joker in Batman Begins. Other films are more genre-specific, such as Stanley Kubrick’s iconic and top-rated 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film depicts long-distance space travel in a way that is both realistic and emotionally enveloping.

David Lynch’s enigmatic Chinatown also presents Tinseltown as both a Dream Factory and a realm of Nightmares, with Naomi Watts’ audition scene still stunning over 20 years after it premiered. And Michael Mann’s star-studded LA Takedown, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, was an icon-making event that bridged the gap between Hollywood past and present.