Many years ago, a very innovative concept of looking at things came in front of the world that was known as the motion picture.
In the past many years, the technology behind making and seeing motion pictures has changed drastically, but there are two terms that relate to this particular phenomenon and tend to confuse people, namely film and movie.
Owing to the significance these two terms hold, it becomes crucial to differentiate between these two in order to create a better understanding.
Key Takeaways
- “Film” is traditionally used to describe motion pictures shot on celluloid or other physical media.
- “Movie” is a more colloquial term for motion pictures, regardless of medium or production method.
- Both terms are now used interchangeably to describe cinematic works and experiences.
Film vs Movie
A movie is used to describe a feature-length motion picture intended for entertainment. It is a form of visual art that uses motion pictures and sound to convey information to an audience. A Film is a term used to describe the medium of capturing and storing visual images on celluloid.
The term film basically bifurcates its own meaning in two categories in which the first refers to the creation of a motion picture, and the second meaning refers to the equipment that is used to create a motion picture.
This particular equipment happens to be a thin plastic sheet on which all the shots of a particular scene are recorded.
But on the other hand, the term movie all those signifies a similar sense as the term film does, but still signifies a more casual sense while referring to any motion picture, etc.
This term only has one meaning and simply refers to any kind of motion picture created and does not divert its meaning to any other thing.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Film | Movie |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | This particular term refers to certain different meanings in the world of cinema. | This particular term refers to any particular motion picture created and shown to the viewers. |
| Alternate meaning | Alternatively, the term also represents particular equipment that is used to record any motion picture. | There is no alternate meaning attached to this particular term. |
| In the use since | This word has been in use before the term movie came into use. | The storm has come to a later period of time. |
| Most used in | This term is mostly used in written format. | This term is mostly used in spoken language or while speaking. |
| Tone | The tone of this particular word happens to be more formal. | The tone of this particular word happens to be more casual. |
What is Film?
From the very inception of motion pictures, the most common terminology used to indicate such motion pictures has been the term film,
and because of being the oldest term referring to this particular meaning, this particular term holds at most significance when it comes to motion pictures as well as the entire field of cinema.
The meaning of the term film is not just limited to being a motion picture only, but it also extends to particular equipment noon for the motion picture is being imprinted on it known as a film.
However, when it is used to refer to a motion picture, the major area where the term is used happens to be inside the industry in itself.
Professional people associated with the cinema industry tend to use the term film to refer to any motion picture mostly.
In simplest words, a film can be defined as a particular series of certain shots combined in a motion picture that is used to express a particular story or to narrate an entire range of ideas to the viewers.
The term follows a more formal approach and is used in written pieces of information widely.
Another major indication of this term is that it is mostly used with those motion pictures that tend to impart education or promote certain sort of information.
What is Movie?
Generated basically from American slang, the term movie has acquired a very significant meaning in terms of motion pictures today.
This term essentially denotes any kind of motion picture that is being created nowadays and has replaced the term film to some extent in a more casual manner.
However, the utilization of this particular term indicates certain specific characteristics attached to it.
The very first characteristic is that this term is mostly attached to those motion pictures that are only there for entertainment or profit-making and is rarely attached to informative motion pictures and films.
Apart from this particular phenomenon, this term is rarely used inside the film industry as all the professional people tend to use the term film more than the term movie.
Therefore, the movie happens to be more casual in its sense and is only used while speaking or referring to motion pictures casually.
Another very common utilization of this particular term in English grammar is that when the article der is used in front of the term movie, it refers to a particular person going to a cinema hall.
Main Differences Between Film and Movie
- Film insert term used for multiple meanings in the area of cinema while on the other hand, Movie refers to any particular motion picture.
- The film is a term having alternative meanings as well, while on the other hand, Movie is a term having a singular meaning only.
- The film is used in a more formal manner, while on the other hand, the Movie is used in a more casual manner.
- The film is mostly used in written pieces of information while on the other hand, Movie is mostly used in spoken language or while speaking.
- The film is a term referring to a motion picture indicating any informative purpose, while on the other hand, Movie is a term that refers to any entertaining motion picture generally.
References
Last Updated : 15 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
