movie

The word “movie” means a film made for entertainment, shown in cinemas or streamed at home. In plain terms, a film, or informally, a trip to the cinema.

“Movie” is pronounced MOO-vee (/ˈmuːvi/ in IPA).

Here is “movie” used in a sentence: “We watched a movie on the sofa last night.”

“Movie” is a noun.

The word “movie” dates back to around 1900. Short for "moving picture" plus "-ie," first recorded in American English in the early 1900s.

“Movie” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Movie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a film made for entertainment, shown in cinemas or streamed at home.

They refer to the same thing — a motion picture — but the tone differs. 'Movie' is the more casual, everyday word, common in American English and for mainstream entertainment. 'Film' sounds more formal and is often preferred for artistic or serious works. So every movie is a film, but critics tend to say 'film'.

Movies are usually grouped by genre, which describes their style and subject. Common genres include comedy, drama, horror, action, romance, science fiction, thriller, documentary, and animation. Many films blend several genres at once, such as a romantic comedy or an action thriller, and length can range from short films to full features.

'Movie' is informal and conversational, which is why it dominates casual speech, especially in American English. In more formal or academic settings — reviews, awards, film studies — 'film' or 'motion picture' is preferred. Neither is incorrect; the choice simply signals how relaxed or serious the context happens to be.

A movie is a single, self-contained story told in one sitting, usually one to three hours long. A TV show is built from multiple episodes, often across several seasons, that develop characters and plots over time. Movies aim for a complete arc in one go; series unfold gradually across many parts.