Welcome Movie Fans!

Welcome to the ENGLISH FOR MOVIES page! The GOAL of this page is to help you learn and improve your English language skills by using topics related to movies and entertainment. This page is not only for ESL students, but also for the casual movie fan.

Are you ready to begin? Great!

First, let´s start with a simple question. What are MOVIES?

Before we can answer that question we must first talk about the difference between the terms FILM and MOVIE.

MOVIES or FILM?

When we talk about movies, what we are talking about is an informal way of saying MOVING PICTURES. Nowadays, most American English speakers prefer to use the term MOVIE while the term MOTION PICTURE is a more formal and technical term.

For example, if you want to listen to music from your favorite movie, you would look for the ¨MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK¨. 

If you watch the ACADEMY AWARDS, more commonly known as THE OSCARS, they are given out by the ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES.

In North America, the movie RATINGS are determined by the MPAA or MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.

However, if you plan to go to the MOVIE THEATER, you would say:

"Would you like to watch a MOVIE this weekend?"

or

"Would you like to go to the MOVIES this weekend?"

Note that in the last example, MOVIES refers to MOVIE THEATERS.

British English speakers, on the other hand, prefer to use the Words FILM and CINEMA.

For example:

"Would you like to watch a FILM this weekend?"

Or

"Would you like to go to the CINEMA this weekend?"

Is important to note that American English speakers also use the term FILM when talking about movies but it is usually reserved for ´high quality´movies.

For example:

"I love watching Independent FILMS at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL."

Or

"I like watching classic Horror FILMS."

Or

"My brother went to FILM SCHOOL last year."

An informal way to talk about FILM is by using the Word FLICK. It´s not a common term but you might see it from time to time.

FYI… If you ever hear the term ¨SILVER SCREEN¨, it refers to CLASSIC FILMS.

For example:

"James Dean and Marilyn Monroe are legends of the SILVER SCREEN. "

CINEMA is also used when talking about FILM as an art form.

For example:

"My friends are crazy about French CINEMA!"

Now, let's go to the Movies!