A movie, also called a film or a moving picture, is a visual storytelling medium. Movies can tell stories that entertain, inspire, and shape culture. Movies come in many genres and can be fiction or non-fiction. They are usually accompanied by synchronized sound, such as dialogue and music. The first movies were made in the late 19th century when inventors like Thomas Edison and the Lumiere brothers developed motion picture cameras and projectors. The earliest films were simple recordings of workers leaving a factory, but they showed the potential of this new technology.
Today, movies are often referred to as cinematic art, and some of them earn Academy Awards for their production quality and other merits. Movies can be viewed in theaters, at home on TV or computers, and on mobile devices. A movie may be a work of fiction or non-fiction, but it is usually entertaining and thought-provoking. Some movies are even considered to be classics, and they have stood the test of time.
Movies are categorized into different genres, such as drama, comedy, or action. Some movies can be two or more genres at once, such as an action-adventure or a romance. The genres of a movie typically determine its tone, which can be light and fun or dark and serious. A movie’s plot also helps to define its genre. For example, a fantasy movie might include magical creatures or a dragon, while a war movie often centers on conflict between nations and civilians.
The greatest movies are often the ones that stay with us long after they leave the theater and go onto DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services. These films are the ones that get talked about, rewatched, and recommended to friends. They are the movies that make people cry, laugh, and think. Some of these movies are considered to be masterpieces, and they are often ranked high on critic and audience polls.
A list of the best movies would be incomplete without the masterpieces that changed cinema forever. One of the most iconic is Schindler’s List, which won five Oscars and reshaped how we look at Nazi history. It’s also one of the most popular movies ever, having broken several box office records and being voted as the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Another of the great classics is Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a beautiful film that starred Audrey Hepburn and captured the essence of a sophisticated lifestyle. The film earned Hepburn her third Academy Award and was a breakthrough for the actress, who became an international star afterwards.
Another milestone is Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee’s breakout film that still holds up amidst an era of cultural turmoil. Lee nailed the mix between drama and comedy in this classic, which takes place over the longest and hottest day of summer in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Tensions between the black community and the Italian-American residents of the neighborhood rise to a boiling point, and then erupt into violence.