Film vs. Cinema — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 8, 2024
Film refers to a motion picture or movie, while cinema encompasses the art of filmmaking as well as the venue where films are shown.
Difference Between Film and Cinema
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A film is a visual medium that tells a story or presents ideas through moving images and sound, primarily created for entertainment, education, or conveying messages. It is a singular piece of art, produced by a combination of creative and technical skills involving directing, acting, cinematography, and editing. Whereas cinema not only refers to the art and technique of making films but also to the cultural institution of screening these films. It includes movie theaters where audiences gather to watch films, emphasizing the communal experience of movie-watching.
While films are tangible products that can be distributed, sold, and owned, cinema represents the experience and the industry surrounding the creation and dissemination of films. It signifies a broader concept that includes the history, theory, and critical study of films, as well as the business aspects of producing and showing films in theaters.
Films can be consumed in various formats and through different mediums—such as television, DVD, streaming services—without necessarily involving the traditional cinema experience. On the other hand, cinema is intrinsically linked to the idea of viewing films in a shared space, designed to enhance the visual and auditory experience of film-watching, fostering a collective engagement with the narrative and aesthetic elements of films.
Furthermore, the term "film" can be used to describe any genre or length, from short films to feature-length productions, regardless of the content. Cinema, however, often invokes a sense of the art form or industry, including the technology, personnel, and establishments involved in the making and showing of films.
While a film is the end product a story told through moving images and sound—cinema encompasses a wider scope, including the venues for viewing films, the communal experience of watching, and the artistry involved in film production.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A motion picture or movie.
The art of filmmaking and venues where films are shown.
Focus
On content, storytelling, and visual art.
On the experience, technology, and business of film.
Consumption
Can be viewed on various platforms.
Traditionally experienced in a theater.
Cultural Aspect
Emphasizes the creative aspect of production.
Encompasses communal viewing and the industry.
Scope
Specific to the product itself.
Broad, including both the making and exhibition of films.
Compare with Definitions
Film
A story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images.
The film Inception explores complex ideas about dreams.
Cinema
An industry involved in movie production and distribution.
The cinema industry has been greatly affected by digital technologies.
Film
A product of cinematic art.
That film won several awards for its direction and screenplay.
Cinema
A cultural concept involving the viewing of movies.
Cinema has a profound impact on society.
Film
A format for visual storytelling.
The film used powerful imagery to convey its message.
Cinema
A collective term for films and their creation.
World cinema offers a diverse range of perspectives and stories.
Film
A medium of creative expression.
Film has evolved as a significant art form over the last century.
Cinema
A movie theater where films are shown.
We're going to the cinema to watch the latest blockbuster.
Film
A film, also called a movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a work of visual art used to simulate experiences that communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use of moving images. These images are generally accompanied by sound, and more rarely, other sensory stimulations.
Cinema
The art or technique of making movies.
She studied cinema at the university.
Film
A thin layer or coating.
A film of dust covered the old books.
Cinema
A movie theater.
Film
A thin skin or membrane.
Cinema
Movies collectively, especially when considered as an art form.
Film
A thin, opaque, abnormal coating on the cornea of the eye.
Cinema
(countable) A movie theatre, a movie house
The cinema is right across the street from the restaurant.
Film
A thin covering or coating
A film of dust on the piano.
Cinema
Films collectively.
Despite the critics, he produced excellent cinema.
Film
A thin, flexible, transparent sheet, as of plastic, used in wrapping or packaging.
Cinema
The film and movie industry.
In the long history of Spanish cinema....
Film
A thin sheet or strip of flexible material, such as a cellulose derivative or a thermoplastic resin, coated with a photosensitive emulsion and used to make photographic negatives or transparencies.
Cinema
The art of making films and movies; cinematography
Throughout the history of cinema, filmmakers....
Film
A thin sheet or strip of developed photographic negatives or transparencies.
Cinema
The art of creating motion pictures; as, this story would be good cinema; - often used in the phrase the cinema.
Film
A movie, especially one recorded on film.
Cinema
A theater where motion pictures are shown.
Film
The presentation of such a work.
Cinema
Same as motion picture.
Film
A long, narrative movie.
Cinema
A medium that disseminates moving pictures;
Theater pieces transferred to celluloid
This story would be good cinema
Film coverage of sporting events
Film
Movies collectively, especially when considered as an art form.
Cinema
A theater where films are shown
Film
To cover with or as if with a film.
Film
To record on film or video using a movie camera
Film a rocket launch.
Film a scene from a ballet.
Film
To become coated or obscured with or as if with a film
The window filmed over with moisture.
Film
To make or shoot scenes for a movie.
Film
A thin layer of some substance; a pellicle; a membranous covering, causing opacity.
A clear plastic film for wrapping food
Film
(photography) A medium used to capture images in a camera.
Film
A movie.
Film
Cinema; movies as a group.
Film
A slender thread, such as that of a cobweb.
Film
(ambitransitive) To record (activity, or a motion picture) on photographic film.
A Hollywood studio was filming on location in NYC.
I tried to film the UFO as it passed overhead.
Film
(ambitransitive) To visually record (activity, or a motion picture) in general, with or without sound.
Film
(transitive) To cover or become covered with a thin skin or pellicle.
Film
A thin skin; a pellicle; a membranous covering, causing opacity.
He from thick films shall purge the visual ray.
Film
Hence, any thin layer covering a surface.
Film
A slender thread, as that of a cobweb.
Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film.
Film
The layer, usually of gelatin or collodion, containing the sensitive salts of photographic plates.
Film
A flexible sheet of celluloid or other plastic material to which a light-sensitive layer has been applied, used for recording images by the processes of photography. It is commonly used in rolls mounted within light-proof canisters suitable for simple insertion into cameras designed for such canisters. On such rolls, varying numbers of photographs may be taken before the canister needs to be replaced.
Film
A motion picture.
Film
The art of making motion pictures; - used mostly in the phrase the film.
Film
A thin transparent sheet of plastic, used for wrapping objects; as, polyethylene film.
Film
To cover with a thin skin or pellicle.
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place.
Film
To make a motion picture of (any event or literary work); to record with a movie camera; as, to film the inauguration ceremony; to film Dostoevsky's War and Peace.
Film
A form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement;
They went to a movie every Saturday night
The film was shot on location
Film
A medium that disseminates moving pictures;
Theater pieces transferred to celluloid
This story would be good cinema
Film coverage of sporting events
Film
A thin coating or layer;
The table was covered with a film of dust
Film
A thin sheet of (usually plastic and usually transparent) material used to wrap or cover things
Film
Photographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsion; used to make negatives or transparencies
Film
Make a film or photograph of something;
Take a scene
Shoot a movie
Film
Record in film;
The coronation was filmed
Common Curiosities
How is film different from cinema?
Film refers to the individual motion picture itself, while cinema includes the broader experience and industry of making and showing films.
Is watching a film at home considered experiencing cinema?
Traditionally, cinema is associated with the communal experience of watching films in a movie theater, but the term can broadly encompass all forms of film viewing.
What is the difference between commercial and art cinema?
Commercial cinema focuses on mainstream, mass-market films, while art cinema emphasizes artistic, cultural, or experimental films.
Can cinema exist without films?
Cinema as a concept is intrinsically linked to films, as it encompasses both the production and viewing of films.
What roles do film festivals play in cinema?
Film festivals celebrate cinema, showcasing diverse films, supporting filmmakers, and promoting film culture.
Can a film be considered cinema?
Yes, a film is considered a part of cinema, as cinema encompasses both the creation of films and their exhibition.
What is a film?
A film is a motion picture or movie that tells a story or presents ideas through moving images and sound.
What does cinema refer to?
Cinema refers to both the art of filmmaking and the venues where films are screened, encompassing the entire film industry.
What constitutes the art of cinema?
The art of cinema includes filmmaking, film theory, criticism, and the historical and cultural context of films.
How have digital technologies impacted cinema?
Digital technologies have transformed how films are made, distributed, and viewed, impacting the cinema experience and industry.
Do films have to be shown in cinemas?
No, films can be shown on various platforms, including TV, online streaming services, and DVDs, not just in cinemas.
What impact do film critics have on cinema?
Film critics influence public perception and discourse around films, impacting their cultural and commercial success.
How do independent films fit into the landscape of cinema?
Independent films contribute to the diversity of cinema, often exploring unique, unconventional stories outside mainstream production.
Why is cinema considered an important cultural institution?
Cinema is a powerful medium for storytelling and cultural expression, influencing society's values, norms, and perspectives.
How does the experience of watching a film in a cinema differ from other viewing methods?
Watching a film in a cinema offers a unique, immersive experience with high-quality sound and visuals, designed for communal viewing.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
