A movie is a motion picture produced for entertainment or artistic expression. The word comes from the phrase moving picture. It is a sequence of images projected onto a screen, creating the illusion of movement. Movies are shown in theaters, on television, on streaming platforms, and on airplanes. They are one of the dominant forms of popular culture. They shape how we see the world and how we see ourselves.

Movies are made in many forms. Narrative films tell a story with characters and plot. Documentaries present real events. Experimental films push the boundaries of the medium. Animated films create movement from drawings or digital models. Each form has its own conventions and its own audience. A movie can be a blockbuster, a small independent film, or a cult classic. It can be made for millions or for thousands. It can be a masterpiece or a disaster. The range is enormous.

Movies are a collaborative art form. A single film can involve hundreds of people: writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, editors, composers, designers, and technicians. Each contributes to the final product. The director is usually the central creative figure, but the film is the work of many hands. The movie is the sum of their efforts. It is a commercial product and an artistic statement. It is entertainment and it is art. The tension between those two poles is what makes movies fascinating.