Frame rate is the number of frames captured or displayed per second. It is measured in frames per second, or fps. The standard for sound film is 24 fps. Television uses 25 fps in Europe and 30 fps in the United States. Some filmmakers use higher rates, like 48 fps or 120 fps, for smoother motion. Others use lower rates, like 12 fps, for a jerky, animated look. The frame rate affects how motion is perceived.

The choice of frame rate is a creative and technical decision. 24 fps is the standard for cinema because it looks cinematic. It has a slight motion blur that feels natural. 30 fps looks more like television or video. 60 fps looks hyper-real, almost like a video game. 120 fps is used for slow-motion effects. High frame rates can make action scenes look smoother, but they can also make sets and costumes look artificial. Peter Jackson shot The Hobbit at 48 fps, and the response was mixed. Some viewers loved the clarity. Others found it distracting.

Frame rate also affects the speed of the film. If you shoot at 24 fps and project at 48 fps, the action appears slow. If you shoot at 48 fps and project at 24 fps, the action appears fast. This is how slow motion and fast motion are created. The frame rate is a tool for manipulating time.

The frame rate is not just a technical setting. It is part of the visual language of a film. It shapes how the audience experiences motion, time, and reality.