🎬 Movies

⏱ 14 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about movies, movie genres, actors and actresses, going to the cinema, buying tickets, and discussing movies you have watched. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Movie Vocabulary

🎬 Movie / Film
a story shown on a screen
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película
🇫🇷 French: Film
🇩🇪 German: Film
🇮🇹 Italian: Film / Pellicola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme
🎥 Cinema / Movie theater
the place where people watch movies on a big screen
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cine
🇫🇷 French: Cinéma
🇩🇪 German: Kino
🇮🇹 Italian: Cinema
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cinema
🎭 Actor / Actress
a person who plays a role in a movie
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Actor / Actriz
🇫🇷 French: Acteur / Actrice
🇩🇪 German: Schauspieler / Schauspielerin
🇮🇹 Italian: Attore / Attrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ator / Atriz
🎬 Director
the person who leads how a movie is made
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Director / Directora
🇫🇷 French: Réalisateur / Réalisatrice
🇩🇪 German: Regisseur / Regisseurin
🇮🇹 Italian: Regista
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Diretor / Diretora
🍿 Popcorn
a snack people often eat at the movies
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Palomitas
🇫🇷 French: Pop-corn
🇩🇪 German: Popcorn
🇮🇹 Italian: Popcorn
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pipoca
🎟️ Ticket
a pass that lets you enter the movie
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Entrada / Boleto
🇫🇷 French: Billet
🇩🇪 German: Ticket / Eintrittskarte
🇮🇹 Italian: Biglietto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ingresso / Bilhete

🟡 Movie Genres

😂 Comedy
a funny movie meant to make you laugh
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Comedia
🇫🇷 French: Comédie
🇩🇪 German: Komödie
🇮🇹 Italian: Commedia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comédia
😱 Horror movie
a scary movie
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película de terror
🇫🇷 French: Film d'horreur
🇩🇪 German: Horrorfilm
🇮🇹 Italian: Film horror
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme de terror
🚀 Science fiction
a movie about the future, space, or invented technology
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ciencia ficción
🇫🇷 French: Science-fiction
🇩🇪 German: Science-Fiction
🇮🇹 Italian: Fantascienza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ficção científica
❤️ Romantic movie
a movie about love
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película romántica
🇫🇷 French: Film romantique
🇩🇪 German: Liebesfilm
🇮🇹 Italian: Film romantico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme romântico
💥 Action movie
a movie with fights, chases, and fast scenes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película de acción
🇫🇷 French: Film d'action
🇩🇪 German: Actionfilm
🇮🇹 Italian: Film d'azione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme de ação
🕵️ Thriller
a tense movie full of suspense
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película de suspenso / Thriller
🇫🇷 French: Thriller
🇩🇪 German: Thriller
🇮🇹 Italian: Thriller
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme de suspense / Thriller
🎨 Animated movie
a movie made with drawings or computer images
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Película de animación
🇫🇷 French: Film d'animation
🇩🇪 German: Animationsfilm
🇮🇹 Italian: Film d'animazione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Filme de animação
📽️ Documentary
a movie about real people or real events
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Documental
🇫🇷 French: Documentaire
🇩🇪 German: Dokumentarfilm
🇮🇹 Italian: Documentario
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Documentário

🍿 At the Cinema

🎟️ Ticket office / Box office
the place where you buy movie tickets
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Taquilla
🇫🇷 French: Guichet / Billetterie
🇩🇪 German: Kasse
🇮🇹 Italian: Biglietteria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bilheteria
🕒 Showtime
the time the movie begins
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hora de la función
🇫🇷 French: Horaire de la séance
🇩🇪 German: Anfangszeit / Vorstellungszeit
🇮🇹 Italian: Orario dello spettacolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Horário da sessão
💺 Seat
the chair where you sit in the theater
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Asiento
🇫🇷 French: Siège / Place
🇩🇪 German: Sitzplatz
🇮🇹 Italian: Posto / Sedile
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assento / Lugar
📺 Screen
the large surface that shows the movie
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pantalla
🇫🇷 French: Écran
🇩🇪 German: Leinwand
🇮🇹 Italian: Schermo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tela
🎞️ Showing / Screening
one scheduled time when a movie is played
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Función
🇫🇷 French: Séance
🇩🇪 German: Vorstellung
🇮🇹 Italian: Proiezione / Spettacolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sessão
🥤 Drink
something you buy to drink with popcorn
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Bebida
🇫🇷 French: Boisson
🇩🇪 German: Getränk
🇮🇹 Italian: Bevanda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bebida

🧠 Talking About Movies

💡 Use watch or see to talk about watching a movie.
I want to watch a movie.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Quiero ver una película.
🇫🇷 Je veux regarder un film.
🇩🇪 Ich möchte einen Film sehen.
🇮🇹 Voglio guardare un film.
🇵🇹 Quero assistir a um filme.
We watched a movie last night.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Vimos una película anoche.
🇫🇷 Nous avons regardé un film hier soir.
🇩🇪 Wir haben gestern Abend einen Film gesehen.
🇮🇹 Abbiamo visto un film ieri sera.
🇵🇹 Assistimos a um filme ontem à noite.
💡 Use like to say whether you like a movie or type of movie.
I like action movies.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Me gustan las películas de acción.
🇫🇷 J'aime les films d'action.
🇩🇪 Ich mag Actionfilme.
🇮🇹 Mi piacciono i film d'azione.
🇵🇹 Eu gosto de filmes de ação.
I really liked the movie.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Me gustó mucho la película.
🇫🇷 J'ai vraiment aimé le film.
🇩🇪 Der Film hat mir sehr gefallen.
🇮🇹 Mi è piaciuto molto il film.
🇵🇹 Eu gostei muito do filme.
💡 Use adjectives to describe what you thought about a movie.
The movie was funny.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La película fue divertida.
🇫🇷 Le film était drôle.
🇩🇪 Der Film war lustig.
🇮🇹 Il film era divertente.
🇵🇹 O filme foi engraçado.
The movie was boring.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La película fue aburrida.
🇫🇷 Le film était ennuyeux.
🇩🇪 Der Film war langweilig.
🇮🇹 Il film era noioso.
🇵🇹 O filme foi chato.

❓ Useful Questions About Movies

🎬 What is your favorite movie?
asking which movie you enjoy most
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál es tu película favorita?
🇫🇷 French: Quel est ton film préféré ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist dein Lieblingsfilm?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è il tuo film preferito?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual é o seu filme favorito?
🍿 What kind of movies do you like?
asking which genres you enjoy
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué tipo de películas te gustan?
🇫🇷 French: Quel genre de films aimes-tu ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Art von Filmen magst du?
🇮🇹 Italian: Che tipo di film ti piacciono?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que tipo de filmes você gosta?
🎭 Who is your favorite actor?
asking which actor you like most
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quién es tu actor favorito?
🇫🇷 French: Qui est ton acteur préféré ?
🇩🇪 German: Wer ist dein Lieblingsschauspieler?
🇮🇹 Italian: Chi è il tuo attore preferito?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quem é o seu ator favorito?
🎥 Do you want to go to the movies?
inviting someone to the cinema
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quieres ir al cine?
🇫🇷 French: Tu veux aller au cinéma ?
🇩🇪 German: Willst du ins Kino gehen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi andare al cinema?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você quer ir ao cinema?
🎟️ What time does the movie start?
asking the showtime
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora empieza la película?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure commence le film ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann beginnt der Film?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora inizia il film?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas começa o filme?
⭐ Did you like the movie?
asking for an opinion after watching
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Te gustó la película?
🇫🇷 French: Tu as aimé le film ?
🇩🇪 German: Hat dir der Film gefallen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Ti è piaciuto il film?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você gostou do filme?

💬 Common Movie Phrases

🎬 I really liked this movie.
you enjoyed the film a lot
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me gustó mucho esta película.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai vraiment aimé ce film.
🇩🇪 German: Dieser Film hat mir sehr gefallen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi è piaciuto molto questo film.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu gostei muito deste filme.
🍿 Let's get popcorn before the movie.
you want a snack first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Vamos por palomitas antes de la película.
🇫🇷 French: Allons chercher du pop-corn avant le film.
🇩🇪 German: Lass uns vor dem Film Popcorn holen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Andiamo a prendere i popcorn prima del film.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vamos pegar pipoca antes do filme.
🎥 Do you want to go to the movies this weekend?
suggesting a cinema trip on Saturday or Sunday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Quieres ir al cine este fin de semana?
🇫🇷 French: Tu veux aller au cinéma ce week-end ?
🇩🇪 German: Willst du dieses Wochenende ins Kino gehen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Vuoi andare al cinema questo fine settimana?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você quer ir ao cinema neste fim de semana?
😂 The comedy was very funny.
the movie made you laugh
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La comedia fue muy divertida.
🇫🇷 French: La comédie était très drôle.
🇩🇪 German: Die Komödie war sehr lustig.
🇮🇹 Italian: La commedia era molto divertente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A comédia foi muito engraçada.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Choosing a movie
deciding what kind of film to watch
A: Do you want to watch a movie tonight?
B: Yes. What kind of movie do you want to watch?
A: I like science fiction movies.
B: Perfect. Let's find a good one.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?
🇪🇸 B: Sí. ¿Qué tipo de película quieres ver?
🇪🇸 A: Me gustan las películas de ciencia ficción.
🇪🇸 B: Perfecto. Busquemos una buena.

🇫🇷 A: Tu veux regarder un film ce soir ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui. Quel genre de film veux-tu regarder ?
🇫🇷 A: J'aime les films de science-fiction.
🇫🇷 B: Parfait. Trouvons-en un bon.

🇩🇪 A: Willst du heute Abend einen Film sehen?
🇩🇪 B: Ja. Welche Art von Film möchtest du sehen?
🇩🇪 A: Ich mag Science-Fiction-Filme.
🇩🇪 B: Perfekt. Lass uns einen guten finden.

🇮🇹 A: Vuoi guardare un film stasera?
🇮🇹 B: Sì. Che tipo di film vuoi guardare?
🇮🇹 A: Mi piacciono i film di fantascienza.
🇮🇹 B: Perfetto. Troviamone uno buono.

🇵🇹 A: Você quer assistir a um filme esta noite?
🇵🇹 B: Sim. Que tipo de filme você quer assistir?
🇵🇹 A: Eu gosto de filmes de ficção científica.
🇵🇹 B: Perfeito. Vamos encontrar um bom.
Going to the cinema
checking the time and tickets
A: What time does the movie start?
B: It starts at eight.
A: Did you already buy the tickets?
B: Yes, I bought them online.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿A qué hora empieza la película?
🇪🇸 B: Empieza a las ocho.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Ya compraste las entradas?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, las compré por internet.

🇫🇷 A: À quelle heure commence le film ?
🇫🇷 B: Il commence à huit heures.
🇫🇷 A: Tu as déjà acheté les billets ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, je les ai achetés en ligne.

🇩🇪 A: Wann beginnt der Film?
🇩🇪 B: Er beginnt um acht.
🇩🇪 A: Hast du die Tickets schon gekauft?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, ich habe sie online gekauft.

🇮🇹 A: A che ora inizia il film?
🇮🇹 B: Inizia alle otto.
🇮🇹 A: Hai già comprato i biglietti?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, li ho comprati online.

🇵🇹 A: A que horas começa o filme?
🇵🇹 B: Começa às oito.
🇵🇹 A: Você já comprou os ingressos?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, eu comprei pela internet.

📝 Example Sentences

😱 The horror movie is very scary.
the film is frightening
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La película de terror da mucho miedo.
🇫🇷 French: Le film d'horreur fait très peur.
🇩🇪 German: Der Horrorfilm ist sehr gruselig.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il film horror fa molta paura.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O filme de terror é muito assustador.
🎭 The lead actor is excellent.
the main actor did a great job
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: El actor principal es excelente.
🇫🇷 French: L'acteur principal est excellent.
🇩🇪 German: Der Hauptdarsteller ist ausgezeichnet.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'attore protagonista è eccellente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O ator principal é excelente.
🎟️ We bought tickets for the evening showing.
your seats are for the night screening
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compramos entradas para la función de la noche.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons acheté des billets pour la séance du soir.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben Tickets für die Abendvorstellung gekauft.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo comprato i biglietti per lo spettacolo serale.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Compramos ingressos para a sessão da noite.
🚀 I love science fiction.
future and space movies are your favorite kind
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me encanta la ciencia ficción.
🇫🇷 French: J'adore la science-fiction.
🇩🇪 German: Ich liebe Science-Fiction.
🇮🇹 Italian: Adoro la fantascienza.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu adoro ficção científica.
💥 The action movie was very exciting.
the film kept you interested the whole time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La película de acción fue muy emocionante.
🇫🇷 French: Le film d'action était très passionnant.
🇩🇪 German: Der Actionfilm war sehr spannend.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il film d'azione era molto emozionante.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O filme de ação foi muito emocionante.
🎬 The ending of the movie was surprising.
you did not expect how the story finished
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: El final de la película fue sorprendente.
🇫🇷 French: La fin du film était surprenante.
🇩🇪 German: Das Ende des Films war überraschend.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il finale del film è stato sorprendente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O final do filme foi surpreendente.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the word or phrase that fits best. Do not pick a close movie word if a more precise one is on the page.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%