How to Talk About Movies in English (The Sequel!)
Movies aren't just for entertainment — they can also be great tools for learning a language.
But if you want to talk about movies in English, you'll need to know some special vocabulary. This article is the second in our series on essential words for movie fans; if you haven't yet, you can read the first part here.
Now, it's showtime!
(Even More) English Movie Vocabulary
Spoiler
One meaning of the verb "spoil" is "to go bad or become rotten" (so that something is no longer good to eat or drink).
But you can also "spoil" a movie for others if you reveal important information about it before they've seen it.
Warning: This review contains spoilers. If you haven't watched the film yet, stop reading now!
It can also be used as a verb.
James has a bad habit of spoiling movies. Luckily, spoilers don't bother me much.
Teaser / Trailer
Teasers and trailers are short video ads for movies. Usually, teasers are shorter and are released first. They generally show very little of the film; instead, their purpose is to get people excited to see more, which is one of the basic meanings of the verb "tease."
The teaser for the new film has created a lot of buzz on social media.
Trailers are released after teasers. They're longer and show many more scenes from the film — and if you don't like spoilers, they might show too much!
The trailer was released this afternoon, but it's already gotten millions of views on YouTube.
Cameo
Cameos are short appearances by someone in a film. Because they usually aren't announced or advertised, cameos by famous people are often fun surprises for audiences.
Because he only made a brief cameo in the film, the actor didn't ask for any money.
Twist
As a verb, "twist" means "to turn or bend something," often changing its shape. As a noun, however, a twist is a sudden or surprising change in a story.
The movie became famous for the shocking twist at the end.
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger is a sudden ending to a film that doesn't complete the story. Instead, the audience can only wonder about what happens next.
Cliffhangers are often very dramatic and are designed to make viewers excited for the sequel.
The movie ends on a cliffhanger, so we'll have to wait for part two to see how the story ends.
There's also a Hollywood movie from 1993 called Cliffhanger. Here, however, the meaning is more literal: It's about a climber who has many dangerous experiences on cliffs, or very steep rock surfaces.
Stinger
Stingers are very short scenes that appear at the end of a movie, usually after the end credits.
While most people leave the theater when the credits begin, fans of certain types of movies know they may see something extra if they wait.
Stingers are sometimes called "post-credit scenes."
Movies in the MCU are famous for stingers that give hints about what — or who — may be coming in a future movie.
Everyone in the theater stayed until the end of the credits, hoping to see a stinger.
Easter eggs
Many children enjoy decorating eggs to celebrate the Easter season. But some also have Easter egg hunts, in which they have to find eggs that have been hidden in different locations.
How does this relate to movies?
Well, movies based on things like comic books or video games will often have small hints that refer to characters or events that don't appear in the movies directly.
Most people won't notice these hints, but just like real Easter eggs in a hunt, big fans enjoy finding these small details.
The director likes putting Easter eggs into his films and seeing if fans can discover them.
Tentpole
A tentpole is a very long pole that holds up and supports a tent, like you can see on camping grounds or even at the circus.
In the movie industry, however, tentpoles are films that are expected to be very popular and successful. These films are usually in the action, science-fiction and adventure genres.
"Tentpole" can be used as an adjective or a noun for the film itself.
Tentpole films are usually released in the summertime or shortly before it.
Just because tentpoles get a lot of promotion doesn't mean they'll be successful.
Sleeper hit
Unlike tentpoles, which often have big stars and lots of marketing, other films may not have famous actors or much money for promotion. These films often don't get as much attention, but sometimes they surprise everyone by becoming very popular. These films are called "sleeper hits."
The positive word-of-mouth helped the small, independent movie become the sleeper hit of the year.
Bomb
In the film industry, "bombs" are unsuccessful movies.
While any movie can be a bomb, this word is often used for big films that cost a lot of money to produce.
Many movies that were bombs when they were originally released are now considered classics by movie fans.
You can also use “bomb” as a verb.
Many movies that bombed when they were originally released are now considered classics by movie fans.
Tearjerker
As a verb, “jerk” means "to pull quickly." So we call movies that make you want to cry “tearjerkers” since they pull the tears from your eyes!
That movie is a real tearjerker. Make sure you have some tissues handy when you watch it!
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is the name of a famous website for movie reviews. It launched in 1998 and has become very influential in the film industry.
On the site, movies are given a rating between 0 and 100%. Films with a rating between 75 and 100% are “Certified Fresh.” "Fresh" movies get a special tomato icon that's often used in advertisements to encourage people to watch it.
On the other hand, movies with a rating of 59% or lower are considered “Rotten,” which obviously isn't good for the movie's reputation.
The site’s name likely comes from the fact that in the early entertainment industry, people would throw rotten fruit and vegetables at poor performers to make them leave the stage!
Wrap-up
If you want to improve your English while chatting about your favorite films, book a lesson on Engoo!
Find a tutor who also enjoys films by typing "movies" or the title of your favorite film in the search bar. Just remember to use some of the vocabulary we've introduced here in your lesson! 🍿
