cinematic

American  

[sin-uh-mat-ik] / ˌsɪn əˈmæt ɪk /

adjective

1. having to do with movies, as either an industry or an art form.

   The book explores Andy Warhol's cinematic work, focusing on ten films in detail.

2. (of a movie) showing a high level of artistry; grand and visually impressive.

   This film is filled with sweeping, cinematic shots of the surrounding countryside, to the point where the setting almost becomes a third character.

3. having qualities or using techniques associated with good movies, such as drama, emotional intensity, visual or sonic artistry, epic narrative, etc..

   Poetic and strikingly cinematic, her exquisitely written novel illuminates the strange tightrope we are all walking in the radically altered landscape post-9/11.

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noun

1. (in a video game) a short video or scripted event scene between stages of interactive play, often to introduce a new level, develop a character, or advance the plot.

   This year's NHL game has a lot of the same animations, cinematics between faceoffs, commentary tracks, and graphics.

Other Word Forms

• cinematically
  adverb
• uncinematic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cinematic

cinemat(ograph) ( def. ) + -ic

Explanation

Use the adjective cinematic to describe things that relate to — or resemble — a movie. You might, for example, read a cinematic scene in a novel that's written in a vivid, memorable way. You might say your favorite cinematic moment ever is the opening scene in The Sound of Music, or lament that your favorite director's cinematic output has been low recently. You're talking about movies here; cinematic comes from cinema. This word is also frequently used for things that just seem like you're watching them on a big screen: "When we came over that hill at sunrise and finally saw the Atlantic Ocean, it was so cinematic!"

Example Sentences

Jordan also collaborated with Coogler in 2018 with Black Panther where he played Erik Killmonger, one of the most memorable antagonists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

It has no cultural infrastructure to support artists and art-based institutions: no Juilliard, no Grand Ole Opry, no University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

That’s something Disney has in spades, as it owns powerhouse franchises including Star Wars, the Pixar animated films, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

The Russo brothers, of course, made their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut at the helm of the the 2014 film “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Cinematic classics are works encased in amber, comfortable for their familiarity.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2018

Related Words

• pictorial
• visual
• vivid