cinematic

[sin-uh-mat-ik]

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinematic¹

cinemat(ograph) ( def. ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Sparks is known for pulling at readers’ heartstrings with cinematic love stories — 11 of which have made their way to the big screen, and several of which Sparks produced himself.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is a coded composite, a computerized ideal of cinematic beauty.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“History will not judge USC kindly if it agrees to this compact,” said Edward Saxon, professor of cinematic arts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Madison Story, 34, made sure to catch the film at the luxury Dolby Cinema, calling “Showgirl” Swift’s “most cinematic album yet.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Full of cinematic strings and disorientating key changes, it sits alongside No Body, No Crime, Bad Blood and Vigilante S*** in Swift's expanding catalogue of revenge anthems.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• pictorial 
• visual 
• vivid