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

Take-Two bought the studio behind those, and then created Rockstar Games to develop edgy, cinematic titles.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Playwright Aleshea Harris makes a bold cinematic debut with the screen adaptation of her Obie Award-winning play “Is God Is,” a harrowing and beautiful slice of surrealist neo-noir.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

But in Chongqing, many visitors see what may look like a cinematic scene from the future.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

And two cinematic cityscapes, both debuts for their respective directors, closed Saturday night’s bill.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

I knew it was bad as soon as I heard the crack, but the whole tragedy happened in cinematic slow motion.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• pictorial
• visual
• vivid