A movie, also known as a motion picture, video, short film or multimedia movie, is an artistic work of visual art intended to simulate various experiences which convey messages, themes, emotions, beauty, or mood through the employment of moving pictures. Movies are usually made for entertainment, but in the 21st century many movies are created for other purposes such as social commentary, education, and documentary purposes. It is often difficult to distinguish between a movie and other visual media because all visual art is used to communicate some kind of message. Some movies are primarily designed as advertising or public relations tools, while others are completely written by the director.

The major categories of motion pictures fall into three major categories: drama, comedy, and thriller. Dramatic and comic motion pictures are often classified as dramas or action/adventure, while thrillers or thriller are often classified as comedies. In the United States, motion pictures are often classified as family movies or motion pictures for teenagers to enjoy, while international audiences have little interest in English-language films. With few exceptions, all motion pictures are presented with sound, sometimes by music, voice-overs, or both.

Motion pictures can be categorized according to the medium through which they are presented. First, film is the most widely used medium of mass communication, with its widespread distribution and wide distribution rights. Film can be developed in the form of short stories, plays, and Hollywood blockbusters. Since early 20th century, television has also been used as a medium of mass communication, with its widespread availability and wide distribution rights. The two most common types of motion pictures are motion pictures in the theater and television.

When a motion picture is created, it can be made of one of three basic elements – a movie frame, the source images, and the picture or the film itself. The three elements are most often used together, though occasionally one element is used more frequently than the others. In order to create a motion picture, a director must choose a story line, prepare a script, and select a cast and crew. The key elements in creating a motion picture are the camera, the lighting system, and the actor or actress playing the lead role.

Each element has a specific connotation and relationship with the other two elements. For example, a car and a house belong to the category of house while a plane and a road go into the category of plane. In motion pictures, a character’s behavior and actions immediately following a given event belongs to the character’s psychological state at that time. For example, a shot of a character walking down a street holds more connotation than a shot of that same character looking straight at the camera. The connotation of a character changes as the focus of the camera shifts from one location to another.

Themes are very important elements of successful movies because they bring the audience alive. Themes change over time, but remain true to the original concept and idea. Themes can be time-dependent, such as a character growing older, or theme-dependent, such as changing values as a culture evolves. A theme can represent a conflict between people, a power struggle, or a new social problem. Regardless of the theme, the themes changed throughout the course of a movie are still relevant to the characters and the story, no matter how long they have been in existence.