Cool & contemporary vocab: movies
In Part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you might be asked to describe a film that has made a lasting impression on you, so you need to be able to use some descriptive language to explain why you found this particular film memorable.
In Part 3, the examiner might ask you to compare watching a film at the cinema or at home, or you might be asked about the popularity of the cinema in your country. It’s not a difficult topic to speak about but to get a high score, you need to show that you can accurately use less common vocabulary in an interesting and natural way. Here are some excellent examples to get you started!
Vocabulary
- a must-see (movie)
meaning = It is really good so you must watch it
example = “The new Doctor Strange movie is definitely a must-see. Don’t miss it!”
- a romcom
meaning = a romantic comedy film
example = “My husband hates romcoms so i normally watch them with my friends.”
- a sci-fi
meaning = a science fiction movie
example = “I’m not really into sci-fi movies but I loved watching E.T when I was a kid.”
- a feel-good movie
meaning = a heart-warming film that leaves you with positive emotions.
example = “I’m in the mood for watching a real feel-good movie with a happy ending.”
- a sequel
meaning = a movie that follows the story of a previous one, eg Die Hard 2
example = “I hate watching sequels. They’re rarely as good as the first film.”
- a remake
meaning = a movie that is recreated from an older version, usually a classic story.
example = “Have you seen The Jungle Book remake? The computer-generated imagery (CGI) is amazing!”
- great (on)screen presence
meaning = the actor’s performance is both captivating and memorable
example = “Scarlett Johansson has great on-screen presence. She’s very convincing and it’s hard to take your eyes off her.”
- he/she steals every scene he/she’s in
meaning = when one actor’s performance is so good you don’t notice any of the others
example = “Did you see Matthew McConaughey in The Wolf of Wall Street? He’s so good that he steals every scene he’s in.”
- (on-screen) chemistry
meaning = the interaction between two actors in a TV series/show or film
example = “The on-screen chemistry between the two lead actors in True Detective is electric.”
- the edge of my seat
meaning = when you are very engaged in watching a film
example = “The plot is so tense, I was on the edge of my seat all the way through it.”
- full of twists and turns
meaning = when the plot of a film is very unpredictable
example = “There are so many twists and turns in the film that you never know what’s going to happen next.”
Phrasal verbs
- to churn out
meaning = to release one film after another quite quickly
example = “Marvel keep churning out superhero movie after superhero movie and now they’re doing the same with TV series.”
- to pull out
meaning = to quit a project
example = “The director of Deadpool has pulled out of doing the sequel.”
- to put out
meaning = to release (a film)
example = “The studio puts out a new film every 6 months.”
- to step in
meaning = to replace someone / to fill a vacant post
example = “The lead actor quit but luckily a replacement stepped in at the last minute.”
