How to Use English for Discussing Movies and TV Shows: Essential Vocabulary for Reviews and Conversations

I remember sitting with friends after watching Parasite, and everyone was buzzing. One person kept saying "It was good," but I could tell they wanted to say more. That's the thing about talking about films and shows — you need the right words to capture what you actually felt.

Let's get straight into the vocabulary that will help you sound natural when reviewing movies and TV shows in English.

What Kind of Movie Is It? (Genre and Tone)

Before you dive into details, you need to name the type of film. Here are common genres with example sentences:

• Thriller – "It's a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing."
• Rom-com – "I love a good rom-com when I need something light."
• Sci-fi – "The sci-fi elements were believable, not over the top."
• Drama – "It's a family drama with a lot of emotional weight."
• Documentary – "This documentary opened my eyes to ocean pollution."

To describe tone, try: dark, uplifting, predictable, thought-provoking, slow-paced, or fast-paced.

Talking About the Plot and Story

This is where most conversations start. Skip saying "the story was interesting." Be specific.

Common phrases:

• "The plot twists were unexpected."
• "The storyline felt rushed toward the end."
• "It had a slow burn, but the payoff was worth it."
• "I couldn't follow the plot — too many characters."

If you want to compare pacing, here's a quick reference:

Your First Reaction

When someone asks "What did you think?", don't just say "It was good" or "It was bad." Use phrases that show real opinion.

Positive reactions:

• "I was on the edge of my seat the whole time."
• "That ending blew my mind."
• "The acting? Absolutely incredible."

Negative reactions:

• "I was so bored I almost fell asleep."
• "The dialogue felt really forced."
• "It was a letdown after all the hype."

Neutral or mixed:

• "It was entertaining, but nothing special."
• "I see why people love it, but it wasn't for me."

Acting, Direction, and Technical Side

Want to sound like you know film? Touch on the craft.

• Acting: "The cast had great chemistry." / "The lead actor carried the whole film."
• Direction: "The director's style feels very cinematic." / "Some scenes felt unnecessary."
• Visuals: "The cinematography was stunning." / "The CGI looked cheap."
• Sound: "The soundtrack really set the mood." / "The sound design was distracting."

A Natural Conversation Flow

Here's a typical real-world flow when discussing a movie with a friend. It starts with a reaction, moves to plot, then acting, and ends with a recommendation.

Putting it together:

"I really enjoyed The Menu. It started slow, but the plot twist in the second half caught me off guard. The acting was fantastic — Ralph Fiennes nailed it. If you like dark comedies, you should definitely watch it."

Practice Tip

Next time you watch something, try describing it out loud in English using at least three of the phrases from this article. Record yourself if you can. You'll notice your vocabulary growing fast.

And if you want a structured way to track your English progress, including your listening comprehension for movie dialogues, I recommend testing your level for free on English Measure. Our Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking tests will show you exactly where you stand. Take the test at englishmeasure.com/en/test.

---

📝 Related Practice Section

Speaking Practice: Start chatting with our AI to practice speaking and improve your English pronunciation for free!

👉 Click here to start your free Speaking Practice now!