Why Do Movies Have Black Bars?

Why do movies have black bars on the top and bottom of the screen? Is there anything behind them? What are they hiding?! What aspect ratio are movies filmed in? What aspect ratio should I use? Aspect ratios, resolution, and formatting can be tricky to wrap your head around so we’ll explore all that and more on this episode of Tech-Nick-Al
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:34 Define Aspect Ratio
02:21 Why do movies have black bars?
03:05 How to fix black bars in your movie
04:00 Outro
04:55 Bonus
Thanks for watching!
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Music Used: Humanoids (Triune Digital / Film Riot)
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#TechNickAl #Film #AspectRatios

[@clubpenguinsucks]

Interesting, I've always wondered why films do that, thinking they were intentionally cutting off pixels but that isn't the case at all apparently. Pacific Rim is the last film I saw that completely fit my screen for some reason, so I thought if they could do it why not others? Maybe the film was made in a way different from others

[@nicholasagneta]

Because you watched it at home, it may have reformatted to fit your screen. But yeah there are some films that are made to fit a laptop screen or TV

[@UnknownCreatorJakel]

Another banger! I learn so much about film and editing and cameras and life! WE LOVE NICK AGNETA!!

[@nicholasagneta]

My biggest fan ♥️

[@BrickUnit]

You deserve more subs. Well explained vid

[@nicholasagneta]

Thanks, that means a lot!

[@rileyblanch]

Watched this video to see if I could fix it witg already having the knowledge given but I couldn’t stop listening because you explained it so perfectly and clearly, great content my guy

[@nicholasagneta]

Thanks! I really appreciate that!

[@Jfisher340]

Contrite and clear. Thanks!

[@CorraddooSopranno]

So if the majority of modern HD TVs are 16x9 ratio, then why wouldn’t the movie studios release the movie in that ratio? Or at least release it in 2.39x1 theatrically and then 16x9 once it streams

[@nicholasagneta]

They do! It's similar to "Pan and Scan" - some versions for TVs are cropped in from the 2.39x1 version, so you lose detail on the left and right side of the screen, but it fits the whole TV. Otherwise they leave the letterboxing so you see the whole original film. There are a few movies who theatrically release in 16x9, but it's rare

[@diesel10]

Film began with the 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio. TVs were built in the 1950s and took that 4:3 ratio. During that time, there was a decline in audiences going to the theater. Thus began the widescreen wars. To get audiences back into the theater, studios decided the picture and sound should be bigger. To get a wider image, they would matte the top and bottom of a 4:3 image, but this resulted in loss of quality. Anamorphic lenses were developed so that the image was squeezed to a 4:3 film cell and larer desqueezed on the projector to give a wide 2.66:1 image. This was later reduced to 2.35:1 and finally 2.39:1. There are two common cinema ratios: 1.85:1 (flat) and 2.39:1 (scope).
So where did 16:9 (1.78:1) come from? During the transition from SD to HD, TV manufacturers were wondering what aspect ratio to make these new TV sets. 1.78:1 came as a compromise between 1.33:1 and 2.39:1.
Films that fill up your TV are either 1.85:1 or (if shot in IMAX) 1.90:1 (though not every movie shot in IMAX will expand to 1.90:1).

[@dennyperez3872]

Why full-screen movies still have the black bars on the side of the screen, isn’t it supposed to fit the whole screen?

[@mangoman60123]

Very informative tricky nicky, i have indeed wondered this exact question for some time. Glad i got to make an appearance lel

[@nicholasagneta]

You are the star of the show!

[@Yousef-sam]

2:08 smooth ;)

[@nicholasagneta]

I try my best lol

[@greatdelusion7654]

Nice video, thanks. I actually don't mind black bars, but do you think the TVs/monitors of the future or technology thereof could overcome and eliminate black bars forever, without any image data loss? Like an AI-enhanced 'smart-crop' feature or something, maybe? Or is it impossible? Also one other question I have is can you eliminate black bars completely by using a projecter instead of a TV?

[@Anti-socialSocialClub]

This is what happens when you get artists to come up with a science solution...
It's simple, either make all films in 16 : 9 , or make all TVs in 2.39 : 1. sorted.
Also, mid school maths - 16:9 is 4:3 !

[@NoOne-ni5pg]

wait how the fuck is this channel not 1M or more ? ... I'm literaly shocked

[@nicholasagneta]

That’s very kind, thank you!

[@BrickUnit]

I have a 21:9 wide monitor and was hoping i could get away from the black bars but didnt realise they are coded into all the blu rays

[@nicholasagneta]

Yeah a lot of blue rays and DVDs have different settings now

[@Tunebusterspodcast]

This channel is so underrated 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@nicholasagneta]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@oriehi_raphael_paul]

Thanks man!

[@9latinumStudioz]

Hollywood directors are trying to kill physical media with the 2.4 aspect ratio 🤦

[@nicholasagneta]

They gotta get you in the theater somehow lol

[@9latinumStudioz]

@@nicholasagneta that has the opposite effect on me - makes me not want to support

[@Resident579]

Triple X movies never have black bars 😂😂😂😂 lol