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Feature Film: Meaning & Definition in Film

A motion picture with a runtime typically exceeding 60 minutes intended for theatrical release.

4 sections
1 min read
Updated July 21, 2025

On this page 4 sections

Feature Film: Overview

Feature films are full‑length narratives—generally over 60 minutes—produced for commercial, artistic, or documentary purposes. They form the core of cinema programming, spanning genres from drama and comedy to action and animation.

Feature Film: Historical Milestones

The first widely recognized feature was The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906, Australia) at over an hour. By the 1930s, Hollywood standardised 70–90 minute runtimes; epics in the 1950s and 1960s (e.g., Ben‑Hur) pushed well past two hours.

Production and Distribution

Budgetary Scale: Features command larger crews, multiple locations, and extensive post‑production.
Theatrical Windows: Traditionally enjoyed exclusive cinema runs before television and streaming release.
Festival Circuit: Premieres at TIFF, Cannes, and Venice can propel critical acclaim and distribution deals.

Feature Film: See Also

Runtime
Short Film
Cinematic Universe

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Filmmaking

Entries filed on the same shelf as Feature Film, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

Hot Head

A hot head is a remote-controlled camera head that allows an operator to pan, tilt, and sometimes roll the camera from a distance.
Interpositive

An interpositive is a high-quality positive film print made directly from the original camera negative, serving as the master for creating duplicates.
Camera Projection

Camera projection is a visual effects technique that projects a 2D image onto simple 3D geometry to create the illusion of a three-dimensional scene.
Donkey Call

A Donkey Call is an old-school slang term for the sound made when clapping a tail slate at the end of a take for audio-visual synchronization.
In-Camera Effect

Any visual effect achieved directly during principal photography without post production.
Previsualization

Previsualization, or previs, is the advanced process of creating a digital, often 3D-animated, mock-up of complex film sequences to meticulously plan the shots, camera work, and technical execution before filming.