An exciting trend in recent years has been the use of non-standard aspect ratios, slowly evolving from a novelty to the norm.
Things have changed so much that I’m not sure the term “standard aspect ratio” still means anything.
Like most filmmakers, when I started making, the 2.39:1 aspect ratio was the only ratio you wanted for a “cinematic look.” Of course, 1.85:1 is also acceptable, but less popular with emerging filmmakers than the wider 2.39:1 format.
For at least most of my life, movies were shot in only one of these two formats.
Of course, countless other aspect ratios have been used exhaustively over the years (including the once-standard 1.33:1), but when HDTV took over in the early 2000s, it was basically a two-horse race between 1.85:1 and 2.39:1.
For years I hadn’t even considered the possibility of working in a different format. Shooting in 1.33:1 (just as an example) makes it feel like it was made for television.
But in the past few years, everything has changed.
2.39:1 and 1.85:1 are still heavily used in most movies – both independent and studio films.
But the use of other aspect ratios increased dramatically, and in some cases was more experimental.
A few years ago, when I was making my second feature PsychosynthesisI decided Shoot videos in 1.33:1 aspect ratio. At the time, there were a few other films (e.g. american honey and son of saul) makes excellent use of the format. But when they do, it’s remarkable because so few other films attempt this.
By the time I released my film (almost two years later), the 1.33:1 aspect ratio had exploded. It’s like everyone has the same idea at the same time.
Now, another year later, the sport has expanded even further. Just about every aspect ratio imaginable is now in play.
Major feature films such as missing daughter Content on Netflix Framed 1.66:1. David Fincher and other Hollywood works Lack Shot in 2.20:1 ratio. Even TV shows like WandaVision are experimenting with mixing aspect ratios – using 1.33:1, 1.78:1 and 2.39:1 juxtaposed together!
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
No matter what you see – from commercials to music videos to feature films – aspect ratio is completely free for everyone. Widescreen, square, vertical, all fair game.
To my knowledge, this is the first time in film history that aspect ratio has been used so explicitly as a creative tool.
Of course, filmmakers always have a choice of format, but there was a time when there really was no practical or creative sense in straying off the beaten path.
But these days, opting for a less traditional aspect ratio isn’t surprising at all. It quickly became the rule rather than the exception.
This trend is clearly influenced by the way content is consumed today on mobile devices.
The trend towards non-standardized aspect ratios is directly related to the rise of the iPhone and social media.
People have become accustomed to viewing content in different formats on different devices. Vertical video once looked harsh, but is now as common as 16:9 TVs.
Advances in camera technology have led to new standards (such as RED’s use of a 2.00:1 aspect ratio) that give creatives more choices than ever before.
From where I stand, I don’t think we will go back.
Aspect ratios were standardized over the last century mainly because they had to be used for technical and exhibition purposes. Today, it’s equally easy to capture and deliver in any format, and audiences seem willing to use different aspect ratios as creative tools.
The cat is out of the bag and not going back in.
Will older aspect ratios such as 1.66:1 replace 2.39:1? Very unlikely. But 2.39:1 is unlikely to regain the monopoly it once held. From a filmmaker’s perspective, this is a great thing.
We now have a broader range of tools to help take our stories to the next level. It’s only a small part of the visual process, but it’s an important part that has a significant impact on the viewer’s experience.
This opens up a whole new set of creative possibilities, and it’s exciting to see so many filmmakers taking advantage of this extra layer of expression.
If you want to choose the right aspect ratio for your next movie, I have a full article on the subject here.
For more exclusive articles like this every Sunday, sign up for my newsletter here .
