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Framing

Wide Shots in Film

A wide shot keeps the full subject visible with substantial environment around them, making the location a character in the scene. It is the workhorse of blocking-driven direction — relationships read through distance and position rather than cutting. Directors like Villeneuve and Kurosawa stage entire emotional beats inside a single wide.

Wide Shots: examples from real films

One frame per film — thousands more are searchable with a free account.

wide shots example from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: A dark stone hall filled with students sitting on benches watching a large chalice. An el
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
wide shots example from Dersu Uzala: A man swims through a shallow, fast-moving rocky river channel. The subject carries a dark, possibly wooden, obje
Dersu Uzala (1975)
wide shots example from Beautiful Boy: A dark, rustic living room featuring a stone fireplace and large panoramic windows at night. A man stands in th
Beautiful Boy (2011)
wide shots example from The Nightmare Before Christmas: A narrow alleyway sits between a multi-story brick building and a smaller structure with a slo
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
wide shots example from Flight of the Conchords: Live in London: A dark, multi-level concert hall is filled with a large seated audience. A man in a b
Flight of the Conchords: Live in London (2018)
wide shots example from Let The Sunshine In: A stone train platform at La Souterraine station has a green roof and benches. Railway tracks run paralle
Let The Sunshine In (2017)
wide shots example from 3 Ninjas: A limousine is parked on a wet dock at night beside a large ship hull. The vehicle headlights illuminate the foregro
3 Ninjas (1992)
wide shots example from We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest: An urban intersection in Oakland features the historic Fox Thea
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest (2020)
wide shots example from Ginger & Rosa: A wooden bus shelter stands on a pebbled beach during the blue hour twilight. One person sits on a bench readin
Ginger & Rosa (2012)
wide shots example from The Hollow Child: A dense, mist-filled woodland path winds between dark tree trunks in a forest setting. The path remains empt
The Hollow Child (2018)
wide shots example from Octopussy: A twin-engine airplane flies over a barren desert landscape during a clear day. A man in a dark suit clings to the
Octopussy (1983)
wide shots example from Random Acts of Violence: A pile of comic books titled Slasherman covers a dark wooden coffee table. The surrounding room is di
Random Acts of Violence (2019)
wide shots example from First Blood: A rustic wood-walled retail store contains various sporting goods, shelves, and a wooden bear. A man charges thro
First Blood (1982)
wide shots example from Vulcanizadora: A dense woodland environment with lush green foliage and numerous vertical tree trunks. A man wearing a hat sta
Vulcanizadora (2024)
wide shots example from Bludgeon: A crowd of people in medieval-style armor stands behind a wooden barrier outdoors. Numerous national flags are held
Bludgeon (2018)
wide shots example from A Prairie Home Companion: A narrow exterior concrete stairwell is framed by dark, rough-textured brick walls. A single woman s
A Prairie Home Companion
wide shots example from Red Rocket: A man walks away down a dirt road bordered by utility poles and trash bins. An industrial plant with a visible fla
Red Rocket (2021)
wide shots example from Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds: A vast, empty sandy plain stretches toward a distant, massive army standing on the horizo
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)
wide shots example from The Red Balloon: A quiet urban sidewalk features a weathered building with a wooden fence section. A young child in grey cloth
The Red Balloon (1956)
wide shots example from Gangs of Lagos: A cluttered shipping port sits alongside a polluted river bank with stacks of containers. A man in orange pant
Gangs of Lagos (2023)
wide shots example from Warcraft: Massive jagged rock cliffs tower upward against a backdrop of thick, turbulent storm clouds. The sheer scale of the
Warcraft (2016)
wide shots example from Taking Back the Waves: A surfboard workshop contains numerous surfboards stored vertically against the back wall. Two men stan
Taking Back the Waves (2017)
wide shots example from Flaming Star: A rustic stone cabin interior with a large central fireplace and sparse wood furniture. Four people stand or sit
Flaming Star (1960)
wide shots example from The Witch of Kings Cross: A stone masonry building with columns stands behind a row of mid-century automobiles. People stand n
The Witch of Kings Cross (2020)

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Films known for wide shots

More framing techniques