Comingsoon.net is taking a look at some of the most unique aspect ratios across film and television history. Check out our selections in the gallery below!
While it might not be the first thing on the average viewer’s mind when watching a movie, the aspect ratio often plays a huge part in how we perceive the film we’re watching. A 4:3 aspect ratio can instantly establish a cramped or claustrophobic tone if need be, while a 1.375:1 aspect ratio can serve as a throwback to the go-to aspect ratio of Old Hollywood. No matter what, though, they’re a key player in the film’s overall aesthetic.
While most films stick to whatever the standard is for the time, from 1.375:1 between 1932 and 1953 to 1.85:1 from 1960 onward, there are a few movies each year that branch out and get a bit more experimental with things. For example, IMAX’s ratio is 1.43:1, while Panavision’s is 2.39:1. Taking things even further are the movies below, whose aspect ratios literally push the boundaries of what a film can look like.
Aspect ratios
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First Reformed (2017)
Paul Schrader’s exceptional crisis of faith drama from 2017 sees Ethan Hawks give one of the best performances of his career. It also sees a nice use of aspect ratio, with the film being presented in 1.37:1.
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Homecoming (2018- )
Amazon’s psychological thriller Homecoming was met with all kinds of positive reviews upon its release at the end of 2018. Part of what made the show stand out was its unique aspect ratio, which portrays scenes in 2018 in full screen and scenes in 2022 in 1:1.
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How the West Was Won (1962)
Truly an event as well as a feature film, 1962’s How the West Was Won was one of two films to be made for the curved-screen three-projector Cinema process, resulting in an aspect ratio of 2.59:1. The process proved to be incredibly costly, which is why we don’t see this happening today.
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Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Praised as one of the best movies of all time, 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia is based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, a British archaeologist-turned-army officer-turned-diplomat. It was shot in Super Panavision 70, which is presented in 2.20:1, just like Patton.
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Mommy (2014)
Canadian drama film Mommy, directed by Xavier Dolan in 2014, follows the story of a mother and her violent teenage son. It remains one of the only films to be presented in 1:1, which looks like a perfect square on-screen.
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Napoléon (1927)
Released in 1927, the French epic Napoléon was presented in an incredibly wide aspect ratio: 4:1. To this day, no other movie has dared to go that wide.
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Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)
Naturally, in an attempt to come close to the same effect as its predecessor, Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful starts off in black and white and then switches to dazzling full color. As the colors change, so does the aspect ratio: from 4:3 to 2.35:1.
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Patton (1970)
Written by Francis Ford Coppola and released in 1970, Patton follows the life of General George S. Patton during World War II. It was shot in 65 mm Dimension 150, which is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.20:1.
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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson has always tried his best to make his movies as one-of-a-kind as possible. His 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, which switches between 1.37, 1.85, and 2.35:1, utilizes a different aspect ratio for each of the film’s timelines.
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The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz blew audiences away back in 1939—in addition to its beautiful opening act, the moment the film transitions from sepia to full Technicolor is still dazzling to this day. To supplement this transition from muted to colorized, the film switches from 1.37:1 to 1.85:1.
