TV movie
Small-screen premiere
A TV movie is a feature-length film produced specifically for television broadcast rather than theatrical release.
TV movies typically have lower budgets and shorter production schedules than theatrical films: The network aired a TV movie about the kidnapping.
The format peaked in the 1970s–90s but has largely been replaced by streaming originals and limited series.
Theatrical art or turmoil
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- romanceLove and its excitement
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
comedy · western · disaster · holiday · Christmas · Hallmark · biographical · historical
First public performance
- airtimeScheduled transmission period
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- networkInterconnected system
- channelPassage for transmission
cable · satellite · streaming · schedule · listing · ratings · viewership · Nielsen
Storyline or land parcel
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- protagonistStory's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
conflict · drama · climax · resolution · twist · backstory · adaptation · docudrama
Distant or controller
- DVRTelevision recording device
- recordingCaptured audio or video
- bingeBout of excess
- couchUpholstered seating furniture
living-room · intermission · streaming · on-demand · replay · pause · fast-forward
One who leads
- producerOne who makes things
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
- scriptWritten words for performance
teleplay · shooting · location · soundstage · editing · post-production · budget · made-for-TV
drama
Theatrical art or turmoil
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
- romanceLove and its excitement
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
horror · comedy · western · disaster · holiday · Christmas · Hallmark · biographical · historical · crime
premiere
First public performance
- airtimeScheduled transmission period
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- networkInterconnected system
channel · cable · satellite · streaming · schedule · listing · ratings · viewership · Nielsen · timeslot
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- protagonistStory's central figure
antagonist · conflict · drama · climax · resolution · twist · backstory · adaptation · docudrama · biopic
remote
Distant or controller
couch · living-room · intermission · streaming · on-demand · replay · pause · fast-forward
director
One who leads
- producerOne who makes things
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
script · teleplay · shooting · location · soundstage · editing · post-production · budget · made-for-TV · miniseries
- TV moviestelefilms, made-for-TV, telefilm, mini-series, TV specials
- televisionTV, broadcast, TV shows, TV series, networks
- dramaTV drama, acting, drama school, playwright, character study
- TV dramaepisode, series, season, TV drama, drama series
- productionsfilm, show, TV show, series, documentary
- low-budget filmslow budget, made-for-TV, mockbuster, bargain bin
TV movietheatrical release
Film shown in theaters
theatrical film · cinema release · feature film · motion picture · wide release