Britannica Sources used in this answer

What are the major modes of film besides fictional movies?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Director Sir David Lean sits atop a ladder beside a film camera, surrounded by crew and equipment on the set of Doctor Zhivago (1965) under a blue sky. — film David Lean (sitting atop a ladder) during the filming of *Doctor Zhivago* (1965).

In the context of film as an art and medium, motion pictures are generally categorized into three primary modes based on their social functions and approaches to the medium. Beyond the fictional mode—which is most commonly associated with traditional storytelling—the other major modes are:1

Documentary: This mode relies primarily on the power of cinema to record and interpret factual events, people, or environments in the real world. Documentaries serve various purposes, including education, entertainment, and propaganda.12
Experimental: This mode encompasses a wide variety of approaches that test and explore the technological limits and creative capabilities of the film medium. It often involves innovative techniques that deviate from conventional narrative structures.1

Additionally, animated films are often recognized as a distinct category or approach within these modes, utilizing frame-by-frame construction—whether through drawings, computer-generated imagery, or stop-motion—to create movement.134