Does Refresh Rate Matter for Watching Movies?
In short – yes, refresh rate does impact your movie watching experience. But you‘ll see diminishing returns after 60Hz. While 120Hz offers minor improvements in motion clarity, it‘s not imperative for enjoying movies.
Understanding Refresh Rate and Frame Rate
A TV‘s refresh rate indicates how many times per second the image refresh or updates. This is measured in Hz (hertz). Standard refresh rates are:
- 60Hz
- 120Hz
- 144Hz
- 240Hz
Movies have a frame rate – the number of still images displayed per second to create the illusion of motion. Film-based movies have used 24fps since the late 1920s when sound was introduced.
This slower frame rate provides a distinct cinematic look, while reducing film costs. Our eyes perceive 24 discrete images per second as fluid, continuous movement due to persistence of vision.
Do You Need 120Hz for Cinematic Movies?
A 60Hz refresh rate is adequate for watching movies at 24fps. With 3:2 pulldown, each frame can display consistently on a 60Hz TV. Some minor stuttering may occur during slow panning shots.
A 120Hz refresh rate can display each 24fps movie frame 5 times over. This eliminates 3:2 pulldown and provides slightly smoother motion. But according to Consumer Reports, the benefits are "seen mostly in sports and gaming."
In fact, motion appears too smooth to some viewers on 120Hz and above. It detracts from the cinematic 24fps "film look" we expect when watching movies. Tests by CNET found no visible improvement for movies and TV shows at 120Hz.
When Higher Frame Rates Can Look Worse
Some modern films use higher frame rates like 48fps or 60fps. Movie purists argue this makes the video look like a soap opera instead of a film. The ultra smoothness provides too much realism that detracts from the viewing experience.
When watching 60fps video on a 60Hz display, motion interpolation features like motion smoothing will attempt to boost the rate to 120Hz or beyond. This results in an effect nicknamed the "soap opera effect" which makes movies appear unexpectedly smooth and hyper-real.
Why Movies Stick to 24fps
In the early days of cinema, frame rates ranged from 16-24fps. Slower speeds saved expensive film stock, while still capturing continuous motion due to the persistence of vision.
24fps became the standard when sound films emerged since it synchronized best with audio tracks. Our eyes evolved perceiving 24fps as "real-world" motion due to decades of watching films at this speed.
Despite newer display tech supporting higher frame rates, 24fps endures as the cinematic standard today. Few live-action movies deviate from it due to viewer expectations and the filmic look associated with 24fps.
When Refresh Rate Matters More
While 60Hz provides a smooth movie watching experience, higher refresh rates become beneficial for gaming, sports, and streaming TV:
- Gaming – 120Hz or 144Hz results in more responsive gameplay by reducing input lag and screen tearing.
- Sports – Fast action sees improvements to motion clarity from 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rates.
- Streaming TV – Matching refresh rate to 30fps or 60fps frame rate eliminates judder.
Esports gamers will notice the biggest improvements from 144Hz or 240Hz displays. For console gaming, 120Hz is ideal and enables 120fps gaming on latest generation consoles.
| Media Type | Ideal Refresh Rate |
|---|---|
| Movies (24fps) | 60Hz |
| TV Shows (30fps or 60fps) | 60Hz or 120Hz |
| Sports and Action | 120Hz or higher |
| Console Gaming | 120Hz |
| PC Esports Gaming | 144Hz, 240Hz |
Matching Refresh and Frame Rate Eliminates Judder
For smooth video playback, your TV‘s refresh rate should match the frame rate of the content. When rates are mismatched, you may see judder – a slight visible stutter.
Movies at 24fps can judder if displayed on 120Hz displays. That‘s why many smart TVs now offer Auto Refresh Rate. By switching refresh rates to match the frame rate, judder is eliminated.
Other Factors Like Display Type
While refresh rate matters, the display panel technology itself also affects motion clarity. OLED TVs tend to have less motion blur thanks to their faster pixel response times. LCD/LED TVs require higher refresh rates to achieve the same smoothness.
An OLED at 60Hz may provide similar motion clarity to an LCD at 120Hz when watching movies. Keep display type in mind when choosing a television.
Do You Need More Than 60Hz for Movies?
In summary, while 120Hz and higher refresh rates do improve video smoothness and motion clarity, the gains diminish quickly after 60Hz for movie watching purposes.
Since 24fps is the cinematic standard, a 60Hz refresh rate provides solid performance for films. 120Hz offers minor enhancements for fast action movies, but risks making video appear overly smooth and unrealistic.
For gaming and sports, it makes sense to step up to higher refresh rates. But when curling up to your favorite movie marathon, even film connoisseurs would be hard pressed to notice the difference above 60Hz.