eli5: What are “acts” in a movie/film and how are people able to figure out where they start/end? Are there always three acts? More? Less? Please explain.

Question

eli5: What are “acts” in a movie/film and how are people able to figure out where they start/end? Are there always three acts? More? Less? Please explain.

In: Other

Answer 1

Act 1: setup
Act 2: confrontation
Act 3: resolution

It’s a common structure because it’s efficient story telling.