These thoughtful video essays will make you appreciate your favorite movies in new ways.

Kicking back and passively enjoying a movie is like listening to smooth jazz on Sunday morning—it’s just there to make you smile. But really, truly appreciating a movie takes a more active approach, and it’s easier to do so when you can step into the mind of the creatives who made it come to life on the silver screen. So to help everyone better understand the tactics of filmmaking and the theories behind it, we’ve compiled a list of YouTube channels that highlight the more conceptual side of filmmaking. Video essays that draw interesting comparisons, revealing behind the scenes footage from classic films and more—it’s all here for you to explore. 

Kaptain Kristian

Visual love letters to film, animation and music videos—that’s what you’ll find here on the Kaptain Kristian channel. “How Studio Ghibli Makes Animation Feel Alive,” “The Invisible Horror of The Shining,” and “Star Wars - Designing A Universe of Sound” are just a few of the video essays narrated by the host, each with a unique thesis that’ll have you re-watching (and newly appreciating) some of your favorite movies. 

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Every Frame A Painting

Video essays about “film form” means getting inside the minds of directors, editors and producers. How and why was a film shot this way? Those are the kinds of questions you’ll find answered on this well-known content hub. Keep an eye out for one video in particular—”How Does and Editor Think and Feel?”—to go deeper into the post production process. 

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Now You See It

Now You See It is a “media analysis channel that searches for meaning in unexpected places,” such as our favorite movies, television shows and music videos. Here, you’ll find compelling essays about timeless cinematic techniques, ruminations on the history of black-and-white film and more fascinating topics that blend art, media, filmmaking and editing philosophies. 

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Cooke Optics

Cooke Optics is one of the industry’s leading premium lens-makers—we’re talkin’ glass that costs as much as your car. So not surprisingly, its YouTube channel is chock-full of masterclasses on real-life shooting and lighting scenarios as well as case studies on the most captivating effects used by popular film and television shows. Especially interesting are the series of cinematographer features that showcase the knowledge and experience of the industry’s most talented gaffers and lighting operators. 

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Lessons From the Screenplay

Taking cues from some of the most well-loved movies in cinema history—including Casino Royale, The Shining, No Country For Old Men, Parasite, Inglorious Basterds and others—Lessons From the Screenplay decodes the bigger themes of these movies through their scripts. What can be learned from watching a scene while simultaneously reading its screenplay? Well, that’s for you to find out when you explore this channel… 

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Wolfcrow

Wolfcrow is a guide to appreciating film that uses video essays to tell deeper stories about the movie industry both past and present. Whether you’re curious about which cameras and lenses have been used by great filmmakers or just looking to relax and learn more about current trends in post production, this channel will leave you thinking about movies in a completely new way. 

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In Depth Cine

In Depth Cine leans on individual people and movies to prove a point or explain a particular filming style. Check out the prepackaged playlists that range from crew and cinematography breakdowns, to filmmaking basics and general concepts about movie-making; and don’t miss the “Three Budgets” series that examines how directors have progressed through their careers and successfully shot three different movies with three completely different budgets. 

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Alter Cine

Studying the processes of the best in the industry—that’s the root of the Alter Cine channel, which is dedicated to educating professional and enthusiast videographers, alike, on how to be a better director, cinematographer and editor. Take a closer look at movies like Christopher Nolan’s TENET or listen to a conversation with a famous Hollywood DP—whatever you choose, you’re sure to leave the channel knowing more than when you arrived.

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The Cinema Cartography

The Cinema Cartography is all about bringing unknown or underrepresented filmmakers and styles into the spotlight. With videos like “The Greatest Directors You Don’t Know” and “The Animation that Changed Cinema,” you’ll be sure to uncover something completely new here. Grab some popcorn and dive into one of the most creative, quirky channels on YouTube documenting film theory and the art of cinema.

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The Solomon Society

The Solomon Society is a channel certain to intrigue your inner movie buff. Most notably, you’ll find a stunning short-form series featured here, called “The Most Beautiful Shots in Movie History,” which documents a variety of the most compelling visual sequences in cinema. 

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Thomas Flight

Thomas Flight notes that he’s created his YouTube channel to “reveal the artistry behind the things we watch” and we’re grateful for it. Extracting themes big and small from movies old and new, the videos featured here will guide you to appreciating filmmaking and the final cut. Here, it’s all about diving deeper than what you can see on the surface—so what will you uncover?  

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Corridor

The Corridor channel is purely, strictly entertainment, so grab a snack and kick your feet back to enjoy these ridiculous videos based around the cinema zeitgeist. Silliness runs rampant here with videos like “Rated R-Wonky Willy” (a spoof of the classic Roald Dahl story) or “Stormtrooopers, but they’re accurate” (an alternate reality take for Star Wars’ most ill-aimed soldiers)—but you get the picture. Just click the video, explore more and have a laugh already. 

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Mr.Nobody

We’re not sure the identity behind Mr.Nobody, but we are certain that this YouTube channel is one of the best for examining cinematic masterpieces in thought-provoking detail. Peek behind the lens of films like Dunkirk, Watchmen, Memento and The Social Network and gain a new appreciation for the artistry and effort that went into capturing each of these captivating movies. 

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Cinevizual

Have you ever wondered how they filmed the Indiana Jones franchise or have you been curious about which deleted scenes that never made the final cut in other classic films? Here on Cinevizual take a look behind the scenes, exploring full-length director’s commentary, DVD-only features, blooper reels, screen tests of the actor’s auditions and the list goes on… and on…

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FameFocus

Fame Focus brings movie magic into focus with video content that peels back the curtain to reveal the secrets behind some of Hollywood’s most stunning visual effects, optical illusions and editing bay trickeries. Horror movies aren’t as terrifying when you know how each (supposedly) shocking scare tactic was created in post. And it’s just plain cool to know how they create the visual illusions that help us get lost in movies—what would Avatar be without them?