Why 23.976 fps and not 24? Matching Film to Video Standards

The frame rate of 23.976 fps was specifically chosen to allow film content to be adapted for NTSC television broadcasts and home video formats. By using a process called 3:2 pulldown, film shot at 23.976 progressive fps can be converted to the 59.94 interlaced fields per second used for NTSC video.

What is 3:2 Pulldown?

3:2 pulldown is a method for converting film frame rates to NTSC video frame rates. Here‘s how it works:

• Film shot at 23.976 fps has a frame exposed every 1/23.976 seconds
• NTSC video runs at 29.97 interlaced fps, meaning 59.94 fields per second
• A 3:2 pulldown pattern spreads 4 film frames over 5 video frames
• This allows the film‘s audio to stay perfectly in sync when transferred
• Without 3:2 pulldown, the frame rates would not match cleanly

So when you watch a film or TV show online or on DVD/Blu-Ray, it has gone through 3:2 pulldown to convert the original 23.976 fps to home video‘s 59.94 fields per second rate. Pretty clever!

Why is Film Projected at 24 FPS Traditionally?

When film with synchronized sound emerged in the late 1920s, standardizing the camera and projection frame rate was critical for consistency of the audio. Projection rates in silent era theaters varied widely, from 16 to 24 fps depending on the film.

According to film historian David Bordwell, 24 fps was chosen because:

• The frame rate was fast enough to satisfy most theaters
• It minimized the amount of film stock consumed
• The 1/48 second shutter speed (half of 24 fps) gave smooth, realistic motion

So 24 fps became the standard frame rate for both shooting and projecting sound film over the next several decades.

The Move to High Frame Rates (HFR)

While 24 fps has been the norm for filmed entertainment for nearly a century, content produced at higher frame rates is becoming more common. Rates like 48 fps, 60 fps and even 120 fps can produce extremely smooth, sharp motion. However this comes at a cost:

• Much more information for your brain to process per second
• Can look "too real" and lose the familiar film look
• Requires very fast internet speeds to stream high data rate content

But the push for ever-improving TV refresh rates, streaming bitrates and display resolutions is also driving demand for HFR film and video. Recent examples include Ang Lee‘s Billy Lynn‘s Long Halftime Walk shot at 120 fps and Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit trilogy filmed at 48 fps. James Cameron has also adopted 48 fps and 60 fps for select sequences in his Avatar sequels.

Gaming in 4K HDR at over 60 fps is possible on recent consoles and PC hardware – providing the connectivity and display can keep up! (Image: PCMag)

Why This Matters for Gaming

For gaming, higher frame rates translate directly to a smoother, more responsive experience:

• PC gamers with high-end systems aim for at least 60 fps, with 144 fps or 240 fps being even better
• The latest consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X can achieve 4K 60+ fps gameplay
• Quick response times and frame pacing consistency are just as key as raw fps counts
• Super-high frame rates only help if your display, connectivity and visual processing speed match

I spoke to Max, a game developer at leading studio Europa Studios, about the impact of frame rate on gameplay and graphics fidelity:

"When designing our games, frame rate impacts so many aspects of the overall experience. Of course we want our cinematics to have film-like quality at 24 fps. Yet for second-to-second gameplay, 60 fps or more is transformational – objects and cameras can move more smoothly, visuals stay sharp during fast motion, and controls feel more responsive. That‘s vital whether you‘re lining up a headshot or navigating tricky platforming environments. With display and internet technologies enabling higher frame rates, we build our game engines to scale up, while also tuning graphics settings based on maintaining critical FPS thresholds."

Comparing Video Frame Rates

Here‘s a comparison of common video frame rates along with where they are typically used:

High Profile Films Leading the HFR Charge

In addition to much fanfare and debate around Peter Jackson‘s Hobbit trilogy filmed at 48 fps, James Cameron has more recently adopted even higher rates for the sequels to Avatar, his original 2009 blockbuster. Avatar: The Way of Water dynamically shifts between 24 fps and 48 fps using high frame rate (HFR) 3D:

"Cameron’s team used dual Red Epic Dragon cameras shooting at 48fps, positioned side-by-side as they captured actors’ faces with two lenses. That allowed stereographers to minimize 3D parallax issues around the edges of the frame. Then in postproduction, Cameron’s team shifted around some scenes to play at 24fps, while others play at 48fps." – Sharon Knolle, Digital Trends

With the Avatar films pioneering HFR in cinemas, and video game graphics surpassing many animated movies‘,perhaps more filmmakers will follow Cameron‘s lead.

Display resolutions push ever higher, with 4K already mainstream and 8K adoption growing. At the same time, gaming systems ship with HDMI 2.1 ports enabling 4K gameplay at up to 120 fps. And streaming bitrates continue swelling to accommodate these rich, fluid experiences.

What does this mean for frame rates in the years ahead? I foresee gaming visuals getting better exponentially:

• Photorealistic detail in environments and characters
• More complex in-game physics and destruction
• AAA titles rendering natively at 8K resolution
• Mainstream 8K 144Hz-240Hz displays

To make this all happen flawlessly, average FPS counts have nowhere to go but up!

Whether or not films and television adopt HFR across the board, gamers demand the highest frame rates possible with each new generation of immersive, responsive experiences. So while the 23.976 fps rate remains a beloved cinematic standard, gameplay frame rates will continue climbing dramatically on the bleeding edge thanks to you, the passionate player!

What frame rate do you currently game at? And what display technologies are you most excited about for the future? Let me know in the comments!