Top 10 English Movies for IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL Preparation

Watching movies helps improve your listening and vocabulary skills, especially when preparing for your IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL test.

Although no specific movies are created for test preparation, PTE Magic compiles the top 10 English movies for IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL preparation, graded from easy to hard.

It’s time to level up your English with these movies!

Key Takeaways

• Watching movies is a practical and exciting way to learn English.
• Applying tips while watching movies helps you absorb English faster.
• Below, PTE Magic introduces the top 10 English movies from easy to hard for language learners.

Related:

• Pass the test easily with our proven PTE courses
• PTE exam preparation tips & tricks

Why Should We Practice English Through Movies?

English movies bring various benefits to language learners. Watching English movies regularly will help you:

• Enhance your listening skills: You will encounter different English-speaking accents and speech patterns. This will help you become familiar with native English speakers, thus improving your listening skills.
• Expand your vocabulary: Different movie genres include specific vocabulary. For example, a movie about space and astronomy contains related terms. This is a great study resource for your reading and writing sections in IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL tests.
• Improve your pronunciation: Watching movies helps you pronounce English better and make your speech more fluent. You can copy the actors’/actresses’ speaking styles, which is an excellent way to improve your speaking.
• Raise culture awareness: IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL tests often include questions related to cultural contexts. Watching English movies frequently provides realistic insights, which is helpful for these questions because you understand the context better.

Top 10 Movies for English Improvement

Below, PTE Magic introduces the top 10 English movies from easy to hard for language learners.

Easy Level

1. Harry Potter Series

The Harry Potter series consists of eight fantasy films based on J.K. Rowling’s novels. The films are about the journey of a young wizard named Harry Potter as he tries to defeat his arch-enemy, Lord Voldemort.

The movie series uses simple English. Language learners will explore magical terms and British expressions in this series. You can pick up many common phrases and everyday conversations in the UK, making it an ideal start for your PTE preparation.

2. Toy Story Series

The Toy Story series occurs in a world where toys come to life when humans aren’t around. The story revolves around Woody, a traditional pull-string cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a futuristic space action figure. Through their creative adventures, the series focuses on friendship, loyalty, and self-acceptance.

The Toy Story series uses simple dialogue. The movie’s target audience is children, which is why the language is clear and easy to understand. In this series, you will learn many everyday vocabulary words to enhance your listening skills.

3. Shrek Series

The Shrek series is based on William Steig’s 1990 children’s picture book. The story follows Shrek, an ogre whose swamp is overrun by fairy-tale creatures banished by Lord Farquaad. Shrek learns about friendship and love through his journey to regain his swamp.

Similar to Toy Story, Shrek is a family-friendly series. The language used is clear, with a touch of humour and sarcasm. This series is a good start for English beginners.

Medium Level

4. The Shining

The Shining is a psychological horror film based on Stephen King’s novel. It follows a novelist who becomes the caretaker of a haunted hotel, bringing along his family. As their stay in the hotel begins to take its toll, the caretaker’s mental state changes, leading to a terrifying ending.

The movie was released in 1980, and the dialogue is more old-fashioned but audible. The expressions feature formal English, which could be insightful for your writing sections.

5. The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 biographical drama about a homeless salesman, Chris Gardner. Despite all the challenges, Gardner’s will to improve his son’s life drives him to pursue a competitive internship that could change their future. The unusual spelling of “Happyness” is inspired by graffiti Gardner sees outside his son’s kindergarten.

The English in this movie is primarily simple everyday conversations. However, it also includes business-related terms as Gardner starts his internship.

6. Friends Series

Friends is an American television sitcom consisting of ten seasons. The show follows the lives of six friends in their 20s and 30s living in Manhattan, New York City. The humorous and heartfelt series explores friendship and life experiences among the group.

Friends uses conversational and colloquial English, which is suitable for intermediate learners. You will encounter slang, jokes, and sarcasm, which are helpful for the speaking sections.

7. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama that follows the life of an Alabama man named Forrest Gump. The kind-hearted but limited man influences key events in 20th-century American history while searching for his place in the world.

The main character speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy for learners to follow. However, the movie includes heavy American historical context, which can be challenging for beginners.

Hard Level

8. Apollo 13

Apollo 13 is an American docudrama based on the real-life events of the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, which was aborted due to a spaceship problem.

This movie has many technical terms related to space and science, which require an advanced level of English to understand. Nevertheless, this movie is still a good choice if you want to improve your vocabulary because the dialogue is clear.

9. The Social Network

The Social Network is an American biographical drama about the creation of Facebook. It focuses on the main character, Mark Zuckerberg, and his journey to become the founder of one of the world’s most influential social networking platforms. The movie also illuminates the challenges that occurred along the way to his success.

The Social Network is a difficult English movie for beginners because it features fast and complex technology, law, and business dialogues. However, learners will learn many business terms, especially those related to the start-up field.

10. The King’s Speech

The King’s Speech is a historical drama about the future King George VI, who struggles with speech difficulties. He works with Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist, to overcome his weaknesses. George VI later became king and relies on Logue’s help to make a crucial radio broadcast when Britain declared war on Germany in 1939.

Though the movie is about improving speech, it uses much historical language. Some of the language is specific to royalty, which is old-fashioned and impractical in the modern world. This movie suits language learners who are fond of history and want to learn cultural insights.

Tips to Improve Your English While Watching Movies

Applying tips while watching movies helps you absorb English faster. Below are some tips to try with your favourite movies:

• Watch with English subtitles: Subtitles can show learners all the detailed phrases and lines from the characters. This helps you identify pronunciation and enhance your vocabulary accordingly.
• Read along with the actors/actresses: Read along as the characters speak while watching. Replay each line and practice speaking by mimicking the actors/actresses’ pronunciation.
• Read movie scripts: Movie scripts help you understand the language used in the movie and catch valuable phrases you might miss when watching. Many movie scripts are available online so that you can access them easily.
• Take notes: Prepare a notebook when you watch. Note down every useful phrase and new word you find helpful. This will expand your vocabulary and help you remember the words even after the movie ends.

Final Words

Watching movies is a practical and exciting way to learn English. PTE Magic has compiled the top 10 English movies for IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL preparation. Apply our tips to improve your English faster and perform better on the test. Good luck!

Last updated on 18/09/2024