Back to Square: Resurgence of 4:3
By Eliam Carrion
Perhaps, you have noticed a change or resurgence in a style choice when it comes to films and video creation. But it is not all about vintage film emulations, black and white, or even storytelling. One of the most significant stylistic choices in the media industry is actually the way that the frame is shaped.
Recently, many filmmakers and creators have embraced the 4:3 aspect ratio, in practical terms, it is a slightly taller square. The image that it provides leaves more headroom but crops on the sides. This originated when early film cameras were limited to this aspect ratio, notably used during the “Silent Era” of film. To maintain compatibility, early televisions adopted the 4:3 aspect ratio, that best showcased motion pictures shot in film reels.
This ratio dominated media for around 50 years before a format known as Cinerama emerged. This technique used three synchronized projectors set up to project a wide, curved image that immersed theater audiences. This led to Hollywood productions utilizing a widescreen aspect ratio to differentiate themselves from standard television broadcasts.
Audiences were captivated by the immersive experience of widescreen cinema, which offered a stark contrast to television. Wider aspect ratios became the standard in filmmaking. Although news and broadcasts still used the 4:3 ratio, this was due to both broadcasting regulations and the fact that media was watched primarily on home televisions. However, with the rise of digital screens in the 21st century, the industry shifted to the 16:9 aspect ratio, the same format used by modern phones, laptops and televisions.
The shapes of different formats can drastically define the aesthetics in film and media. Several films have embraced the 4:3 aspect ratio, including: “The Whale” (2022), “A Ghost Story” (2017), “Mid90s” (2018), “The Lighthouse” (2019), “Ida” (2013) and the most influential of all, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014) by Wes Anderson. It has also become a trend in music videos by Kendrick Lamar, Joji, Beabadoobee and Tyler, The Creator.
Shooting in 4:3 is not merely a technical constraint but a deliberate artistic choice. It leaves a distinct grid that separates quadrants, which defines how subjects are framed in different shots, challenging filmmakers to creatively frame their shots with this less common grid.
However, let us end with a note detailing how this specific shape is not chosen just to be original or perhaps to be a creative outlier. Audiences crave having elements of nostalgia that can invoke emotions based on memories. The resurgence of the 4:3 aspect ratio comes at just the right time when there are many audiences that can remember a time where televisions were squares and how some old popular motion pictures were in 4:3. So if you can, the next time you take a photo or video, try doing it in 4:3.