IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a movie you watched recently

Describe a movie you watched recently

Suggested ideas for each part

• When and where you watched it: 🎬 Last weekend at the cinema / 🍿 At home on Netflix
• Who you watched it with: 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦 With family / 👭 With friends / 🏡 Alone
• What it was about: 🤖 A sci-fi adventure / 🎭 An emotional drama / 🏹 An action-packed thriller
• Why you chose to watch it: ⭐ Highly rated / 🎥 Favorite actor/director / 📖 Based on a book I love

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last Sunday, I went to the cinema to watch a new movie.
2. Past continuous: While I was watching, I felt completely immersed in the story.
3. Present perfect: I have never seen such an inspiring movie before.
4. Comparisons: This movie was far more exciting than I expected.
5. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I hadn’t watched this movie, I would have missed a masterpiece.

Collocations

1. Blockbuster movie 🎥 (bộ phim bom tấn)
2. Captivating storyline 📖 (cốt truyện hấp dẫn)
3. Critically acclaimed 🌟 (được giới phê bình khen ngợi)
4. Breathtaking visuals 🎨 (hình ảnh đẹp ngoạn mục)
5. Unexpected plot twist 🔄 (tình tiết bất ngờ)
6. Emotional rollercoaster 🎭 (cảm xúc thăng trầm)
7. Outstanding performance 🌟 (diễn xuất xuất sắc)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

Last weekend, I watched a blockbuster movie 🎥 called “Interstellar” at home. It’s a sci-fi film directed by Christopher Nolan, and I had been meaning to watch it for ages. Since I finally had some free time, I decided to give it a go.

I watched it alone 🏡 because I wanted to focus on the movie without any distractions. However, I later recommended it to my friends because it was just too good to miss!

The movie is about a group of astronauts who embark on a journey through space to find a new habitable planet for humanity. What made it truly fascinating was its captivating storyline 📖 and deep philosophical themes about time, love, and survival. There were also many unexpected plot twists 🔄 that kept me on the edge of my seat. The film’s breathtaking visuals 🎨 and special effects made the experience even more immersive.

I chose to watch this movie because I had heard that it was critically acclaimed 🌟 and one of the best sci-fi films ever made. Plus, I’m a huge fan of Christopher Nolan’s work, so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. As expected, the outstanding performance 🌟 of the actors, especially Matthew McConaughey, made the story even more powerful.

By the end of the movie, I felt like I had just been on an emotional rollercoaster 🎭. It was thought-provoking, visually stunning, and truly unforgettable. If I hadn’t watched it, I would have missed an incredible cinematic experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or deep, meaningful films.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What kinds of movies do you think are successful in your country?

Ideas

• 🤣 Comedy films (light-hearted and entertaining)
• 🎭 Romantic dramas (emotional and relatable)
• 🏹 Action movies (thrilling and full of special effects)

Collocations

1. Box-office hit 💰 (phim ăn khách tại rạp)
2. Engaging storyline 🎬 (cốt truyện cuốn hút)
3. Relatable characters 👥 (nhân vật dễ đồng cảm)

Sample answer

In Vietnam, box-office hits 💰 are usually comedy films 🤣 and romantic dramas 🎭. Vietnamese audiences love movies that have an engaging storyline 🎬 and relatable characters 👥. Action movies are also quite popular, especially those with stunning visuals and thrilling fight scenes.

2. Do Vietnamese people prefer to watch domestic movies or foreign movies?

Ideas

• 📽️ Many young people prefer Hollywood movies for better production quality
• 🇻🇳 However, local films resonate more with Vietnamese culture
• 🍿 Streaming services make foreign movies more accessible

Collocations

1. High production value 🎥 (giá trị sản xuất cao)
2. Cultural relevance 🎭 (sự gần gũi về văn hóa)
3. Growing popularity 📈 (sự phổ biến ngày càng tăng)

Sample answer

Vietnamese people enjoy both domestic and foreign movies. Hollywood films are preferred because of their high production value 🎥 and advanced special effects. However, local movies are also popular due to their cultural relevance 🎭 and ability to depict familiar lifestyles. Thanks to streaming platforms, the growing popularity 📈 of foreign films is undeniable.

3. Do you think only well-known directors can create the best movies?

Ideas

• 🎥 Famous directors have experience and big budgets
• 🎬 However, many indie films by new directors are highly creative
• 📽️ Success depends on storytelling, not just the director’s fame

Collocations

1. Renowned filmmaker 🎞️ (nhà làm phim nổi tiếng)
2. Cinematic masterpiece 🌟 (kiệt tác điện ảnh)
3. Innovative storytelling 📖 (cách kể chuyện sáng tạo)

Sample answer

Not necessarily! While renowned filmmakers 🎞️ have the resources to create cinematic masterpieces 🌟, many indie directors also produce amazing films. What truly matters is innovative storytelling 📖 and creativity rather than just fame.

4. Why do many movies starring famous actors or actresses fail to achieve good results?

Ideas

• 🤷 Famous actors don’t guarantee a good script
• 🎬 Some movies focus too much on star power instead of storytelling
• 🤦 High expectations can lead to disappointment

Collocations

1. Star-studded cast 🌟 (dàn diễn viên nổi tiếng)
2. Lackluster script 📜 (kịch bản nhạt nhòa)
3. Overhyped movie 📣 (bộ phim bị thổi phồng quá mức)

Sample answer

Sometimes, even with a star-studded cast 🌟, a film can fail due to a lackluster script 📜 or poor direction. Many movies are overhyped 📣, raising expectations too high, which leads to disappointment.

5. Why do people prefer to watch movies in the cinema?

Ideas

• 🍿 Better sound and visuals create an immersive experience
• 🎭 Watching with others makes it more enjoyable
• 🏡 Some movies are best experienced on the big screen

Collocations

1. State-of-the-art sound system 🎵 (hệ thống âm thanh hiện đại)
2. Cinematic experience 🎥 (trải nghiệm điện ảnh)
3. Larger-than-life visuals 🎞️ (hình ảnh hoành tráng)

Sample answer

People love the cinema because of the state-of-the-art sound system 🎵 and larger-than-life visuals 🎞️. Watching a movie in a theater provides a true cinematic experience 🎥 that can’t be replicated at home.