A supercut is a compilation of a large number of (short) film clips, focussing on a common characteristic these clips have. That commonality can be anything: a formal or stylistic aspect, a shared theme or subject matter…

Often the supercut is used to expose clichéd elements in either movies or TV shows. These supercuts highlight how certain dialogue lines or actions have become hackneyed through overuse. We’d tell you more, but there is no time to explain.

Supercuts are a staple of fandom, but they can also be used as a form of audiovisual critique: to reveal cinematic tropes, to trace thematic or stylistic constants in a filmmaker’s work and so on.

Take a look at some examples of supercuts from our best practices section.