Conversations / Movies

ESL discussion questionsA1–A220 questions · 2 parts

Movies Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes

Use these 20 discussion questions about Movies to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). Each part opens with a vocabulary warm-up, every question is labelled with the thinking skill it practises, and each part fills roughly thirty minutes of class time on its own.

Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 14 Aug 2026

Part 1

Movies, Genres, and Favorite Stories

Focus: talking about movie preferences, actors, stories, watching habits, and simple reasons for opinions

Vocabulary warm-upThe Movies Word Challenge

In one minute, think of two movie types, two actions actors do, two people connected to movies, and one feeling a movie can create.

  1. PREFERENCE

    What kind of movies do you enjoy most, and why? Sentence starter: I enjoy ... because ...

  2. ROUTINE

    When and where do you usually watch movies? Sentence starter: I usually watch movies ...

  3. EXPERIENCE

    Tell me about a movie you watched recently. Sentence starter: I recently watched ...

  4. DESCRIBE

    What was the main character in that movie like? Sentence starter: The main character was ...

  5. COMPARE

    Do you prefer movies with simple stories or complicated stories? Sentence starter: I prefer ... because ...

  6. PEOPLE

    Is there an actor you enjoy watching? What do you like about them? Sentence starter: I like ... because ...

  7. FEELING

    What kind of movie can change your mood? Sentence starter: ... movies make me feel ...

  8. PROBLEM

    What do you do when you cannot understand part of a movie in English? Sentence starter: I usually ...

  9. ADVISE

    What movie would you recommend to a friend? Sentence starter: I would recommend ...

  10. PLAN

    What movie or type of movie would you like to watch next? Sentence starter: I would like to watch ...

Part 2

Cinema, Streaming, and Movie Nights

Focus: talking about cinemas, streaming, watching with others, simple comparisons, movie nights, and recommendations

Vocabulary warm-upMovies Vocabulary Trio

Think of one thing people use to watch movies, one movie action, and one place connected to watching films.

Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.

  1. EXPERIENCE

    When was the last time you went to a cinema? Sentence starter: The last time was ...

  2. PREFERENCE

    Do you prefer watching movies at home or in a cinema? Tell me one reason. Sentence starter: I prefer ... because ...

  3. PEOPLE

    Who is the best person to watch a movie with? Sentence starter: I like watching movies with ...

  4. FOOD

    What food or drink makes a movie night better? Sentence starter: ... makes a movie night better.

  5. COMPARE

    Is it better to watch one movie or several episodes of a series? Sentence starter: I prefer ... because ...

  6. ROUTINE

    How do you choose a movie when there are many choices? Sentence starter: I usually choose by ...

  7. PROBLEM

    What can you do if two people want to watch different movies? Sentence starter: We can ...

  8. PLAN

    How would you plan a simple movie night with friends? Sentence starter: I would ...

  9. ADVISE

    What makes a movie easy for an English learner to understand? Sentence starter: A movie is easier when ...

  10. PLAN

    What kind of movie would you like to see at the cinema soon? Sentence starter: I would like to see ...

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