The 2:1 Aspect Ratio Examples

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In more and more prestige TV series, an odd aspect ratio is popping up on some of the most popular and well-reviewed shows.

The 2.00:1 aspect ratio has stealthily wormed its way into our viewing experiences without any of us knowing it.

Here’s how and why it was created.

Technically, the first use of the 2.00:1 aspect ratio was the 65mm Fox Grandeur version of THE BIG TRAIL (1930). The next was the RKO SUPERSCOPE format for the 1954 production of VERA CRUZ.

 

Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster in VERA CRUZ (1954)

Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster in VERA CRUZ (1954)

In 1998, DP Vittorio Storaro proposed UNIVISIUM as a new film format with an aspect ratio of 2 to 1. He felt that the rise of electronic screens (TV, computer, portable…) needed a new format that could enhance and future-proof the visuals across all viewing platforms and situations. Vittorio has shot his last 10 feature films in the 2:1 ratio including his latest film Cafe Society for Woody Allen. Vittorio has even reframed several of his most famous films (Apocalypse Now, Reds, The Last Emperor) and released them in new DVD and Blu Ray editions.

 

Vittorio Storaro 2:1 Aspect Ratio

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In 2013 the 2.00:1 ratio also known as the 2:1 or even 18:9 aspect ratio became a very common format on TV.

It falls right in-between the common 16:9 and classic widescreen aspect ratio.

 

Various Aspect Ratios

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Here’s the recent chronological history of 8 popular TV shows that use this aspect ratio:

 

House of Cards (2013)

House of Cards

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Marco Polo (2014)

Marco Polo

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Transparent (2014)

Transparent aspect ratio

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The Crown (2016)

The Crown

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Stranger Things (2016)

Stranger Things

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A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)

A Series of Unfortunate Events

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Fargo (Season 3 – 2017)

Fargo Season 3

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The Handmaid’s Tale (2017)

The Handmaid's Tale

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Ozark (2017)

Ozark

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NARCOS: MEXICO (2018)

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There has been a resurgence of the 2:1 aspect ratio in the feature film world as well.

It turns out that this aspect ratio is a logical middle ground between the 2.35 and 1.78 ratios.

Even the new Samsung S8 and the LG G6 smartphones have embraced the 2:1 aspect ratio in the consumer device market.

 

2:1 Aspect Ratios shown on phones

pictures courtesy of THE VERGE and SAMSUNG

 

 

Some of the most recent feature films also utilize this aspect ratio including:

JURASSIC WORLD
CAFE SOCIETY
THE GIRL WITH THE ALL THE GIFTS
20TH CENTURY WOMEN
THE BOOK OF HENRY

In one of my most popular posts…I documented every aspect ratio in the history of film.

With so many options for the framing of TV and feature films and no industry standard anymore…the visual parameters belongs to the content creator and we can choose our own frame.

I will be adding a video to this page to dig deeper into the history of the 2:1 aspect ratio so check back soon…

 

Until next time…

vashivisuals.com

@vashikoo