Streaming platforms are quietly cropping cinematic films — destroying the compositions directors intended. We're here to document it, fight it, and stop it.
Widescreen Advocate is a collective of film enthusiasts dedicated to preserving the artistic integrity of cinema. We built our foundation by leading the grassroots movement that ended the "Pan & Scan" era and established the Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) as the standard for physical media. That fight is not over: streaming platforms and broadcast networks now routinely crop 2.39:1 "Scope" films to fill 16x9 screens, and most viewers never notice.
We provide the context and tools needed to recognize these edits, understand why they matter, and push back against them.
- Explore our What is Widescreen? section to use our interactive visualizer and see how 16x9 cropping compromises the intended composition of cinematic films.
- Visit our OAR Watchdog to view our catalog of films currently affected by cropping on streaming platforms and submit new findings from the wild.
- Use our Action Directory to find the proper channels for sharing your feedback with studios and streaming services regarding aspect ratio integrity.
- Check our News section for the latest updates and industry shifts on the widescreen front.
- Visit our Why Widescreen? section to access our archival materials for historical context and reference.
We've got it all here for you, so use our resources, report crops to the Watchdog, and spread the word that WIDER IS BETTER!
If you are interested in contributing to the cause in any way, please contact us.