auteur theory

noun

The view of film as an art form with an original and personal stylistic vision, especially in contrast to collective authorship in the studio system.

First used 1960s
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Meanings

nounauteur theory (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebroadcastingThe view of film as an art form with an original and personal stylistic vision, especially in contrast to collective authorship in the studio system.First known use 1960s

    At this point, it is necessary to say something about the auteur theory since this has often been seen as a way of introducing the idea of the creative personality into the Hollywood cinema.

    2019, Peter Wollen, Signs and Meaning in the Cinema, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN
    1 more example

    The intense degree of controversy that surrounds a discussion of the auteur theory as formulated by Truffaut and that has affected every level of “movie talk” from cocktail party gatherings to doctoral reviews can be partly assuaged in considering Bazin's role in the evolution of the politique des auteurs.

    1986, Aaron Sultanik, Film, a Modern Art, Associated University Presses, →ISBN, page 83

Origin

Popularized by American film critic Andrew Sarris (1928–2012).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

auteur theory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/auteur%20theory

MLA

“auteur theory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/auteur%20theory. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “auteur theory,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/auteur%20theory.

Source: auteur theory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.