Why do so-called "widescreens" display widescreen movies with black bars on the top and bottom?

Supposedly the entire purpose of a widescreen display -- be it a TV set, computer monitor or PlayStation Portable -- is to eliminate the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. But in every experience I've had with one of these "widescreens," the offending "black bars" are still apparent as ever, just as though I was watching a standard 4:3 television. Can somebody explain this paradox?

Answer:
It is because the movie has a wider aspect ratio than the TV. Widescreen have an aspect ratio of 16x9 - 16 units wide, by 9 high. Not all movies are shot in that ratio, however. Many are even wider. In order to show the entire movie picture in its entire width, you end up with black at the top and bottom because the movie isn't that high, compared to its width.

If you know that a movie is 16x9 and still see bars, you may need to adjust the Zoom feature on your TV.
Change the view setting on your TV and it will go away. You can use 16x9 or our TV has a setting called "Cinerama" that works well.
Is the movie your watching actually done in wide screen format ?
there is a difference . If not you will get bars to compensate for the format . Most dvd's give you an option of either setting and it could also be as simple as the set up menu on the TV self .. with out seeing it I cant say any more but I do know what you're referring to
Its the same with audio receivers , only those movies that have the proper encryption can be heard in lets say Dolby digital ...
welcome to the new age of technology
Although movies are most often made in a 2.78:1 ratio the ASTC decided that because of the change over from 4:3 to a wider display consumers would balk at a gradual roll out unless the ratio was 2.34:1 the difference is .44 of an inch for every inch diagonally of your current set. The Man messed it up again go figure!

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