Motion smoothing, a feature built into most modern smart televisions, has long been a source of frustration for filmmakers, critics, and cinephiles. Often derided as the “soap opera effect,” this technology alters the intended look of movies and prestige TV shows. A recent guide highlights why this setting is so unpopular for cinematic content and provides viewers with the essential steps to finally disable it.
Understanding Motion Smoothing and Interpolation
Motion smoothing is a process known technically as frame interpolation. It works by generating new frames of image data and inserting them in between the existing frames of the content being displayed. Since modern TVs can display content at a high refresh rate (typically 60 or 120 frames per second), and most films are shot at the cinematic standard of 24 frames per second, the TV creates numerous intermediate frames.
While the intent is to reduce motion blur and make fast-paced action appear “smoother,” the result for film and television often looks unnatural, giving the content a hyper-realistic, overly polished aesthetic reminiscent of daytime soap operas or reality television—hence the nickname.
However, the technology is not without its uses. For high-speed content such as live sports or video games, motion smoothing can genuinely improve clarity and reduce blur, making the action easier to follow. For cinematic content, however, experts strongly advise turning it off to view the material as the director intended.
The Challenge of Disabling the Feature
The primary difficulty in disabling motion smoothing is that every major TV manufacturer uses a different name for the same technology. This branding variation often hides the setting deep within the TV’s menus.
To turn off the effect, viewers must first identify the name used by their specific brand. These names generally fall under the TV’s Picture Settings or Display Settings menu:
- LG calls the feature TruMotion.
- Samsung refers to it as Auto Motion Plus or Picture Clarity.
- Sony brands its version as Motionflow.
- Other brands, such as Hisense and Vizio, use similar variations that must be researched individually.
Once the specific term is located, navigating to the Picture Settings and switching the feature from its default “On” position to “Off” or “Zero” will eliminate the soap opera effect.
The Filmmaker Mode Solution
A simpler solution for newer televisions is the Filmmaker Mode. Introduced in many smart TVs manufactured after 2023, this feature is a single setting designed to instantly disable all post-processing effects that interfere with picture quality, including motion smoothing, noise reduction, and excessive sharpening. Viewers can manually activate Filmmaker Mode in the Picture Modes setting.
In addition to motion smoothing, the guide recommends that users disable other features such as Sharpness Control (which artificially enhances edges rather than truly improving resolution) and Noise Reduction (which can remove visual detail from high-quality content). They also advise against using picture modes like “Dynamic” or “Vivid,” which over-saturate colors and increase brightness beyond what is natural or intended for film viewing. By adjusting these key settings, viewers can significantly enhance their home viewing experience to match cinematic quality.
