The main characters' actions are often central to the resolution of the societal conflict. The central conflict of the film is usually seen as having far-reaching effects, often changing the course of history. fantasy or science fiction) settings have become common in recent decades. Such films usually have a historical setting, although speculative fiction (i.e.
When described as "epic" because of content, an epic movie is often set during a time of war or other societal crisis, while usually covering a longer span of time sometimes throughout entire generations coming and passing away, in terms of both the events depicted and the running time of the film. However, there are some films described as "epic" almost solely on the basis of their enormous scope and the sweeping panorama of their settings such as How the West Was Won or East of Eden that do not have the typical substance of classical epics but are directed in an epic style. Common subjects of epics are royalty, gladiators, great military leaders, or leading personalities from various periods in world history. Similarly, films described as "epic" typically take a historical character, or a mythic heroic figure.
In classical literature, epics are considered works focused on deeds or journeys of heroes upon which the fate of many people depend.
The term "epic" originally came from the poetic genre exemplified by such works as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the works of the Trojan War Cycle.