voir ou regarder un film / le tele

Question

Various authorities suggest that one uses voir for the cinema and regarder for the tv. Could you clarify? After I watched the film, after I saw the film... ??

Accepted Answer

Hi Chris,
We actually accept both regarder and voir in this kwiz question.
The difference between watching ( regarder) and seeing ( voir) isn't specific to the cinema or the tv. 
You might say -
J'ai vu un bon film à la télé/ au cinéma hier soir = I saw a good film on telly/ at the cinema last night 
but 
Il m'a téléphoné mais comme je regardais la télé je n'ai pas répondu = He rang me but as I was watching telly I didn't answer 
Hope that helps!

Answer

Hi Chris,Depending on context --- regarder takes a sense of examiner / considérerwhereas voir takes a sense of apercevoir / comprendre / examinerExaminer being closest, in terms of synonymy; to both regarder and voir.https://www.cnrtl.fr/synonymie/examinerSo with respect to cinema or T.V., it would come down to what was in the mind of the viewer when observing and the context of the point in time.This is not a definitive answer but I think that you will get the point of my comment.Hope this helps.Jim