In a movie a medium shot,^[1] mid shot (MS),^[2] or waist shot^[3] is a camera angle shot from a medium distance.^[4]

Medium shots are favored in sequences where dialogues or a small group of people are acting, as they give the viewer a partial view of the background, such as when the shot is 'cutting the person in half'^[4] and also show the subjects' facial expressions in the context of their body language.^[5] Medium shots are also used when the subject in the shot is delivering information, such as news presenters.^[2] It is also used in interviews.^[3] It is the most common shot in movies,^[6][7] and it usually follows the first establishing shots of a new scene or location.^[7]

A normal lens that sees what the human eye sees^[8] is usually used for medium shots.^[7]

The medium shot shows equality between subjects and background. The dividing line between what constitutes a long shot and medium shot is not definite, nor is the line between medium shot and close-up.^[7] In some standard texts and professional references, a full-length view of a human subject is called a medium shot;^[6] in this terminology, a shot of the person from the knees up or the waist up is a close-up shot. In other texts, these partial views are called medium shots.^[9] In principle, the medium shot is what can be seen with the human eye in a single quick glance and convey all the action taking place in that field of view.^[6][2]

Medium shots are divided into singles (a waist-high shot of one actor), group shots, over-the shoulders or two-shots (featuring two people).^[6] A medium wide shot, or American shot, shows a bit more of the background but is still close enough for facial expressions to be seen, although these facial expressions would be better seen in a waist-high shot.^[10]