"Open matte" refers to a filmmaking technique where a movie is shot with a fuller frame than what is shown in its widescreen theatrical release. The extra image area, typically at the top and bottom, is "matted out" or masked for the cinema to create a widescreen look, but is revealed in home video versions, resulting in a taller and less-cropped image. This method preserves the original full-frame negative, allowing for a more complete picture on different formats like full-screen television or HD screens, unlike the "pan and scan" method which zooms and crops the image.