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In the 1910's, the name short subject' was given to short films as the majority of feature films began to be made in much longer-running editions. This name is an American film industry term that historically has referred to any film in the format of two reels, or approximately 20 minutes or less in running time. Short subjects could be live action or animated. Comedy was particularly utilized as their style, and well-known comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Laurel and Hardy are best known from short subject films.

After the 1930s, fewer shorts were made for theatrical release, most of which were one reel long such as George O'Hanlon's Joe McDoakes' shorts, and the animated shorts by Warner Bros and Famous Studios. These shorts were produced in-house by, or financed by motion picture companies that either owned their own theater chains or forced theaters to take their shorts by selling them in their original form as their big-name features. This practice was called block booking and was declared illegal by the US Supreme Court. By 1955, the ban on block booking and the rise of television meant the commercial live-action short was virtually dead with the cartoon short well on it's way down the same path. Since the 1960s, short films have been largely reserved for independent filmmakers and special major-studio projects.

Since the 1980s, the term short subject' has come to be used interchangeably with short film'. This term describes a non-commercial motion picture that is significantly shorter than the average length of a feature film. The short film' is basically the same to a full length feature film that a short story is to a novel.

Short films often focus on difficult topics of which the full length feature films tend to avoid. Their filmmakers benefit from larger freedoms and can take higher risks with their films, but have to rely on short film festivals and art house exhibitions to show the public. Another key place filmmakers choose to display their short films is on the internet as everyone can access them and it can be watched by people all over the world.

Short films are often popular as first steps into the film industry among young filmmakers. This is because they are cheaper and easier to make, and also their length makes shorts more likely to be watched by financial backers and others who want some demonstration of a filmmaker's ability. Many things can be achieved by creating a short film so are an ideal opportunity to get recognised and get into the industry.

Short film making is now growing in popularity among amateurs and enthusiasts, who are taking advantage of affordable equipment. Semi-professional cameras now cost under $3000 and are of a high enough quality to produce some great visuals. Also free or low-cost software is widely available that is capable of post-production work and DVD authoring. Such films can also be easily distributed via the Internet such as the film named Life of a Tennis Ball', which was only ever distributed on the internet. This whole idea is great for new talent to shine and get spotted by people in the industry. Also, it is in financial reach by avarage members of the public.

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