Breaking the fourth wall

Breaking the fourth wall means when characters in a movie, TV show, play, or book talk directly to the audience. It's like they're talking to you, the person watching or reading the story. It's called the fourth wall because in a play, there are usually three walls that make up the set, and the fourth wall is imaginary and separates the characters from the audience. When a character talks to you, they are breaking that imaginary wall.

Imagine you're watching a show on TV. The characters are all talking to each other, and you're just watching them, like you're a fly on the wall. But then, one of the characters turns to the camera and talks to you. They might say something like, "Well, looks like we're in for a wild ride, huh?" or "Can you believe this guy?" When they do that, they're breaking the fourth wall.

Sometimes, movies or TV shows will do this a lot. The main character might talk directly to the audience throughout the whole show, like they're your friend telling you a story. Other times, it's just a quick moment to make a joke or acknowledge that they know they're in a movie or show.

Breaking the fourth wall can be a fun way to connect with the audience and make the story feel more interactive. But it's also something that needs to be used carefully, because if it's done too much, it can take away from the actual story.