panned

Panned is the past tense of pan, a verb with several related meanings in media and art. It can mean to criticize severely, to move a camera horizontally, or to place a sound signal across audio channels. The term is used across disciplines to indicate a completed action or evaluation.

In criticism, to pan a work means to subject it to negative or harsh reviews. A film, game, or performance that receives widespread unfavorable assessments is described as having been panned. The usage is common in journalism and entertainment reporting, reflecting a strong negative reception rather than a measured critique. The origin of the verb in this sense dates to the early 20th century, and it remains widely used in English-language criticism.

In filmmaking and video, a pan is a horizontal camera movement around a fixed vertical axis. When a shot is described as panned, the camera has been rotated left or right to follow action or reveal the scene. Panned movements can occur within a single take or as part of longer camera choreography, and they are contrasted with tilts, where the camera moves vertically.

In audio production, panning refers to distributing a sound signal across stereo or multichannel speaker setups. A sound that is panned to the left or right creates spatial placement within a mix, aiding clarity and immersion. Panning decisions influence the perceived position and balance of elements in a recording or broadcast.

See also: pan, panning, pan shot.