Because16:9 is a compromise between 2.35:1 and 4:3. And 1.85:1 is an entirely different aspect ratio with its own history. Aspect ratio is a stylistic choice and cinema standards differ from TV standards. And every filmmaker chooses their aspect ratio depending on the story and their vision of distribution. Ihave a 16:9 screen covering the width of my wall, but the top / bottom bars on 2.35:1 movies drives me nuts. My choices to bypass the top/bottom bars are: -

A16: 9 aspect ratio is used in projectors, televisions, and some computer monitors. You can display a 16: 9 aspect ratio content on a 16-unit widescreen. The image will look just like a movie. A 16: 9 aspect ratio is similar to a standard DVD player. It is an aspect ratio that is common among the latest movies.

Insistingthat your 16:9 is filled? There are valid reasons for different aspect ratio. I still associate 2.35:1 with more "cinematic" and "epic" and 1.85:1 with more "personal" and "intimate" films. Often images look just more epic in the 2,35/2,40:1 ratio than in the 1,85/1,78:1 ratio. It depends on what the filmmakers intend to show to
Andthe answer really comes down to what you'll primarily use your computer for. There are many more factors to consider when buying a monitor, too. That being said, for most people, the answer is 21:9. It serves as the middle ground between 16:9 and 32:9, but honestly, it's as wide as most people would like.
Asa 16:9 Display: 3.00% larger diagonal 6.09% larger area: 2.91% smaller diagonal 5.74% smaller area: As a 2.35:1 Display: 21.52% smaller diagonal 38.42% smaller area: 27.43% larger diagonal 62.38% larger area : Share your Comparison: 24 inch 16x9 display vs 29 inch 21x9 display

Atleast with 2.35 or 16:9 you have content filling the entire screen at least some of the time. There actually is a decent amount of content that is 2:1, no where near 16:9 or 2.35:1, but it is a pretty popular ratio for high budget TV shows and even has been used in some movies.

Cinemasare set up for 1.85:1 projection, as is the workflow and the cameras designed for cinema productions. 16:9 can have slight pillars on either side if you're going through the full 2k DCP workflow,. If you don't want to shoot 1.85, no one is stopping you shooting 16:9, many low budget films are shot using that aspect ratio.
Thevast majority of Wii games are made for 4:3 anyways, only a handful of games try to force you to use 16:9 aspect ratio, most of them multiplayer-centric platforming games. Playing those on 4:3 will "letterbox" the screen, adding black bars on the top and bottom. I play those with the console set to 16:9 and the TV at 4:3. Heightthat I'm working with is 98" (9' ceiling but have a media cabinet below the screen). Option 1: Scope 2.39:1 at 132" wide and 55" tall for 143" diagonal. 16:9 image would be 112"/113" diagonal. Option 2: 16:9 at 118" wide and 66" tall for 135" diagonal. Scope image would be 128" diagonal. Option 3: Other?
Bynow, most know the difference between what an HDTV (16:9) and a Cinemascope or “widescreen” (2.35:1) aspect ratio is. If not, an aspect ratio is essentially the shape of your television or projection
Allanamorphic, Super 35 or digital scope movies made since 1970 have been composed for and projected at .40:1. And yet, many people in the industry continue to use the term “2.35:1
Asa 2.35:1 Display: 16.61% smaller diagonal 30.47% smaller area: 19.93% larger diagonal 43.82% larger area : Share your Comparison: 34 inch 21x9 display vs 43 inch 16x9 display
InComparison: 17.3 inch 16x9: 16 inch 16x10: Actual Aspect Ratios: 8.12% larger diagonal 11.15% larger area: 7.51% smaller diagonal 10.03% smaller area: As a 4:3 Display NowI'm trying to figure out what projection screen I want - 16:9 or 2.35:1. Mostly I watch movies, in cimeascope aspect ratio, which leads to idea of buying 2.35:1 projection screen. However I'm not very well familiar with projectors and how they works. Lets say I will connect my Apple TV, DVD/Blu-Ray player to it. InComparison: 15.6 inch 16x9: 17.3 inch 16x9: Actual Aspect Ratios: 9.83% smaller diagonal 18.69% smaller area: 10.90% larger diagonal 22.98% larger area Forexample, with 16:9, there will be 16 units of width for every 9 equal units of height. Cinemascope is even wider with 2.35 units of width for every 1 unit of height. The HDTV aspect ratio is pretty much standard for all of the television sets made today. However, the wider aspect ratio (Cinemascope) fits the wide formats of most movies.

WhichHome Theater Screen Aspect Ratio is Best – 2.40:1, 2.35:1 or 16:9? Certainly one of the most important things to decide for your home theater is the size, shape, surface type

Somepeople have ordered the 2.35:1 screens and masked the sides with curtains when viewing 16:9 content and have liked this option. Unless you are planning to use an .