refers to the imaginary, illusory, invisible plane through which the film [or theater] viewer or audience is thought to look at the action. [As an invisible barrier between narrative levels t]he fourth wall separates the audience from the characters. It is 'broken' when the barrier between the fictional world of the film's story and the 'real world' of the audience is shattered; for example, when an actor speaks directly to viewers by making an aside. (Griffiths, 2015) As such the breaking of the fourth wall is a type of metalepsis. (FILMTERM) Examples: "Annie Hall", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Deadpool" and "House of Cards". Also see breaking the fourth wall, metalepsis
