Yee, M.M. Moving image materials, 1988 (Epics; use for fictional works which employ "a cast of thousands" to depict action on a cosmic scale. UF: Costume spectacles, Sandal and spear epics, Spectaculars, Sword and sandal epics)

Lopez, D. Films by genre, c1993 (Epic film, Film epic, Spectacle, Costume picture, Heroic film, Monumental film). Movie epics are usually set in the historical past, but they can also deal with contemporary or even future events. Frequently, though, the setting is antiquity--mythological, biblical, Greek or Roman times--and the film sets, as a rule, are lavish and spectacular)

Bergan, R. Film isms--, c2011: p. 18 (Monumentalism; narratives in the monumentalist tradition; films on a monumental or epic scale; the 'historical-mythological' genre was born in Italy in the early part of the 20th century; early Italian epics. Key characteristics: big budgets; crowd scenes; historical subjects; large casts and sets; pageantry; wide vistas)

Films that employ large casts and lavish sets to depict action on a grand scale.