A video formatter reformats progressive video using a film-based video film rate and a display refresh rate to determine a frame OFF period for a progressive video sequence. The video formatter inserts at least one black frame into the progressive video sequence to approximate the frame OFF period. Typically, the film rate is 24 frames per second (industry standard) and, thus, the display refresh rate can be a multiple of the frame rate (e.g., 96 Hz, 120 Hz, 240 Hz, etc.). Progressive video replicates a single frame of a film several times (“a progressive video sequence”) depending on a display's refresh rate. The black frame(s) is/are substituted at the end of this sequence instead of displaying the same image throughout for a single film frame.