A method for providing a film image and an image display apparatus for providing the film image are provided. The method includes determining a scheme of an input image signal; if the input image signal is determined to be an interlaced image signal, converting the input image signal into a progressive image signal to generate a converted progressive image signal and converting a scanning rate the converted progressive image signal to generate an image signal having a selected scanning rate; if the input image signal is determined to be a progressive image signal, converting a scanning rate the input progressive image signal to generate the image signal having the selected scanning rate; and converting a color characteristic of the image signal having the selected scanning rate into an image signal having a color characteristic related to a selected type of a film. Accordingly, a general image can be viewed which has a similar effect to when a film image is projected on a screen.