Spontaneously generated movements (GMs) are part of the spontaneous movement repertoire and are present from early fetal life until the end of 20th week of life. Those are the first movements human fetus develops that occur even before isolated limb movements and they can be observed from the 8th week gestational age until 56th week postterm. General movements of fetuses, preterm infants and newborns involve the whole body in a variable sequence of arm, leg, neck and trunk movements. They wax and wane in intensity, force and speed, and they have a gradual beginning and an end. Rotations along the axis of the limbs and slight changes in the direction of movements make them complex, but also smooth. They have two age specific phases; writhing movements and fidgety movements. Normal and three types of abnormal general movements are distinguished; poor repertoire general movements, cramped-synchronized general movements and chaotic general movements. Multiple studies have shown high predictive value of normal (optimal and suboptimal) general movements regarding favourable neurodevelopmental outcome. Prediction is highest when the fidgety movements occur and abnormal general movements in 95% cases indicate cerebral palsy or other disorders. The aim of this study is to theoretically describe main terms and give an insight into scientific understandings and researches in the field of general movements and its influence on neuromotor development as well as the predictive value.