How to Become a Movie Critic: 3 Types of Movie Criticism

A movie critic is a person who views and analyzes the various elements of a film, like character and plot development, performance, cinematography, directing, editing, and writing. Critics may use their critique to encourage or dissuade viewers from watching a particular film and broach various topics that warrant further discussion amongst audiences. Movie critics can write and publish their reviews in print or online publications, personal blogs and websites, or record their analysis as part of a podcast or digital video.

There are three types of movie criticism most often seen in print and online publications:

1. 1. Amateur movie criticism: Amateur movie criticism refers to a subjective form of film analysis by non-professional film critics who want to share their opinion with other movie fans. Aspiring film critics can publish their own film critiques and analyses to a personal website or through blogging. Though these sites may not generate as much traffic as professional publications, they still provide a vehicle for anyone with an opinion about a film to share it online via podcast, digital video, or blog post.
2. 2. Journalistic movie criticism: Journalistic criticism is the most well-known type of movie criticism, typically found in newspapers, magazines, and digital outlets. Journalistic movie critics focus on critiquing new film releases and providing a scoring system that rates the movie’s quality based on their pre-established criteria. Their critiques often feature a summary of the movie and a subjective breakdown.
3. 3. Academic movie criticism: Academic movie criticism focuses on in-depth critical analysis and is often more objective than other types of film criticism. This type of movie criticism is typically published in academic journals or books. Academic movie critics often have a background in film theory, film studies, or film history, which they use to dissect and interpret the film’s subject matter, themes, emotional resonance, and other critical elements. Academic criticism aims to discuss a film’s importance, relation to real-life events, and its place within film history and its respective genre, rather than providing a summary or basic movie review like journalistic criticism.

Whether you want to become a professional movie critic or focus on academic film criticism, there are a few key steps you should follow:

• Obtain a film degree. If you want to pursue a career as a movie critic with a major publication, having a certified background in film (like a bachelor’s degree in film studies or screenwriting) can round out your knowledge and allow you to speak authoritatively on the subject. Additionally, gaining a basic understanding of writing or reporting on film can help establish a solid foundation for your movie criticism career.
• Study the film industry. Study the various elements and components of filmmaking, and the filmmakers throughout its history, so that you can use this knowledge to inform your criticism. Watch an array of quality films from different genres, including Hollywood blockbusters and lesser-known indie films, to gain a more well-rounded understanding so that you can write about any type of film with ease.
• Hone your writing skills. Professional film critics need to clearly express their ideas and write in an entertaining and informative way for their readership. Study proper grammar, sentence structure, and literary devices to help develop your writing style, and read quality analyses to brush up on proper writing techniques.
• Build a portfolio. Every film critic has to start somewhere, and the rise of social media has made it easier than ever to make your opinions heard. Find sites that publish user-submitted film reviews or critiques, or establish your own review website or podcast channel that presents your analytical film prowess.
• Gain real-life experience. Entry-level positions at newspapers, radio stations, or other publications can be a great starting point for those who need to get their foot in the door. These entry-level positions can help you network with people who can help push you in the right direction and provide the resources necessary to start your film critic career.

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