what do you write in a movie review

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 179 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,569,479 times. Learn more...

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A decent movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie like a professional film critic, come up with an interesting thesis, and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

• Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"– against terrorist groups, against international rivals, against other political parties. But few of them understand the cold, destructive, and ultimately hollow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of Blue Ruin. "
• Review in a nutshell: "Despite a compelling lead performance by Tom Hanks and a great soundtrack, Forrest Gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise."
• Context or Background Information: " Boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced–slowly, over 12 years, with the same actors–is just as crucial as the movie itself."

• Using stars, a score out of 10 or 100, or the simple thumbs-up and thumbs-down is a quick way to give your thoughts. You then write about why you chose that rating.
• Great Movie: ABC is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings."
• Bad Movie: "It doesn't matter how much you enjoy kung-fu and karate films: with 47 Ronin, you're better off saving your money, your popcorn, and time."
• Okay Movie: "I loved the wildly uneven Interstellar far more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. Ultimately, the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy-handed plotting and dialogue."

• Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't as good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, shows how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids, the flashing tension of neck muscles, and a barely cracking voice."
• Bad: " Jurassic World's biggest flaw, a complete lack of relatable female characters, is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur – in heels."
• Okay: "At the end of the day, Snowpiercer can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in fight scenes, where every weapon, lightbulb, and slick patch of ground is accounted for, doesn't translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance."

• Does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue? It could be the director's way of engaging in a bigger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the film to the "real" world.
• Does the film seem to have a message, or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals.
• Does the film connect with you on a personal level? You could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers.

Composing Your Review

• When you name characters in your plot summary, list the actors' names directly afterward in parenthesis.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full movie title.
• If you feel you must discuss information that might "spoil" things for readers, warn them first.

• Cinematography: " Her is a world drenched in color, using bright, soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build, and slowly strip away, the feelings of love between the protagonists. Every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in."
• Tone: "Despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on Mars, The Martian's witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space may be dangerous and scary, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."
• Music and Sound: " No Country For Old Men's bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades. The eerie silence of the desert, punctuated by the brief spells of violent, up-close-and-personal sound effects of hunter and hunted, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat."
• Acting: "While he's fantastic whenever he's on the move, using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus, Keanu Reeves can't quite match his costar in the quiet moments of Speed, which falter under his expressionless gaze."

• Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The Baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."

• Great: "In the end, even the characters of Blue Ruin know how pointless their feud is. But revenge, much like every taut minute of this thriller, is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end.""
• Bad: "Much like the oft-mentioned "box of chocolates", Forest Gump has a couple of good little morsels. But most of the scenes, too sweet by half, should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out."
• Okay: "Without the novel, even revolutionary concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be "good.” But the power the film finds in the beauty of passing time and little, inconsequential moments – moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting – make Linklater's latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film."

Polishing Your Piece

• Ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis. Did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed?
• Decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movie's about.
• Decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand-alone piece of writing. Did you contribute something original to this discussion? What will readers gain from reading your review that they couldn't from simply watching the movie?

Studying Your Source Material

• The title of the film, and the year it came out.
• The director's name.
• The names of the lead actors.

• Make a note every time something sticks out to you, whether it's good or bad. This could be costuming, makeup, set design, music, etc. Think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review.
• Take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds.
• Use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything, and rewind as necessary.

• Direction: Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect the film.)
• Costume design: Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design: Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack: Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

Community Q&A

• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
• Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/terminology_and_starting_prompts.html
• ↑ https://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-write-a-movie-review
• ↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-writing-a-review
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
• ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf
• ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/film_writing_sample_analysis.html
• ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/onnyx.bei/dual-credit/movie-review-writing-guide
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-movie-review/
• ↑ https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/editing_proofreading.php
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

About This Article

To write a movie review, start with a compelling fact or opinion to hook your readers, like "Despite a great performance by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump never overcomes its weak plot." Then, elaborate on your opinion of the movie right off the bat so readers know where you stand. Once your opinion is clear, provide examples from the movie that prove your point, like specific scenes, dialogue, songs, or camera shots. To learn how to study a film closely before you write a review, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Movie Review

Writing a Film Review

Movies have become a cultural mainstay of our society. Not only are they art and entertainment, but they have also become a way for people to bond and make connections. Finding someone who has a similar taste in movies can create new friendships and start interesting conversations. That's why understanding how to analyze a movie and write movie reviews is such a useful skill. 

Do you need to know how to write a movie review for college? Or how to write a movie critique? Or maybe just how to do a movie review? In this article, you will learn how to write a movie review step by step, as well as get an in-depth guide into each section of a movie review.

What is a Movie Review?

A film review essay is more than just a plot summary followed by a recommendation. A movie review analyzes different elements of a movie and mixes personal opinion with objective analysis. The goal of the movie review is to tell the reader about the details of a movie while giving them enough information to decide for themselves whether it's worth watching or not. Of course, a good movie review also has to be interesting and engaging! 

How to Write a Good Movie Review

More than most other pieces of writing, there are a lot of steps to take before actually getting into writing a movie review. But don't worry though, most of these steps are pretty fun and if you follow them, you will know how to review movies. 

Watch the film! 

It goes without saying that you need to watch a movie before you write a review for it, so, before you do anything else, watch the movie at least once. Don't worry about trying to pick up specific details on your first watch, just enjoy the movie and get a general impression of whether you liked it or not and what you liked or disliked. Ideally, you should watch the movie at least two times. On your second and third viewings, pay attention to movie review criteria like cinematography, acting, dialogue, character development, deeper meanings, etc. Read some film review examples to get a sense of the things they talk about.

Pause the movie on your second and third viewings and take notes on things that stand out to you. Don't be afraid to take as many notes as you want, after all these notes are just for you.  You might not use all the notes you have taken, but they will help you compose the main part of your body paragraphs.

Express your opinions

Once you have watched the movie a few times and taken notes, make a list of the strongest opinions you have about the movie. If you think that the quality of acting was one of the best parts of the movie, use your notes to come up with specific examples. You should have between 3 and 5 key opinions that you will elaborate on when writing a film review along with examples to back up your claims.

Think about your audience

The language you use is going to change based on who you are writing the movie review for. If it is an assignment for school or university, then you may have to use more technical language.  If you're writing an article for a website or personal blog, then think about who the audience is and use language appropriate for them. Keep in mind that your audience also depends on the genre of the movie you are critiquing. A movie review for a serious period drama will have a different audience than a buddy cop comedy and therefore different language. Look at a movie review sample from different genres to get an idea of the type of language to use. 

Research the actors

Having big movie stars associated with a film is often one of the main selling points of a movie.  If an actor is critically acclaimed, it’s especially important to mention the awards they have won as this is often a sign of the overall quality of the movie. It's also possible that you didn't like the movie overall, but one of your favorite actors was in it so you enjoyed the movie and another fan might enjoy it too. 

Do background research

An easy way to make a movie review interesting is to search for interesting details about the making of the movie. It may be worth mentioning if it was shot in a particularly beautiful place or a unique location, or if the special effects were practical rather than CGI. Include interesting casting decisions or other actors that were considered for a particular role. Think about what information could be interesting to someone who might want to watch the movie and include those details. Go over some movie critique examples to get inspiration. 

Research the professionals

People can be fans not just of the actors, but of directors, writers, cinematographers, costume designers, and many other elements of filmmaking. Many directors are auteurs, which means they have a very particular visual style or storytelling method. How much time you spend on this section is dependent on your audience. If you're writing for social media or a blog for general people, then this might not be interesting to most. But if you're writing for film school or for a specific audience interested in filmmaking, then this section will need to be more elaborate. Look at a film review example written for different audiences to understand the differences. 

Draft an outline

Now that you've done all the required research, it's time to come up with a review outline. An outline is always useful when doing any piece of writing because it gives you a  chance to visualize the structure and plan how you want to incorporate information. This is the general film review format.

Introduction

• Brief summary of the film
• Discuss plot, tone, characters
• Discuss creative and technical elements
• Your opinions

Conclusion 

Come up with a catchy title.

Almost more than any other piece of writing, a movie review’s title needs to be engaging. A title like ”film review of (name of the movie) might be to the point, but isn't going to stand out. A good title should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read more. A few ways you can do this is by talking about a specific actor or director, or by using one of the main plot points of the movie. For example, “A Romantic Comedy for the Unromantic”,  or “Chris Pratt Plays Against Type in the Best Possible Way”. Look at the titles of some movie review examples for inspiration!

Write your review

It's finally time to get to the actual writing! The next part of this article talks in-depth about each section of a film review. 

People aren't going to take a review seriously if you have spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. If it's an assignment for school, then you’re going to lose marks because of mistakes like that. Make sure you reread your paper a few times and check for typos and other silly mistakes.  Read the paper out loud once or twice to get an idea of if it has a good flow. Don't be afraid to move sections around if you think it helps you build a stronger case.

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How to Write a Film Review

Do you want a ‘how to write a movie review’ template? Let's go over the specific parts of a film review and what to include in each one.

Your first sentence needs to capture the reader's attention. You can do this by stating an interesting fact about the movie, starting off by expressing your opinion of whether it's good or bad, mentioning some of the important actors, comparing it to other movies in the genre or to real-world events, whatever it is, make sure it's catchy!

Next, give background information about the movie. This includes things like the title, release date, studio, important cast members, director, budget, etc. Make sure to highlight any achievements of the movie, for example, if it was nominated for any awards. The same goes for the director as well as important members of the cast. This shouldn't just be a dry stating of facts, rather this should be a collection of interesting information about the background of the movie. 

Finally, end your introduction paragraph with your thesis. In the case of a film review, your thesis is essentially what you thought about the film. Without giving away too much, express your overall impression of the movie noting particular things that you thought stood out or were weak.

Summary of the story

The trick to writing the summary of the story is giving readers an idea of what to expect without giving away any important plot points or spoilers. The goal of this section isn't to explain the plot of the movie, It's to make sure that people have a basic understanding of the story so that the rest of the review can make sense. Describe the setting of the movie, which includes the main locations and time period. Introduce the main characters (including the name of the actor in parentheses after the name of their character). And go over the general storyline. 

Plot elements

This is when you start explaining what you thought about the movie. Start with an analysis of the plot itself. Did it have a rising action that builds suspense? Was the climax a good payoff? What were your overall impressions of the movie? How did it make you feel? What do you think the purpose of the movie was and did the director succeed in their goal? 

This is also the section where you get to talk about the different characters in the movie. Why did you enjoy certain characters? Were some characters better developed than others? Could some characters have benefited from more development? Was the villain particularly interesting? 

Think about the overall mood of the movie, did it change over time? How did the tones and symbols of the movie emphasize elements of the plot? Remember that any point you make in this section has to be backed up by examples. So if you say that there are several plot holes that make the movie complicated to understand, mention the specific scenes.

Creative elements

There are a lot of technical and creative elements in a movie that can stand out even if the overall plot and story weren’t the best. On the other hand, even a great story can be spoiled by bad dialogue or set design. These are some of the creative elements you should pay attention to especially when rewatching the movie and taking notes.

Dialogue : This can refer to the overall writing of the movie as well. If you can get your hands on a script then read it! When thinking about dialogue ask yourself, did the conversation between characters seem natural and flow easily? Or did it seem choppy and unnatural? 

Cinematography : Cinematography refers to the camera effects and the choices of how to film a certain scene. The lighting, the choice of camera angles, essentially the unique perspective of the story as told through the camera. 

Editing : Editing refers to the transition between different scenes as well as how well the movie flows together. This could include things like clever montages, longshots, different perspectives, etc.  

Costumes : Some movies, especially historical movies, fantasy films, and science fiction films, depend heavily on costume design. Costumes are an integral part of making a character stand out or making the world seem more real.

Set Design : Set design refers to the backgrounds of scenes. Some sets might be more elaborate whereas others can be minimalistic. Each choice has its pros and cons and effective set design creates proper ambiance, setting the tone and mood for a scene or the movie.

Music and Sound : Sometimes the movie has a great soundtrack or just incredible sound effects that help make it stand out.

Stunts : More important for action movies, but in general stunts and action sequences can be a major selling point for a film.

Special Effects : Most movies rely on some amount of special effects, and whether it be CGI, or practical, or a combination of the two, the quality is important.

Once you have analyzed multiple different elements of the story from its plot, characterization, and other technical and creative elements, you can state your opinions and provide evidence for them. Make sure you refer to specific scenes or specific situations when looking for substantiating evidence. Remember that the goal of a movie review is not to just state whether you liked or disliked a movie, it is to analyze it in an objective way, and give information so that somebody else can decide whether they want to watch the movie or not.

In the conclusion you express your main opinion of the movie along with the most important pieces of evidence. You can talk about the purpose of the movie and whether the director was successful in showing that purpose. End with a recommendation of whether the movie should be watched or not, along with suggestions of movies that are similar to it.

Did you like our Film Review Guide?

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Mistakes to avoid

You now know how to write a review on a movie but let's take a look at some mistakes that you should be careful to avoid.

Not focusing on the film

It's easy to start writing about things like the historical events the movie you loved is based on or the importance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall rather than focus on the movie itself.  While those elements can be interesting to include as background information, the point of a film review is to go over a particular movie so that is what you should spend the most time on.

Not providing evidence 

A common mistake people make when they write movie reviews is to state their opinions without any objective analysis. An easy way to overcome this mistake is to make sure that you provide evidence for any claims that you make.

Spoilers are an easy way to make sure that people will be upset with your movie review. It is common to accidentally give away too much, especially when writing the plot summary. Find the line between giving enough information so that people understand the general story and revealing important plot twists and turning points. Read some sample movie reviews for examples of how to avoid spoilers.

Using personal pronouns

Statements like “I did not like the special effects” or “I did not like the pacing of the movie” are clearly expressions of opinion. It is better to make statements like “the special effects in certain action scenes were cartoonish and took away from the realism of the film”. 

A movie review essay can be incredibly fun to write, especially if you have a strong opinion about the movie. But keep in mind that a movie review isn't just about your opinion, it has to include an objective analysis with claims backed up by evidence from specific scenes. It's difficult to have a movie review definition, but a great movie review is a blend between personal opinion and objective analysis. It informs the reader about the strengths and weaknesses of the movie while letting them make the decision whether they want to watch it or not. 

If you found your way to this article because you were looking for help on how to write a movie review for college, then you're in the perfect place. If you need any help, don't hesitate to reach out to the experts at Studyfy. At Studyfy, we offer a wide range of custom writing services, coursework writing services, and essay writer service . Our team of experienced writers is well-equipped to handle any writing task you may have, no matter the complexity or urgency. Just say, " write a paper for me ," and we will ensure that you receive a high-quality custom essay that meets all your requirements. Trust us to provide you with the best coursework writing services and custom essay writing that will help you achieve your academic goals.

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How To Write A Movie Review Effortlessly | 10 Easy Steps

Want to learn how to write a movie review? Well, it really doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Movie reviews can be a lot of fun when approached correctly. This article is going to provide you with several tips and tools to make creating your very own movie review as seamless as possible. 

After having read several academic articles online, books by professional film critics, and videos from writing professionals on YouTube, I noticed that a lot of the advice on how to write a movie review overlaps but also includes vague steps and unnecessary additions.

Although there is no “right” way to write a movie review, my 3+ years of experience crafting movie reviews online have taught me to identify the more essential elements of a movie review from the areas where I can have fun and be more creative in how I approach a review.

The following article is going to draw from all the knowledge obtained on movie reviews and simplify it, breaking down what is and actually isn’t necessary for a stellar movie review. With a streamlined step-by-step process, you will be left with a solid foundation on how to write a movie review and have an awesome review written in no time. 

How to Write a Movie Review | 10 Steps

After scouring the internet and finding advice from universities, film schools, and the like, one thing they all have in common is to:

1) Watch the Movie (you don’t NEED to watch it twice) & Take Notes

There is no movie review without watching the movie first. This is a non-negotiable step.

But — a negotiable step is watching the movie a second time.

A lot of sources recommend that you watch the movie twice, sometimes even more than that. Depending on the movie that you’re watching and the depth of the movie review this is not always necessary.  

If you’re doing a film analysis where you’re deriving meaning from details within the film, a second watch may help you further extract meaning and notice details you may have missed on the first go-round. 

However, some movies are more casual and don’t require further analysis. Especially given that movies tend to take up to 2 hours (or even more), it may be a better use of your time to draft your movie review first before deciding if you need another viewing.

If you’re having a hard time expounding on what to write in the movie review, then another watch can give you some more material to work with but otherwise, don’t waste your valuable time. Not every movie is worth a second watch. 

It’s even better if you’re able to stream the movie because then you can just jump to the moments that caught your attention rather than having to rewatch the whole film. 

How to Take Good Notes

I am a big fan of writing physical notes.

Physically taking notes with pen and paper is scientifically proven to enhance your ability to remember important details.

Mental notes alone are not reliable and good physical notes will aid you greatly when you’re not sure what to say about a film. 

I would argue that if you take good notes while watching the movie then you will most likely not need to watch it twice. 

Whatever sticks out to you, jot it down real quick. If there is a scene you’d like to revisit, jot down the timestamp to make re-evaluation seamless.

Any pertinent quotes, standout camera shots, super lovable/unlovable characters, funny thoughts you have during the film that you don’t want to forget, or anything notable that crosses your mind, WRITE IT DOWN.

Taking quick notes while you watch can easily help to jolt your memory when trying to pick out important things to write about. 

This notebook is my go-to for taking notes when I watch movies on streaming services. It lays perfectly flat and has plenty of space for more detailed descriptions.

These pens (especially the red light pen) make it easier to take notes in a dark theatre without being distractingly bright.

This pocket notebook is perfect for notes in the movie theatre.

If you have yet to watch the movie, find a notebook that you can take notes in and a good pen for note-taking. Watch the movie and take notes as you watch.

If you have already watched the movie and still have details fresh enough in your mind, find a notebook and a pen and jot down everything in the movie that stood out to you.

2. Identify Your Audience

This is another common step among the internet advice on how to write a movie review and it’s important to consider.

Determining who you’re writing for is going to set the foundation for how you write and what you choose to write about in your movie review.

If you’re writing a movie review for school, then your audience is the teacher that will be grading your assignment.

Depending on the assignment, your teacher may have a rubric of requirements that they expect from you. And because the review is academic, you will want to write with exceptional grammar, a professional tone, and display a level of expertise in the area of education that your teacher is targeting.

Your teacher may require you to discuss the climactic points of the movie, meaning that there would be no need to avoid spoilers.

On another hand, a classic movie review, one that might be featured in an online publication, is primarily for the point of promoting a film. The purpose of these public reviews is often to make readers aware of the movie and to make readers curious about the movie as well. 

With a movie review structured for the general public, you will want to make sure that your review always has a synopsis, explaining what the film is about, doesn’t contain any information that may spoil the movie for viewers, and is easy to comprehend given the average person’s reading comprehension is at a 7-8th grade level. 

You have to consider what your audience is looking for and what they need to best know how to focus your review.

In the same notebook that you used to jot down your notes on the movie you’re reviewing, write down who your audience is.

Answer this question: Who will benefit from reading this review?

Some answers I often have, as an opinionated movie reviewer is: People who share the same sentiment on a film and want to commiserate, people who are wondering if a film is worth their time, people who want post-movie discussion…

Then answer this question: What information is my audience looking for?

If your movie review is academic pull up a copy of your rubric, and print it out if possible so that you are reminded of what your audience is looking for.

If you’re writing for the general public, note down the information you want then to leave your review with.

Example: I want them to leave with a better understanding of what the film is about, knowing whether the film is good or not, have a better understanding of the confusing themes of the film, and leave knowing whether the film is worth their time.

3) Craft An Introduction

The first sentence is your bait to catch the reader’s attention. 

Now that you’re aware of who you’re writing for, you can best determine what would be an appropriate way to get this person’s attention. 

This doesn’t have to be extravagant, super witty, or clickbaity. People who are reading are already somewhat interested in the movie itself so you can immediately jump into what makes the movie interesting, good, or bad.

In my study of movie reviews, I noticed a few common ways that movie reviewers often start off their reviews and gathered some examples from critically acclaimed film critic, Roger Ebert’s website to display some effective methods with which to open your movie review.

Movie reviews can start with a personal anecdote . 

• “I was reminded of a recording made in the 1980s by the Dadaist sample-based music group Negativland, in which they bemoaned: ‘Is there any escape from noise?'”( Tar Movie Review )

They can get right to the point and immediately narrate the film’s plot .

• “June and Jennifer Gibbons were Welsh twins born to Caribbean immigrants in the 1960s.” ( The Silent Twins Movie Review)

They can start storytelling with a separate narrative that segways into the film’s story . 

• “When they were leaving the world premiere of G. W. Pabst’s film “Pandora’s Box” (1928), Louise Brooks could hear her name in the crowd around her, but she didn’t like the tone they were using.” ( Diary of a Lost Girl Movie Review)

They can start by setting the scene .

• “Every lamp and ladylike cocktail dress, every convertible and clink of a martini glass is a perfect reflection of retro chic in Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling.'” ( Don’t Worry Darling Movie Review)

They can start with noting the cultural significance of the movie, addressing the elephant in the room. 

• “Bros,” co-written by and starring Billy Eichner, has been touted as the first mainstream Hollywood studio-backed rom-com to feature gay men as the leads.” ( Bros Movie Review)

Or they can start with a bold statement , dropping a hot take that needs further explanation.

• “Sometimes I look at Harry Styles and I feel bad for him.” ( My Policeman Movie Review)

The rest of your introduction, which doesn’t need to be more than a paragraph long, should convey your general sentiments about the film. 

By the end of the paragraph, readers should know just what kind of review they’re getting themselves into. 

Hint at your praises and grievances with the film and then use the rest of the review to explain yourself.

In a fresh Word document, brainstorm some introductory sentences for your review. Remember to keep your audience in mind.

Don’t stress over getting anything perfect just yet, just get a few ideas on the paper using some of the examples above and then you can revisit your ideas later with a fresh mind.

4) Write a Brief Synopsis in Your Own Words

You don’t need more than 3 sentences to summarize the gist of the movie’s plot and I always try to fit it into one.

It’s important to include a synopsis because you don’t want to assume that your audience knows the movie as well as you do. 

The reason they’re reading your writing is because you have information that they don’t have yet and are curious about. 

So give them a brief foundation so that they can follow your train of thought for the rest of the review rather than being confused about what the movie is about the whole time. 

Oftentimes, movie reviews like to weave in the synopsis with their opinions on the film, retelling the movie’s plot through their point of view. This is an acceptable substitute for a 1-3 sentence quick summary of the film.

However, if you want to focus on themes, scenes, or other details of the movie, be sure to include a unique synopsis before delving into a deeper analysis of the film.

Again, if your audience hasn’t seen the movie yet, DON’T INCLUDE SPOILERS. If you do include spoilers, give a disclaimer at the beginning of your review to warn readers ahead of time.

In your online document, summarize the movie in your own words within 1-3 sentences.

Be sure to include details that will intrigue readers but not spoil the movie for them.

5) Evaluate the Movie

What does it mean to evaluate the movie? 

Before it gets intimidating, this is actually quite an easy step. And what I say may sound a bit controversial or simplistic but believe me, it works, especially for online reviews.

First, categorize the film into one of the three most BASIC categories of criticism: good, average, or bad. 

Is the movie good, average, or bad? 

Everything else in your review just expounds on just how good, average, or bad the film is and why. That’s all. This is your foundation.

Let’s say it’s a good film, we can then further analyze how the camera angles, the sublime messaging, and the subtle portrayal of bold emotions makes the film a distinguishably high level of good. We can then move on to more descriptive adjectives to describe the film like:

Exceptional, fine-tuned, daring, compelling, brilliant, unhinged, etc…

The evaluation is the body of your review. 

If you’re writing a movie review for a class or an assignment, you may already have a rubric to adhere to, like centering your review on the acting or analyzing the deeper thematic modes of a pertinent scene. 

If the focus of your review is less strict, I would recommend choosing 3 main aspects of the movie that provide evidence for why the movie is good, bad, or average.

In your Word document write out the following:

• Did you like the movie? Why or why not?
• This movie is … (good, average, or bad)
• List at least 3 main aspects of the film that make it either good, average, or bad.
• List some more definitive adjectives that identify just how good, average, or bad the film is.
• Given the category you placed the film in, what are aspects of the film that don’t fit that category (if any)? (AKA good parts of a bad film or vice versa)
• Rate the film out of 10 points, or out of 5 stars, whichever you’re more comfortable with.

6. Highlight Important Aspects of Analysis

Other articles on how to write a movie review mention highlighting the directors, cinematography, special effects, narrative structure, lighting, music, etc. 

The reality of this is that the majority of people watching a film are not experts in the technical elements of constructing a film. And if you’re not an expert in any of these fields, then chances are your analysis of it will be surface-level. 

Also, some movies are truly unremarkable in the technical aspects. Some movies have very generic plot structures. Some, you don’t even notice the music. So if nothing really stands out it’s nearly impossible and highly unnecessary to break down in detail every single minuscule aspect of the technicalities of creating a film. 

Usually, 2 or 3 aspects of the technicality of a film will stick out to me as a non-cinematography expert.

For example, there might be some beautiful eye-striking camera moments that catch your eye. Or a certain track of the music that strikes an emotional chord. Not every single detail will be important to dissect, but what makes that movie stand out from the next movie is what is important to highlight in a movie review.

These aspects of the film often don’t need their own paragraph unless it is your main point of focus. You can often just slip in the director’s choices or the cinematographical choices within your general analysis of the film in a sentence or two.

Answer the following questions in your Word document:

• What do you think the movie’s intention was? Was it just to make you laugh? Was it to scare you? Was it to just make money?
• Is there anything notable among the actors?
• Is anything notable in the film’s soundtrack?
• Is anything notable in the lighting of the film?
• Is anything notable in the editing?
• Is anything notable in the set design?
• Is anything notable in the costuming?
• What was the movie trying to communicate? Did it have a pertinent message? Did it not have a message at all?
• If yes, include your analysis of these technical points under that paragraph of thought.
• If no, consider adding another paragraph solely for your technical observations.

7. Know the Actor’s Portfolios

A lot of movie reviews will include extra information on the actors and directors involved and advice on how to write a movie review often concurs with this idea BUT it’s not a vital addition to the movie review in my humble opinion.

If you’re writing for an audience that has not yet seen the movie, including the names of actors and directors involved in the movie can influence the reader to watch the movie so that is an upside to including the names. It also gives credit to whom credit is due.

However, providing extra information about the actors’ discography comes secondary to evaluating the actual world and people created within the movies themselves. 

You can use additional information on the actors to determine how roles they played in the past may have contributed to or hindered their current performance but otherwise, keep the main focus on the movie at hand.

When creating movie reviews you do have to think about what your priorities are in terms of what you’re discussing. 

Talking about too many aspects of the movie may lead to a movie review that drags on a bit too long, is unfocused, and is superfluous. 

But you can also just quickly slip in a famous actor’s most popular work to give them credibility and to encourage people who liked their previous movie to check out their new movie. 

(ie. Chris Evans (popular for his titular role as Captain America in Marvel movies) plays the main protagonist in this thrilling action film )

Honestly, parentheses are your friend when it comes to dropping knowledge on actors. 

Go back to your synopsis of the film and place parentheses with the actor’s name who plays the character you’re mentioning.

When you first mention a character, place the actor’s name who played the character in parentheses.

If a particular actor stood out to you, or if you’re familiar with their work then write a sentence or two expanding on how their history as an actor contributed to their performance in the context of the current film.

8. Add a Conclusion

This is not recommended by everyone but I find that adding a conclusion is extremely helpful when writing a movie review, especially as the writer. 

Again, not everyone does this but I find that it helps you to figure out what it is you’re really trying to say. 

You take all of the observations that you made as well as your final sentiments towards the film and you determine why that evidence brings you to your final judgment of the movie.

People should be able to read just the conclusory paragraph and determine what your review is about. 

Your conclusion should not be too long. A paragraph or two should suffice.

• [name of the movie] is [good, average, or bad] because…
• Summarize your main arguments for why the film was good, average, or bad.
• Would you recommend this film to readers?

9. Study the professionals. 

Right now, you have a messy draft of thoughts, ideas, and analyses on the movie but to construct it into a phenomenal movie review, you first have to know what a phenomenal movie review looks like.

If you go to the Pulitzer Prize website , they have archives of movie reviews written by professional film critics from large publications. 

Reading these reviews helps to understand the structure, format, and mindset of film critics. 

I read many of them and compiled them for my own personal research and one thing I learned is that a really good film review will make you want to watch a movie you’d never considered before. 

They use a lot of adjectives and descriptive language to paint the image of the movie and give you a glimpse of what it’s like to be immersed in the movie yourself without giving the whole thing away.

They don’t shy away from inserting their own personal opinions and perspectives in their review but the movie is always the main character of the review. 

I’ve gathered some of the best reviews that won Pulitzer Prizes and some reviews from top renowned film critics and organized them in the document here. Sign up to get it sent straight to your email. 

Read up on some movie reviews online or sign up on the form above and I’ll send 50 of the best movie reviews to your inbox.

Note down some adjectives, descriptive words, phrases, or writing styles that the professionals use that you would like to emulate in your own review.

Revisit your Word document with your disjointed answered questions and flesh out your ideas to resemble professional writing styles you find to match the movie review you’re going for.

10. Edit Edit Edit 

Editing is probably my favorite part because you already have all of the ingredients out and prepped, it’s just a matter of strategically combining them to make it as easily digestible for readers as possible. To mold it to the reader’s taste.

While editing, you may notice some details that you initially wrote down that don’t fit into your overall message. Knix it. 

I’ll also say this, in studying the movie reviews of professionals, the average word count for their movie reviews was about 927 words . 

Because of this, as someone who tends to over-write, I keep in mind to not be redundant in my speech. Say it powerfully, once, maybe reiterate if appropriate but no need to beat a dead horse. 

You don’t need to repeat 6 times that the lighting was too dark. Make it clear that the dark lighting was an issue once or twice and that should suffice. 

And you may also want to go through all the times that you repeated the same adjective (good, average, bad) and replace them with new adjectives or more descriptive phrases.

And if you’re underwriting, maybe find another detail within the movie that you can expand upon some more. If you liked or didn’t like something, make sure to theorize your reasoning for why you feel the way you do about the film. 

Download an extension on your web browser that will read out the text of your document for you. I use Google Chrome and downloaded the Read Aloud Extension .

Listen to your review out loud and edit anything that doesn’t flow easily from one point to the next.

This type of editing gives your eyes a break and allows you to experience your review in a more natural way, encouraging a more seamless, easily comprehensible flow of your thoughts.

Keep in mind that you may have repeated the same words over and over. Go back to the times when you said the movie was good, bad, or average, and replace those areas with more creative language, descriptive terms, and such.

Additional Advice on How to Write A Movie Review

1. write your review in the present tense.

From the book, Five Stars! How to Become a Film Critic, the World’s Greatest Job , one piece of advice that really stuck with me was that you should write your movie reviews in the present tense. 

This means that instead of saying, “This movie was good,” you would say, “This movie is good.”

At first, I ignored this advice because I didn’t understand why it was necessary to do this but after having written hundreds of reviews, it feels wrong to refer to a movie in past tense and I’m actively trying to change my ways now. 

Here’s why it’s weird: when you speak about a movie in the past tense, it’s almost as if the movie died.

The reality is that the movie is in the past tense for the writer because they’ve already watched it, but for the reader, the movie is sometimes still unchartered territory. You should treat the movie as something still alive and still presently relevant. 

The movie wasn’t good. It STILL IS good. So speak about it presently when appropriate. 

2. Use compelling language, not just adjectives

Former film critic for the New York Times, A.O. Scott , emphasizes the importance of being creative with your language when writing movie reviews. 

Tap back into those English classes where you learned similes, metaphors, and the like.

Also, there is no need to overdo it with the adjectives.

In studying outstanding movie reviews versus your average movie review, I found that reviews from top critics don’t actually use more adjectives than your average critic. But – they do use more unique adjectives, meaning that they have more variety in the adjectives that they do use. 

Read reviews from some top critics here for some inspiration.

3. When in doubt, site someone else

This is a piece of advice from my experience on how to write a movie review.

Movie reviews are highly based on opinion. It’s difficult to be objective with art.

But considering that everyone receives and views art differently, it is helpful to consider the film from a different point of view.

When you are an opinionated person, you can tend to offend people. If you watch a movie that’s on a more culturally sensitive topic, you absolutely CANNOT skip the research. 

Pull from factual, board-certified research journals, pull from well-established online publications, and pull from articles written by people who have a personal understanding of the controversial topic that’s being discussed. 

There’s nothing worse than presenting an unfounded opinion as fact. Sometimes it’s best to take a neutral, observer point of view rather than insert your beliefs too deeply into the film analysis.

Also, if you have a hot take as an opinion, it’s smart to play devil’s advocate with yourself and show audiences that you understand a different point of view and have taken it into consideration. 

You want the reader to understand that even if you don’t like the movie, it doesn’t mean that they might not enjoy the movie as well.

At the end of the day, the reader should have as much knowledge as possible to make the best decision for themselves, not feel like you’re trying to indoctrinate them with your beliefs.

Tools for Writing A Movie Review

The guided movie review generator.

I kid you not, I use this tool on a good chunk of my reviews where there’s nothing particularly remarkable about the film to write about. 

This movie review generator breaks down things to discuss in 3 stand-out moments or aspects of the film. 

Just think of 3 things that set this film apart from other films and write about it. 

It’s not perfect by any means but it gives a good foundation to fast-forward you to the “editing” portion of the movie review. 

Try the Guided Movie Review Generator !

The AI Movie Review Generator

This generator can give you some ideas on some creative language that you can incorporate into your final review.

Try the AI Movie Review Generator !

In Conclusion…

Writing a movie review does not need to be hard, stressful, or overwhelming. Just follow these 10 steps on how to write a movie review and you will have all of the essential information you need to create a solid review.

Here are the 10 steps again:

• Watch the Movie (you don’t NEED to watch it twice) & Take Notes
• Identify Your Audience
• Craft An Introduction
• Write a Brief Synopsis in your own words
• Evaluate the Movie
• Highlight Important Aspects of Analysis
• Know the Actor’s Portfolios
• Add a Conclusion
• Study the professionals.
• Edit Edit Edit

Keep in mind that if you have the space to be more creative with your reviews, take it! One of my favorite reviews is Roger Ebert who disguised a review for the movie ET as an endearing letter to his grandchildren.

As long as what you’re doing is resonating with the audience and answers their questions easily and efficiently then you’re doing it right.

Hope I was able to explain how to write a movie review effortlessly and as helpfully as possible. Happy movie reviewing!

Do you have any questions on how to write a movie review? Let me know in the comments below!

And be sure to subscribe for the latest blog updates (form in sidebar).

Peace, love, and lots of popcorn,

When I'm not over-analyzing movies, I'm eating chocolate, belting my favorite songs, and binge-watching reality dating shows. Feel free to share your opinions with me and follow me through my social links!

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How to write a movie review [Updated 2023]

Writing a movie review is a great way to practice critical analysis skills. In this post, we explore what a movie review is, how to start a film review, and steps for writing and revising it.

What is a movie review?

A movie review is a concise evaluation of a film’s content and formal elements (cinematography, sound, lighting, etc.). Also known as a film review, a movie review considers not just what a film means, but how it means. Essentially, when you write a film review, you are conducting a critical analysis or close reading of a movie.

How to write a movie review

To write a successful review about a movie, you need to evaluate a film’s content, as well as its form. In this section, we break down these two components.

A film’s content includes its plot (what it’s about), characters, and setting. You’ll need to determine the main plot points of the film and how the film’s story works overall.

Are there parts that don’t make sense? Are certain characters more important than others? What is the relationship between the movie’s plot and its setting? A discussion of a film’s content provides good context for an analysis of its form.

Form refers to all of the aesthetic and/or formal elements that make a story into a movie. You can break down form into several categories:

• Cinematography : This element comprises all aspects of the movie that derive from the way a camera moves and works. You’ll need to pay attention to elements like camera angles, distances between the camera and the subject, and types of shots (i.e. close-up, aerial, etc.).
• Lighting : Films use lighting in various ways to communicate certain effects. For instance, noir films tend to utilize chiaroscuro lighting (deep contrasts between light and dark) to express a sense of secrecy or foreboding.
• Sound : The way a film uses sound can vary considerably. Most movies have a soundtrack, sometimes with music composed specifically for the film. Some films play around with ambient sounds or use silence at key points to signify important moments. What is the relation of sound to the image in specific scenes or sequences? Do sounds link images? Does it ever become more important than the image?
• Editing : The movies we watch online or in theaters have been heavily edited in order to achieve a particular flow. When you are preparing to write a movie review, pay close attention to elements like the length of shots, transitions between scenes, or any other items that were finalized after filming.
• Costumes, Props, and Sets : Are the costumes and props believable in relation to the film’s content and setting? Are costumes particularly elaborate or understated?

The important thing to remember when you are analyzing the formal elements of a movie is that every image, sound, movement, and object has meaning and has been planned. Your review needs to take into consideration how these elements work together with the film’s storyline to create a whole experience.

Once you’ve considered both the content and form of the movie that you’re reviewing, you can begin to evaluate the film as a whole. Is it a successful movie? Would you recommend it? Why or why not?

Step-by-step review writing tips

1. watch the movie.

The first time that you watch the movie, look for overarching themes or patterns, and establish what the film is primarily about. Take note of the main characters, as well as the setting.

2. Watch the movie again and take notes

Next, watch the movie again and take notes as you are doing so, keeping in mind the formal aspects discussed above. Write down anything that seems significant.

3. Evaluate the film’s form and content

Using the categories described above, and any handouts or guides provided by your instructor, evaluate the film’s formal elements along with its content. Are there elements of the movie that strike you as unfamiliar or perplexing? Are there elements that are repeated to emphasize a point or perception?

4. Write your review

A good movie review will contain:

• an introductory paragraph that tells the reader what movie you’re reviewing
• a paragraph that summarizes the movie
• several body paragraphs that explore significant formal elements and how they relate to the content
• a concluding paragraph that discusses your overall reaction to the film and whether or not you would recommend it to others

5. Create citations

You’ll need cite the film and any secondary sources that you consulted while writing. Use BibGuru’s citation generator to instantly create accurate citations for movies, as well as articles, books, and websites.

You may also want to consult a guide on how to cite a film in MLA or another major citation style .

6. Revise and proofread

Once you’ve written your review, you should set aside some time to revise and proofread it before you turn it in.

Movie review checklist

You can use this checklist to ensure that you’ve considered all of the formal elements, as well as the content, of the film that you’re reviewing:

🔲 Cinematography (camera moves and types of shots)

🔲 Lighting (natural vs. artificial light, contrasts between light and dark)

🔲 Sound (soundtrack, sound vs. silence, loud vs. soft sounds)

🔲 Editing (length of shots, transitions between scenes)

🔲 Costumes, props, and sets (believable vs. staged)

🔲 Content (plot, characters, setting)

Frequently Asked Questions about how to write a review about a movie

A movie review should contain a brief summary of the film, several paragraphs of analysis that focus on form and content, and a concluding paragraph that sums up your reaction.

Before you write anything, you need to watch the film at least once. Take notes as you’re watching and pay attention to formal elements and patterns. Then, write your review. The final step is to revise your work before you turn it in.

The tone for a movie review should be critical, yet objective. The goal of most reviews is to persuade a reader to either see a film or not.

The best film reviews balance plot summary with critical analysis of significant formal elements. A reader should be able to decide if she wants to see the film after reading the review.

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