How to Write a Film Review

Whether a film is a complete flop or a brilliant piece of art, if there are people watching it, it still deserves a review. A great film review should be entertaining, persuasive, full of information, and offer a unique perspective without revealing too much of the plot. An exceptional review could even be considered an art form in itself. Keep reading to learn how to analyze a film, create a compelling argument, and write a truly engaging review like the example provided.

Gather key information about the movie. You can do this either before or after watching the film, but it's recommended to gather the facts beforehand as you will need them for your review. These are the details you'll need to know:

• Title of the movie and release year.
• Director's name.
• Names of the main actors.
• Genre.

Take notes while watching the film. Before you sit down to watch the movie, grab a notebook or a laptop to jot down your thoughts. Films can be long, and it’s easy to forget important details or key moments in the plot. Taking notes helps you capture these small but significant points so you can refer back to them later.

• Note any standout moments, whether they are positive or negative. This could be the costumes, makeup, cinematography, music, etc. Think about how these elements relate to the overall film and what they contribute to the review’s context.
• Make note of any behavioral patterns that become evident as the plot unfolds.
• Pause the movie frequently to make sure you don’t miss anything and rewind if necessary.

Analyze the mechanisms of the film. As you watch the film, take note of the different elements that come together. During or after viewing, ask yourself about the impression the film leaves in these areas:

• Director. Pay attention to how the director chooses to portray or explain events. If the pacing feels slow or there are missing details, you can often attribute this to the director. If you’ve seen other films by the same director, compare them and consider which one you preferred.
• Cinematography. What techniques were used to film the movie? What environmental factors helped establish the film’s mood?
• Script. Evaluate the script, including dialogue and character development. Do you find the storyline creative and unpredictable, or boring and weak? Are the character’s lines acceptable to you?
• Editing. Does the film flow smoothly from one scene to another? Take note of lighting and other effects. If the film uses computer-generated imagery, think about whether it appears realistic and fits with the film’s tone.
• Costume design. Does the clothing align with the film’s style? Does it help highlight the overall atmosphere or does it feel out of place?
• Set design. Observe how the setting affects the other elements. Does it enhance or diminish your impression of the film? If the film was shot in a real location, is it a fitting choice?
• Soundtrack or music. Does it complement the scenes? Is it used too much or too little? Does it build suspense or evoke certain emotions? The soundtrack can be a key factor in how the film feels, especially if the songs carry specific messages or significance.

Watch it again. You can’t fully grasp a film by watching it just once, especially if you’re pausing frequently to take notes. Watch it at least one more time before writing your review. Pay attention to details you may have missed during the first viewing. This time, focus on different aspects. For example, if you took many notes on acting during the first viewing, focus on cinematography during the second one.

Develop a thesis based on your analysis. After thoroughly studying the film, what unique perspective can you offer the reader? Come up with a central idea to discuss and back it up with observations about various film elements. Your thesis should appear early in the review. Having a strong argument will help you move beyond summarizing the film and into the realm of film critique, which itself is an art form worth exploring. Ask yourself the following questions to develop an engaging thesis for your review:

• Does the film reflect a recent event or current issue? This could be the director’s way of addressing deeper, more important themes. Look for ways to connect the film’s content with the “real” world.
• Does the film convey a message or attempt to evoke specific reactions or emotions from the audience? You could discuss whether the film achieves its objectives.
• Do you have any personal connection to the film? You could write a review based on your own emotional responses and include personal stories to make it more compelling for the reader.

After discussing your thesis, provide a brief summary of the plot. It is helpful for readers to know what to expect before deciding whether to watch the film you’re reviewing. Write a concise summary of the plot, including the names of the main characters, describing the setting, and giving a brief overview of the main conflict or theme. Never break the first rule of film reviews: don’t reveal too much! Don’t spoil the movie before your audience has had a chance to watch it.

• When mentioning characters in the plot summary, list the actors’ names right after in parentheses.
• Make sure to mention the director and the full title of the film.
• If you feel the need to mention specific details or spoilers, warn the reader in advance.

Move on to analyzing the film. Write a few paragraphs discussing key details of the film that reinforce your thesis. Focus on aspects like acting, direction, cinematography, and setting. Use a clear and engaging writing style to draw the reader in.

• Keep your writing clear and easy to follow. Avoid using too many specialized film terms, and instead opt for language that is accessible to a wider audience.
• Present both the events of the film and your personal views. For example, you might say, 'The Baroque soundtrack contrasts sharply with the 20th-century setting,' which provides more insight than simply writing, 'The music choice in the film is strange.'

Use plenty of examples to support your opinions. If you offer an opinion about the film, back it up with specific, descriptive examples. Describe scenes, the acting of particular actors, camera angles, or other elements. You can also quote dialogue to strengthen your point. This approach helps readers experience the film through your lens and provides a solid foundation for your critique.

Make your review stand out. You can treat your film review like a formal academic essay, but it will be much more enjoyable if you make it uniquely yours. If your writing style is witty and humorous, let that shine through in your review. If you tend to be more serious and impactful, that works too. Allow your language and writing style to reflect your perspective and personality. Readers will appreciate it much more.

Conclude your review with a final summary. Recap your initial thesis and offer your recommendation on whether the audience should see the film. The conclusion should also be compelling and engaging, as it serves as the final takeaway for your readers.

Revise your critique. After completing your first draft, read it over and assess whether it flows smoothly and follows a proper structure. You may need to move paragraphs, eliminate sentences, or add more details to enrich sections that lack depth. Be sure to edit your critique at least once, if not two or three times, until it feels polished.

• Ask yourself if your critique stays focused on your main argument. Does your conclusion effectively summarize the points you initially made?
• Check if your critique includes enough information about the film. You might need to go back and add descriptions that help readers understand the movie's plot better.
• Consider whether your critique stands out on its own. Have you offered something unique in the film discussion? What will readers take away from your critique that they wouldn’t get just by watching the movie?

Proofread your critique. Ensure you've accurately spelled the names of the actors and the dates. Fix any typographical, grammatical, or spelling errors. A polished and error-free critique will appear much more professional than one full of careless mistakes.

Publish or share your critique. Post it on your blog, share it on a film discussion forum, upload it to Facebook, or email it to friends and family. Cinema is the quintessential art form of our time, just like any art, it sparks debates, provides a mirror for self-reflection, and greatly influences our culture. All of this means that films deserve discussion, whether they are critically acclaimed or disastrously bad. Congratulations on your contribution to the conversation.

• Understand that just because a film doesn’t align with your taste, it doesn’t mean you should write a scathing review of it. A good critic is someone who helps others find films they’ll enjoy. Since you don’t share the same preferences as everyone, you should be able to tell whether someone might like a film, even if it’s not to your liking.
• Read plenty of film reviews and consider what makes some critiques more useful than others. The value of a review is not always in its accuracy (how much the reader agrees with the critic) but in its usefulness (how well the critic predicts whether the reader will enjoy the film).
• If you didn’t enjoy the film, avoid being rude or malicious. If possible, try to avoid watching films that you’re certain you’ll dislike.
• Don’t forget—never spoil the plot details of the film!