How to Write a Movie Review
Writing a movie review is a great way of expressing your opinion of a movie. The purpose of most movie reviews is to help the reader in determining whether they want to watch, rent or buy the movie. The review should give enough details about the movie that the reader can make an informed decision, without giving anyway any essentials such as the plot or any surprises. Below are our guidelines and tips for writing a good movie review.
1. Watch the movie
The first step in writing the review is to watch the movie. Watch the movie in a relaxed environment you are familiar with. You do not want to be distracted by an unfamiliar room. Watching the movie a second time will help you absorb a lot more detail about the movie. Most movie reviewers take notes as they watch the movie review.
2. Give your opinion
Most movie reviewers will give their opinion of the movie. This is important as the reviewer can express the elements of the movie they enjoyed or disliked. However, as in all good journalism, the reviewer should also give impartial details, and allow the reader to make their own mind over an issue the reader liked or disliked. Opinions should be explained to allow the reader to determine whether they would agree with your opinion .
Many regular movie reviewers will develop a following. If one can find a reviewer who shares a similar taste in films, one can confidently follow the reviewers recommendations.
3. Who is your audience?
You need to consider who your likely readers are. Writing a movie review for children requires a different approach than if writing for a movie club. Ensure you report on the factors that matter to your likely audience.
4. Give an outline
Give the outline of the movie, but don't give away essential details such as the end or any surprises. If there is a big surprise you want to entice readers by telling them something special happens, just don't say what.
5. Actors
If the movie contains actors, as most do, detail who is starring in the movie and how well you think they acted.
6. Structure
Did the movie follow a regular predictable story line, or did it get you thinking like a Quentin Tarantino movie?
7.Cinematography and lighting
Give details about how well the movie was shot and directed. Was the lighting good in the moody scenes?
8. Music
Did the movie have its own score like Koyaanisqatsi or ET, or did it feature songs from popular artists?
9. Read, read and read
Read and check your review thoroughly. It can be embarrassing to find errors in your work after it has been published. This is especially important for reviews that will be published on the Internet, as search engines are always looking for the correct spellings of key words.
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wow, thx helped me alot with my homework!
thanks to the one(s) who posted this helped me a whole bunch :D
Moives are complicated to review how do you rap it all up into one paragrah.
thanks bro ur guidelines were helpful to me in my journalism projects
not so good
verry verry helpful and accurate
mmmmm... doesnt help my situation.
very helpful thanks
I want to thank you for this useful read; I look ahead to more improvements and will be coming.
IT helped me a lot thanks
it helped a lot
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Was amazing helped heaps!!!
My Teacher Used The same thing! No Fair!
helped a lot!!! very greatful!!!
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yeah
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I needed to write a film review for the movie Shine, and was in a black spot of HEEELP! So thankyou, you've helped me so much.
This helped me a lot, to write my film review on Bend It Like Beckham, thank you.
Very thorough and informative. Thank you so much, this will definitely help me get me started on my essay! :)
Thanks so much! It helped me write my film review for English (GCSE course) on a story called Keel- A chilling ghost story about a girl who befriends a perilous companion.
Thanks Again
Anonymous xxx
<3
i have got one on To Kill a Mockingbird' Wish me luck!!
GOOD .EXACTLY GOOD . I WAS SEARCHING FOR THIS FOR A COMPETITION . THIS TYPE OF WORKS MUST BE CONGRATULATED........ALL THE BEST .....THANK UUUUUUUUUU VERY MUCH....................
this helped me get through my english exam :)
This was exactly what i was looking for. You hit the nail on the head...
THANKS A LOT HELPED OUT HEAPS!
i was looking for tips like these tahnxx they were great
This has helped me with my Creative writting class. I am writting a movie review on the movie Soul surfer and my teacher told me to talk about the acting talent and the overall production/editing of the film I had no where to start so I greatly appriciate you uploading this my next step is to know when a review si to ovely opinated. Do you know where i could get help on that ?
Speaking of #9, should the line towards the end of #2 ("...allow the reader to make their own mind over an issue the reader liked or disliked.") actually be "...allow the reader to make their own mind over an issue the /reviewer/ liked or disliked."? (minus the forward-slashes, of course)
Thank you! i had to write a review of Bridge to Terabithia, the teacher told me what to do.. but i forgot easily!!
THANKS SO MUCH!
Thks I needed to write one for grave of the fire flies, I am a year six student
this really helped me!!!!
omg thanku
i had 2 write a review on 'The Princess Bride' which was a challenge it helped sooo much!
had to write a review of Crash, for political film. Helped sooooo much thanks
thanks for the tips knew most of this stuff anyway but not everyone prob did so its good for them but not me ok
Thanks man, I'm supposed to write a review on Cinema Paradiso and The Color of Paradise and I felt like I ended up writing a synopsis, and then a critique. This got me back on track. It was really helpful.
thx so much need to write review on field of dreams for english and i dont know what to do
thank u soooooooooooooooo much.
thnks but is this in order?
THANKS i need to write a film review for sandman iand this helped
SKILLAGE
thanks now i have my head straight on what to do xD
A great read! Helped me immensely.
This is very helpful))
you could probably add a little more to it but it really hepled me
Yeah Braahhhhh
this helped a lot 4 me thanks
omg this was so helpful i passed my review :)
cheers!!!
this was very helpful thx<3
thank you so much! i need this !
this guideline is a bit informal and fragment consider revising.
i think so 2 !!!
This is awesome and helped a lot thanks..........:D :D !!!!!
x
Thanks for the useful info now.Thanks for share it.
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Thank you very much, as this was my first reference ever made to write a review, it helped me a lot in shaping the structure of the review.
MASK, KGF
I got t write a movie review and this helped me! :)
Ahhhh ! you helped me soo much ! Coursework planning.. DONE :D
I have to write a review on meet the parents.
and I suck and english but i already have main points on the movie and themes and other stuff written down, its just the format gives me problems. but I do hope these steps will help me, I read others got A + using these steps I hope I get one as well =)
thanks alot this really did help.
thanks alot this helped me so much i tried everything and this was the most understandable.
thank you so much! you helped me with my school homework :)
thx
thank you
i have to do a review for a base-line assessment for my english class and i must say this is the best guide ive found on the internet. i absolutely suck at reviews and try to avoid them where ever possible. but as i am starting my GCSE's in high school, i really needed the help. thanks so much
Thanks, good advicee(:
Thank-you so much I aced my English coursework because I followed your advice.
Thank you it realy helped me.
thanks for the tips.
I've started my own blog about movie reviews, it's in Bahasa (Indonesia.
please visit and make comments..
Sorry, not trying to offend you... but you are honestly a terrrible, terrible writer - i fear a large number of ESL student are taking your advice - it's frustrating to have to 'un-learn' this kind of ingrained methodology before teaching the 'correct' way to do it... please stop!!!
How should you write it then?
Because I just want my coursework done tbh? x
fanxxx soo much!Helped me looads and is much better than 'know it all' sites out there and much more understandable:)
once again thank you!!!!
xx
WOW, this website just saved my life. :P
Thank you
thank you to the help ! this site it is so good.. kisses from brazil (peter rodolfo bianca and rafaela biglia ) .
Thanks so much for explaining this, i'm actually a KS3 student but i really want to gain higher marks as i struggle with my english, this has realy helped, thankyou.
Thanks for writing this down. I wanted to write movie reviews for a long time just didn't know where to start.
This really helped i had to write a movie review for english. Truly I am not a critic and had noo clue whatsoever! But, this helped a whole lot! Thanks(:
This really helped me, i didn't have a clue what i write for my film reveiw. I had to do a film review on 'Mamma Mia' for a essay. I watched it twice and had to make a negative and positive review about it. I was just sitting there staring at a blank page not knowing what to write, then i found this website and it really helped me how i should write it and lay it out. I really hope i done well in my essay :) Thank you so so so... much. xD xD xD
Thanx XxxX
you saved my ass on my english course work thanks x x
You should also add in star rating, achievements (as in nationally recognised awards), financial management (how much did it cost to make, how much did it end up making) and if its a sequel to another movie, maybe make some camparisons,
These are just suggestions,
Cheers.
I got an F in my homework and I am in a Selective school .this so doesn't help.
You retards must be joking to be able to like a site like this!!!
agreed.
mabey your just a f**Kwit who should learn sometin, that might help
They also have teachers at your 'selective' school. Just not the internet.
Don't blame others for your poor grade.
You submitted the work, and you got the bad grade.
i went someone to help me write a movie plssss..
thax
Thankx i think this website will really help me.
all the other websites i have looked up speek profesonaly and i dont no what the mean, this is easy to under stand.
THANK YOU sosososososososos much
this website really helped me out i am in year 9 and it helped me to properly lay everythin out
AHHHH!! relief!
Thank you for this easy concise and, most importantly, UNDERSTANDABLE explanation - all the other websites I've been on have just dumped a load of rubbish and confusing words like 'analyse', 'identify this/that'... blah blah blah... What the hell does analyse even mean?
Anyways... This has helped me a lot more thatn those other stupid websites. i had to write a film review of the Dark Knight film for my GCSE coursework... After reading this website, it helped me feel more confident about that upcoming task
And I got an A* in it too! Yay!
Thank you so so so so so so (i could go on forever with this 'so's!)
Love you tons xxx
How would I write a movie review if i haven't seen it yet???
watch it on yuotube :)
You don't write a review, you write a preview based on what you've heard and read about the movie and also the trailer if there is any. In any case best thing to do is to watch the movie and write a review about it after.
This is a great source, it has lots of information and gave me lots of details. So easy to understand. May be the best site I have ever searched.
So easy to understand that a 9 year old can even write a movie review and get an "A"!
KEEP THE GOOD WORK ON!WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU AND SUPPORT YOU!
Thanks for the tips..now i need to get started on my review
Great spirit! keep the good work on!
This went great i got Excellings (A's for all you's who don't understand this grading system) itr ehpled my structure great. One or two detaisl that i though missing and you do have to use other istes aswell, but still.... GREAT JOB!!!
Oh, and Yeah THANX!
i think i would fail if it wasnt for this site.
<333ing the last minute assignments hahaa
Now now, don't think that. give yourself more confidence
yoyoyoyoyo wazzz up man i didnt even read it yet :p but am guessing its gd but one guy said it gave him an "f" daym! thats nasty i dont wan no grade like dat :/ i want an "A" man an "A" yo! an A+!! man i wanna be da best :p
lol wow you sound very ignorant on here hopefully your writing here is NOT a representation of how you plan on writing your movie review! I think if you pay close attention and follow the guidelines of this site you will do a good job :)
not helpful at all.. i followed step by step and i got F in media. hate this site...why did i use it for my exam?? DONT USE THIS SITE...BAD AS ADVISE...WRONG STRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING IS WRONG>>>>GRRRRRRRr
I think the word you're looking for is adviCe not adviSe....
You can't blame this site for getting you a "F" I think it was useful and I got a great grade for my movie review. Even my teacher ask what site I used. He {my teacher} said he also use this site to grade our papers. You must didn't follow the directions or read wrong. SHAME ON YOU!
Of course this review structure isn't going to help if it didn't fit within the parameters of the task you had to do! Did you read your task requirements or even think about asking a teacher or friends for help before it was due? This is great as a general guide but it won't work if you're given specific task requirements; you have to address those.
Sounds like not just a fail in Media, but a total fail.
Don't blame other people for your laziness, and in-ability to use information and your imagination. Fool.....
your a douchebag
LOL! You can't blame a site for your poor grade. It's your fault for relying on one resource. I do agree that this site is not that great and doesn't have alot of the vital elements needed for a GOOD review, but the fault is ultimately yours. Sorry =P
This Guide Saved My Grades and Me In My English Class. Thanx... LOL
thanxxxxxxxxx
this site saved me really......omg thanks this one is really good.i really wanted to know how to right a good and efficient review.......
Thank you for writing and sharing this clear, concise guide to writing informative movie reviews. It's quite useful - especially for English language learners who want to share their opinions about films, but have limited experience actually writing reviews, essays, or research reports.
Good job!
This webpage has provided me with a good framework basis for movie reviewing.
Check out my examples at http://www.genericfilmblog.com
I'm in a creative writting class - hopefully this will help - thanks
Great information, thanks alot, now i might get a 9 for my review =D
I found this website very helpful for my film review!! thank u!!
ya it helped me to its a life saveur lol
UM, thanx, this also helped me with my english homework. :) :) :)
hey....i am from KSA...can i have your email ID i have some questions
good site to improve me ..... as some one known's better when some is best is delivered to him / her
because of this website i got an a* in my end of the year exam
I found this website very helpful for my film review!! thank u!!
i also found this site helpful!! thanx guyz
Thanks a bunch guys this is definetely useful material.
Areally helpful site. thanks
i found it helpful too. i was confused but not anymore
this was a surprisingly helpful site! covers all the essentials, although could use some examples of these from actual reviews. :-)
this site was straight forward and easy to understand. thanx a bunch
I think that this site is a good site for people who want to do a good film reviw look like me. It is so good too for learners of english!
Well done! Theirs web site have the essencial informations about films reviw
i had to write a movie review for a english assignment, but i didnt know how to write one and what needs to be in a movie review. this site saved me! thanks^^
Thankyou for these tips.
I am currently writing a last minute review and I needed these.
THANKS A BUNCH MATE!
I THOUGHT I WAS STUFFED WITH MY ENGLISH REVIEW UNTIL I FOUND YOUR SITE!
YET AGAIN THANKS!!
FROM SARAH <33
this guide help clarify on how to a write a film review
thx to the ppl who created it
good simple steps
I was having a lot of trouble getting started, but now I have a feeling things will flow very smoothly...
this was very help because i also had to write a review and the website they gave us was not availbable so this was very helpful. THANKS!!!
Thanks for making this site! Helped with my review I have to write for Media Arts:) Thanks again!
Thank you very much for sharing your insight and experience with regards to reviewing a movi. It is helpful to have a frame of reference to go by and a format to aid in the structure of the delivery. I wrote for my college paper in the 9o's and I did some movie reviews then. I enjoyed it then and I hope to do some more in the future with this added tool.
This page is really useful as a reference tool because it's so simple and straighforward. THe publisher said all that needed to be in one or two lines! Thanks a bunch mate!
Thank you for your guide, it has proved very helpful with my english homework. x x
this page was helpful thanx <33
Thanx sooo much i have an english assement tomorrow, and wehave to write a n-the-spot movie review. This site really helped. =]
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