5 Online Movie Critics Every Film Buff Should Follow!

The rise of the Internet brought many major changes to the media industry, especially as social media took over official news platforms with it’s light-hearted, more accessible content. Film criticism has been hit especially hard, with many publications reassigning or getting rid of their critics altogether. Nowadays, studios prioritize inviting influencers to their screenings rather than professional critics. But is this really the end of film criticism? Or is it the birth of a new type of criticism that’s accessible to everyone?

Before famed critic Roger Ebert died, he posted on his blog about the “golden age of movie criticism”. In the 20th century, film criticism was a niche profession held by very few. Now, anyone and everyone can be a film critic – and a lot more people are qualified than you might think! In this entry, Ebert wrote about how astonished he was to find film critics all over the world, disguised in occupations like IT, engineering, and marketing. Granted, Ebert died before influencers truly took over the media landscape, but his optimistic outlook on the future of criticism stands true. Sure, there are plenty of idiots out there. But there are also a lot of talented writers and vloggers with thoughts that are worth hearing. Below you can find a short list of some of our favorite internet critics! 

1. Megan Cruz (@jstoobs)

Megan is everything that a formal film critic was, but better, because she highlights female filmmakers. She’s also incredibly intelligent and isn’t afraid to say anything negative about a recent release, which we really appreciate.

2. Thomas Flight

Thomas Flight is more of a video essayist than a critic in the strictest sense, but we appreciate his content for how in-depth he goes in his effort to dissect a film. We’ve read a lot of concerns about how the value of a "real" film critic lies in their knowledge of the subject. We'd argue that Thomas Flight is one of the most knowledgeable content creators out there. 

3. Maddi Koch (@maddikoch)

Maddi’s TikTok channel is interesting because it isn’t centered around recent releases. She accepts a few sponsorships and talks about what she watched recently, but the majority of her content revolves around recommending movies she thinks deserve more hype.

4. Nirupam (@hugeasmammoth.films)

Not only is Nirupam hilarious, but she also demonstrates what happens when a formerly niche profession occupied by mostly white men becomes accessible to anyone. She tailors her content towards queer audiences, which is really cool.

5. Stories for Coffee

I started watching Olivia’s channel when I was in high school. Aside from providing excellent recommendations for movies and books, her videos are beautifully filmed.