How to Write a Movie Review – A Beginner’s Guide
Have you ever walked out of a cinema, feeling an array of emotions, and wished you could write a movie review to express your thoughts? Well, you can!
Anyone can write a movie review, regardless of their writing experience. Writing a movie review is an exciting way to share your thoughts and opinions about the films you watch. Whether you’re an avid movie-goer or a casual viewer, knowing how to write a movie review is a valuable skill that allows you to express your unique perspective and contribute to the world of cinema.
Despite popular belief there is no right or wrong when it comes to tastes and opinions of films. You are free to have your own thoughts and ideas about what you like and what you don’t. Nobody can stop you from having your own unique tastes and that is a magical thing. However, having the ability to express your opinion in a review is a little more tricky. You need to self analyse, why do you have that opinion? You need to break it down and dissect it. Understand the reasons why you think what you do. And then you need to express that and write it down in a way that is simple to read and easy to understand.
This guide is meant to hold your hand and walk you through your very first review. We want to give you an understanding of how you form your thoughts into words, structure a review that makes sense and express your opinions in a way that people will understand and appreciate it, not matter if you thought the movie was good or bad. Most importantly we want people to enjoy reading your reviews.
We have broken the review process down into six easy steps! So grab some popcorn, get cosy, and let’s dive into the exciting world of movie reviewing!
STEP 1 – WATCH THE MOVIE
The first step in mastering the art of movie review writing is, of course, watching the movie itself. Watching the movie attentively is crucial for capturing its essence and making an informed opinion. Find a comfortable spot, whether it’s at the cinema, your living room, or even a cosy blanket fort. Immerse yourself in the story, the characters, the captivating visuals and enjoy. Pay attention to the plot, the dialogue, the cinematography and the performances. Take note of the emotions the movie evokes and the messages it conveys. Remember, a movie review is not just a summary; it’s an exploration of the cinematic experience. By truly engaging with the film, you’ll be able to provide a more honest, authentic and insightful review. So, grab your favourite movie and let the storytelling begin!
STEP 2 – GATHER YOUR THOUGHTS
After watching the movie, take a moment to gather your thoughts and reflect on your overall impression. Did you enjoy the movie? What stood out to you? Did the story captivate your attention? Were the characters compelling and well-developed? Reflecting on your initial reactions will help you form a strong foundation for the basis of your review.
Consider scribbling down some key points or thoughts that resonated with you while watching the movie. These notes will serve as valuable references when you sit down to write your review. Remember, your review should reflect your personal experience and perspective, so don’t be afraid to be honest about what worked and what didn’t.
In addition to your initial impressions, think about the movie’s strengths and weaknesses. Did the plot have any holes or inconsistencies? Were the performances convincing? Was the cinematography visually stunning? By analysing different aspects of the film, you can provide a well-rounded review that offers insights to your readers.
STEP 3 – STRUCTURE YOUR REVIEW
Now that you have gathered your thoughts and made some initial notes, it’s time to structure your movie review in a clear and organized manner. A basic review consists of three main sections: the ‘Introduction’, the ‘Main Body’, and the ‘Conclusion’. In the ‘Introduction’, you can provide essential details about the movie including the movie’s title, director, main actors, and release date. You can also include a brief statement about your overall impression or opinion. The purpose of the ‘Introduction’ is to capture the attention of the reader and draw them in to what you have to say.
The ‘Main Body’ of your review is where you delve deeper into the movie’s elements. Discuss the plot, character development, cinematography, performances and any other significant aspects that stood out to you. Provide specific examples or scenes to support your points. If applicable, you can compare the movie to similar ones within the genre, highlighting its uniqueness or similarities or compare an actors performance to previous roles they have played. Remember to avoid including spoilers or clearly mark spoiler sections to ensure a spoiler-free experience for readers who haven’t watched the film yet. At the end of the day nobody wants to know what happens and you don’t want to spoil their experience of watching the film. Make sure you break these sections down into paragraphs, keeping each paragraph relevant and when you come to discuss a different point, start a new paragraph.
A good way to think about this is to use sections, each section of your body will cover a different part of the film that you want to talk about and have opinions on.
For example:
Paragraph 1 – Director
Paragraph 2 – Cinematography
Paragraph 3 – Story/Plot
Paragraph 4 – Performances
Paragraph 5 – Special Effects
Paragraph 6 – Music/Soundtrack
Lastly, in the ‘Conclusion’, summarize your main points and restate your overall opinion. It’s an opportunity to provide a final verdict on whether you would recommend the movie to others. You could suggest that it would suit a particular audience or that it may be more appealing to certain age brackets. Wrap up your review with a concise and engaging conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers. The reader needs to walk away with a clear understanding of your opinion on the movie, if you enjoyed the movie or not, what you liked about it and what you didn’t. Also a score or a grade can be used to help establish your feelings on the film. Your aim as a movie reviewer is to inspire the reader to be intrigued enough to want to watch the film themselves regardless of whether or not you enjoyed it (unless it was unwatchable!).
You wanted to to know how to write a movie review? This is how. With these three initial steps you have wrote a review. The next three steps are what turn your regular review into a great review. These next three steps will be what make people keep coming back to read your reviews. These next three steps are the most important so make sure you don’t skip them!
STEP 4 – THE SECOND DRAFT
Now you have finished your movie review it’s best to save your work and walk away. Grab yourself a coffee, go eat a muffin, go for a walk. Just take your mind out of the review. This could be for ten minutes, it could be for an hour, it could even be a day. As you are staring at the same piece of writing for quite some time it is best to take a breather and come back with a clear mind and fresh eyes to start you second draft.
When you go back through your review make sure your asking yourself questions. Are you delivering a confident voice with your words? You need to make sure the reader understands if you like the movie from reading your review. Are you backing up what you say with the reasons for forming your opinions? It is essential that you strike the right balance in your opinions, you must be respectful of others’ opinions and viewpoints, your criticism must be constructive and you want to avoid harsh judgements or personal attacks of any kind. Movies are an art-form and must be treated like that. Always keep in mind the thoughts and opinions of others, we all have different tastes and preferences so just because you did not like it, doesn’t mean the next person won’t.
If there were elements of the film you did not like, make sure you are explaining why. Perhaps explain how you would have done it differently or what you would have liked to have seen, or which plot points you thought should have been developed. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you would have liked to have seen happen if you felt let down by certain parts of the plot. Constructive criticism can be valuable to a filmmaker and you just never know who is reading your reviews…. you would be surprised!
Your second draft allows you to polish your review and fine tune your tone of voice. Make sure that what you are writing is opinionated but informed, criticism is constructive and a reader will have a firm understanding of what you thought about the movie and why.
STEP 5 – MAKE IT YOUR OWN
This is your review so it is important to make it your own. Do you have any history with the film, the franchise, the director? It can be good to give the reader a brief understanding about any connections you have to the movie. This will help the reader to understand some of the opinions you make. Things like personal nostalgia, or even personal experience can all have an impact on how you see the film. Sharing these personal details will give your movie reviews your own unique spin on the review and inform the reader the angle your coming at the film from. There are an awful lot of movie reviewers out there so it is important that you make your reviews your own.
Giving the reader this personal insight will hopefully help to give the reader a better connection with you through your writing and allow the to see the film how you would see it. Not only that but it will hopefully make your reviews more memorable to the reader.
STEP 6 – EDITING
To make your movie review accessible and engaging to a wide range of readers, it’s important to use clear and straightforward language. Avoid using overly complex vocabulary or technical terms that may confuse readers. Instead, opt for descriptive words and simple language that effectively convey your thoughts and emotions. Know your audience and write accordingly. Remember, your goal is to captivate your readers’ attention and make them interested in your review.
Additionally, proofread your review for grammar and spelling errors. While minor mistakes are understandable, excessive errors can distract readers and undermine your credibility. Take the time to review and revise your writing, ensuring that it flows smoothly and is free from grammatical and spelling issues. With a computer it is easy to spellcheck your work, not doing that will come across as lazy and make your writing look rushed. If you take pride in your writing so will the people reading it.
CONGRATULATIONS! Following these steps have enabled you to write your first movie review.
Hopefully this guide has helped you to understand how to write a movie review. We hope this has held your hand and helped you ease your way through your first review. Following these steps will help you to write rational, coherent and informative reviews that the reader will appreciate. Remember to express your opinion while being respectful to the film and the people involved in making it. Keep your writing simple and to the point and make sure the reader walks away with a strong understanding of your opinion and the reasons as to why you have formed them. Sprinkle your own personality into your writing and give your own unique perspective, it will make your reviews more memorable.
Now armed with this new found knowledge on how to write a movie review, go out and discover a world of cinema. Don’t be afraid to try something new, step out of your comfort zone, gravitate to a different genre, discover a new director, revisit classics and find hidden gems. But most importantly make sure you enjoy it!
Still looking for some inspiration. Then check out some of our own reviews HERE.
