Why Online Film Criticism and Audiences Are Growing Further Apart

Written by

“Is film criticism still relevant?” That is a question I have been hearing a lot lately. Conversely, I think the more important question is, “Is film criticism relevant to you?” In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I don’t consider myself to be a film critic. I don’t have a journalism degree. However, I don’t hate film criticism. As a matter of fact, some of my favorite writers are critics. I grew up reading the reviews of Roger Ebert, Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott. When I was younger, I wanted to grow up and become a critic. As an adult, it feels like that dream has changed and the significance of film criticism isn’t quite what it was. As of late, I have noticed a strange disparity among casual moviegoers and online film criticism when it comes to some major films this past year. This isn’t some new trend that only started in 2016 (see this article or this one); it is something I believe has been happening for some time. If the rocky relationship between critics and audiences is a marriage, I think it’s safe to say some audiences have filed for divorce. ›››

Continue reading Why Online Film Criticism and Audiences Are Growing Further Apart