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Brett Helling is a gig economy expert who has been running his own small business for over 10 years.

How to Get Paid to Review Movies: [9+ Best Options]

Do you want to make extra cash while indulging in your love for movies? Read this article and learn how to get paid to review movies.

  • You can get paid to review movies on various platforms.
  • Reviewers can earn up to $46,281 annually depending on experience and platform.
  • Essential requirements include strong writing skills, a computer, and stable internet.
  • Consider challenges like time consumption, subjective opinions, and potential repetitive work.

Table of contents

movie review job

Are you an avid film watcher? Do you believe you have what it takes to be a film critic ?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, consider writing movie reviews for money.

Join us as we guide you through everything you need to know about how to get paid to review movies, from the challenges you may face to a step-by-step overview of how to achieve this.

Keep reading to learn more!

Can You Get Paid to Review Movies?

There are numerous ways to get paid to review movies, with various platforms hiring movie reviewers, including online websites and blogs.

These platforms may offer a fixed monthly rate or pay you based on the number of articles you’ve written during that month. Other factors that affect your pay include the number of views your articles receive.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , writers earn an average salary of $69,510 per year or $33.42 per hour. Another figure by Indeed.com states that freelance writers working as professional film critics earn an average of $46,281 annually .

It’s important to note that freelance pay can vary widely, and you’ll need to consider the amount of work you’re doing and the number of hours you’re putting in.

If you’re starting out as an amateur writer, your pay may be less, but it’ll definitely increase as you progress and grow.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Review Movies

To pursue this gig, you don’t need much. Here’s a list of the essential items you’ll need.

  • Writing Skills: To write reviews, you must have proficient writing skills and command over the language. You should be able to express your thoughts clearly, use proper punctuation and grammar, and have the ability to present your work in an organized manner.
  • Computer: To watch movies and write articles , you’ll need a computer. This side hustle doesn’t require a fancy setup; a simple one will suffice. However, it’s worth considering investing in a good quality monitor or TV to maximize the movie quality and allow you to pick up those tiny details.
  • Internet Connection: Watching movies consumes a lot of bandwidth, so it’s important to opt for a stable internet provider that provides a high-speed connection and, ideally, unlimited bandwidth. This will allow you to stream movies at maximum quality with ease.
  • Portfolio: You’ll need to build and maintain a professional portfolio with relevant writing samples.
  • A Love for Movies: Nothing is worth pursuing if you don’t have a passion for it. Similarly, to get paid to review movies, you must be an avid film watcher and find enjoyment in the activity. This will help you review movies more effectively.

The Best Ways to Get Paid to Review Movies (Overview)

Listed below are nine places where you can get paid to review movies. Some of these pay per review, while others may lead to passive income.

Full List of Ways to Get Paid to Review Movies

We’ve included an overview of our top picks above. For a full list and detailed information on each pick, scroll down .

  • Create a Blog
  • Screen Rant
  • Animation Arena
  • Cultured Vultures

1. Create a Blog

Creating your own blog is one of the best ways you can get paid for movie reviews. All you’ll need to do is choose a name, get a domain name and hosting, and start uploading your content.

How Much You Can Make

The amount of money you make primarily depends on how many visitors your site gets and your monetization strategy. Blog writers can earn more than $100,000 per year.

What Makes This Option Great

You’ll be able to run your own blog and create the content you want. You can also add affiliate links, potentially increasing your income.

  • Fees/Commission: Purchasing a domain name typically costs between $10 to $20 per year, while hosting can range from $3 to $50.
  • Payment Methods: PayPal and Google Pay.

2. Screen Rant

Screen Rant is one of the most popular sites for movie trailers and news, receiving millions of visits each year. It offers cinephiles the chance to earn money by writing for it.

Screen Rant pays freelance writers $15 per article. This means your daily wage will depend on how many articles you can write in a day and how long it takes you to write each one.

You’ll have the added flexibility to work when you want. It’s also helpful throughout the process and provides an introduction to SEO and assigns an editor to work with you.

Additionally, if you do enough articles, you’ll get a bonus.

  • Fees/Commission: Not available.
  • Payment Methods: PayPal.

3. Cineaste

Cineaste is a quarterly publication that discusses everything related to cinema and movie news. It features various films, including Hollywood, American, and European cinema.

It produces feature articles, interviews, film reviews, book reviews, as well as BLU-RAY and DVD reviews.

Depending on the type and length of the article, you’ll be able to earn between $18 for short articles to $90 for features.

Its promising pay rates mean that if you primarily write features, you can earn a good amount each month.

  • Fees/Commission: None.

4. Animation Arena

Animation Arena focuses on writing quality video games, movies, and comic book reviews.

To apply, you’ll need to provide two writing samples so that it can evaluate your writing style and skills. It also requires you to answer a few questions.

Animation Arena’s payment rate is fixed at $15 per review, with a maximum of 10 reviews per month. This implies that the maximum amount you can earn per month is $150.

Its reviews are casual and don’t require technical writing skills, which is especially great if you’re an amateur writer.

Additionally, each review needs to be a minimum of 550 words, so you won’t have to waste time writing unnecessarily lengthy reviews.

Medium is an open-source platform that allows freelance content writers to share their stories, articles, or reviews.

To be eligible for its partner program, you must have published at least one story and have at least 100 followers.

There are two ways to get paid for your reviews on Medium. The first is by calculating the reading time of your review, and the second is if a reader subscribes to Medium’s membership after reading your review. In the case of the latter, you’ll receive half the cost of the membership, which is $2.5.

Medium monthly incomes are variable, but if your reviews take off, you can earn three or even four digits a month from a single review.

As you continue to write, Medium will provide you with valuable opportunities to expand your network and grow your connections, which may lead to better writing opportunities.

  • Payment Methods: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.

Bustle is a well-known website that caters to women and covers various topics, including life, health, and entertainment.

It hires new writers occasionally, so be sure to keep an eye out. You’ll be required to submit writing samples as well.

Bustle pays writers $0.25 per word, so the amount you make will depend on the length of the article.

Bustle writers cover a range of niches, which means you can expand from writing movie reviews to other types of content.

While Cracked is primarily a comedy-based website, it also features other types of content, including movies.

It allows anyone to sign up to become a contributor to its site but be warned it has a rigorous hiring process and high standards. Not everyone gets accepted.

To apply, you need to submit a pitch in a specific format, and if it’s accepted, you’ll work with its editors to polish and refine the idea. Afterward, you’ll be asked to write a draft, and upon completion, you’ll receive payment.

For the first four articles, Cracked will pay you $150, and starting from the fifth article, it’ll pay $250 per article.

Cracked is known for offering one of the highest per-article rates, making it an appealing option to consider as a freelance movie critic.

8. Cultured Vultures

Cultured Vultures is a pop culture website that allows writers to write on a variety of topics, including wrestling, video games, movies, TV, and anime.

It pays a flat rate of £5 for every article published and an additional £2 for every 200 views your article receives.

For SEO commission work, it pays £7.50 for every 500 words written.

Cultured Vultures requires no prior writing experience, making it a great option for beginners to earn. It also allows you to retain the copyright for your work, and if you leave, you can ask it to remove your work, and you can publish it elsewhere.

  • Fees/Commission: Non-UK writers may need to pay a transaction fee for international payments.

Starting a YouTube channel for movie reviews is different from writing movie reviews. You’ll need to film yourself and verbally deliver your review to your audience.

On average, YouTube pays $18 for every 1000 video views. In the US, the average weekly salary for a YouTuber is $1,154, which equals $4,616 per month.

Millions of people watch videos on YouTube each day. If your movie review goes viral, it has the potential to earn you even more money.

Once your channel is monetized , you can also earn from advertisements .

  • Fees/Commission: YouTube is free to use.
  • Payment Methods: Google Pay and PayPal.

Why You Should Consider Getting Paid to Review Movies as a Side Hustle

Apart from being enjoyable and fun, here are some reasons to consider this side hustle.

  • Flexibility: Reviewing movies allows you to work from the comfort of your home, and you can decide your own hours and work when you feel like it. You also have the flexibility to work as much or as little as you want and can work in your spare time.
  • Extra Income: Movies are immensely popular, with millions of people watching them and seeking reviews. This provides a great opportunity to earn some extra money on the side simply by sharing your thoughts and opinions.
  • Discover New Movies: Your employer may ask you to review old or niche films, providing you with a golden opportunity to discover lesser-known movies. If you’re a movie fanatic, this works in your favor, as it can give you hours of new material to enjoy .
  • Hone Your Writing Skills: Writing and editing reviews will polish your writing and grammar skills, which are valuable skills to have. These skills can also help you apply to similar jobs or side gigs, such as content writing.

Problems With Getting Paid to Review Movies for Money

Starting any side hustle comes with its own set of challenges, and reviewing movies is no different. Here are some common problems you might encounter that could impact your journey.

1. Time-Consuming

According to statistics by whattowatch.com , the length of the average movie has been increasing each year. In 2021, the average movie was 131 minutes, which is over two hours long!

Watching the movie will already take a lot of time, but you’ll also need to watch patiently, take notes, and look for minor details, which can consume even more time.

2. Subjective Opinions

Movies are subjective, and how you interpret a scene may not be the same as how another viewer could interpret it.

This means your reviews will reflect your views and opinions, which other viewers may not necessarily agree with. As a result, you may receive negative and even hateful comments from readers.

3. May Get Repetitive

Continuously watching movies day in and day out may start to feel repetitive and leave you feeling bored.

4. May Affect Your Ability to Enjoy Movies

Once you start reviewing movies as a job, it’ll require you to think critically about them, and you may find yourself nitpicking details. You may also start to view movies differently, which could take the fun out of watching them.

How to Get Paid to Review Movies: Step-By-Step Instructions

In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step overview of how you can earn extra cash by reviewing movies.

Step 1. Build a Professional Portfolio

Start by building a professional portfolio, which you can do by writing a wide variety of movie reviews.

By having a curated portfolio, you’ll be able to showcase your writing experience and provide relevant samples when you apply for freelance work. This will help you immensely by making you stand out amongst your competitors.

It’s essential to write high-quality content that’s free of grammatical and punctuation errors to make a prominent impression on the hiring team.

Step 2. Look for Job Opportunities

Look for various openings online where positions are open for movie critics. Fill out their application forms, make sure to follow all the application instructions, and send your portfolio.

If possible, you should apply to reputable companies that pay well. Additionally, consider reaching out to current employees and asking them questions about the work.

And wait patiently until you receive a job or freelance offer. If you choose to run your own movie review blog instead of working for someone else, you can skip this step.

Step 3. Watch Movies

Now comes the fun part you’ve been waiting for—watching movies!

Make yourself a bowl of popcorn, rent, buy, or stream the movies you have to review and sit down to watch them.

Pay close attention to the movie and avoid getting distracted; otherwise, you may miss important details. Analyze the film critically throughout the viewing and take notes on your computer. This will help you when you start writing.

Step 4. Write Your Reviews

Once you’ve finished watching the movie, it’s time to start writing the review. Give as much detail as possible, including the movie director, movie content, and any other relevant material.

While writing reviews involves giving your opinions, try to be unbiased as it may appeal to a wider audience of movie lovers.

Once you’re finished writing and editing, submit your review for publication.

Step 5. Stay Up-To-Date

Continue staying on top of the latest movie trends and releases, and engage in discussions with movie fans who comment on your reviews to gain insights.

Things to Consider When Getting Paid to Review Movies for Money

Here are some essential factors to consider when reviewing movies for money.

1. Rights to Your Work

Will you have rights to the content you produce, or will it belong to the company or website you work for? Will your writings be published under your name, or will you work as a ghostwriter ?

Make sure you clarify this before accepting the job offer, as you may want to use your writing in your portfolio or share it with other places.

2. Identify Your Audience

You’ll need to identify your target audience for your reviews so that you can tailor your reviews accordingly.

You should also consider engaging in meaningful discussions with fans to build a connection with them.

3. Will You Be Allowed to Review Independently?

When writing reviews, it’s important that you’re able to voice your thoughts and opinions independently without any external interference. Before joining, ask your employer if they’ll let you write freely or if they’ll impose their own opinions on you.

When writing movie reviews for money, it’s essential to be honest in presenting your critiques and not be forced to give positive reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of movies should you watch.

If you’re writing independently, you’ll have the freedom to review any movie you want, and you can choose to review your favorite movies.

However, if you’re working for a company or website, they may require you to watch specific types of movies, such as classic movies, Christmas movies, or lifetime movies.

Are There Any Writing Style Requirements?

Some companies or websites may have specific guidelines and requirements, and you’ll need to write in a specific tone, style, and format.

Ask about these beforehand and make sure to adhere to them strictly.

Similar Tutorials to Check Out

If you feel writing movie reviews isn’t well-suited to your talents, you can try your hand at some of these alternatives instead.

  • How to Get Paid to Type: If you’re a skilled and proficient writer looking to monetize your talent, our guide on how to get paid to type is a must-read.
  • How to Get Paid to Watch Horror Movies: Are you a hardcore horror fan who loves the thrill of the scare? What if we told you that you could get paid for watching horror movies? Read on to learn more!
  • How to Get Paid to Watch YouTube Videos: Learn how to watch YouTube videos and earn money while indulging in one of your favorite pastimes.

Wrapping Up

Watching and writing movie reviews can be an enjoyable and profitable venture. By making a portfolio, polishing your writing skills, and applying to websites as a freelance writer, you can earn extra money on the side doing what you love.

Remember that it may be difficult to secure jobs initially, but don’t let rejection discourage you. It’s normal to face challenges when pursuing a new role.

If you stay committed to yourself and your journey, success will surely follow.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so please express your opinions below and share this article with fellow film enthusiasts.

movie review job

Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.

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Home Side Hustle Basics Get Paid to Review Movies

Movie reviewer sitting on a couch writing a review on her laptop for her side hustle.

4 Ways to Get Paid to Review Movies (Plus Tips to Get Started)

November 11, 2023

Written by:

jessica norris author photo

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for...

Startup Time

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Remote-Friendly

College Required

Certification Required

Watching movies is a great way to unwind after a long day at work. But what if you could also make money while indulging in your film habit?

If you have strong feelings about the Ghostbusters reboot or the latest Tarantino film, your movie-related opinions could make you money. Read on to find out how to turn reviewing movies into a profitable side hustle.

01. The 4 best strategies to make money reviewing movies

We look at four ways to get paid for publishing movie reviews across different outlets and platforms

You can get a movie-reviewing side hustle going with one of these four strategies:

1. Submit movie reviews to websites

A woman is writing a review of a movie

There are a lot of sites that allow freelancers to write movie reviews for them. As with most of the other ways to make money writing , you don’t need any special qualifications to do this; you just need writing talent and something to say.

To get your start, you’ll want to have a writing portfolio. If you’ve never written professionally before, whip up a couple of sample pieces to showcase. Selling your first review may be difficult, but the more you publish, the easier it will become to get gigs as you gain recognition among editors and media outlets.

You can try pitching to any of these websites, all of which work with freelancers:

Screen Rant

What it is: Screen Rant is an entertainment website that publishes reviews of movies, TV shows, video games, and more.

How to apply: You can apply on the Screen Rant site to join their ranks of freelance writers for TV and movie features (including movie reviews).

Pay: Screen Rant doesn’t specify their rate per article, but online reports cite rates of $5–$20 .

What it is: Cineaste is a quarterly magazine that’s all about the art and politics of cinema. It publishes various types of film-related content, including movie reviews and DVD and Blu-ray reviews (both of new and vintage/classic films).

How to apply: The Cineaste website gives detailed guidelines on how to write your review, along with instructions on how to submit it .

Pay: Cineaste pays $18–$45 per piece (depending on the type of review you submit).

Cultured Vultures

What it is: Cultured Vultures is a British pop culture website. It features content about movies as well as TV, gaming, and more.

How to apply: Film reviews are among the types of content writers can submit; you can find instructions on how to submit your writing on the Cultured Vultures website.

Pay: The pay starts from a base rate of £5 (approximately $6 ) per article with bonuses for every 200 views you get.

Taste of Cinema

What it is: Taste of Cinema is a website for movie lists and reviews, with a focus on world cinema and classics.

How to apply: To indicate that you’re interested in writing for Taste of Cinema, follow the instructions on the website (which tell you who to email and what information to include in your message).

Pay: Unfortunately, Taste of Cinema doesn’t specify how much it pays. You can ask for more details about their rates when you apply.

What it is: HubPages is an online platform where you can publish articles and create your own pages on various topics—including movies.

How to apply: It’s free to sign up for HubPages. You can then earn money from ads that appear in your content.

Pay: Regarding pay, HubPages says, “ You are not likely to see significant earnings from your articles for up to two years (and that’s two years spent writing high-quality articles on HubPages). When you do begin to see regular payouts, they are likely to be in a range of $50 to $100 a month .”

What it is: Bustle is an online women’s magazine. It publishes TV and movie reviews, as well as other articles on many different topics, such as books, celebrities, music, wellness, fashion, and so on.

How to apply: The Bustle website has specific guidelines on how to write a pitch for the publication. You can send movie review pitches to [email protected] .

Pay: Bustle doesn’t specify how much it pays freelancers. Anecdotal reports cite rates of $50–$200 per article .

Animation Arena

What it is: Animation Arena is a site for people who want to work in the animation, video game, and visual effects industries. The site publishes reviews of movies, video games, comic books, and animation books.

How to apply: The Animation Arena site provides detailed instructions on how to apply , including the email you can use to send them your pitch ( [email protected] ).

Pay: The pay per review is $15 (and you can only publish up to 10 reviews per month).

Cracked.com

What it is: Cracked is a website featuring funny videos, pictures, articles, and more. They have a section on movies and TV, which includes movie reviews.

How to apply: You can send a pitch to [email protected] .

Pay: Articles pay between $100 and $250 , based on length and the number of pieces you’ve written.

What it is: Medium is an open platform where anyone can publish articles, personal essays, stories, opinions, and (of course) movie reviews.

How to apply: To write for Medium, you don’t have to apply or go through a vetting process; you can just sign up and start writing.

Pay: Medium doesn’t pay per article, but has a “partner program” that pays you according to the time people spend reading your stories. Reports suggest that on average, you’ll get paid around $5 per thousand views on your articles, but this heavily depends on how much people engage with them (if they get bored quickly and hit the back button, you won’t make much at all).

2. Write for a newspaper

A woman is reading a newspaper

Instead of writing for an online publication, you can apply to be a movie reviewer for a local or regional newspaper. To land this type of work, follow these steps:

  • Research newspapers: First, look for local newspapers (ideally in your city or state) that have a regular movie review section or a dedicated arts and entertainment section.
  • Read existing reviews: Study the style and format of movie reviews published in the newspapers you’re interested in writing for. Pay attention to their tone, length, and content.
  • Find contact information: Get the contact information for the entertainment or arts editor of the newspapers you’re interested in. This information should be available on the paper’s website or in the print edition.
  • Prepare your pitch: Write a concise and compelling pitch expressing your interest in writing movie reviews for the newspaper. Mention your relevant experience and passion for cinema.
  • Submit a portfolio: If you have any previous experience writing movie reviews (or other similar work), compile your pieces into a portfolio and include it with your pitch.

In theory, you can also use this approach to apply to work for national papers (like The New York Times or the Washington Post), but you’ll have a tough road ahead of you. Major newspapers usually only hire established movie reviewers with very strong portfolios. If that’s your goal, it isn’t impossible, but you’ll probably have to spend a long time working your way up.

3. Start a movie review blog

How to start a movie review blog

Another way to make money from your movie reviews is to start your own blog. This will give you more creative freedom than writing for another publication.

Blogging is also a good way to build your reputation as a movie reviewer. Even if you don’t actually plan to use your blog to make money, you can bulk up your portfolio substantially.

How to set up a movie review blog

It’s possible to start a blog for free, but if you want a domain name, you’ll need to spend a bit of money to get one. Many platforms provide all-in-one services, including a hosting account and domain name registration, along with website-building tools.

  • Squarespace

Once you have your blog set up, you’ll have to do the following:

  • Attract readers: To make money from your blog, you’ll need an audience. You can do this by using search engine optimization (SEO), which makes it easier for people to find and visit your website, by promoting your blog on social media, and by producing high-quality content.
  • Monetize your posts: There are various ways to monetize your blog , such as selling advertising space (e.g., using Google Ads or Media.net ) or asking for donations, which you can set up by using a donation button or a crowdfunding platform like Patreon .

4. Start a movie review YouTube channel

A man is making a movie review YouTube channel

As mentioned, not all movie reviews are written down. If you have a good voice or a compelling camera presence, you can always film them instead.

For inspiration, you can look at some of the many popular YouTube channels that feature movie reviews, such as:

  • Jeremy Jahns
  • Chris Stuckmann
  • Mr Sunday Movies
  • Jack’s Movie Reviews
  • kermodeandmayo

You can use a YouTube channel to make money in much the same way you’d use a blog—by featuring advertisements, using affiliate links, or seeking sponsorship. These options will allow you to generate passive income from your YouTube videos.

02. How much do movie reviewers make?

Learn how much you can make as a movie reviewer and which factors might affect your earnings

As a movie reviewer or movie critic, you won’t usually be paid an hourly wage or monthly salary. You might be paid by the word or per article, per view (if you’re working with online platforms that track viewership), or per click (if you’re using affiliate marketing).

To give you a rough idea of how much you can earn, the rates paid by the online publications we listed above range from about $5 to $200 per article . They’ll usually pay at the lower end of the scale if you have little or no experience.

If you choose to work for yourself (by starting a blog or a YouTube channel), your earnings will entirely depend on how popular your content is. In the beginning, you shouldn’t expect to make any money at all, but if your site takes off, you may eventually be able to earn thousands of dollars per month.

03. Tips to help you make money reviewing movies

Find out which skills and resources you can use to make money from your movie reviews

If you’re starting your own blog or YouTube channel, you may need to use only some of these ideas. If you want to submit your movie reviews to magazines, film websites, or other publications, all of the following tips will be helpful.

Study the film industry

movie crews are filming a movie

An understanding of the film industry and the filmmaking process will provide context and background for your movie reviews, helping you to craft more informed and thoughtful pieces.

You can learn how to analyze and rate movies by studying the industry, how movies are made, what role filmmakers play, and other aspects of the filmmaking process.

Cultivate movie-reviewing skills

As we’ve mentioned, you would once have needed great writing skills to be good at reviewing movies. However, you can now just as easily deliver your reviews in video format.

To make videos, you’ll need good verbal communication skills (and video editing skills, unless you plan on hiring someone to help you with that).

You’ll also need other soft skills to get good at reviewing movies. For example, you’ll need attention to detail to analyze all of the different aspects of a movie critically (e.g., the plot, character development, and cinematography).

The more you practice all of these skills, the better you’ll get. As you might expect, the best way to improve is to:

  • Watch different types of movies
  • Discuss the movies you watch with others
  • Read and watch other people’s movie reviews and critiques
  • Write or record your own reviews
  • Stay up to date on the latest releases and trends in the film industry

Establish an online presence

If you’re planning to share your reviews mainly through your blog or YouTube channel (or if you plan on writing for Medium, which will pay you based on the popularity of your content), your online presence will be key for your income.

You can use social media platforms to amplify your online presence, share your reviews, and engage with your audience. In addition to the main social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, you can also look for more niche sites that focus specifically on film. In particular, check out Letterboxd , which is a social media platform that bills itself as being specifically for film lovers.

Build a great portfolio

As you’ve probably gathered, your portfolio is one of the most important tools you have for showcasing your talents to potential clients and employers.

Your portfolio should include a carefully curated selection of your best movie reviews, covering a diverse range of films from various genres, eras, and styles. It should also feature:

  • A personal bio
  • Social media and blog links
  • Contact details

As we’ve mentioned, a film review blog can be a great addition to a portfolio, even if your main ambition is to write for established publications like film websites and magazines. Naturally, if you have any published work under your belt, link to that as well.

Use job sites to look for gigs

We’ve already mentioned a few publications that you can scope out for opportunities. You can also look for gigs on freelancer sites like:

You may be able to find clients on there who are looking to start film-related publications of their own and need content from writers like you.

You can also check out regular job sites like FlexJobs , Indeed , and ZipRecruiter . Keep an eye out to see if any newspapers or magazines put out a call for film reviewers.

You can often find opportunities by networking with people in the same field. When you’re starting out as a movie reviewer, look to network with:

  • Established reviewers
  • Movie critics
  • Editors of movie-related publications
  • Other people in the film industry

You can connect with these people through social media and also by attending film festivals, screenings, film clubs, or other events.

04. Other ways to get paid to watch movies

Mystery shopper sites and movie focus groups will sometimes pay you to watch movies in the theater or at home

The following opportunities won’t pay you to produce reviews per se. However, they might pay you (or offer other incentives such as free movie tickets) to watch movies and then complete questionnaires or participate in discussions about your experience.

Mystery shopper sites

Mystery shopper sites like the ones below sometimes feature opportunities to get paid for going to the theater:

  • Amusement Advantage

For this type of gig, you’ll usually have to watch the movie and then complete a questionnaire on your experience, sharing your thoughts on the comfort of the theater and the customer service provided by the staff.

Movie focus groups

A movie focus group is a group of people from the general public who watch a movie in advance of the official release and provide feedback on whether they enjoyed it. These groups are usually recruited by movie studios, streaming platforms, or market research companies.

If you join a movie focus group, you may have the chance to attend in-person screenings, but you might also have to watch movies at home (online). Each screening will usually be followed by a discussion, interview, or questionnaire.

Note that movie focus groups don’t always pay. For example, the Netflix Preview Club doesn’t offer any incentives other than the opportunity to watch new Netflix content before the general public gets to. You also can’t join this group without an invitation from Netflix (which they extend to people based on their viewing behavior and other factors).

However, paid opportunities do exist. Here are some sites that sometimes post opportunities to join movie focus groups:

  • Survey Junkie
  • Focus Group
  • FocusGroups.org

This type of side hustle isn’t mutually exclusive with an actual reviewing gig, of course. You can always use it to make a bit of extra money and see more films while waiting for a publication to hire you as a critic (or for your movie review blog to get off the ground).

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Robert Jellison

Managing Editor

Robert is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. He has 7+ years of experience in freelance writing and previously worked as the in-house editor for Compose.ly, a platform for remote and part-time writers.

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What Does a Movie Critic Do And How to Become One Featured

What Does a Movie Critic Do — And How to Become One

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C hances are, if you’ve shelled out money to go to the movies in the last year, you’ve done so because of a positive word-of-mouth for the movie you’re about to see, or that it’s simply deemed “critically acclaimed”. Movie critics are that “critic” that often shapes the public discourse, sometimes propelling a relatively unknown indie into a buzzworthy future Oscar winner. But what does a movie critic in this modern era actually do ? In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at these professional film reviewer’s day-to-day.

INSIDE THE MOVIE CRITIC JOB

First, let’s define movie critic.

A film critic’s job isn’t just to watch non-stop movies. Movie reviewers must approach each review from an objective, journalistic standpoint that isn’t shaped by bias. Here's a quick definition of the job.

Movie Critic DEFINITION

What is a movie critic.

A movie critic  is a writer who publishes their opinions on newly released movies (and occasionally, due to the new streaming model) straight-to-streaming films and special event programming. It’s important to note that many movie critics also review TV shows and other media. Movie critics typically review new releases with the angle of whether or not the film is worthy to see based on the genre, story, directing, acting, and more.  

Movie critic jobs in the modern age:

  • Writing for a print or online publication
  • Hosting or writing a movie-themed podcast
  • Self-publishing reviews to a blog or personal website

THE SPECIFICS OF A MOVIE REVIEWER JOB

Film reviewing vs. film criticism.

You may be interested in becoming a movie critic and eyeing a “Film Studies” program at a local university. Though many professionals come from these programs, it’s important to note the style of writing required for a film critic job hinges on the review . 

A guide to a film critic job

A movie reviewer’s job is to deem whether or not the film is entertaining enough to be seen by a widespread audience, not whether or not the film itself was “artful.” 

Film analysis is different than what’s typically required of movie critic jobs

The day-to-day of a movie critic job, what’s a typical day for a movie critic.

Similar to many other writing-centric jobs, no two days often look the same. Movie critics are often invited to “Sneak Preview Screenings” where they’re able to watch a movie well before it premieres, or are sent an online link to stream the movie at home. 

Sometimes, they attend film festivals like Sundance and Cannes, where they’re able to review both future blockbusters and independent films. Sometimes, they can be called on as a go-to film critic “guest” on popular radio stations like NPR and KCRW.

In the modern tech age, a lot of movie critics supplement their work for major publishers with their own personal movie-centric podcasts or blogs. Amy Nicholson is a full-time critic but she also co-hosts a movie podcast with comedian Paul Scheer called Unspooled where they reexamine older films.

Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson co-host a film-themed podcast called “Unspooled”

Movie critic salary, how do movie critics get paid.

Figuring out the typical income of a professional movie critic is reliant on a number of factors: level of experience, the publication that they work for, and their geographical location. 

For example, a movie critic living in New York City or Los Angeles where attending press events in person may be pertinent to their job success may net a higher income than a movie critic living in Columbus, OH.

HOW TO BECOME A MOVIE CRITIC

So how much do movie critics make.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for a movie critic is $26/hour, with the lowest being $7.93/hour and the highest being $47.60. 

Top earners might expect $75,000/year while the average is around $53,000/year.

HOW TO GET STARTED

How to become a movie critic.

Becoming a movie critic does not focus on one specific path. As mentioned earlier, some movie critics start their career path by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.

Regardless of where you start, learning about the history of cinema and studying the nuances between film reviewing and film analysis will strengthen your chances of being successful.

What does a movie critic do and how do they write a review?

Often, recruiters for this type of job consider an applicant’s portfolio of previously written work. Gain experience and establish your voice as a movie critic by writing film reviews for publications such as school newspapers, personal blogs, or recording your own podcast. 

If eligible, seek out internships at places like media outlets or film festivals to not only get a sense of the next wave of filmmaking, but to sharpen your skills in how you discuss these works.

The History of Film, Explained

From photographic techniques to the Pre-Code era to Film Noir. What does a movie critic do? Become an encyclopedia for film history, styles, and more. Brush up on our comprehensive history of film eras below.

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9 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Review Movies in 2023

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If you watch a lot of TV, you’re not alone.

According to the latest Nielsen Total Audience survey, the average American spends a little over four hours each day glued to the television.

And while watching movies and shows is undoubtedly a great way to unwind after a hard day at work, wouldn’t it be nice if you could get paid for it?

Well, if you also enjoy writing, you can. All you need to do is share your thoughts with the world.

Here are the top ways to get paid to review movies.

If you consider yourself a good writer, you can become a paid contributor at a movie review or entertainment website.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to have excellent grammar, writing samples, and the ability to develop article ideas, to land one of these roles. Since these are freelance positions, you can apply to as many of these jobs as you’d like, depending on your availability and income goals.

Here are a few places to check out.

Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies

1. Animation Arena 2. Taste of Cinema 3. ScreenRant 4. Bustle 5. Cineaste 6. Cracked 7. Hubpages 8. Medium

1. Animation Arena

Animation Arena

Animation Arena, a website dedicated to animation of all sorts, hires writers to create movies, video games, and comic book reviews.

Each review needs to be about 550 words long. The pay is $15 per review, and as one of their writers, you can write up to 10 reviews per month.

You don’t need to be a professional writer for this gig, but you need good grammar and must submit two writing samples with your query.

You can learn more about becoming an animated movie reviewer with Animation Arena here.

2. Taste of Cinema

Taste of Cinema brings in millions of page views per month by specializing in “list” articles. They are currently looking for contributors to write movie reviews and classic move lists.

For reference, some of their most popular move lists include topics like:

  • The 30 Best Movies of 2018
  • The 10 Most Overrated Actors Working Today
  • The 18 Best Philosophical Movies of All Time

As a contributor for Taste of Cinema, you’ll need to come up with your own movie-related article ideas. Then, once you write your article, you can pitch it to their editor.  If accepted, you’ll be paid depending on the number of views or clicks your article receives.

 (This means there’s no guaranteed pay. Still, if you’re a new movie reviewer, having an article published can help you build your portfolio.)

If accepted as a contributor, you can write as much or as little as you like.

If you want to get paid to review movies, you can see the full application instructions here.

3. ScreenRant

ScreenRant

ScreenRant was started in 2003 and is now one of today’s top entertainment news websites. They focus on movie and TV news, reviews, interviews, and more.

Right now, ScreenRant is hiring contributors to write for one or more of their top categories. If you land a contributor spot, you’ll be paid for your articles and receive a byline.

While ScreenRant doesn’t list writer pay on their website, a Reddit user reports that pay is a combination of a flat fee + incentives for how well the content performs.

You can fill out the application here if you want to get paid to review movies . To do so, you’ll need to submit three writing samples and describe your previous experience.

Bustle

Bustle is a popular website geared toward women. Some of their top subjects are entertainment, wellness, style, and life.

From time to time, Bustle hires new contributors. If you want to find a writing position in their entertainment category, you can check for job openings here.

For this position, you should be prepared to provide previous writing samples with your application.

5. Cineaste

Get Paid to Review Movies - Cineaste

Cineaste is a quarterly publication founded in 1967. Their subtitle is  “America’s leading magazine on the art and politics of the cinema.”

Cineaste accepts pitches for feature articles, interviews, film reviews, DVD reviews, and book reviews. To increase the chance of an editor accepting your pitch, you’ll need to stick to the recommended word count and style guide listed on the Cineaste website.

The pay is dependent upon the type of article. If your article is accepted, payment will be:

  • Short take reviews: $18
  • Book & DVD reviews: $36
  • Film reviews: $45
  • Feature articles: $90

Get Paid to Review Movies - Cracked

Cracked is a comedy-based website that has articles on all kinds of subjects, including movies.

Anyone can sign up to be a contributor with Cracked . However, that doesn’t automatically mean they’ll publish your articles. 

Cracked has high standards, so it may take a pitch or two before you’re published. If you are published, though, they’ll pay you $100. Then, after you have four articles accepted, they’ll bump you up to $200 per article.

To give you an idea of what kind of movie content they’re looking for, some of their recent posts include titles such as:

  • 5 Ways Movies Screw Up Exciting and Emotional Scenes
  • Sorry, But ‘Ted Lasso’s’ Theme Song Sucks
  • How Costume Designers Hack Our Brains

Start Your Own Movie Review Blog or YouTube Channel

If you want to control the content you produce, you can start a movie review blog or YouTube channel.

In complete transparency, it will take a lot of time and effort before either of these become profitable. However, if you stick with it, you can create a movie review empire that could eventually become a full-time gig.

The beauty of starting your own content channel is that you can choose how you’d like to niche down. For example, you could review only horror movies, lifetime movies, Netflix movies, etc.

You can learn more about starting and monetizing a blog here.

Write for Revenue Share Websites

If you don’t like the idea of starting your own blog but are still looking for complete control over the content you produce, you can write for revenue-share websites.

These websites work by allowing you (or anyone) to sign up to become a writer. Then, as a writer, when your content becomes popular, it generates revenue through ad networks, product sales, or affiliate links. 

That revenue gets split between you and the site you’re writing for.

Here are some of the most popular revenue-sharing websites to sign up with.

7. Hubpages

Get Paid to Review Movies - Hubpages

Hubpages is one of the oldest revenue-sharing sites on the internet.

To get started with Hubpages, simply sign up and create your profile. You’ll then be able to join the ad program or Amazon program to monetize your articles.

Once you complete those steps, you can begin writing.

After writing, your next step is to publish the article. Once you do, HubPages will put it through a quality assessment check. If it passes, your movie review will become searchable on popular search engines and may land on the featured page.

This will help improve the odds of you receiving traffic and, therefore, making money from your review.

The more articles you write, the higher your chances of making money.

Get Paid to Review Movies - Medium

Medium is where authors and storytellers come to share their knowledge and experiences. It’s an open-source content platform where anyone can write.

However, to make money writing movie reviews on Medium, you’ll need to be approved for the partner program.

To become eligible to apply, you must have at least one story published and over 100 followers.

Once accepted, you can begin writing.

There are two ways to earn. 

The first is dependent on how long Medium members spend reading your articles. The more time spent, the more you make. The second happens when a reader upgrades to a paid membership after reading one of your stories. If they do so,  you’ll receive half the membership cost they paid.

How Much Do Movie Reviewers Get Paid?

Film critics work as freelance writers or journalists, getting paid to publish opinions in the form of articles. Since pay varies by publication and a yearly salary is dependent on how many hours a film critic chooses to work, it’s hard to pin down an exact pay range.

However, for reference, the average journalist’s salary is $42,062 per year, according to Payscale.

If you’re a new movie reviewer and are interested in writing reviews in your spare time, you’ll typically earn between $15-$200 depending on the length of the review and the publication.

Other Side Hustle Ideas Worth Checking Out

Here are a few more  side hustles  you can check out:

  • Get paid to type
  • Make money watching videos online
  • Get paid to listen to music

Ways to Get Paid to Review Movies – Final Thoughts

If you love watching movies and have strong opinions about what you watch, you can make a decent side hustle income reviewing movies.

To find success, you’ll need solid grammar skills and the willingness to learn how to format and perfect articles. If you have those skills, you can get started by sending in applications or article pitches to the sites listed above.

Alternatively, you can start building out a blog or YouTube channel with your movie reviews if you prefer complete editorial control.

Looking for more ways to earn money?

Check out the video below to learn how I went from $0 to $3,000,000:

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10 Best Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies

movie review job

If you're a bit of a movie aficionado, you might be looking to turn your passion for movies into a new income stream.

Making money from reviewing movies might sound like the dream side hustle idea for many. But, the great news is there are plenty of ways to get paid to review movies.

So, if you're ready to turn your movie and TV viewing time into a new way to make money online , this is the post for you.

Want more ways to make money? Checkout :

  • Branded Surveys : Share your opinion to get gift cards and cash!
  • Freecash : Another fun way to earn free PayPal cash and gift cards.

How To Get Paid To Review Movies

Table of Contents

1. Start A Movie Review Blog

In my opinion, the best way to get paid for movie reviews is to start your own movie review blog .

I'm a bit biased here since blogging is how I make the bulk of my income, but I truly think that a blog is the most versatile way to make money writing reviews .

For example, WebMonkey made $92,000 in 2021 , and this income came from numerous income streams. And in 2022, I made $272,000 with WebMonkey :

The two main sources were running Mediavine ads and through affiliate marketing. And these days, the blog makes $500 a day from just Mediavine alone, and this is largely autopilot income . My video above explains exactly how I started my blog and scaled this income source.

Now in terms of making money with a movie review blog, titans like IMDB are obviously dominating the market. However, independent film critics have also found success by writing movie reviews for money .

For example, Leonard Maltin's movie review blog is a perfect example.

On his blog, Maltin writes various movie reviews or cinema-related content. And, he has a Patreon that his readers can subscribe to if they want early-access to content and to unlock some exclusive content as well.

Movie Review Blog

And this is just one example.

Nothing stops you from starting a niche blog that talks about movies but also filmography, or things like creating a perfect home theater where you plug a lot of Amazon affiliate links.

And the best part is that blogging doesn't have to be super expensive. I started WebMonkey with a cheap domain name and simple WordPress hosting. You can find incredibly affordable hosting and domains with a company like SiteGround and pay less than a cup of coffee or two per month.

And you never know where a blog can take you; I've been blogging for four years and it's now my full-time job and makes $10,000 a month or more.

2. Start A Movie Review YouTube Channel

Like blogging, another way to get paid to review movies is to start a movie review YouTube channel.

YouTubers do this all the time for music reviews or movie reviews, and if you gain a following, you can certainly make money on YouTube . I mean, I started my channel in 2020, and these days, it makes around $1,000 per month, and that's mostly passive income !

The thing with YouTube is that you can't show copyrighted content, so reviewing movies usually follows a reaction format or opinion format where you just talk about a movie.

That said, there are plenty of popular movie review channels out there. For example, movie review YouTuber Jeremy Jahns has over 1.8 million subscribers, and pretty much all of his movie review videos get hundreds of thousands of views!

Jahns does straight up movie reviews and also covers things like trailers and TV shows, so you have a lot of options.

And like blogging, YouTube isn't incredibly expensive to start either. For example, here is my budget YouTube setup that I used to grow my own channel to 10,000+ subscribers:

  • Sony A6000 Camera   – $495.
  • Audio-Technica AT2005 USB Microphone  – $80.
  • Joby GorillaPod Tripod  – $15.

Extra Reading – Blog vs YouTube – Which Option Is Best?

3. AnimationArena

If you want to make money as a freelance writer , another way to get paid to write movie reviews is to write for AnimationArena.

This site pays you for writing movie reviews as well as comic book and video game reviews.

Write For AnimationArena

You don't need previous experience, and reviews are at least 550 words and are supposed to be casual in style .

AnimationArena pays $15 USD per review and asks for a max of 10 reviews per month.

This is a pretty quick $150 if you write 10 reviews per month. To get started, you just email two writing samples to [email protected] with “Writing for Animation Arena” in the subject line.

4. Start A Medium Blog

If you want to make money with creative writing or start a movie review blog a bit faster, you can always try making money on Medium .

Medium is a free blogging platform where you get paid when premium Medium members read your content.

I've also been blogging on Medium, on and off, for the last few years. At one point, I was making $1,000+ from my Medium work :

Earnings-from-Medium

However, you can start your own Medium profile for free and write whatever you feel like. If you build an audience over time, it's definitely possible to turn sites like Medium into a decent income stream on the side as well.

Extra Reading – 7 Ways To Get Paid To Watch Netflix .

5. ScreenRant

Like AnimationArena, you can also get paid for writing movie reviews by writing for ScreenRant.

ScreenRant is looking for writers who can write “in-depth, premium content” about movies, TV shows, news, and gaming. You get an author bio/credit and you get paid. However, ScreenRant doesn't state how much you get paid for writing movie reviews.

You apply by submitting the topic(s) you want to write about and explain what previous writing experience you have as well.

6. Taste Of Cinema

Another way you can make money writing movie reviews is to write for Taste of Cinema.

This movie review site is always looking for contributor writers. And, there are two compensation models you can choose from:

  • Promotion : Promote your company, author profile, book, or social media accounts in your author bio.
  • Payment : Get paid for your movie reviews depending on how many clicks your articles get.

Write for Taste of Cinema

Unfortunately, Taste of Cinema doesn't have information on its rates. And honestly, pay-per-click models are usually pretty low in the world of freelance writing.

But if you just want to write movie reviews for money as a fun side hustle, you can always try out Taste of Cinema to see if you like it.

7. Cineaste

According to its website, Cineaste is “America's leading magazine on the art and politics of the cinema.”

This quarterly publication began in 1967, and it's looking for writers who can cover in-depth topics about Hollywood and film.

Write For Cineaste

This includes writing in-depth pieces, interviews, and film reviews. Many of these pieces range from 1,000 to 4,000+ words, and there's a serious editorial team behind the scenes.

Here's how much Cineaste pays for different types of movie and film reviews :

  • Short Takes : $18.
  • Book & DVD Reviews : $36.
  • Film Reviews, Short Articles, & Sidebar Interviews : $45.
  • Feature Articles & Interviews : $$90.

This is one of the higher-paying movie review gigs, although articles require much more work and the quality standard is higher.

But if you want to write for a movie review magazine, you can definitely apply to Cineaste .

Bustle is an American women's magazine that began in 2013. These days, it's an absolutely massive publication you're probably familiar with.

And the great news is that Bustle covers movies and entertainment news, and you can pitch freelance writing ideas to the editorial team.

Here's what you include in your article pitch :

  • A few sentences about your writing background
  • A sample headline
  • A 2-3 sentence summary of the article
  • Sources you know that pertain to the article
  • Why the story is relevant and a good fit for Bustle
  • Any plans for photos if you want to include some

The fact you can set your freelance writing rate is a perk of writing movie reviews for cash with Bustle.

Granted, you're not guaranteed to get the rate you're asking for, but Bustle is a massive website, so it has the potential to turn into a more regular gig if the team likes your work.

9. Get A Job Reviewing Movies

One of the more straightforward ways to get paid for movie reviews is to get a movie reviewer job.

Searching on remote job sites or regular job boards is a great way to start your job search. For example, if you search for movie review jobs on Indeed, you find scores of different remote and in-person job openings.

Movie Reviewer Jobs

Many listings include salary information as well, or how many articles you have to publish. Plus, you can find full- and part-time work, so this is ideal if you're looking for something a bit more serious.

Our post on Netflix tagger jobs also covers some ways you can get started with this kind of editorial role.

Extra Reading – The Best Jobs That Pay $5,000 Per Month .

10. Cracked

Cracked is another massively popular online publication that covers topics like entertainment, TV shows, movies, and music.

Now, Cracked is definitely on the more premium side, so it's not the type of movie review writing job that accepts everyone.

Write For Cracked

However, you can still apply to write for the site. Cracked pays between $100 to $250 depending on article length and how many pieces you've written .

Cracked is also quite humorous, so take a look at some published pieces to see if your writing style matches up well!

How Much Money Can You Make Writing Movie Reviews?

How much you get paid for your movie reviews depends on several factors, including:

  • The publications you write for
  • How often you write
  • Your previous experience
  • If you run your own music review blog or YouTube channel

Top movie critics can make six figures, and the most popular movie review blogs or YouTube channels can make millions. However, many movie review writer jobs only pay $10 to $100 per article, with $100 being on the higher side .

Ultimately, it's possible to make decent money in this space, but it's competitive and requires building up your portfolio!

Extra Reading – The Best Free Online Jobs That Pay Daily .

Tips For Getting Started

Now that you know how to get paid for movie reviews, here are some tips you can keep in mind to help turn your hobby into a new income stream :

  • Set Realistic Expectations : Set an income goal you want to make as a movie reviewer and then work towards that goal over time.
  • Try Branching Out On Your Own : I think the two methods to get paid for movie reviews with the highest income potential are blogging and YouTube. So, don't be afraid to start your own thing!
  • Hone Your Craft : As a freelance writer, I can confidently say that writing for money is an endless process of self-improvement. Take pride in your work and find ways to improve your movie reviews while landing better and better clients.

Extra Reading – How To Get Paid For Amazon Reviews .

Final Thoughts

I hope this list of ways to make money from movie reviews helps you turn your film hobby into a new income stream.

Again, there are plenty of options out there, so don't be afraid to dabble with a few ideas on the side as you improve your writing.

This could mean starting a movie review blog with WordPress, your own YouTube channel, or freelance writing. Whatever the case, all of these are fun side hustles that you can use to potentially make money with your cinema hobby.

And who knows; you might be making a full-time income writing Blockbuster movie reviews in the future!

Looking for other ways to make extra money? Checkout :

  • How To Make Money Writing Short Stories .
  • How To Get Paid To Review Products .
  • The Best Ways To Make Quick Money In A Day .

movie review job

Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.

Tom also founded the blog This Online World - a finance site dedicated to helping people make money online - in 2018. After 6 years, that site merged with WebMonkey, with the goal of helping even more people earn their first dollar of online income.

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Write For Us and Get Paid

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We are looking for new writers in 2023! If you’re good at making film lists and want a platform to share it with more than 600,000 movie fans, we want you to join Taste of Cinema as a contributor!

We’re gathering a team of passionate and skillful writers to join us in bringing high-quality content to the millions of monthly readers that visit Taste of Cinema.

In exchange for posting, contributors will have the opportunity to promote and link their organization, website, social media, books, or products in a prominent author byline that will be seen by thousands on each post they write.

If you don’t have anything to promote, we will PAY YOU for the list. The more clicks it gets, the more we will pay you. You can ask us about the details in the application.

You can write one or several lists for us, or you can choose to be a regular contributor. The number of lists you contribute to our site is totally flexible.

To apply for this, you can send an email to David (email address: [email protected] ). Please let us know the following in your email:

1. Your age and occupation?

2. Can you tell us your favorite films/directors/actors/genres?

3. What’s your writing experience?

4. How long have you been following Taste of Cinema? (assuming you do…but it’s fine if you don’t — we might still like you).

5. If you were a TOC contributor, how often would you post?

6. If you were a TOC contributor, what ideas do you have for your first list? (this is important, so think carefully)

Last thing, don’t forget to check out your inbox after sending us the email, we will reply to your application within 3 weeks (if we think you are the right person to write for us). 

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Film review for money fraud: 4 including TN native held in Thrissur

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Thrissur: Police have arrested four people, including a Tamil Nadu native, for defrauding a Kaipamangalam resident of Rs 46 lakh by promising handsome returns by reviewing movies. The accused are Abdul Ayub (25) of Kadakkal; Shafeer (29) of Anad, Thiruvananthapuram; Shinas (25) and Aslam (21), of Madathara, Kollam. The suspects were apprehended from Hosur in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram.

Their method involved receiving reviews through a movie review application called 'Plex' on Telegram, promising payments at different stages. The reviewers would be then made to deposit money in a phony investment scheme saying that they would receive payment once they invest the amount.

The gang fraudulently obtained money by opening bank accounts in the names of youths and college students in other states claiming it was for share trading, and later collected ATM cards. The money obtained from the fraud was then transacted through these accounts. Police have also recovered around 18 ATM cards taken in the names of people from various states.

plex-movie-review-fraud.jpg

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3 ways to use online tools to decide whether to take a job or not.

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3 Ways To Determine If You Should Accept That Job Offer

With the power of the internet at the edge of our fingertips, you, as a job seeker, can no longer blindsided by possible friction points you may encounter at the company when accepting a job offer. You can easily do a deep dive into a company’s culture and work environment to make a more informed decision whether to take that role or not.

Despite the currently competitive job market, 42% of surveyed employees who just recently accepted a job offer believe they could still find a better offer if they kept looking . So, taking your time before committing to an offer never hurts.

Here are three ways how to effectively leverage these online tools to assess the offer and decide if it’ll bring you long-term career satisfaction:

Look At Reviews But Don’t Rely On Just One Source

Online job reviews are the most common source to gauge a company’s culture. Usually provided by current and former employees, these reviews can also give you a glimpse of management quality, salary and benefits, and opportunities for growth.

Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn are some places to get you started. Glassdoor provides detailed employee reviews, salary information, interview experiences, and company ratings. Indeed, while known primarily as a job search engine, also offers reviews where employees can rate their workplaces on different factors like management, compensation, and job security. LinkedIn may not necessarily be a review site, but employees’ posts, company updates, and professional experiences shared on the platform can also give you valuable insights.

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However, be wary about biases and extremes they may feature, especially since these reviews are anonymous and could be exaggerated. Looking at different review websites to see trends and patterns over time, as consistent themes across many reviews are more likely to paint a more accurate picture.

Dig Into The Company’s Website And Social Media

Getting information straight from the source could also be helpful in your search to know if it’s a good fit for you, your goals, and your values.

On their website and social media accounts, check the mission and vision statements and core values, which often reflect the company’s priorities and ethical standards. You can also see information about their leadership team and workplace culture that may indicate aspects like collaboration, innovation, and diversity.

Some companies also highlight their corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects and news and press releases, both of which can offer insight into their causes and recent achievements, expansions, and partnerships.

But, keep in mind that while information can be reliable and factual, the contents of a company’s website and social media are curated to provide a positive image, designed to attract customers, investors, and potential employees. So, try to get a more balanced perspective by using other sources as well.

Connect With Current And Ex-Employees

A Gallup survey revealed that 8 out of 10 employees on average enjoy the work they do. So, getting first-hand experience, beyond what’s publicly available, would be the most reliable information you can get to gauge the environment you’d encounter when joining a new team and company.

Connecting with present and former employees can give you unfiltered accounts of day-to-day culture, team dynamics, and whether the company lives up to its stated values. Past employees may also be more open and free to discuss any negative aspects they encounter.

Reaching out to people who have held or currently hold the position you’re offered, maybe through LinkedIn, can also clarify what you can expect in the role, including workload and responsibilities. You can also request to meet with the team you will be a part of and the hiring manager to answer some questions for you.

Some questions you can ask them are “What’s the general morale among employees?” “How does leadership handle conflicts or challenges within the team?” and “Are there any differences between what was presented in the job description and the actual responsibilities?”.

Just remember to be respectful of their time and boundaries when asking specific questions about the company and the role. Be clear about your intentions, keep your questions concise, and respect their limit when you sense some hesitancy to share too much.

As you consider a job offer, having a wealth of online resources and tools can help guide your decision. From employees’ reviews, the company’s website, and social media, these tools offer a deeper understanding of what a potential employer truly has to offer. But take all of these with a grain of salt. While they can be insightful, the decision whether or not to take the job should be based on your priorities and direct conversations with employees.

By combining these strategies, you can confidently choose a job that aligns with your professional goals and desired work environment.

Sho Dewan

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