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

November 11, 2023

Written by:

Jessica Norris

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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).

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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10 Best Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies

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.

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.

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 :

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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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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, 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 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 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

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

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

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.

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:

• Privacy Policy
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• Remote Jobs
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Get Paid to Write Movie Reviews: 11 Sites That Pay for Your Opinion

Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Katie

Are you a  movie fanatic?  If yes, why not  get paid to write movie reviews  in your spare time.

There’s a huge market for movie fans and content creators to make extra cash and you can get started with minimal writing experience.

It’s a  side hustle  that can be done around your regular 9 – 5 in your spare time and could lead to a career in writing  or running a blog.

And you don’t need to be a professional film critic to get paid to write movie reviews.

Many move blog platforms take on new writers with zero previous experience .  Here are a few of the best places to get paid to review films.

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11 Ways to Get Paid to Write Movie Reviews in Your Spare Time

• Screen Rant
• Taste of Cinema
• Cultured Vultures
• AnimationArena
• PopSugar Voices
• Create a Movie Review Blog
• Movie Review YouTube Channel

Get Paid to Write Movie Reviews: Sites That Pay for Your Opinion

Ready to make money from your love of film?

Take a look at the best online websites and ideas on how to get paid to write movie reviews, even with no experience.

1.  Screen Rant

Screen Rant needs film buffs to write reviews for movies and TV.

They also feature a popular Movie News and TV Categories section featuring interviews, reviews and lists. To get your content accepted and paid, it needs to be detailed and long form.

Pay and how to apply:  Pay varies. Fill out the  contributor application  form to be considered.

2.  Taste of Cinema

One of the best sites to get paid to write movie reviews, Taste of Cinema is always on the lookout for new contributors.

Their site is extremely active with over  600K monthly visitors  so this is a great opportunity to get your writing seen. They need writers for reviews, listicle posts of old movies and to make videos from their lists.

Pay and how to apply:  Pay is based on the number of clicks on your content. Hit the ‘’write for us’’ tab to apply.

3.  Cracked

Cracked has content in a huge amount of categories including movies and TV. They need writers for  reviews or short articles , you can choose what to contribute.

As you’d probably guessed, Cracked does sway towards the humorous side of things, so if you enjoy this, writing for Cracked is a great gig.

Pay and how to apply:  Click on the ‘’careers’’ tab to see current opportunities. Pay varies between projects.

4.  Cineaste

Cineaste is a leading publication for the arts, politics and cinema in America. The magazine pays for feature articles, film reviews, book reviews and interviews.

Articles contributed can discuss a movie or a specific genre of movies and need to be long-form around  3,000 – 4,000 words.

Pay and how to apply:  Check out the ‘’writer’s guidelines’’ section to learn how to apply. Pay is $45 for feature articles, $36 for book and DVD reviews, $45 for movie reviews and $18 for ‘’short take’’ reviews.

5.  Cultured Vultures

Get paid to write movie reviews and content about gaming, books, short stories and poetry on Cultured Vultures.

Movie reviews need to be 2,000 words, opinion pieces around 750 words and news articles 200 – 500 words. This site is run by writers for writers, so you need to be on top of your game.

Pay and how to apply:  Head to the ‘’write for us’’ section to apply. Pay starts at $2 for a feature article plus $2 for every 200 views in the first week. News articles get $1.50 plus $2 for every 200 views in the first two weeks.

6.  AnimationArena

Get paid to write video game, comic book and movie reviews for Animation Arena. Reviews need to be at least  550 words long  and original.

The good thing here is they take on writers with zero experience. Once accepted, you can submit up to 10 reviews a month.

Pay and how to apply:  Email the platform with x2 writing samples and answer the questions outlined on the writer’s page. Pay is  $15 per review.

7.  HubPages

HubPages is a revenue-sharing site like Medium, allowing you to  write content and get paid  depending on the popularity of your post.

It’s a faster way to make money from your content than blogging because HubPages already has a large readership. Sign up and start writing reviews about your favourite movies and TV shows.

Pay and how to apply : Sign up on the main homepage. Pay comes from the revenue share of ads on your article pages and will vary.

8.  PopSugar Voices

PopSugar Voices is mainly aimed at young women with content around entertainment, beauty, fashion, fitness, food and more.

They’re currently looking for writers to contribute shopping guides, TV or movie theories, personal essays, tutorials and life tips. The Word count needs to be  800 – 1200  to get into publication.

Pay and how to apply : Head over to the ‘’join the team’’ page to apply. Pay varies between content types.

Bustle is an online women’s magazine founded in 2013 by Bryan Goldberg. It contains articles on news, politics, celebrities, movies, beauty and fashion trends.

Three years after it was launched in 2016, it had  over 50 million readers!  If you’re looking to get paid to write movie reviews, this is a publication worth looking at. You can pitch freelance articles to the editorial team  here . Make sure to include:

• 1-2 sentences about your writing background and links to samples
• A draft headline of your intended article
• A short summary of the article
• Sources and any research content you have on the topic
• Why this article is a good fit for the Bustle audience
• Your intended plan for photos
• Your required rate for the finished piece

One huge benefit of writing movie reviews for Bustle is that you can set your own rate. You may not always get your required rate. But writing for less is still worth it, as your writing will get shown to millions of eager eyes that visit the Bustle platform every month.

Pay and how to apply : Email the editorial team at [email protected]. Include your rate in the pitch.

10. Create a Movie Review Blog

Another option for how to get paid to write movie reviews is to start your own blog.

This method requires a little more work up-front, but if you enjoy writing movie reviews, and have the time to write regular content, a website will make you decent money in the long run.

Set up a basic site, start writing reviews on various topics and focus on driving traffic to get your content seen.

Once you have blog traffic, you can start monetizing your content with affiliate marketing partnerships and ad revenue.

While you can start on a free blogging platform to gain experience as a freelance writer, it’s best to move on to a self-hosted website where you pay a small hosting fee.

Pay and how to apply : No need to apply, just start building! Unlimited income potential.

11. Movie Review YouTube Channel

If you fancy building a movie review empire, YouTube is one of the best places to start!

YouTube is a creator’s dream and there’s a ready-made audience waiting to hear what you have to say.

A few ideas for your own YouTube channel:

• Watch movies and give film criticism
• Ending explained videos
• Reviews with a comedic twist
• Give weekly lists of films worth watching
• Review video games or comic books

Take a look at these successful movie review YouTube channels for ideas:

• Filmi Indian
• We Watched a Movie

Pay and how to apply : Just set up a YouTube channel and start uploading movie review videos. Can apply for video monetization when you have 4,000+ viewing hours.

Get Paid to Write Movie Reviews FAQs

How much does a freelance movie critic get paid.

Film critics in the US make on  average $51,639 a year .  This will vary according to the city you live in and your notoriety and experience.

Some platforms that accept movie reviews from the general public will pay according to how many views your review gets or a flat fee, depending on the length of the review.

How do you become a film reviewer?

Anyone can get paid to write movie reviews. However, if you want to become a  full-time film reviewer you’ll need:

• Excellent English language skills
• Exceptional written and verbal skills
• Thorough attention to detail
• The ability to describe in detail and bring a story to life
• Able to work well under pressure and accept criticism
• Good understanding of media production and communication

What makes a good movie review?

A great movie review should be  informative, entertaining, persuasive and provide a unique opinion  that doesn’t give away the plot of the movie. The review should be reader directed, helping them to decide whether the movie is worth seeing or not.

How long should a film review be?

Film reviews tend to be quite short (around  600 to 1200 words ). However, they do require a decent amount of preparation before you start writing. You’ll need to research the director, writer and individual actors before you even watch the movie.

How do you review a movie?

Reviews are more than just your opinion on the movie, they require you to analyse the effectiveness of the plot, acting, special effects and all other elements surrounding the movie.

Avoid using generalised opinions such as  ”It was a good movie”  or  ”the acting was terrible.”  You need to give details as to why you’ve come to these conclusions.

Follow these tips to write a film review people want to read:

• Watch the movie once (twice is better)
• Give your opinion with details to back up your thoughts
• Consider who will read your review. Adjust your writing style to align with the target audience
• Spend a little time talking about actor performances
• Show your knowledge by highlighting what worked and what didn’t work in relation to costumes, setting, storyline etc. And call out directors, costume designers and anyone else who did or didn’t get it right
• Create excitement by detailing tiny bits of the plot, but remember – no spoliers!
• Write, read, edit, rewrite and read over again until it’s perfect. Spelling mistakes won’t make you look good
• Find your movie reviewer voice. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine, as it’s the ones that come across a little different that grab attention and get people coming back for more

How do I get paid to watch a movie?

There are many  legit places to make money watching videos . A few of these include:

• InboxDollars

Sign up to your chosen platform and fill in your profile and payment method. Once accepted, you can scroll through the video-watching tasks available and earn anything from a  few cents up to $25 per video  (although this high amount is rare).

Is it hard to become a film critic?

It’s hard to become a big-time, high-earning film critic. You often have to work in the industry for years, before you can start earning a decent salary. Many start writing reviews part-time, as a hobby.

This helps you learn the business, while you’re still working a full-time job to pay the bills. Passion is needed to keep going when not much money is being earned. But, with time and practice, it’s possible to get paid to write movie reviews full-time.

Get Paid to Write Movie Reviews – Final Thoughts

Now you know how to get paid to write movie reviews and the best places accepting guest reviewers now.

If you really love movies and have strong opinions, this could be the ideal side hustle to boost your bank balance. Start sending in pitches and applications to the sites in this article.

While you wait for responses, spend time writing movie reviews in your spare time and ask friends what they think. This way they can give you tips on where you need to improve.

Alternatively, get started right away with your own movie review blog. Every time you write a review, post it across your social media.

With a little effort, your blog may start to take off and you can monetise it with advertising and affiliate partnerships.

More side hustle ideas:

• 15 Super Lazy Ways to Make Money: $50 Every Day
• Make Money Flipping Websites: The Ultimate Beginners Guide
• 11 Websites to Earn Money Browsing the Web
• Matched Betting Guide: How to Make Money from Free Bets
• 11 Legit Places to Make Money Watching Videos
• How to Make $100 a Day Extra (Simple Ways You Can Start Today!)

* Disclosure : I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate  links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

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Sign Up For Paid Writing Opportunities

33 publications that pay for writing about movies, films, and cinema.

There are a surprising number of opportunities to get paid to write about films, movies, and the film industry. This list is a roundup of publishers that focus on this topic. Since the last update of this list, it has approximately doubled in size, to 33 publications.

Note, that there are many publications that I did not include, especially those publications that are specifically “culture/entertainment” focused, including glossy magazines such as Vanity Fair, People, etc. Most publications that cover pop-culture or entertainment also include writing about movies/film.

One avenue not to overlook: If you really want to get paid to write movie reviews, I highly recommend looking into your local or regional “weekly” magazine. Nearly every city, and even many small towns, publish weeklies, and nearly all of these weeklies publish movie reviews. It is an opportunity worth pursuing, for those interested. Even though your local weekly may not be in need of a movie reviewer, you may as well find out!

This is in addition to the many newspapers that publish movie reviews, which is another opportunity to consider.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to write a good pitch before getting published by these publications. This free lecture shows you exactly how to do that.

— Jacob Jans

Flairbox is “a revolutionary video sharing platform for talent discovery in the entertainment industry.” They are always seeking new contributors for Flairbox magazine. They love “pieces that give juicy insights and hard-won tips – or something unusual from your personal experience in the industry.” They generally pay £50/1,000 words or 5p/word. To learn more, refer to their  pitch guide .

Independent Cinema Office is “the national organisation for the development and support of independent film exhibition throughout the UK.” They are always accepting pitches for their blog. Send them an idea for an article about a film exhibition that you’d like them to commission at [email protected] . They pay 15p/word for articles of 800 to 1,200 words. For details, read their blog guidelines .

Sight & Sound is “the UK’s oldest film publication and an internationally respected voice in film criticism and journalism.” They are looking for new writers and contributors to further diversify the range of voices within their pages and on their website. They encourage pitches from all writers. They would “particularly like to hear from Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers, the LGBTIQ+ community, writers with disabilities and emerging voices.” They pay £120 for every 1,000 words. For details, refer to their pitching guide .

Certified Forgotten is a podcast in which film critics Matt Donato and Matt Monagle “unearth the most memorable horror films that feature five or fewer reviews on RottenTomatoes.” They are expanding into editorial content and are seeking pitches for features. They will pay $75 per feature. Send pitches to [email protected]. To learn more, refer to this page .

WhatNerd is a website about nerd lifestyle and entertainment. They cover games, TV, movies, health, and more. They are looking for contributors who can write 1 to 8 articles per month. They pay $80 per article (600 to 1,200 words). They don’t accept one-off submissions. To learn more, refer to this page .

The A.V. Club is an entertainment website for the pop culture obsessed. They cover news, films, music, TV, games, and more. They are always seeking thoughtful pitches for their TV section. Their rates start at $250 for 900 words. To learn more, refer to this Twitter post and this link .

ALL ARTS is a multimedia platform that covers visual art, theater, dance, film, music, literature, and more. They are seeking journalists who cover theater, film, music, visual art, fashion, and/or TV. Their pay varies based on the story type, but their minimum threshold for a non-reported 400-word post is $250. For details, refer to this Twitter post . For their contact information, refer to this page .

theFold is an online magazine by Double Double store (an Australian store that offers curated streetwear and fashion from global designers). They publish “critical and exploratory writing on contemporary culture, broadly defined.” They “welcome writing about art, fashion, architecture, film, music, television, and more.” They are “particularly interested in personal essays that incorporate cultural criticism and critique.” They accept completed articles (1,200 to 1,700 words) and pitches. They pay $300 per article. For details, read their submission guidelines .

Digital Spy is the United Kingdom’s biggest TV and movies site. They offer news on TV, movies, soaps, showbiz, music, games, and tech. According to one payment report, they paid £60 for a TV review of 350 to 500 words. To contact them, visit this page .

Point of View Magazine (POV) is a Canadian, print and online magazine about documentaries and independent films. They publish twice a year. Payment reports indicate that they pay $0.25 per word. To contact them, refer to this page .

Art of the Title is “the definitive industry publication for title sequence design and an educational resource, spanning the film, television, conference, and video game industries.” They are looking for contributors to “write about title sequences in film, TV, and beyond.” They pay $200 to $300 per piece. For details, read this Twitter post .  You can contact them here.

British Cinematographer is a print and digital magazine that covers the art and craft of international cinematography. They publish 6 times a year. They “focus on the art and craft of cinematographers, and the technologies they use during production and post production.” According to one payment report, they paid $300 for a reported story. To contact them, visit this page .

Variety covers entertainment news, awards, film reviews, film festivals, box office, and more. Payment reports indicate that they pay up to $0.75 per word. To contact them, visit this page .

Substream Magazine is a print and digital publication focused on music, pop culture, film, and entertainment. They publish news, reviews, interviews, and more. Payment reports indicate that they pay up to $0.10 per word. To contact them, refer to this page .

Paper Magazine covers fashion, music, film, TV, famous people, nightlife, politics, art, culture, sex, dating, and more. Payment reports indicate that they pay up to $0.25 per word. To contact them, refer to this page .

Film Quarterly publishes articles, reviews, and interviews about “all aspects of film history, film theory, and the impact of film, video, and television on culture and society.” They pay $50 for articles (of 1,000 words or less) for the Quorum section of their website. For details, refer to this page .

AP Marvel is a progressive podcast and publication for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans from “marginalized communities to talk politics, social issues, and story themes.” They are looking for unique perspectives from the MCU fanbase. They are seeking “pitches from women, queer people, people of color, disabled people, and people of various faiths.” They are paying for written pieces and essays. Payment: $50 per piece. For details about pitching, refer to this page .

Crooked Marquee is a movie website. They entertain, inform, and empower their readers by providing them with amusing insights and unique perspectives regarding the industry. They want writers who are based in the U.S. and have a U.S. bank account. Their pay starts at $50 per piece. To learn more, read their writers guidelines .

Bright Wall/Dark Room is an online magazine that is dedicated to “exploring the relationship between cinema and the business of being alive.” They publish profiles, interviews, personal essays, cultural criticism, formal analysis, and humor pieces. Their critical essays are generally 1,500 to 3,000 words long. They pay $50 per essay. For details, refer to this page .

Little White Lies is a London-based bi-monthly film magazine that is “committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them.” The magazine keeps film lovers entertained by featuring progressive writing, illustrations and photography. Payment reports suggest that they pay up to $0.11 per word. To learn more, refer to this page .

SVLLY(wood) is a biannual movie magazine which is “geared towards building a new cinephilia through diverse themes and leftist ideology.” They accept pitches (of 300 to 400 words) that outline the potential piece and its link to the issue’s theme. They pay $40 to $50 per essay. To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines page .

Artforum is a magazine focused on the world of contemporary art. They also focus on film, photography, music, fashion, and architecture. According to payment reports, they pay an average of $0.32 per word. To contact them, refer to this page .

Freelance Video Collective is a “UK network for film, TV and video production jobs.” They are looking for freelancers (with a background in film and TV) to write guest posts for their video production blog. They want articles of 800 to 900 words. They pay £60 per article. To learn more, visit this page .

Flood Magazine is a quarterly magazine that spans the cultural landscape of film, television, music, art, and travel. According to payment reports, they pay up to $0.15 per word. To contact them, refer to this page .

Luma is an online quarterly publication about independent film and media art. It is published by the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers and EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society. They publish “critical essays, news, reviews, event previews, interviews, reflections, and photo/video essays about culturally relevant productions, events and ideas.” They pay successful contributors an honorarium of $200 per submission. To learn more, visit this page .

Offscreen is a monthly online film journal that features essays, interviews, reviews and festival reports. They frequently produce special thematic issues. They want reviews and festival reports of at least 1,000 words and essays of at least 2,000 words. They pay up to $150 (Canadian dollars). To learn more, read their contributor guidelines .

Cineaste offers social, political and aesthetic perspective on cinema. Book reviews should deal with newly published books (or up to two years old), and may be single-book or multiple-book reviews. They encourage review-essays in which the discussion serves as a vehicle for a broader treatment of ideas or issues, and individual book reviews should be 1,000-1,500 words. They also publish feature articles, interviews, film reviews, DVD and Blu-Ray reviews, and columns. Pay is $18 for Short Take reviews, $36 for book or DVD reviews (in the case of book or DVD reviews posted on their website as Web Exclusives, no cash payment is offered), $45 for film reviews and short articles, columns, sidebar interviews, or essays, and $90 for feature articles or interviews. Details here .

Metro Magazine is Australia’s film and media magazine, run by the Australian Teachers of Media association. They publish essays, articles, reviews and interviews that analyse the film and media cultures of Australia and the Asia-Pacific. They pay up to $350 AUD per article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Afterimage is a bimonthly publication that covers visual arts, photography, independent film and video, new media, and alternative publishing. They cover issues and debates within art history, visual and cultural studies, media studies, and related fields. They have features, essays, reviews, reports, news, media noted sections for writers, and double exposure, which are collaborations of photography and prose. The magazine is partly funded by New York State Council on the Arts. They pay $0.05/word for articles, max $300 for features, $150 for essays and $100 for news, reports and reviews. When I last checked, it was not clear whether their funding was still able to support paying writers. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

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Get Paid To Write Reviews: 14 Top Sites

Get paid to write reviews by reading our guide with all the top sites for you to check out. Earn money and home and increase your skills today!

Before you purchase products or download apps, do you read the reviews? Most consumers do. A study published by Qualtrics showed that 93 percent of customers read online reviews before buying a product. Product reviews are important to people’s purchasing decisions, and review sites are everywhere.

Companies know that they will make more money if their products have positive reviews, so they’re willing to pay people to write product reviews for money. If you are wondering how to get paid to write reviews and blog articles, try applying to these sites for review writing jobs .

1. Writers Work

2. get paid to write reviews for amazon, 3. get reviewed, 4. crowdtap, 6. listverse, 7. capterra, 8. usertesting, 9. gartner peer insights, 10. harris poll online, 11. g2 crowd, 12. review stream, 13. inboxdollars, 14. swagbucks, final word on where to get paid to write reviews, is it illegal to write fake reviews, where can i write music reviews, how do you make money by giving reviews, how to get paid to write reviews.

Writers Work connects writers with companies looking for freelancers. With thousands of jobs available, it’s an ideal place for new and experienced freelancer writers to find work. The site has built great relationships with many established companies requiring writing , from general content to blogging to copywriting and reviews; endless opportunities exist. The average earnings on the freelance site are anything from $20 – $65 per hour, making it a lucrative option for writers to get involved in.

Writers Work contains freelance writing opportunities for writers who want to start their career

Many freelancers earn commissions from Amazon by writing product reviews. Amazon pays reviewers who successfully try a product and refer it to new customers. This process is a type of influencer work called affiliate marketing, which can be used through the Amazon Associates program. Whenever a customer uses your affiliate link, you’ll receive a small commission on the sale.

For example, if you were to try a product and then post about it on your blog or social media with an affiliate link, your viewers might then buy the Amazon product, which means you earn a commission. There are many different niches for bloggers to choose from, like food, fashion, beauty, tech, and entertainment.

If you want to write product reviews for money, one of the best places to look is Get Reviewed . The website will pay you cash for sponsored reviews and blog posts. If you want to participate in this program, you need to have a self-hosted website with a strong domain authority of at least 20 or above. To elevate your domain authority, focus on a specific niche.

Then, convince others to provide links that point back to your website. This will position your site as an authority in the field.

If you want to get paid to write a review on this site, submit your blog for consideration. After your blog is accepted, you will display your blog on the marketplace. Then, advertisers can view your blog and order a product review from you. If someone places an order for a review from your website, you will receive an email notification.

Based on the email request, you can either accept or reject their review request. You also negotiate the price of your review with the client. Once you and the client agree on a deadline and rate for the job, you’ll write the review and get paid! Typically, you get paid 14 days after the article has been completed. The site pays a paid reviewer by PayPal.

If you want a fun way to review products from your phone, check out CrowdTap . You can access the program through your smartphone. Then, you can look at their “daily missions,” which products they would like you to review that day. If you review their products, you will be rewarded for leaving a high-quality review.

You get paid in a variety of ways. For example, some companies will reward you with product samples. Other companies will reward you with gift cards. You may also be given merchandise rewards you can redeem at certain brands and establishments.

This is one of the top review apps out there. There are other ways you can earn points as well. For example, you can complete daily polls, fill out surveys, and share your reviews on social media channels. You can get additional points if you share your reviews on your blog.

Another review site you may want to check out is called Ciao . This is a review site based in the UK, but it is open to the international community, including non-English speakers. They have various products listed on the website, some of which are Amazon products.

The website also has a rotating category of focus or high-authority products. These are products that they need reviews for, so they’re willing to pay extra money for writers. The payment for each review varies, but it is directly tied to the amount of traffic that a specific review generates.

You don’t have to make much money to request a payout. As long as you have a balance of five pounds or more, or about $6, you can request to be paid. It might be challenging to generate a lot of traffic with your first review, but you can make significant money online once you get a lot of practice.

If you are more of a long-form paid reviewer, check out ListVerse . This website will pay you money to make a “top 10” list. Often called “listicles,” this is an opportunity to get creative. You have a lot of control over the products you decide to review, and you can make several recommendations in a single article.

You may want to write a paragraph or two on each item before moving forward. After your list has been published, you get paid through PayPal.

Next, you may want to check out Capterra as well. If you have looked for reviews of specific products, including software programs, you have probably come across Capterra. You can also get paid to write reviews for them. Typically, you need to use the product before you write the review, which may require additional work; however, you can also get paid more for each review.

On Capterra, you get paid approximately $10 for each review that is accepted. Because they are one of the largest players in the industry, they vet all of their reviews closely to ensure they meet their requirements. You need to verify your identity using LinkedIn, and you might get asked to send screenshots of the software or product you want to review before they let you write the review. For this reason, they pay more money for each review.

If you are someone who enjoys testing websites and applications, you may want to take a look at a website called UserTesting . During the review process, you need to make a 20-minute video. Then, you’ll be paid $10 for each review you give. Try this website if you would rather talk about a product or service instead of writing about it.

If the platform can download the necessary recording software, you can record it using any device you want. This could include a desktop computer, a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet. You will also need to record yourself testing the app or website in real-time. Companies will pay a lot for people who record themselves using their products or services.

Therefore, this could be one of the most lucrative ways for you to make money through product reviews.

Another website that will pay you a lot of money for each review is called Gartner. Gartner is a leading technology and software review company. The goal is to help users make educated decisions on the products they use. Even though you can only write ten reviews annually, the company pays you approximately $25 for each successful review.

Caveat: Gartner closely vets every review before it is published to ensure it provides customers with real insights into the product. The more details you can give about your experience, the greater the chance your review gets accepted. You need to know a lot before you write your first review on this platform. So, check out Gartner’s FAQ page to figure out how to take advantage of this opportunity.

You might also want to consider Harris Poll Online . They are one of the oldest research firms in the industry, and they have a sterling reputation. Most of the surveys and reviews you complete for Harris will focus on their current marketing campaigns.

For example, you might be asked to watch a series of marketing videos a company produces. Then, you’ll be asked to share your opinion. You might also be asked to recommend improving their marketing videos to better speak to someone like yourself.

Every time you complete a survey for this company, you’ll be given points to redeem for gift cards. You might also be given a bonus award if you win the raffle. You get an entry into the raffle with every survey or review you complete.

G2 Crowd is a crowdsourcing platform for reviews. The amount of money you can make on this platform can vary widely depending on what you review. The average review pays between $5 and $15, but you could earn up to $25 per review if you review specific types of software. The website has hundreds of thousands of reviews, so it is one of the most popular review websites on the internet.

Similar to other software review websites, there are strict requirements you need to follow to make sure your review is accepted. You’ll also have to verify your identity by tying your LinkedIn account to your review.

Review Stream will allow you to make money by reviewing just about every product. Furthermore, if a user likes your review, you could get paid a bonus. If you get a vote of confidence from a user, this indicates that the person found your review useful.

Even though you can write a review on just about anything, you can look at what is currently trending on social media. Generally, ReviewStream will pay more money for products and services that have become popular. Furthermore, if you write a review that matches the publishing guidelines of the platform, they might pay you more money. These reviews are also more likely to be deemed useful by users.

InboxDollars has an excellent reputation for paying users to take surveys, shop online, and read email newsletters to assess them for clarity and effectiveness. You can get paid to write product reviews and collect rewards easily on this platform.

InboxDollars partners with top research organizations that are looking for feedback and input from the public. All you need to do is sign up and give your opinions on surveys, and you’ll be paid cash when you’ve completed your task.

Swagbucks is one of the most popular loyalty and consumer rewards platforms online. It’s free to join, and members receive gift cards or cash for the everyday activities they complete online. Tasks include web searching, playing games, watching videos, and shopping online. You can also scan your receipts for cash back, making it easy to earn extra cash without completing hundreds of surveys.

If you’re interested in answering surveys and giving reviews for cash, Swagbucks also pays users to take surveys on topics like personal finance, favorite foods, vacations, and more. Swagbucks has already paid its members over 5 million dollars, solidifying it as one of the most reliable online paid review platforms.

These are some useful review sites to apply to if you want to write product reviews, book reviews, and more. Writing legit reviews is also a great way to get free products, as lots of companies will send you new products and samples to write about on a review website. You can also combine writing reviews with other proven methods that will help you get paid to write .

These sites are a good side-hustle choice before applying to the best affiliate marketing programs and publishing review content on your website.

FAQs About How to Get Paid To Write Reviews

Section 5 of the FTC Act 15 U.S. Code 45 makes fake testimonials illegal in the United States. It can also dent your customer’s trust in your business. It should be noted that a man was jailed after posting fake reviews on TripAdvisor.

Many music writers start their careers by launching their blogs. However, several magazines and websites accept freelance reviews. Two Story Melody gives a list of sites that accept music reviews.

There are several ways to make money by giving reviews, depending on the platform or industry you are involved in. Here are a few methods: 1. Sponsored reviews 2. Affiliate marketing 3. Paid survey sites 4. Blogging or YouTube channels 5. Paid review websites

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Helping you in your Side Hustle journey!

Get Paid to Watch And Review Movies: 20 Best Opportunities

Whenever I watch a movie, I delight in discussing it with friends and family. Sharing my views on the movies I watch and having engaging conversations about movies brings me joy.

Are you also the type who can't stop talking about the latest blockbuster or indie gem? Do your friends constantly seek your movie recommendations? If so, it is time to get paid to review movies!

True, if you love watching movies, your honest and insightful analysis can bring you money!

All you need to get started is a keen eye for detail, a deep appreciation for movies, and a passion for storytelling.

In this post, let's explore the exciting world of getting paid to review movies.

20 Best Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies

Whether you are a cinephile who loves reviewing the latest movies or a classic film buff, there are countless opportunities to monetize your passion.

If you have a knack for crafting captivating movie reviews or simply entertaining movie-related content, make use of these best ways to get paid to review movies:

Get Paid To Review Movies In Content-Sharing Platforms

1) hubpages.

HubPages is an online publishing platform that enables writers, experts, and enthusiasts to share their knowledge and ideas with a vast global audience.

As a movie enthusiast, you can get paid to write movie reviews on this platform.

HubPages helps you build a successful online presence and generate income from your content.

By publishing movie reviews on HubPages, you can earn a share of the platform's advertising revenue.

Does HubPages really pay?

Yes, HubPages pays you a share of their ad revenue. You earn about 60% of your articles' total revenue on their site.

Payment is made via PayPal on the 28th of the following month. The minimum payout threshold at HubPages is $50.

How much can you get paid for movie reviews on HubPages?

You can earn between $2 and $5 for 1000 views on HubPages. You can also share your published articles on social media to increase views and earn more.

Read the HubPages - Make Money article to learn how much you can earn from HubPages.

So, are you ready to watch movies, write on HubPages, and get paid for movie reviews?

Medium is another content-sharing platform where writers, bloggers, and thought leaders can publish their stories and insights to a global audience.

It is also an interesting way to get paid for movie reviews.

You can monetize your content by participating in the Medium Partner Program. Your earnings will be based on the level of engagement and reading time your articles receive.

To join the Medium Partner Program , you must:

become a member of Medium

have published at least one story in the past 6 months

be in an eligible country

If you are passionate about watching movies, why not get paid for movie reviews through the Medium Partner Program?

3) Vocal.Media

Vocal.Media is another platform where you can showcase your movie reviews, build a following, and generate income.

On this platform, you can monetize your content through various features, such as:

number of reads

subscriptions

How much can you get paid for movie reviews on Vocal Media?

With your free Vocal Media account, you can earn around $3.80 per 1000 reads. Vocal+ members earn $6.00 per 1000 reads.

Vocal Media processes payment through Stripe, with a minimum payout of $35.

Read the Vocal Media - 101 to learn more about how you can get paid for your content on this platform, including movie reviews.

4) ListVerse

ListVerse is a popular online platform that publishes informative lists on various topics.

You can also get paid to review movies on ListVerse . This platform accepts submissions from the US, Canada, UK, NZ, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa.

Your article must be around 1500 to 2000 words with at least 10 items listed.

ListVerse will pay you $100 by PayPal if your article gets selected and published.

See the below snapshot to get an idea of what kind of movie-based articles you can submit.

Start binge-watching movies, submit your movie reviews to ListVerse as a listicle, and get paid!

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10 Best Writing Sites That Pay Daily - Get Paid Fast For Writing!

Get Paid To Review Movies - Customer Experience Solutions

5) amusement advantage.

Amusement Advantage is a customer experience solutions company where you can sign up as a shopper and get paid to watch movies.

This platform is available for users from the U.S. and Canada.

By becoming a shopper on this platform, you are not getting paid to review movies but for your theatre experiences.

You can pick from a list of movies and timings and watch them for at least 20 minutes in the theatre. And then you need to submit your evaluations on audience members, seats, etc.

How much can you get paid at Amusement Advantage?

You can earn between $20 and $220 plus ticket reimbursement for your theatre assignments.

Read the Amusement Advantage - Theatre Checks page for more information on how you can get paid to watch movies on this platform.

6) Market Force

Market Force is another customer experience solutions company that caters to various industries including movie theatres.

This company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

By becoming a mystery shopper at Market Force , you can review your movie experiences in theatres and get paid.

Why not give it a try and get paid for your feedback?

Imyst is a company that provides movie theatre mystery shopping services.

By signing up as a shopper on Imyst , you can get movie theatre assignments and get paid for your reviews and feedback on movie quality, trailers, advertisements, etc.

Imyst processes payment via PayPal.

This is a fun opportunity. So, go watch movies through Imyst and get paid for your reviews!

8) iScreeningRoom

iScreeningRoom is a fun platform where you can watch test screenings of movies for free!

By signing up as an audience on this platform, you can watch movies online even before they are released and share your opinion with the filmmakers through surveys.

Even though you don't typically get paid to review movies on this platform, it is worth experiencing test screenings for free in exchange for reviews!

9) Focus Groups (dot) org

Another interesting way to get paid to review movies is by participating in entertainment-related paid studies on FocusGroups .

Some studies even pay up to $150 for participation.

Check out the Focus Groups - Studies page for the latest opportunities and don't miss out on signing up for movie-based focus groups.

For example, here is one such opportunity to get paid for movie reviews at Focus Groups:

10+ Best Mystery Shopping Companies to Earn Extra Cash

Get Paid To Watch Netflix: 12 Best Earning Opportunities

Get Paid To Listen To Music: 11 Best Apps And 7 Fun Ways

Get Paid To Review Movies - Job Boards and Freelancing Platforms

10) job boards.

Another excellent way to get paid to review movies is through jobs such as:

Film Critic

Movie and TV Features Articles Writer

Movie and TV Lists Journalist

Some of these positions are even remote.

You can apply for such positions through job boards like FlexJobs , Indeed , etc.

Sample movie review jobs from FlexJobs:

Sample movie review/film critic job from Indeed:

25+ Best Remote Job Sites To Find The Perfect Work From Home Job

15 Best Remote Weekend Jobs You Can Do Without Leaving Your House

11) Freelancing Platforms

Taking up freelance movie review jobs on Fiverr and Upwork is another good option to make money.

All you need to do is create your profile on these freelance platforms showcasing your expertise and passion for cinema and apply for movie review jobs.

Once you establish yourself and earn positive reviews, you can attract a wider client base and command higher rates.

So, get started and turn your movie reviews into a thriving freelance career!

How To Become A Freelance Writer With No Experience (14 Easy Ways)

Get Paid To Review Movies - Blog/YouTube

12) blogging.

Blogging is a wonderful way to share your movie reviews with a wider audience and get paid.

By consistently crafting well-structured movie reviews, you can build a loyal following and monetize your blog through ads, affiliate marketing partnerships, sponsored content, etc.

So, create your own blog easily through platforms like WordPress , Wix , etc., share your passion for cinema, and get paid to review movies!

Here are some popular movie review blogs for your inspiration:

Cinema Blend

Little White Lies

Make Money As A Blogger: 15 Best Ways To Monetize Your Blog

13) YouTube

This article on getting paid to review movies would be incomplete without a mention of YouTube.

To get paid to review movies on YouTube, you need to:

Create your channel

Invest in a good camera and microphone

Watch movies and post high-quality, insightful movie reviews regularly

Interact with your viewers by responding to comments

Soon your audience will grow and you can monetize your channel through ads, affiliate marketing collaborations, and sponsorships.

Check out these movie review YouTube channels for some inspiration:

Mr Sunday Movies

Cinema Sins

Get Paid To Review Movies In Online Magazines

14) animation arena.

Animation Arena  is a comprehensive online platform dedicated to the world of animation.

It features a diverse range of animation-related content such as:

Animation News & Reviews

Movie Reviews

Video Game Reviews

Comic Book Reviews

You can also get paid to review movies, video games, and comic books on this platform. For this, you need to:

email your two sample reviews to Animation Arena

provide your information such as name and age

specify your favorite TV shows, games, and comic books

Your reviews must be of at least 550 words.

Animation Arena pays $15 per review. You can submit a maximum of 10 reviews a month.

So, send in your application and get paid to review movies at Animation Arena .

15) Taste of Cinema

Taste of Cinema  is a renowned online platform for movie recommendations. It provides curated lists and personalized movie suggestions to help readers discover new and exciting films that cater to their preferences.

If you have a deep appreciation for the art of filmmaking, you can also get paid to review movies at Taste of Cinema .

You can share your insights with more than 600,000 readers by writing movie reviews for this platform. The more your article gets read, the more you get paid.

So, write movie reviews for Taste of Cinema in your spare time and get paid!

16) Screen Rant

Screen Rant  is a platform that caters to millions of moviegoers, TV viewers, comic readers, and gamers by providing movie news and reviews.

If you have a passion for writing, you can join the Screen Rant team  and get paid to review movies.

To become a writer at Screen Rant, you need to have:

excellent writing skills

a strong passion for the entertainment industry

a deep understanding of the topics that ScreenRant covers

Screen Rant also hires for positions such as:

Movie & TV Features Journalist/Editor

Anime Features Journalist

Comics Features Journalist

So if you are from the US, UK, or Canada, and have a genuine enthusiasm for the world of entertainment, then get paid to review movies at Screen Rant!

17) Cineaste

Cineaste  delves deep into the art of cinema, providing in-depth analysis and thought-provoking reviews of movies across the globe.

To get paid to review movies on this platform, you can submit:

Feature articles (3000 to 4000 words)

Film reviews (1500 to 2000 words)

DVD reviews (1500 to 2000 words)

Film-related Book reviews (1000 to 1500 words)

How much can you get paid at Cineaste for movie reviews?

Here is how much Cineaste pays you:

Short Take reviews - $18

DVD reviews - $36

Film reviews and short articles - $45

Feature articles/interviews - $90

Refer to the Cineaste - Writer's Guidelines  page for more information on getting paid to review movies on this platform.

18) Cultured Vultures

Cultured Vultures  is an online destination for comprehensive coverage of movies, gaming, television, books, and wrestling.

You don't need any writing experience to get paid to review movies on Cultured Vultures . If you are passionate about writing you are good to go.

Make sure you submit your previous writing samples or a draft while applying.

How can you get paid to review movies on Cultured Vultures?

Cultured Vultures pays you to write:

movie reviews (around 500 words)

editorial/essay pieces on movies (750 to 1000 words)

Your submission must be through Google Docs.

How much does Cultured Vultures pay?

Cultured Vultures pays:

£5 for each published article

£2 for every 200 views (up until the next Sunday)

£15 per 100 words if your movie review is SEO focused

Payments are made every Tuesday via PayPal.

19) Cracked

Cracked  is a renowned online humor and entertainment platform that has captivated audiences for years.

If you have a knack for writing witty commentary, thought-provoking articles, and engaging listicles, it is one of the best platforms to get paid to review movies.

Cracked pays around $100 to $250 per article depending on the number of words.

Keep an eye on their website to apply when they accept submissions and get paid to review movies.

20) Slant Magazine

Slant Magazine  is a film and movie review site that offers a unique perspective on topics such as film, television, theater, music, video games, etc.

If you are interested in getting paid to review movies on Slant Magazine, you can contact its editors by sending your pitch and writing samples.

Check out the Slant - Contribute  page to learn more about how you can get paid to review movies on this platform.

Skills Needed To Become A Paid Movie Reviewer

To become a paid movie reviewer, there are certain skills you'll need to develop.

For example:

writing skills

offering comprehensive analysis highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses in your movie reviews

ability to bring meaningful comparisons

You don't need any formal training or a degree in film studies to get started.

However, top publications or platforms may require you to have a strong educational background in film studies, journalism, or communications.

FAQs - Get Paid To Review Movies

#1 . can we earn money by reviewing movies.

Yes! You can earn money by reviewing movies if you possess a keen eye for film and the ability to articulate your thoughts effectively.

As discussed in this article, you can earn money by reviewing movies through:

Freelance Writing

Film Critic jobs

Mystery shopping for movie theatres

#2 . How to become a movie reviewer?

To become a movie reviewer, you need to:

have a passion for watching movies

develop a talent for crafting critiques

get a vast knowledge of film history, genres, and techniques

analyze the artistic and technical aspects of movies

stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the movie world

#3 . How much do movie reviewers get paid?

The compensation for movie reviewers can vary greatly depending on:

the reviewer's level of experience

the platform that publishes their work

the scope of their work

Entry-level or freelance movie reviewers may earn as little as a few hundred dollars per review.

In contrast, seasoned movie reviewers working for major publications can command significantly higher fees.

Final Thoughts - Get Paid To Review Movies

Getting paid to review movies is a unique opportunity to turn your passion for films into a rewarding career.

Whether you choose to work for an established publication or build your own personal brand, the path to becoming a paid movie reviewer is exciting.

So why not take the first step and explore the exciting world of professional movie reviewing? The rewards, both personal and monetary, are well worth the effort.

Like this post? Please share it to show your support!

Check out our Make Money  page to do fun tasks and earn cash, gift cards, free products, and more!

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Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform, not lure you into signing up for certain offers. Compensation from our partners may impact what products we cover and where they appear on the site, but does not have any impact on the objectivity of our reviews or advice.

Some companies will pay their customers to leave candid feedback about their products, while others provide free product samples in exchange for reviews. If you want to make extra money, getting paid to write reviews can be a great way to do it.

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When you’re shopping online, do you look at the reviews left by other customers to determine if you’re getting a good product?

Or maybe you like leaving reviews to help future customers.

But reviews aren’t just for other consumers. Companies take your feedback seriously and use customer feedback to improve their products. Some will even pay their customers to leave candid feedback about their products, while others provide free product samples in exchange for reviews.

If you want to make a few extra dollars writing reviews for money — be it for movies, restaurants, or something else entirely — this list of resources is a great way to accomplish exactly that. 

10 Places to Write Reviews for Money

It can be difficult to convince a company to pay you directly for reviews. Most companies who choose to do so generally work through an intermediary. There are plenty of websites and services that you can sign up for if you want to get paid to write reviews.

1. LifePoints

LifePoints is a website that pays users to complete surveys. Some of these surveys will be about the products that you’ve bought. Others will be about more general topics.

For each survey that you complete, you’ll earn LifePoints. Some surveys will ask you for demographic information and may disqualify you if enough responses from your demographic have been received. If this happens, you’ll still earn a few LifePoints for your time.

Most surveys take about fifteen minutes to finish, but some are much shorter or much longer. Usually, longer surveys will offer more LifePoints.

You can redeem LifePoints for rewards. Redemption options include gift cards, charitable donations, and cash deposits to your PayPal account.

Related: LifePoints Review: Should You Become a Free Member?

2. InboxDollars

InboxDollars pays its customer for a variety of tasks, including:

• Taking paid surveys
• Watching videos
• Playing games
• Shopping online
• Reading emails

Opportunities to complete surveys and other tasks are emailed directly to you. You’ll earn cash rather than points, and InboxDollars has paid its customers more than $56 million since 2000.

Related: InboxDollars Review: Is it Legit, and How Much Can You Earn?

3. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is another survey-taking site that pays you to share your opinions with companies. The site has paid out more than $30 million to its 7 million members.

Each survey you take rewards you with points. You can redeem points for cash through PayPal, sweepstakes entries, or charitable donations, letting you choose how you want to be rewarded.

4. Start a Review Blog

If you don’t want to deal with another website’s requirements to get paid for reviews, consider starting your own review blog. While it can be difficult, especially in the beginning, it’s a good strategy for making money writing reviews.

Websites like Wirecutter have grown to have millions of readers each month because of their high-quality reviews. With a review website, you can make money with advertising or by working with a service like Amazon Affiliates that allows you to earn a commission when someone makes a purchase based on your review.

Related: How to Start a Profitable Blog (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)

5. UserTesting

UserTesting connects tech companies to regular people who want to help them test their websites and apps.

Companies will provide you with a link to their site or app and a set of tasks they’d like you to accomplish. An online retailer, for example, might ask you to go through the process of buying a shirt.

To start an assignment, you’ll need a microphone. While you’re going through your tasks, UserTesting will record your screen and anything you say. You should speak your thoughts clearly and out loud so that the people reviewing your recordings can understand your thought process and update the website accordingly.

You’ll be paid $10 through PayPal for every 20-minute recording you complete.

6. Review Stream

At Review Stream , you’re paid based on what other consumers think about your reviews. This means that it pays to be completely candid and to provide as much detail as possible.

You can review almost anything on the site — products, movies, and books are all fair game. If Review Stream accepts your submitted review, you’ll earn a small payment. Once your review is posted, other users can vote on whether the review is helpful or not. You’ll earn ten cents per helpful vote that you receive. You can also earn ten cents for each answer you provide to other consumers’ questions.

Payment is made through PayPal. The minimum balance to cash out varies based on how much you made for the first review you sold in each payment cycle. The minimum will be ten times the value of the first review you sold, with a minimum of $100. So, if your first review sold for $2 or $10, the minimum is $100. If it sold for $16, the minimum is $160.

Related: 11 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books In Your Spare Time

7. YouTube BrandConnect

YouTube BrandConnect is an invite-only service that connects YouTube creators to brands that want to show their products to a wider audience.

This service is relatively hands-off, connecting you to companies to pitch, but you get to decide how you want to feature products and you can set your own rates. Once you sign up for the service, you’ll be able to see all of the sponsors looking to work with YouTubers. The site advertises nearly 500 companies that pay people to advertise their goods and services .

In exchange for connecting you with brands, YouTube BrandConnect takes a 10% service fee. There are no sign-up or other fees, so you only pay the fees when you get paid. YouTube BrandConnect pays through PayPal or check.

8. Influence Central

Influence Central is another site that connects influencers to brands who want to showcase their products to consumers. You’ll get paid to write reviews and post them directly on your blog, website, or social media accounts.

The pay for each review varies. Some companies will pay you more than others, but this can be a good way to leverage your influence and provide honest reviews to your followers.

If you want to get paid to test products , Tryazon is the website for you. After you sign up, you’ll be able to view a list of available TryaBox and Party opportunities.

For a TryaBox opportunity , a company will send you a single product or item for you to test. If you apply for a Party and Tryazon selects your application, the company will send a box filled with products, party favors, and the like, free of charge. You can host a party with friends, family, and colleagues and everyone gets the chance to try the product.

Once you’re done, your free to share your feedback with the manufacturer, post about the party on your blog or social media, and tell your friends about the things you tried.

10. Write Reviews for Clients

To find possible clients, you can do an online search for websites that focus on product and service reviews. Then, pitch your review writing services to them directly. You will need to have a portfolio and a drive to pitch multiple clients before landing your first gig. Make sure your final submissions to clients are amazing, because it may lead to steady work writing more reviews in the future.

Related: 18 Legit Online Jobs for College Students

Can You Get Paid to Write Reviews for Google and Amazon?

Google and Amazon are two of the most trusted websites on the internet when it comes to reviews. That means that companies are willing to do a lot to make sure their Amazon and Google reviews are good.

You can get paid to write reviews on these websites. However, although providing compensation for a review is allowed, providing compensation with the requirement that you leave a good review violates both websites’ Terms of Service. So if this type of opportunity is presented to you, make sure you think about whether or not you should take it.

For example, your local pizza shop is welcome to give you a free slice when you show that you left a review, but it can’t require that you leave a five-star review on Google. It has to extend the offer to anyone who leaves a review.

3 Tips to Make the Most with Paid Reviews

The truth is that you won’t make a huge amount of money for writing reviews, but it can be a good way to add some extra cash to your wallet. Here are the best ways to make money writing reviews.

Do it in your spare time.

Turn some of your unproductive spare time into productive time by writing reviews. If you commute by bus or train, write a review or two on each trip. After work, rather than focusing on a Netflix show you’ve seen a dozen times, put it on in the background while you write a review.

Because most reviews are short and easy to write, they’re a great way to fill small chunks of time.

Review things you already use.

You’re most familiar with products that you use on a regular basis, so start by reviewing those items.  Your familiarity with them, especially if you’re a long-term user of a specific product, will help you make high-quality reviews that other consumers can use.

Write high-quality reviews.

To make sure your reviews are approved by the company paying you and appreciated by other consumers, take the time to make the reviews as good as they can be. That means checking your spelling and grammar, including photos, and providing specific details about each product.

Are Paid Review Sites Worth Your Time?

Paid review sites are a good way to earn extra cash, but they won’t give you a full-time work from home income.

The best sites will pay a reasonable wage. For example, UserTesting can pay as much as $30 an hour, but you won’t be able to fill a full workweek with the available opportunities. You’re more likely to earn $5 – $10 an hour when writing reviews.

When getting paid to write reviews, be on the lookout for online scams . The most common scams are websites that force you to pay a fee before you can view opportunities to get paid. The companies organizing these opportunities should be earning a commission from the companies that provide the products or surveys, so if you find a company asking reviewers to pay a fee, walk away. That is a major red flag that something is not legit.

You Can Get Paid to Write More Than Reviews

Writing reviews online might be good for pocket money, but you won’t earn a full-time income from it. However, reviews aren’t the only way to make money from online writing.

If you enjoy writing, you may want to try to pick up freelance writing gigs. It can be a good way to earn some money in your spare time and to hone your writing skills. Some clients will pay hundreds of dollars for a single article and many people make a full-time living from freelance writing.

Even people who don’t write can earn a great income online by working as virtual assistants, editors, transcriptionists, or artists. The internet makes it easy to work with and get paid by people across the globe. It’s up to you to showcase your skills and find the people who need your services.

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8 Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies & Films

Updated: March 20, 2024 by Bonnie (Ling) Thich 1 Comment

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Did you know that people will spend around 78,000 hours of their lives in front of a screen ? A good chunk of those 78,000 hours are dedicated to watching movies.

I’m honestly not surprised. It’s no secret that movies give us joy and reduce stress, so it’s easy to turn to them when we’re not feeling great. However, for me, sharing your thoughts with others makes that hobby more meaningful and enjoyable.

But what if I told you that you could get paid to watch and review movies ? Yes, instead of just watching for hours, you can get paid to share your thoughts on those movies.

I know, I know! It’s unbelievable, but I researched, so you don’t have to. I discovered many fun and well-paying jobs focused on writing movie reviews, such as being a Netflix Tagger, launching a review channel, or starting your own podcast.

To give you an idea of how you can turn a fun hobby into a source of income, I’ve compiled a list of ways you can get paid to review movies. The best part is that you can do most of these side hustles from home !

PIN THIS: I’ll be updating this post so make sure to pin this image here and save it to your Pinterest board . That way you’ll be able to come back to this page and learn how to get paid to watch movies!

1. Start A Movie Review Blog

When I started this blog, I considered it a hobby. I enjoyed writing and had a great passion for personal finance. I wanted to share everything I’ve learned about money throughout my journey so others could learn from my right decisions and mistakes.

Although it was my goal, I was surprised to find out that this hobby could make money – enough that I was able to quit my job. Starting a movie review blog is a great way to turn hours watching movies into hours earning money. Having a blog means you have your own space to express your thoughts about the movies you watch.

The exciting part is that you can monetize your blog in a lot of ways so you’re not limited to just one revenue stream. You can have ads, sponsorships from movie studios or streaming services, and even affiliate marketing.

With a blog, there aren’t any strict rules or schedules. You can post your unfiltered thoughts at any pace you want. But if you really want to turn your hobby into a full-time job, you should be consistent with creating high-quality content that your audience can identify with.

When you start a movie review blog, you don’t have to focus on just reviewing the movies you watch. Your blog can have a specific focus, such as:

• A Harry Potter movie blog that goes deep into the plot and stories of each character.
• A horror movie blog that focuses on franchises like Scream and Insidious. You can talk about how each film in a franchise relates to another.
• A movie review blog that only focuses on independent films like Parasite, The Blair Witch Project, and Whiplash.

I didn’t earn right away when I started this blog, so don’t expect to make a big fortune immediately. Yet, with consistent content creation, I’m now able to earn over six figures in a year – and you can, too!

2. Launch a YouTube Channel

I’m not the kind of person who goes into movies without knowing anything about it. I want to know what to expect, so I watch movie trailers and commentary from YouTubers before deciding whether to watch a movie or not.

I know there are many like me because these YouTube channels have a lot of subscribers and engagement. Just take a look at one of my favorites, Screen Rant !

Think about it, though. What if you were behind these movie review channels? You can create a YouTube channel for free and talk about the movies you watch so you can give viewers a taste of the film before they go for it.

With YouTube, you’re the director and call the shots. You’re not dictated by a boss or client. You can even opt not to show your face if you prefer to be anonymous. Being a movie review YouTuber is one of the most stress-free jobs out there. Unlike other social media platforms, there isn’t even a need to churn out content daily.

With a movie review channel, you practically get paid to watch movies , especially because there are many ways to make money on YouTube once you already have a solid audience.

3. Taste Of Cinema

Running your own blog can be a bit challenging and demanding, so it’s not a route that fits every single person. Don’t worry, though, because you can still earn as a movie reviewer from online movie review jobs .

Thanks to platforms like Taste of Cinema , you can get paid to write movie reviews for a large audience. Taste of Cinema is a website focusing on essential film lists for new and old moviegoers. They are constantly looking for freelance writers  to contribute fresh movie review perspectives and put together lists that readers will love.

When you sign up as a contributor , you have to come up with your own ideas that fit the website’s vision. Once you write your article, you have to pitch it to their editor. That means that not everything you write will go through.

If your output does get accepted, you’ll be paid depending on the number of clicks your article gets. The more clicks you get, the more money you earn. With that in mind, the more your piece stands out, the higher your earning potential will be.

Your articles need to be the same as a blockbuster movie. They should grab the audience’s attention from the opening scene and hold it until the credits roll. It also doesn’t hurt to share the link to your articles on your socials to get more hits.

Being a contributor on the platform means you can write as much or as little as you want, all from the comfort of your own home . You can also promote your website, social media, or products!

4. Become a Netflix Tagger

Did you know that there’s a way to get paid to review movies on Netflix ? Yes, as surprising as that sounds, you can actually be a Netflix Tagger.

I agree that this job doesn’t sound real at all! You’ll even see some people on the internet calling it a scam. But Netflix Taggers exist, and they are the ones in charge of categorizing and tagging Netflix movies in the correct categories. Those tags are the words that we see under the movie’s descriptions, such as family-friendly, animated, and horror.

Without the Tagger, we won’t be able to find the right type of movies and shows for us from the neverending Netflix library. To correctly categorize the movies, you have to watch and review them. Being a Netflix Tagger is the ultimate dream job for a movie geek because you don’t only watch Netflix movies for a living , but you also get to help other people improve their viewing experience.

Before you get excited about this job, though, you have to know what to expect. They pay a fair salary, but they do have strict requirements . These positions are also very few and elusive, so once you see an opening from Netflix, don’t let the opportunity pass! You never know when you might see it again.

5. Freelance for Local Newspapers or Magazines

If handling your own channel or website is too much for you, and being an employee isn’t appealing, you can always be a freelance writer specializing in movie reviews. You don’t even have to look far for clients.

There is a great chance that there’s a local newspaper or magazine in your area that is looking for movie reviewers. Look for such publications and send out cold pitches offering your services.

Choosing this path lets you set your own rates depending on your experience, so the earning potential is really up to you. The more experience you have and the more you can produce, the higher you can charge. It’s a great way to earn extra money while doing something you’re passionate about. The key here is standing out from other freelance movie reviewers through a solid portfolio.

As a freelance movie review writer, your reviews aren’t just words on paper. Your outputs can shape opinions and guide choices. In short, you’re influencing your local film scene, which is a big deal for any movie lover.

6. Podcasting About Movies

There are many work from home side hustles that focus on writing movie reviews, but there isn’t a lot that lets you work with your friends. Launching your own podcast allows you to speak your mind about the movies you watch and discuss them with your friends. The more natural your conversations are, the better!

A podcast about movies is more than just talking because you can create an intimate experience for your listeners where you can dive deep into any detail. Above all, once you get a solid audience, there will be a sense of community with others who share your love for movies. Just look at successful film review podcasts like Filmspotting , which focuses on reviewing and analyzing new and classic movies, and The Weekly Planet , which covers everything about movies, but they do discuss TV shows and comics, too. They both have created a dedicated following by having engaging discussions.

It’s hard to believe that a podcast can be your way to make money fast , but you can monetize your podcasts. You can earn money through sponsorships or brand placements in your podcasts.

But of course, like any other side hustle, you need to be consistent and gain enough listeners to start earning money. It’s not something that happens overnight.

7. Work as a Mystery Shopper

Not everyone enjoys watching movies on the television or a laptop screen, but is it even possible to get paid to watch movies on the big screen? The simple answer is yes, you can do it as a mystery shopper .

Being a mystery shopper might feel like you’re a secret agent in your own movie because you can go to the cinemas as an undercover evaluator. You have to go to the theater and provide them with feedback on the conditions of the place, from the exterior to the staff to the equipment.

As fun as it may be to be undercover, you’re not reviewing the movie of your choice for entertainment. You’re technically watching the film to see that the theatre is up to standards or that the sound system of the movie is high-quality.

You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to look for opportunities to help cinemas improve. There are online sites like BestMark that pay you per movie experience after you complete a feedback form.

8. Become a Film Critic

Well, it doesn’t get more straightforward than this. If you really breathe and eat movies, I believe there’s no other path to take but to become a movie critic.

It’s definitely not an easy feat to become a film critic, but the skills and recognition you can gain are more than worth the effort. Some critics even become famous and gain fans of their own.

The most rewarding part of being a film critic, aside from the lucrative salary , of course, is that your inputs become more than just reviews. They become part of the conversation in the movie industry. Your insights can influence other people’s views, and you can help attract more people to the cinemas.

I believe that more than getting paid to review movies, improving your craft and sharing your love for movies with the world are the best parts of becoming a film critic.

How Much Money Can You Make Writing Movie Reviews?

Income from paid movie review jobs depends on so many factors, so there’s no one answer to how much you can make. What you earn can range from an acceptable side hustle income to a significant full-time salary. Typically, it’s around $300 to $70,000 a month.

But honestly, the sky’s your limit. There are lots of ways to boost your earnings from writing reviews, like selling your merch on a YouTube channel or using a paid subscription model on Spotify. You can even do them all at the same time. As long as you’re diversifying your income streams and you’re consistently giving high-quality outputs, you can earn as much as you put your mind to it.

Enjoyed this post? Don’t forget to pin the image below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest over here ! 🙂

About Bonnie (Ling) Thich

I am passionate about finding ways to save, budget, and earn more. I always dreaded the traditional 9-5 job, and that pain really motivated me to start building a better relationship with my money so I could achieve financial freedom sooner. I woke up one day, and randomly started FinSavvyPanda.com (with no knowledge about blogs, websites, or whatsoever) where I share my financial and blogging journey to help you save, budget, and earn more. Fast forward 12 months, I was so surprised about earning a full-time income with my small blog , which allowed me to quit my job! I'd love to help you start your blog too, so you can do what you love and live on your own terms! You can click here to learn how you can start a profitable blog for beginners .

Reader Interactions

April 1, 2024 at 5:06 pm

If Netflix has some strict requirements for taggers, they have failed on a few occasions. I’ve seen some obvious comedies tagged as horrors, and vice-versa.

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How & Where To Write Reviews For Money As A Side Hustle

Do you want to write reviews for money? Check these nine beginner-friendly websites that offer paid reviews in cash, gift cards, and other rewards.

• Writing online reviews can earn you money through cash bonuses and gifts.
• You can earn $2 to $40 per hour depending on review type and quality.
• Essential needs: internet-connected device, stable connection, payment method, writing skills.
• Top platforms: InboxDollars, Slice the Pie, ListVerse, Capterra, American Consumer Opinion.

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

Are you fond of writing online reviews and hope to get paid for them? You can!

Many companies worldwide value honest customer reviews to help them spot their product’s strengths and weaknesses.

Incentivizing writers and testers through cash bonuses and gifts is their way of attracting substantial feedback from reviewers like yourself.

Best of all, you get paid to write regardless of your educational background or location!

There are various apps and paid review sites to choose from. Today, we’ll focus on nine places to write reviews for money without prior experience.

But first, let’s get the basics covered.

Can You Get Paid to Write Reviews?

Yes, you can earn money writing reviews. With the popularity of online shopping, businesses have acknowledged the validity of sponsored reviews or blog posts to elevate their brand’s likability to customers.

This is supported by a research published at Frontiers, revealing how online reviews affect 93% of consumers’ online shopping choices .

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how product or service reviews can bring a potential increase in sales when written by actual users.

How Much Can You Make by Writing Reviews Online?

You can earn $2 up to $40 per hour or a fixed $50 incentive per review. However, these figures constantly fluctuate and depend on the following:

• Review platforms
• Review quality
• Product or service industry
• Platform fee or commission (if applicable)
• Review type

Generally, you get higher pay if you write product reviews compared to taking online surveys, which often only give $1 to $3 earnings per entry.

Some sites also offer reviewers free products instead of actual cash as compensation.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid from Writing Online Reviews

Writing reviews don’t require any startup budget, which makes it an easy gig for anyone who enjoys sharing honest reviews.

Other than your thoughts, here are the essential items you’ll need to get started.

• Laptop or Mobile Device: Whether you’re answering surveys or writing reviews online, you’ll need your gadgets to input and submit reviews. Some sites are compatible with both. Others may prefer one of the two.
• Stable Internet Connection: You must at least have an internet speed of 25 Mbps to get things running. This is crucial, especially on survey sites requiring you to review several pages before completion. Having a solid data connection minimizes the risk of web pages crashing while you’re in the middle of answering.
• Payment Method: Secure payment services like PayPal, Payoneer, and Stripe are used by many companies to send you cash payments. Identify what method your platform uses and open an account.
• Writing Skills: While you don’t have to be a freelance writer to start this gig, you must be skilled at writing or communicating vital aspects of an item in a short, easy-to-understand, written format.
• Email Address or Login Details: Platforms often require you to register using a valid email address, phone number, or social media account. Have all these ready when signing up.

Where to Write Reviews for Money

From answering a simple yes-no question to writing an extensive product review, you can choose from multiple online options. Here are our nine recommended websites this 2023:

• InboxDollars
• Slice the Pie
• American Consumer Opinion
• Review Stream
• Survey Junkie
• Online Book Club

1. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a trusted platform that pays you for taking online surveys.

You must create an account and answer a four-part profile questionnaire to help the site match your interests with their partner brands.

Once approved, your dashboard will show you up to 10 surveys you’re qualified to join.

While individual survey payout doesn’t amount to much at first glance, InboxDollars is still one of the high-paying surveys in the industry , claiming a running total of $56 million payout to users since its 2020 inception.

How Much You Can Make

Surveys with InboxDollars vary in price, but the platform claims to offer up to $5 per survey. Other users report getting survey requests for lesser value at $0.01 to $0.75 each.

The length of each survey also varies. The easiest ones can be completed within two minutes, while lengthier requests last up to 20. The minimum payout required is $30.

What Makes This Option Great

With an average 4.3 star rating online, InboxDollars is a reliable survey site with over two decades of experience.

Signing up also grants you an automatic $5 bonus. The platform’s accessible through your browser and Android and iOS app, making it a convenient choice even while on the go.

• Fees/Commission: InboxDollars charges a $3 transaction fee automatically debited for every payout request.
• Payment Methods: PayPal cash, gift cards, direct deposit

2. Slice the Pie

Slice the Pie is a popular platform for anyone who wants to get paid to write reviews about muic.

The platform is free to use. You sign up with your email and other personal details, browse your preferred song categories, listen to any track for about 90 seconds, and write a review.

It’s a fine alternative for similar gigs like earning money through movie reviews , which takes longer to complete.

The average review rate per song is $0.20 to $0.30. Once you join, you’ll be assigned a one-star rating which impacts the pricing of all items you review.

The more quality reviews you submit, the faster your star rating increases, translating to a higher review rate.

Slice the Pie’s required minimum payout is $10.

This platform’s excellent if you love music and aren’t looking for a fast payout.

It’s also an incredible way to discover budding musicians whose songs you might want to add to your playlist.

Besides music, Slice the Pie also showcases paid review opportunities for clothing, fashion, phone cases, and accessories.

• Fees/Commission: Slice the Pie doesn’t charge you anything, though you must shoulder any transaction or admin fee from PayPal if applicable.
• Payment Methods: PayPal

3. ListVerse

ListVerse is one of the most exciting sites to try on if you’re a fan of writing list reviews.

The rule is simple. You list ten items minimum, provide one to two-paragraph content for each, and submit it to the platform.

You’re free to write about any topic, but you must make it interesting and fun for the platform’s readers.

If you’re looking for companies who pay you for ideas , ListVerse is a great way to get started.

ListVerse pays a fixed rate of $100 per approved list.

Remember, however, that they don’t guarantee approval for every submitted entry.

Reading sample articles on their site is crucial to help you get a feel of the type of articles they publish regularly.

ListVerse is excellent if you prefer writing long-form articles. Discovering quirky and fascinating facts while researching is also a bonus.

The platform doesn’t require you to sign up, so providing all your details is unnecessary, thus saving time.

• Fees/Commission: ListVerse doesn’t charge any commission or signup fee.

4. Capterra

Tech-savvy individuals shouldn’t miss writing reviews for Capterra .

Readers of this platform are looking for quality, first-hand reviews from software users, which is perfect if you’re actively using tools like accounting software, CRM and SEO software, and more.

Unlike creative side gigs like writing short stories , this platform requires technical expertise and proof of use, as you’ll likely be required to send screenshots supporting your review.

Capterra pays you $5 for your first review and $10 each for the following ten reviews.

Each submission is subject to approval, so you must write a comprehensive, high-quality software review to make it count.

Capterra also limits you to up to 11 submissions. Once you’ve reached the threshold, they will no longer compensate you even if you submit more reviews. Users report total earnings between $5 to $150.

Captera’s an excellent short-term review website for tech-savvy individuals.

While your total earnings before maxing out your allowable reviews don’t amount to much, it’s still a great way to showcase your expertise to the platform’s millions of readers.

Impressed readers might even pay you to address their technical queries.

• Fees/Commission: Capterra is free to use. No extra fees are charged.
• Payment Methods: Capterra pays you using Gift Cards, which you can use to purchase goods from popular sites like Amazon. Redemption instructions will be sent through email upon request.

5. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion (ACO) is our list’s oldest paid survey provider, with over 40 years of experience.

Participants will get paid to test products, evaluate advertising strategies, and participate in focus groups to provide feedback on a company’s new product.

Like most survey apps, ACO desires to empower any online retailer by providing quality customer input. If you like being a part of something big, this platform’s where you want to start.

ACO surveys can pay between $1 to $50. Product testing pays even higher, up to $200. The platform pays you using its point system. One point is equal to $0.01.

ACO is completely free to use with global reach. They have an extensive brand partnership worldwide, which opens more review opportunities.

They’re also among the ones with the best earning potential and flexible payment methods.

• Fees/Commission: ACO is free to use, but you’ll shoulder any fees associated with your external payment method.
• Payment Methods: Hyperwallet, PayPal, gift cards, check, charity donation, sweepstakes entries

6. Review Stream

Review Stream is the most extensive platform on our list that pays you to write reviews about anything. Popular product categories include electronics, art, food, cosmetics, and fashion.

Much like writing reviews on Amazon , Review Stream showcases actual user experiences but with the opportunity to earn from them.

Readers can also upvote your review, which adds to your cash incentives.

Every approved review can pay you between $5 to $18. If a reader loves your review, he can upvote your entry which adds $0.10 to your earnings.

Review Stream is great if you’re looking for a platform with unlimited allowable reviews.

Its broad category base also makes it easy to handpick items you’re already using and write your experience about them.

You also don’t need to worry about getting penalized for pointing out product cons since the platform focuses on publishing authentic user experiences.

• Fees/Commission: Free to join

7. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a household name when it comes to online surveys. Its clutter-free platform interface and straightforward setup method make it a top favorite for first-time users.

The platform pays you to answer surveys of any product or company that matches your profile information.

It’s one of the fastest survey sites that pay instant cash as soon as you reach the required threshold of $5.

Survey Junkie has a point system. You’ll need 100 points to earn $1, and so on. Signing up automatically grants you 25 points and another 50 once you complete your profile.

The average survey payout on this platform runs between $0.50 to $3, or 50 to 300 points, respectively.

Survey Junkie is great for beginners who don’t want a lengthy signup process to get started.

Its over 20 million users are clear proof of its global popularity, which makes it more attractive for companies who wish to put out their surveys.

• Payment Methods: PayPal and e-gift cards, which you can use to redeem items from Amazon, Sephora, Starbucks, Walmart, etc.

8. Online Book Club

Do you love books? Online Book Club allows you to earn by reading newly-released titles and writing reviews about them.

Many budding writers sell their short stories for money online and seek opportunities to gather quality reviews from readers.

This platform is one of those avenues to get reviewers on board. If you enjoy reading and want to get paid, this avenue is a potential starting point.

Book reviews on this platform can pay between $5 to $60.

Online Book Club is ideal for booklovers with a genuine passion for reading and giving quality reviews to other readers.

All paid reviews will be published under your registered name, which can be an excellent means to market yourself and build a potential network.

9. LifePoints

LifePoints is another excellent survey platform that covers a broad range of topics. You sign up and provide your user profile, which is then used to identify whether you qualify for available surveys.

Surveys update often, so checking the site to get the latest gigs is crucial.

One feature that sets it apart is its booster mode, which allows you to earn 20% more points when you enable the location services function in the app.

The more points you get, the higher the rewards you can redeem in cash or Amazon gift cards.

Each survey has an equivalent life point depending on the length and complexity. This can equate to $0.83 to $0.90 per survey. The current minimum payout is $5, equivalent to 550 life points.

LifePoints is available in 26 languages, which makes it an easy choice for anyone around the globe.

Partner companies also have global reach, and survey options range from product-specific questions to general concepts.

While you can’t expect this platform to earn you a fortune, it can be a fun alternative to collect useful gift cards from top shops like Amazon, eBay, iTunes, and Google Play.

• Fees/Commission: Free to use
• Payment Methods: PayPal, charitable donations, gift cards

Why You Should Consider Writing Reviews as a Side Gig

Getting paid to write reviews is a great way to capitalize on your opinion. When done right, it can even open you to long-term writing opportunities.

If you’re inkling to get started but not yet ready to commit, the following factors might help you decide faster:

• Various Reward Options: Earning cash is one, but getting free products, gift cards, discounts, and vouchers are excellent perk alternatives you can enjoy as rewards.
• Free to Join: Most, if not all, review websites are free. You only need to log in to get access to all review opportunities you can join.
• Improves Your Writing Skills: The more you write reviews, the better you become at identifying and writing what elements should be included, what to drop, and what people are likely to be looking for.
• Fully Remote and Time-Flexible: You get full control of your time. You decide when and who to write for. While sponsored blog posts often have deadlines, when to take one is your decision.

Problems With Writing Reviews for Money

As with most side hustles, some elements might be a disadvantage, especially when trying to earn a target dollar payout.

Here are some issues you’d deal with when writing reviews as a side gig.

• High Competition: Because the job is remote, anyone globally is welcome to participate. Brands with international reach attract more reviewers, which can mean intense competition.
• Can Take Time: The tough competition makes projects hard to come by, so earning more money will take time. Unless you consistently land high-paying review requests, it can take weeks, even months, to make a few hundred.
• Minimal High-Paying Review Sites: Companies who pay well treat sponsored reviews as ads, so they’re looking for reviewers who deliver a high-quality review with honest feedback on their product’s best features. You must prove to be above the fold to get their attention.
• May Prompt You to Write Fake Reviews: Some paid review sites want you to write positive reviews and disregard the cons. This is an issue if you value writing honest reviews, including the disadvantage of using a product or service.

How To Write Reviews Online for Money: Step-By-Step Guide

Now that you know where to check paid review opportunities, it’s time to work on the steps to set you up.

Step 1: Decide on a Review Website or Platform

You’re not limited to choosing a single platform, so trying several at once is an option. Try signing up for two or three options.

You can choose one survey platform and mix it up with a product review site. You don’t need to submit anything yet. Use this chance to familiarize how the portals work.

Step 2: Choose a Product to Review or Surveys to Take

Once you feel comfortable navigating the website, start answering surveys or writing reviews.

Give your honest opinion or response, and don’t dwell on an item for so long. There’s no right or wrong answer, and you won’t be penalized for providing your viewpoint.

Step 3: List Down Product or Service Pros and Cons

This applies to product or service reviews requiring specifics of an item. This should be easy if you’re familiar with the product.

Otherwise, research from various reliable sites and note common features highlighted by other users.

Step 4: Identify Features and Pricing

Price and specifications are two elements that buyers use to decide on a purchase. Ensure you get accurate data on prices and specs from major online shopping sites or company websites.

Step 5: Start Writing Reviews on Both the Technical and Personal Aspects

Combine the tech side of a product with how you feel using them. This adds personality to your review and makes it more relatable for readers.

Things to Consider When Writing Reviews for Money

Writing reviews can be fun and profitable if you choose a reliable platform. Other than that, you’ll also need to consider the following:

Personal Expertise

What do you specialize in? Niche gigs like software reviews may be your best pick if you have a technical background in the topic and are familiar with its jargon.

If it’s your first review, starting with topics you’re interested in is a great way to kick-start the gig.

Time Availability

How often do you plan to write reviews? The extra money you earn depends on the quantity you produce, and platforms price them differently.

If you’re eyeing to take home a certain figure, you’ll need to create a schedule and decide what review to write at what time.

Review Website

This can refer to your preferred review platform or your personal review blog. Decide what review type you’d want to focus on.

Will you only take on surveys, or are you into product and service reviews?

Long-form reviews take longer to submit, but they also pay better. Surveys are the easiest and are often the most competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the questions most people considering writing reviews for money ask:

What is the Best Niche to Review?

There isn’t any published data specifying niches you should review. Still, a great way to get the ball rolling is to begin with consumer-favorite industries like technology, books, cosmetics, fashion, and health. Usually, these companies are the ones that invest in market research and paid surveys.

How Long Does it Take to Write Reviews?

This depends on what you’re writing about. Complete surveys can last for 3 to 5 minutes, whereas book reviews can go up to a week, including the time spent reading the material.

Simple product entries, like apps or software reviews, can be done in minutes to a few hours.

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Is writing not your cup of tea? Here are other great alternatives to earn extra money online:

• How to Sell Notes : Are you skilled at note-taking? Learn how to sell your notes online from the best platforms that offer decent pay.
• Get Paid to Go to School Online : Here’s your chance to save money and get online education from trusted universities that provide huge discounts and competent allowances.

Wrapping Up

There’s a solid demand for well-written reviews that many companies worldwide are willing to pay. Earning decent cash and rewards is straightforward if you know where to look.

Use our list to start earning during your free time, and let us know which option you think is best!

Have you tried writing reviews online? What platform do you recommend?

Similar Side Hustles

Repairing broken electronics: a side hustle for technicians.

Have a passion for repairing broken electronic devices? Learn to turn it into a side hustle along with everything you need to know before starting.

IT Worker: Job Description, Income & How To Apply

Are you interested in becoming an IT worker? Find out every detail about the job and how to snag a gig working as one. Plus, find related careers.

How To Turn Specializing in SEO Into a Side Hustle

Explore future opportunities and learn about specializing in SEO, including how to do it, where to find jobs, and why you should consider.

Write For Us and Get Paid

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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RT Lab Critics Edition

Kicking off your career in film and television criticism: pitching, budgeting, and developing a voice, for the latest rt lab: critics edition, critics from the hollywood reporter, new yorker, collider, and with freelancing experience offered insights and advice at the asian american journalists association’s 2022 convention..

Rotten Tomatoes Lab: Critics Edition is a new series of resources designed to support critics in developing their craft and career, from how-to guides to advice on pitching, publishing, and networking.

In July, Rotten Tomatoes hosted its first in-person Rotten Tomatoes Lab: Critics Edition at the Asian American Journalists Association’s (AAJA) 2022 convention. The Lab is Rotten Tomatoes’ ongoing series of educational resources that provide advice and career development tools for rising film and television critics.

The AAJA panel, titled “Kicking Off Your Career in Film and Television Criticism,” was moderated by The Hollywood Reporter ’s Television Critic Angie Han. Our panelists included Inkoo Kang, Television Critic at The Washington Post ; Therese Lacson, an editor for Collider, Nerdophiles, and The Beat; and Cate Young, a podcast producer as well as film and culture critic.

These expert critics offered layered tips for pitching, knowing your worth and establishing a budget, as well as navigating ongoing industry barriers. The following conversation has been edited for concision and clarity.

Check out the Critic Resources page for other iterations of the Rotten Tomatoes Lab: Critics Edition, as well as other educational tools for the next generation of critics.

ANGIE HAN: What is film and TV criticism? That seems like a “no-duh” question, but I think we’ve all done a little bit of everything in terms of our writing careers – a little bit of reporting; we’ve written essays, features, interviews, and reviews. What, for you, are the major differences between criticism and features?

THERESE LACSON: As a Features Editor, I would say the biggest difference is that, when you’re writing a review, you are giving your general thoughts and opinions on the film or the television show. Versus a feature, where you’re approaching it like, basically, a school essay – you have a thesis, you have all the evidence and you’re targeting a specific subject… It needs to be very focused.

CATE YOUNG: I’m more experienced in the film review part. For me, the focus has to be on meeting the work where it is and determining the difference between “not good” and “not for me.” That’s always the balance that you have to be working towards, because something can be really good and just not be your cup of tea, and that’s okay.

INKOO KANG: You can think of features as relaying information. Like, “This is the back story behind the production of this thing that that someone made,” or “This is a real life event behind X, Y, Z.” And I think criticism is just being able to look at a movie or a TV show or whatever through someone else’s eyes and gain insight from that different perspective.

The longer I do this, one thing I want to impart is media literacy. I feel a lot of people don’t quite know how to parse something. I think about this with documentaries a lot, because I feel people really love documentaries when they feel connected to the story, or they feel they have a really good experience watching it.

Some years ago, when the Anthony Bourdain documentary Roadrunner came out, there was a Helen Rosner piece where she interviewed the director and she was like, “How did you get recordings of Anthony Bourdain’s voice since he had already died?” And it turned out director had basically pieced together his voice from various recordings that he had made. That to me was a really, really good example of how, you don’t have to be a specialized critic, you can just be someone who’s really careful about how something is made and then question what you are watching.

HAN: When I’m trying to write a review – or bigger feature, but especially with reviews – one question I keep asking myself is: How and why? I just keep asking myself that until I’ve run out of road.

LACSON: It’s really important when writing criticism to look at not just what you’re reviewing, but the world around it. To your point, about documentaries – I feel the same way about, when we’re reviewing fictional films and television shows, looking at how the production was made and some of the actors around it. When I read a really good review, it normally incorporates things that I might not have known or add depth to the actual review.

KANG:  The other thing that critics can do – because critics are people who, by virtue of their job description, are supposed to watch as much as possible – they can help contextualize: Is this the kind of story that we hear a lot? Or is this actually something, an innovative story or a community, that we haven’t gotten before? And I think that’s also really useful.

When we are concerned about representation it’s always really important to think about: Yes, this particular type of representation has been made, but what exactly are the parameters under which this accomplishment was able to happen?

The most recent review that I did was of a Neil Patrick Harris show that just came out today called Uncoupled . It’s about a guy who’s in his late forties and he’s starting over as a gay man. And of course there’s so much representational new ground being made there, right? Here’s a middle-aged gay man – not really a framework that easy for a lot of new TV shows – but then it was also really easy to spot all of the ways that it fell short. Here’s another white, cis, fairly masculine-presenting guy who was super thin and supposed to be super hot. People comment constantly about how hot he is!

And it was just like, “Okay, I’m glad we were able to reach this particular milestone, but under what conditions?” That is something I think about a lot as a critic.

YOUNG: What I see criticism, my job as a critic, to be is really to place a work within the larger context that it’s existing in. I lament all the time that I will go back and watch old classic films and not be that impressed. And I’m always like, “I wish I could have seen it when it first came out,” because I feel it probably would’ve made much more of an impact on me then, because I would’ve understood the world that it was coming into.

For contemporary pieces, part of what I think our job is, is to lay out an understanding of what that work of art is doing within the wider culture and what influenced it to exist and what will it influence with its existence. Making those connections, honestly, that’s the part that makes the job fun.

Therese Lacson, editor at Collider and The Beat, speaks at the Asian American Journalists Association’s 2022 convention, at the Rotten Tomatoes panel.

HAN: One thing that’s so key is developing our own unique style, voice, sense of perspective, or sense of taste. For me, and I think for a lot of us, I got that by reading other critics or reading other writers. Who are some of the writers, critics, journalists that you like to read or who have influenced your work?

LACSON: Nancy Wang Yuen ( @nancywyuen ). She’s a sociologist and she’s also a reporter. She talks a lot about race and racism within Hollywood, and I’ve often found a lot of her takes to be very, very exact. And also, it’s very thoughtful the way she talks about criticism. Reel Inequality is a book that she wrote.

Also Valerie Complex ( @ValerieComplex )… Joelle Monique ( @JoelleMonique )… Laura Sirikul ( @lsirikul )… [and] Max Gao ( @MaxJGao ), a 20-year-old who’s written for NBC and LA Times , New York Times – very, very talented critic and also very good interviewer.

YOUNG: Angelica Jade Bastién ( @angelicabastien ). She writes for Vulture. I have followed her writing for a really long time. She’s one of the people who really inspired me to think more critically about films. I’ve learned a lot reading her.

The same I would say for – they’re technically fashion bloggers, but – Tom and Lorenzo ( @tomandlorenzo )… It was their recaps of Glee that made me understand how to talk about television.

And Soraya McDonald ( @SorayaMcDonald ) of Andscape, formally The Undefeated. She covers a range of topics, but her writing is so precise and illuminating.

KANG: For TV criticism, G.O.A.T. Emily Nussbaum ( @emilynussbaum ) at The New Yorker . I think she is the person whose criticism I have really aspired to, and you learn a lot from where she’s coming from. And at the same time, it’s just such joy to read. Secondly, Kathryn VanArendonk ( @kvanaren ) at Vulture is just really, really great in terms of spotting new TV trends and anticipating them.

On the film side, I will give a shoutout to Justin Chang ( @JustinCChang ) at the LA Times , one of those people who knows everything about everything, and it really shows in his writing.

HAN: What a really good critic does is show their work, and show the math, so that even if you come to a different conclusion, you can see their thought process.

YOUNG: It’s almost more interesting to read critics who disagree with your opinion because you start to understand a different perspective on the same material. Everyone is coming to these products with their own biases, their own history, their own beliefs, and so on, and that influences how they react to the media.

One of my favorite examples is from when   Eternals came out, the Marvel film. I watched it when it came to Disney+. I ended up really, really loving it. But the movie had been completely trashed and the biggest review of it that I had read was Angelica’s in Vulture, and she basically commented that it was awful. I read the review and I agreed with everything she said, but I still really like the movie!

LACSON: I feel I tend to like things more than I dislike them. And when I hear an opposing point of view, I’m like, “I do agree with you on all that, but I also enjoy the movie.” I think of a really strong critic as somebody who, when you read their criticism, you can sense their voice in it.

Cate Young, podcaster and freelance film and culture critic, speaks at the Asian American Journalists Association’s 2022 convention, at the Rotten Tomatoes panel.

HAN: When you are writing your reviews, do you have a specific goal or a target audience that you’re writing toward?

YOUNG: I want everyone to read everything I write, but in terms of goals, I definitely feel my primary goal is to assess the film on its own terms.

My favorite example is the Fast and Furious franchise. I’m obsessed with those movies. I don’t think Van Diesel’s getting an Oscar any time soon, but that movie knows exactly what it is and who it’s trying to reach and what it’s trying to accomplish, and it does that very well, even if it’s not Chicago or whatever. That is what earns it higher reviews for me – because it’s operating in its own world and it understands what its audience is looking for from it. And it provides that. And so to me that makes it a successful film.

The opposite is also true, because we can get really pandering Oscar fare that is very self-referential about how much it’s striving for awards, but if it doesn’t actually have anything to say, just the fact that it looks “prestige” does not actually give it any particular value.

LACSON: When I talk to fellow critics, I’m always saying, like, after we watch a Marvel film – out of the thousands of Marvel films that we watch a year – “Oh, well I’m grading it a B+, but this is a B+ within the scope of the Marvel universe” and not compared to a movie that I watched at Sundance. You can’t really compare that because it’s apples to oranges, right?

Whenever I’m writing, I’m trying to write it from the view of: Who is watching this movie? How are they approaching it?

KANG: When I went to The Hollywood Reporter , which is an industry trade, my thinking about my writing really changed because The Hollywood Reporter is the type of publication where, if you work in the industry, you’re probably reading it. If you worked on the show, you’re probably reading it.

When I went to The Washington Post – which is a very consumer-facing, much older, much more affluent audience as a whole – I had to re-grapple with this question.

One of the things I try to do is, in order to get over that “crisis of authority,” think about: What am I bringing that you might not get yourself by watching the TV show? The “value add” is always in the back of my mind because you’re giving opinions, but you also are there to provide a second pair of eyes for your reader.

HAN: Let’s talk about pitching. If you’re a writer, what advice you have for pitching to an editor? And if you’ve been an editor, what do you look for in a pitch and what advice would you give to a writer?

LACSON:  I am an editor of multiple outlets… And the thing consistently that we always want to know about in terms of features is: First of all, it cannot be a review. Second of all, it needs to have a solid idea. You can’t just say, like, “Oh, in this piece, I’m going to talk about this and I’ll explain this.” You need to give details. It’s better to give more detail and be very concise than it is to basically turn in what you’re going to write.

Depending on what kind of outlet you’re working for, having a personal perspective is helpful. Especially in a time where we’re talking about diversity and representation, we do seek out people who speak with authority about a culture. When we were covering Ms. Marvel , we wanted people who could speak from a Pakistani point of view. We were looking for people, but we were also not putting the obligation on them. We weren’t saying like, “We only want them to write about that.” We appreciate a personal perspective, and I think that’s always interesting to read; I would always choose that over a very generic feature.

YOUNG: From a freelancing perspective, my advice is practical: Do your research, find your mastheads, know who you should be pitching to. And I agree with you, keep your pitches short and concise. Know what your idea is. And include a couple points of, “This is my conclusion. Here are three bits of evidence to show what you’re thinking about this particular story.”

And the other piece of advice I would give is: Don’t say “yes” to everything just because it’s an assignment. Make sure that it’s worth your time, that it pays enough to be worth your time and that you don’t get overloaded in multiple small assignments that you can’t finish because there’s so many of them. Take the time to invest in the bigger pieces that pay more, that you can spend more time with and really develop your argument.

KANG: As Cate said: Do your research. If you have what you think is a pretty good argument for a piece, just Google it, see if anyone else already wrote that piece.

LACSON: Yes! (all laugh)

KANG: As soon as any editor gets a pitch, that’s going to be the very first thing that they do. And if it turns out someone already wrote a really similar piece, then what’s going to happen is, you are going to have wasted an hour of your time.

HAN: I used to be an editor. I remember, as an editor, some of the pitches I saw were very generic. They’d just be like, “I want to write about the female characters in this film,” and you’re like, “Okay, great, and what about them exactly?”Just keep trying to sharpen whatever angle you think you’re going to do.

You make a really good point about how something that’s personal can be really interesting, but sometimes I would get pitches for things that were almost like personal essays.

You need to be thinking about “Why is this something that everyone should read, that I think I should put out in the world, on a big platform, as opposed to just something that I’m going to be talking about with my family and friends?”

LACSON: You need to convince the reader that you understand what you’re talking about.

Inkoo Kang, Television Critic for The New Yorker, speaks at the Asian American Journalists Association’s 2022 convention, at the Rotten Tomatoes panel.

HAN: Especially as underrepresented critics, sometimes one of the things that happens is we get pigeonholed. Like, “You’re the girl, do you want to write about this ‘girl issue’?” Or, “You seem like you’re going to be the person that’s going to write about the racial issues of this show, because you’re the person of color.” How do you personally determine whether an opportunity to write about an issue like gender, or race, or sexuality, et cetera – how do you decide whether it’s worth it?

KANG: At this point in my life, I just think about: Do I specifically have anything to offer?

A really good example is, when Squid Game was happening, I got asked a bunch of times, “Hey, do you want to write this?” And I was like, “Not really, I think this show is really bad.” I was like, “Just because I’m Korean doesn’t mean that I have to write about something that’s a Korean show.”

The discourse kept happening. I was like, “No one is actually talking about this from an American POV.” I saw 200 explainers about what Squid Game says about Korea, which is great! Everyone should learn more about other countries and other cultures. But at the same time, no one is actually talking about why this is resonating with Americans, which I think is a more pertinent thing here – because it’s not a wild story that a Korean show is showing in Korea.

I ended up writing about why Squid Game seemed to be resonating with American audiences just because I was like, “Here’s a really obvious angle that is personally very interesting and no one is writing about it.” Did I do a bunch of Googling to see if anyone else did? Yes. And somehow it was not there! So again, TLDR, I felt I had something unique to offer, so I did.

YOUNG: I’ve never been staffed anywhere… I’ve been lucky enough to write across my interests, but I have also done enough writing in my personal life, where I’m known for certain topics as well. You get to figure out what your niche is.

LACSON: I’m Chinese American. I like writing from the point of view of a Chinese American. I do feel a lot of times, because we are Asian, they’ll see an Asian writer and just be like, “Oh, you’re going to write about this Asian thing.” And I feel I do not have the expertise to speak on a Korean television show, right? I’ve obviously grew up watching a lot of dramas, as I’m sure many people have, but I don’t have that cultural connection. And I do feel annoyed when people will be like, “Oh yeah, you can do this.” And I’m like, “Well, no, I can’t because I’m really speaking at it from an American point of view, not from a Korean-American point of view.”

I don’t want to pigeonhole myself, but I do advocate like, “Oh, I do want to talk about this.” Especially where I’m working, like, at Collider, there aren’t a lot of Asian editors.

I do work really hard as an editor to make sure that we are not pigeonholing people. And if somebody does want to write about something, of course we welcome it.

HAN: It’s also important to keep your own limitations, or your own boundaries, in mind. No one should have to take it upon themselves to be like, “I have to write about every Asian thing because no one else will.” Maybe that’s true, but it also doesn’t mean that you need to be killing yourself doing that personally.

And especially if the topic is something that is hard for you to write about, or that hits really close to home, or it’s really personal… Make sure that you’re also protecting your own boundaries: Do I feel good about exposing this part of myself?

LACSON: It is really personal, writing criticism, especially from that angle.

HAN: I mean, one of the most weirdly personal things I wrote had nothing to do with me being an Asian American woman. It was a Charlie Kaufman movie. And I was just, “I feel the way I talk about this is so specific to who I am that I need to be thinking about how much of myself that I want to put out there.”

Angie Han, Television Critic at The Hollywood Reporter, moderated the conversation at the Asian American Journalists Association’s 2022 convention.

HAN: This is a really tough industry to break into. What have you found to be the greatest barriers to entry in this industry? And what advice, if any, do you have for overcoming them?

KANG: Money, right? (all laugh) It is not a lucrative field… Review pay: really low. And also because there are so few slots, the competition is basically insane. And I do think a lot of editors basically hire their friends a lot of the time. I don’t think there’s any point in varnishing that truth. It’s really hard.

If you want to break in, I can only speak from my personal experience, but the way that I got seen by more and more people is basically by pitching think pieces and arguments, rather than pitching reviews. It’s so much easier to stand out by saying, “This is my POV on something, and it’s a very specific argument,” as opposed to, “I would like to write a review about X, Y, Z, and by the way, I know there’s 2000 other reviews that you can go look at on Rotten Tomatoes.”

That has always been the thing that I recommend to people who want to break into criticism: Don’t think “review” first.

YOUNG: A lot of it really does come down to money and access… Especially when you’re talking about underrepresented writers, there’s already, so, so, so many fewer slots available. And so you’re fighting, not just against the rest of the industry, but particularly your own peers. And that can be really hard and it can make it easy to give into jealousies and pettiness, because the industry is set up that way.

The real key is to figure out as soon as you can, as clearly as you can, what your actual niche is. What is the thing that you’re going to be the expert on? What’s the thing that you can carry through all of your writing and the perspective that you’re going to have, in a broader general sense that you can utilize across properties? Because that will give you something that sticks out more.

Probably most of us are still doing it for the love of it. I work full time in podcasting now and I write a newsletter, because I feel strained when I’m not writing about film and television, it unsettles me. And so I needed that outlet as well. And I think that is an arrangement that works for me now because it fits into my lifestyle.

LACSON: I would say if you’re getting into this field and you have an idea of what you want to make, you should lower that a little bit. (crowd laughs) I’m just being real!

Like you said, it is something I’m very passionate about. I’ve worked many, many jobs. I’ve been a receptionist. I’ve worked at restaurants. So many of those jobs, I hated that time that I was there – I was counting down the hours; I was, “Five o’clock I’m out the door.” I don’t feel that way about my job now. I truly do enjoy what I do – which is also how they manipulate you, like, “Oh, well, you can just work for the bare minimum, but you’re going to be doing what you love, and you’ll get to speak to people that you love.” But also: I am worth more money!

For a long time, what I was doing was the side hustle. So, so many critics, unless they’re writing for a major trade, are doing it as a side job; they have a “main job.”

For me, a bigger barrier of entry is honestly dealing with publicists and dealing with getting access to things. I’ve written for many small outlets, and when I went to Collider, it was very interesting to see how quickly somebody replied to my email, from a Collider email, versus from my personal email or a different email. Before, I would have to claw and fight my way to just get a screener. Sometimes, if you’ve been doing this job for a while, they just send you things.

There are multicultural publicity groups that are advocating for us, but… I will get offers to only interview Asian cast members. And I’ll be like, “Oh, well I want to speak with a director as well, I want to speak with a star.”

HAN: What is the single best piece of advice you’ve received or the thing that you wish that you had known when you’re starting out?

I’m just going to say: Embrace your editor, or constructive criticism more broadly. I think, especially when you’re younger and less experienced or more insecure, you can feel like, “Oh, I don’t want any negative feedback.” But your editor is there to help you! So don’t be afraid of getting comments, even if they’re not always just, “Great job, no flaws, A+.” They’ve been there too – they were once there pitching and getting rejected.

KANG: With anything that you write, before you submit, read it aloud to yourself.

I do this every single day… with every single piece that I write, I sit my husband down and I’m like, “You will listen to me read this for the next seven minutes.” It’s honestly so helpful! You repeat so many words, you have no idea. That is just a really great proofreading tool I recommend to everybody.

The other thing that’s a lot more review-specific is: Describe a scene. You can say something is a western, you can say something is a comedy. If you really want to give someone a really great sense of what it is that you are reviewing, actually describe a scene and talk about why it’s working or why it’s not working. And then you can convey much better what you’re actually describing.

YOUNG: From the freelance perspective, always ask for more money. You probably won’t get all of it, but you’ll get some. I always ask for $200 more and I usually get half of that. It’s $100 more than you got before.

And don’t double-pitch things. Don’t send the same pitch out to multiple publications at the same time. Because they might both say “yes” and then you have to tell one of them “no.”

LACSON: Don’t limit yourself, don’t put yourself into a box. Obviously know your worth, but take opportunities as they come to you and try to see where you can go in the future from that opportunity. It doesn’t always have to be a review-writing position – as you said, it’s not very easy to get a review-writing position, because normally editors take those.

Don’t limit yourself and have a lot of confidence.

YOUNG: One last thing I would say is actually what my dad used to tell me: Let them tell you “no.” If you want something or a big assignment, just ask. You might get a no, but then you’re in the same position you were when you started, so it doesn’t hurt. And sometimes they say “yes” and then you got a cool assignment!

LACSON: The worst thing they can say is “no,” and that’s fine because literally nothing changed.

Angie Han is Television Critic at The Hollywood Reporter . Find her on Twitter: @ajhan.

Inkoo Kang is Television Critic at The New Yorker , and former Television Critic at The Washington Post . Find her on Twitter: @inkookang .

Therese Lacson is Features Editor at Collider, Founding Executive Editor at Nerdophiles, and Entertainment Editor at The Beat. Find her on Twitter: @bamfpire .

Cate Young is a Podcast Producer at Wondery, as well as a film and culture critic. Find her on Twitter: @battymamzelle.

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How to Write a Movie Review: Become a Movie Reviewer at Home

Author: Anna Keizer

Last updated: Jul 23, 2022

Reads: 8,629

Anna Keizer is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter and filmmaker. She has been writing for film and television for 15 years. She holds a B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago and an M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has been an Academy Nicholl Fellowships Quarterfinalist and an Austin Film Festival Script Competition Second Rounder. FULL BIO

Table of Contents

• Introduction

How Do You Write A Film Review?

1. watch the film, 2. take notes, production design, screenwriting, 4. formulate a supported viewpoint, 1. give an introduction., 2. include a synopsis., 3. provide an analysis., 4. offer a conclusion..

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Screenwriter/TV Writer

Associate Producer

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Line Producer

Producer (Film)

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Learning how to write a movie review can prove vital to a career in film.

In some cases, film criticism can become a launching pad for filmmakers , as it was for Paul Schrader, Peter Bogdanovich, and François Truffaut. But writing movie reviews can become a lifelong profession in its own right with Critics such as Leonard Maltin, Pauline Kael, and Roger Ebert becoming household names.

The process of how to write a movie review entails much more, though than simply giving readers a recommendation to watch or avoid a film. Let’s jump in to find out why!

Just like any other skill set, how to write a movie review involves following certain steps that together result in a comprehensive and well-thought-out product 1 .

This sounds pretty straightforward, right? But consider the average movie-viewing experience, which may or may not take place in a theater, especially these days. Though advance screenings are still popular, many Critics now receive a screener or link to view the film in the comfort of their homes.

Regardless, of primary importance is getting rid of distractions. That’s a high demand nowadays, but for someone wanting to build a reputation as a serious Film Critic, it’s the least that the movies reviewed deserve.

Jeff York, a RottenTomatoes.com certified Film Critic, member of the Chicago Indie Critics and founder of The Establishing Shot , states, “I know that people have worked hard on it [the film] and I should work equally hard to give what they’ve done a fair chance to impress me.”

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In an ideal world, Film Critics would have the opportunity to watch a movie at least twice—once to simply experience the film and once more to write down observations during it. Alas, we rarely get ideal. That’s why when learning how to write a movie review, Critics should become accustomed to jotting down notes during a film screening.

3. Break Down the Film

To be seen as a Film Critic worth their salt, it’s important to critique a movie according to its many elements:

It’s hard not to give a lion’s share of attention to the Actors in films. After all, that’s typically how many movie lovers identify them. “That’s the new Tom Cruise flick!” or “It’s the latest Jennifer Lawrence movie.”

And when the Oscars come around each year, it’s typically the acting categories that get the most hype. That’s why it’s key to know how to write a movie review with the acting in mind 2 .

Evaluating a Director’s success on a film can be a tough undertaking. Some Directors, such as Spielberg and Scorsese, pretty much have free rein on their films.

Others who are not quite yet established may be more at the mercy of their Producers , studio executives—and even star Actors! But in either case, the Director is typically the captain of the ship, so if the film feels like a well-oiled machine or not, the praise or blame usually rests with this person 3 .

Cinematographers are often taken for granted. As film is an inherently visual art, many moviegoers don’t even think about the work that goes into creating a film that’s attractive to the eye 4 .

So when learning how to write a movie review, it may take some practice to appreciate the choices that a Cinematographer makes throughout a film, such as the shots , angles , and focus.

Production Designers are another frequently overlooked specialist on a film. Their job of making the world of the movie look realistic—whether that means the surface of Mars or Main Street, U.S.A.—is often done so well that the casual viewer doesn’t notice.

While that typically signals a job well done, it’s up to the Film Critic to take into consideration just how expertly the production design is executed and if it enhances or detracts from a film 5 .

It’s said that a movie is made three times: once when it’s written, once when it’s made and once when it’s edited. As a result, what is put on the page may or may not resemble what makes it to the big screen. That makes it tough to properly assess the quality of the screenwriting.

But as a Film Critic, being able to discern whether the story flows well, offers surprises—and most importantly—keeps the viewer engaged, will in large part inform the success or failure of the screenplay .

The Godfather is about a young man who takes over the illegal activities of his famous family. That’s the short version. But it’s also about family loyalty. Morality versus that family loyalty. The attraction of power. And the ways in which a person can warp with that power.

These are just some of the themes of The Godfather , and when writing a film review, a Movie Critic should not downplay the importance of theme or lack of it 6 . While film lovers may have an initial interest in a movie because of the stars or Director attached, it’s the universal themes of love, revenge, grief and so on that will likely have the most lasting impression.

We’ve all been there. Squirming uncomfortably in our seat because we’re losing interest in a film. In some cases, this may be the case of bad editing 7 . Like a Director, the Editor often has many people to report to.

With that disclaimer in mind, an Editor can make or break a film, and part of a great film is one that moves at a clip appropriate to the material. What’s good for a period piece may not work for a superhero-laden action flick—and that’s okay! But it’s up to the person reviewing the film to know the difference.

A move review offers an opinion on a film; otherwise, it would just be a movie synopsis. However, a great Film Critic should be mindful to offer a comprehensive viewpoint without giving away too many spoilers, as that may ruin the experience for those seeing new releases.

When it comes down to it, though, the people reading the review are often more interested in the “why” than the “what.” Why a reviewer feels that way versus what that opinion is. Viewpoints on films often clash, as any art form is subjective. If a Movie Critic can back up that opinion, though, they’ll gain the respect of their readers even if it differs from theirs.

A word of caution, though, on confusing criticism with simply cutting down a film. Says York, “In my earlier days, I was occasionally content to be sarcastic and quick to malign, and I wish I’d been directed away from such entertaining but not necessarily constructive writing. That’s why now if I’m steering anyone away from seeing something, I stress precisely why the film doesn’t work rather than just be dismissive of it.”

How Do You Write a Film Review (Example)?

Let’s continue with The Godfather as our film example. Given that this movie isn’t a new release and is widely available on multiple platforms, it’s one of those rare occasions where it could be watched twice. When that opportunity comes, take it!

Once the viewing is over and notes compiled, it’s time to write a draft with the following steps:

That means providing the reader with baseline information about the film, such as the title, the year of theatrical release, the major cast members, the Director, and the Writer.

In this case, the movie review should include: The Godfather ; 1972; Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, John Cazale, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire; Francis Ford Coppola; Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola.

The Godfather is so widely known that it may feel unnecessary to include a synopsis, but it’s a vital piece of information that essentially sets the stage for the review.

That being said, while not as critical for a film that’s been around for nearly 50 years, don’t forget that a movie synopsis should not reveal all major plot points.

This is the most critical part of how to write a movie review. As mentioned, it’s okay to have a viewpoint that may not line up with popular opinion—and for a film as revered as The Godfather , it may be a fresh breath of film criticism air!

This is where the film reviewer states their opinions on those many film elements, including acting, directing, cinematography, production design, screenwriting, theme, and editing. Some potential topics may include arguing that Coppola should have won the Oscar for Best Director or that Pacino was more qualified for the Best Actor category than Brando.

Whatever opinions are put forth, back them up!

Should people revisit this film? Can it provide new insights half a century later? Or would those three hours of viewing time be better spent on another film?

End the film review on a confident note with a definite opinion.

It might be redundant at this point to say that being a Film Critic means having an opinion. Truth is, though, that it may take time to develop that opinion and personal voice. Only practice can get you closer to perfect.

And even if the end goal is to become a future filmmaker, regardless of specialty, it’s critical to understand the importance of film criticism. How to write a movie review is in many ways how to make a movie; both skillsets that can guide a filmmaker towards success no matter if they are in front of the camera, behind it, or watching the product of it.

How do you write a film review?

Writing a film review is an artform all its own. Though a film reviewer may have their own personal opinion good or bad about a particular movie, they must to some degree provide an unbiased analysis that critiques the pros and cons of the film so that readers can decide for themselves how to feel about it.

In short, movie reviews must have nuance. While the reviewer can certainly infuse into a piece their personal thoughts about a film, the goal is to convey to the reading audience informed reasons for why they should or should not consider watching a movie.

What do you say in a movie review?

First, a movie reviewer must decide if they plan to describe key plot points and other elements of the film that may spoil the movie for readers. If so, they should clearly note their intention to include that information at the top of the review.

Beyond that, much of what is in a movie review depends on what the reviewer deems important to justify their opinions. Often a movie review will include basic information like the actors in the film , the key crew members who made it, and the inciting incident of the story that kicks it off. Many reviewers will also bring film study elements into their review with comparisons to earlier films or reasons why or why not the movie in question should be considered important within the pantheon of cinematic history.

How do you start a movie review assignment?

To begin, how did you respond to the film? Was it entertaining? Did it contain thought-provoking themes? Were the performances or direction strong?

How to start a movie review assignment might seem like a daunting challenge, but once the reviewer begins to really consider their own reactions to the film, those reactions and the reasons for them can become the foundation upon which the rest of the review is built.

• 1 Dirks, Tim. "Tips on Film Viewing" . AMC Film Site. published: . retrieved on: 7 July 2020
• 2 Lindsay, Benjamin. "How to Tell Good Acting From Bad Acting" . Backstage. published: 12 September 2016. retrieved on: 10 July 2020
• 3 Paul, Jonathan. "What It Takes to Be a Great Director" . Premium Beat. published: 17 July 2015. retrieved on: 7 July 2020
• 4 Masterclass. "Film 101: What Is Cinematography and What Does a Cinematographer Do?" . Masterclass. published: 22 October 2019. retrieved on: 7 July 2020
• 5 Becker, Judy. "What Makes a Good Production Designer?" . Filmmaker Magazine. published: 17 September 2018. retrieved on: 7 July 2020
• 6 Miyamoto, Ken. "7 Most Intriguing Story Themes in Movies" . Screencraft. published: 3 September 2019. retrieved on: 7 July 2020
• 7 Renee, V. "This is What Good & Bad Editing is According to 3 Oscar-Winning Editors" . No Film School. published: 15 February 2015. retrieved on: 7 July 2020

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: August 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Marissa Levis . Marissa Levis is an English Teacher in the Morris County Vocational School District. She previously worked as an English director at a tutoring center that caters to students in elementary and middle school. She is an expert in creating a curriculum that helps students advance their skills in secondary-level English, focusing on MLA formatting, reading comprehension, writing skills, editing and proofreading, literary analysis, standardized test preparation, and journalism topics. Marissa received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,677,550 times.

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A decent movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie like a professional film critic, come up with an interesting thesis, and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

• Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"– against terrorist groups, against international rivals, against other political parties. But few of them understand the cold, destructive, and ultimately hollow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of Blue Ruin. "
• Review in a nutshell: "Despite a compelling lead performance by Tom Hanks and a great soundtrack, Forrest Gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise."
• Context or Background Information: " Boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced–slowly, over 12 years, with the same actors–is just as crucial as the movie itself."

• Using stars, a score out of 10 or 100, or the simple thumbs-up and thumbs-down is a quick way to give your thoughts. You then write about why you chose that rating.
• Great Movie: ABC is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings."
• Bad Movie: "It doesn't matter how much you enjoy kung-fu and karate films: with 47 Ronin, you're better off saving your money, your popcorn, and time."
• Okay Movie: "I loved the wildly uneven Interstellar far more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. Ultimately, the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy-handed plotting and dialogue."

• Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't as good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, shows how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids, the flashing tension of neck muscles, and a barely cracking voice."
• Bad: " Jurassic World's biggest flaw, a complete lack of relatable female characters, is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur – in heels."
• Okay: "At the end of the day, Snowpiercer can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in fight scenes, where every weapon, lightbulb, and slick patch of ground is accounted for, doesn't translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance."

• Does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue? It could be the director's way of engaging in a bigger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the film to the "real" world.
• Does the film seem to have a message, or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals.
• Does the film connect with you on a personal level? You could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers.

Composing Your Review

• When you name characters in your plot summary, list the actors' names directly afterward in parenthesis.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full movie title.
• If you feel you must discuss information that might "spoil" things for readers, warn them first.

• Cinematography: " Her is a world drenched in color, using bright, soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build, and slowly strip away, the feelings of love between the protagonists. Every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in."
• Tone: "Despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on Mars, The Martian's witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space may be dangerous and scary, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."
• Music and Sound: " No Country For Old Men's bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades. The eerie silence of the desert, punctuated by the brief spells of violent, up-close-and-personal sound effects of hunter and hunted, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat."
• Acting: "While he's fantastic whenever he's on the move, using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus, Keanu Reeves can't quite match his costar in the quiet moments of Speed, which falter under his expressionless gaze."

• Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The Baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."

• Great: "In the end, even the characters of Blue Ruin know how pointless their feud is. But revenge, much like every taut minute of this thriller, is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end.""
• Bad: "Much like the oft-mentioned "box of chocolates", Forest Gump has a couple of good little morsels. But most of the scenes, too sweet by half, should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out."
• Okay: "Without the novel, even revolutionary concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be "good.” But the power the film finds in the beauty of passing time and little, inconsequential moments – moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting – make Linklater's latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film."

Polishing Your Piece

• Ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis. Did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed?
• Decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movie's about.
• Decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand-alone piece of writing. Did you contribute something original to this discussion? What will readers gain from reading your review that they couldn't from simply watching the movie?

Studying Your Source Material

• The title of the film, and the year it came out.
• The director's name.
• The names of the lead actors.

• Make a note every time something sticks out to you, whether it's good or bad. This could be costuming, makeup, set design, music, etc. Think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review.
• Take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds.
• Use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything, and rewind as necessary.

• Direction: Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect the film.)
• Costume design: Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design: Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack: Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

Expert Q&A

• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about writing, check out our in-depth interview with Marissa Levis .

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/terminology_and_starting_prompts.html
• ↑ https://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-write-a-movie-review
• ↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-writing-a-review
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
• ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf
• ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/film_writing_sample_analysis.html
• ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/onnyx.bei/dual-credit/movie-review-writing-guide
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-movie-review/
• ↑ https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/editing_proofreading.php
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

About This Article

To write a movie review, start with a compelling fact or opinion to hook your readers, like "Despite a great performance by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump never overcomes its weak plot." Then, elaborate on your opinion of the movie right off the bat so readers know where you stand. Once your opinion is clear, provide examples from the movie that prove your point, like specific scenes, dialogue, songs, or camera shots. To learn how to study a film closely before you write a review, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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