Letterboxd: A new era of film criticism

By Jacob Back
Multimedia Journalist

The tendency to evaluate, judge and critique is human nature. We like to call this being a critic. And in the film industry, that title has carried significant weight for decades. But in recent years, the definition of a film critic has begun to change.

A relatively new website and mobile app called Letterboxd has made the title of "film critic" more accessible than ever.

In October 2011, web developers Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow recognized that while there were plenty of platforms for music and photography enthusiasts, something was missing for the so-called "cinephile."

"The hardest part has been building something that's never existed before — there's no playbook for what Letterboxd is," Buchanan said.

The platform has become an exciting addition to the media world, offering film lovers a place to share their opinions and connect with others who share their passion.

Letterboxd is an online platform much like Instagram or Last.fm, where film lovers can publicly review and critique movies. Users can connect with friends and read their reviews, as well as those of millions of other users.

And that brings us back to that word: "critic."

With Letterboxd, ordinary people have the ability to say what they want about a film and express their true thoughts.

The platform is far less formal than traditional professional film criticism, and that difference becomes clear when comparing the two.

"Left the theater so bummed out that I had to cry along to a Cranberries CD on the drive home. So suffice it to say: the emo Batman I've always dreamed of," user "Lucy" wrote in a review of Matt Reeves' 2022 film "The Batman."

Laid-back is the word I would use here. No fancy definitions, no complicated language. Just a simple review, as if you were having a conversation with a friend.

In my opinion, that is what makes Letterboxd a revolutionary platform in the film industry.

"The Batman has a somber tone different from previous versions that, due to its enunciation, brings it closer to the style of the film-noir genre, returning to the original style of the comic strip and its proximity to pulp literature," film critic Denise Pieniazek wrote in a review featured on Rotten Tomatoes.

From two very different perspectives, we see two very different reviews.

One offers a carefully considered, professional analysis. The other is casual and personal, with no concern for formal presentation. Just someone's honest thoughts.

Not only can users freely voice their opinions on Letterboxd without the pressures of traditional film criticism, but the platform also offers several ways to customize profiles and reviews.

The free account comes with plenty of features, but additional customization options are available through two paid subscription tiers: Pro and Patron.

I'll start with the free account to get the lay of the land.

With a free Letterboxd account, users have access to unlimited film reviews. They can post reviews anytime, anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.

Users can also customize their profile pictures and biographies and display their four favorite films for others to see.

Now, let's dive into the Pro subscription.

Pro costs $19 per year, which, in all reality, isn't too bad — especially for a self-proclaimed cinephile who enjoys sharing opinions and having fun with the platform.

The subscription includes everything available with a free account, along with personalized annual and all-time statistics based on diary entries and watched films. Users can also view statistics for their lists.

Pro subscribers can select their favorite streaming services from those listed on JustWatch and receive notifications when films on their watchlists become available on those services.

Additional features include viewing friends' average ratings, tracking owned films, filtering activity feeds, pinning content to profiles, duplicating lists, managing tags through the website and selecting custom app icons on iOS devices.

Although I don't have a paid Letterboxd account, I can't lie: I've found myself contemplating a Pro subscription from time to time.

As for the $41-per-year Patron subscription, I've never seriously considered buying it.

Patron includes everything offered through Pro, along with several additional perks.

The biggest is the ability to select preferred posters and backdrops for films and customize the images displayed on profiles, reviews and lists.

This is undoubtedly one of the best features Letterboxd offers.

As someone with a background in art and a love for visual interpretation, being able to choose a movie poster is an amazing feature. It's also something you don't typically get with traditional film criticism.

However, that option is locked behind a paywall, so it won't be in my hands anytime soon.

Other Patron benefits include selecting preferred images for cast and crew members, having your name displayed on the Patrons page and receiving early access to certain beta features.

All in all, Letterboxd has carved out a unique place in the film industry.

It has its flaws, but it provides opportunities for more people to participate in conversations about movies, bringing different perspectives, cultures and opinions into the discussion.

As an avid Letterboxd user for two years, I can confidently say the free account offers more than enough for the average film enthusiast.

Although I would enjoy having Pro or Patron, I just can't seem to justify paying for either.

And perhaps that's the beauty of Letterboxd. You don't need a professional title, a subscription or a background in film studies to be a critic.

All you need is a love of movies and something to say about them.