Research Guides: *Film &amp; Media Studies*: Finding Film Reviews

Getting Started

Before looking for reviews, it can be helpful to obtain background information on the film.

Use IMDB for recent films, or to verify when a television series aired.
Use Screen Studies Collection to verify the date the film was released.
- Limit to the database "AFI Catalog" or "Film Index International"

ProQuest Research Library
Scholarly & popular journals, 1971-present.
SEARCH TIP: Limit by "document type" to review. Enter the title of the film in quotes.
New York Times
1851 to the current date.
SEARCH TIP: In ProQuest Historical Newspapers, limit by "document type" to "review", or "display ad" to find movie advertising. Limit by release date. Enter the title of the film in quotes.
ProQuest Performing Arts Database‎
Scholarly & popular film journals, 1864-present. Includes "Variety" back to 1972.
SEARCH TIP: Limit by "Document Type" to Review.
Screen Studies Collection
Includes production and cast information, plot summaries, background notes, awards listings, and citations to reviews and other secondary literature. Offers simultaneous searching of the American Film Institute Catalog, the British Film Institute's Film Index International, and FIAF International Index to Film Periodicals. Covers 1893 - present.
Readers' Guide Retrospective
General-interest periodicals from the U.S., 1890 - 1982.
SEARCH TIP: Add "Motion Picture Reviews" or "Television Program Reviews" to SUBJECT

These websites aggregate popular and user reviews.

Reviews for older films sometimes have to be tracked down in print resources.

The critical index
Covers 1946-1973.
The film index
Covers the early years of film up to 1936.
Film review index
Volume 1: 1882-1949, Volume 2:1950-1985. Alphabetical by film title.
Index to critical film reviews in British and American film periodicals
Film periodicals from their beginning to 1971
An index to short and feature film reviews in the moving picture world
Covers the early years of film, 1907-1915.
The new film index
Covers 1930-1970.
Retrospective index to film periodicals, 1930-1971
Selected film criticism
Covers 1896-1960
Variety film reviews
Covers 1907-1996.