The Purpose of a Magazine Film Review

Magazine film reviews are to provide opinions about films and offer guidance to audiences about what films to see. They include objective opinions and third party recommendations. Magazine film reviews provide more information to audeinces than can be obtained via a poster therefore, producers aim to have their film reviewed in magazines in a positive manner in order to help gain viewers and therefore boost sales. For example, 'The Kings Speech' (2010), starring Colin Firth became a huge success due to reviews. In the UK and Ireland, the film became box office number one, and took in £3,510,000 in its opening weekend from 395 cinemas.In the United States 'The King's Speech' opened with $355,450 in four theatres, averaging $88,863 per theatre. It holds the record for the highest per theatre gross of 2010. On the other hand, 'Catwomen' (2004) world wide box office reached $82,102,379.

This is the film trailer for 'Catwomen' (2004)



This is the film trailer for 'The King's Speech' (2010)

'Fim Review' is an example of a film review magazine. 'Film Review' magazine first appeared in 1950, initially for a 3-issue trial run. At the time it had the title "ABC Film Review" due to it working with ABC cinemas. At the time it was just 20 pages ans it was published in association with Pathé and produced by Axtell Publications Ltd. of London. After the trial's success it became a full monthly magazine from January 1951. In 1972, its name changed to just 'Film Review' and the ABC was dropped from then on. It continued to appear as a monthly magazine until 2008. The last edition, a double-issue, number 699/700, for August/ September 2008, edited by Nikki Baughan, had 220 pages and was priced at £4.99.

Having started out as a promotional magazine for the ABC circuit, 'Film Review' became a very good popular film monthly, packed with news and information, literate reviews and an emphasis on the pictures as well as the written text. For nearly sixty years it never lost its initial and essential aim of appealing to film fanatics. Sadly, its position was taken over by other more successful film publications which forced it off the shelves.