Leonard Maltin

Leonard Maltin is one of America's most prominent film critics and historians, best known for his annual movie review guide "Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide," which was published from 1969 to 2014. His career in film criticism began at age fifteen when he started publishing his own fanzine, and he later became a familiar face as the resident film critic on Entertainment Tonight from 1982 to 2010. Beyond his work in criticism, Maltin has established himself as an influential voice in film education and preservation. He teaches at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and has authored numerous books on cinema history, with particular expertise in animation and classic Hollywood. His contributions to film scholarship include comprehensive works on Disney films and the golden age of short subjects. Maltin's influence extends into various aspects of the film industry, having served as president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and as a voting member for the National Film Registry. He maintains an active presence in modern film culture through his weekly podcast "Maltin on Movies" and continues to be a respected authority on cinema history and criticism. Turner Classic Movies recognized Maltin's lifetime contributions to film preservation and education with the Robert Osborne Award in 2022. His 2021 memoir "Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood" chronicles his journey from a young film enthusiast in New Jersey to one of America's most recognized film authorities.

Readers consistently note Maltin's clear writing style and encyclopedic knowledge of film history. His Movie Guide series gained trust for concise, straightforward reviews that help viewers make watching decisions. What readers liked: - Brief, no-nonsense review format - Accurate historical information - Accessibility for casual movie fans - Balanced perspective on films across genres - Reliable ratings system What readers disliked: - Some reviews seen as too short/superficial - Occasional factual errors in later editions - Personal biases showing through in certain genres - Removal of older films from newer guides - Limited coverage of foreign films Ratings across platforms: Amazon: Movie Guide series averages 4.3/5 stars (2,000+ reviews) Goodreads: Leonard Maltin's 2014 Movie Guide - 4.1/5 (876 reviews) "Straight to the point and tells you what you need to know," notes one Amazon reviewer. "Missing depth on important films," counters another. Some readers mention missing his annual guides since publication ended in 2014, citing the lack of a comparable replacement resource.

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide (1969-2014) Annual film review compendium containing over 16,000 entries with ratings and brief critiques of movies from the silent era through modern releases.

The Disney Films (1973) Comprehensive examination of every Disney theatrical release from 1937's Snow White to the early 1970s, including detailed production information and historical context.

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons (1980) Detailed chronicle of American animation history from the silent era through the golden age of theatrical cartoons.

The Great Movie Shorts (1972) Historical survey of Hollywood short subjects, focusing on series like Our Gang, The Three Stooges, and various comedy teams.

Selected Short Subjects (1983) Analysis of Hollywood's short film productions from the 1920s through the 1950s, with emphasis on major studios and performers.

Movie Comedy Teams (1970) Examination of famous comedy duos and groups in film history, including detailed filmographies and career analyses.

Behind the Camera (1989) Collection of interviews with cinematographers, editors, and other film technicians about their craft and careers.

The Art of the Cinematographer (1978) Profiles of major cinematographers and their contributions to film history, including technical innovations and artistic approaches.

Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood (2021) Memoir chronicling Maltin's journey from teenage film enthusiast to established film critic and historian.

Roger Ebert wrote film reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 to 2013 and created a similarly comprehensive review collection through his various movie yearbooks. His work combines film criticism with historical context and technical analysis of filmmaking elements.

David Thomson authored "The New Biographical Dictionary of Film" and multiple books examining Hollywood's history and impact. His writing focuses on detailed analysis of film industry figures and comprehensive examinations of cinema's cultural significance.

Andrew Sarris developed the auteur theory in American film criticism through his work at The Village Voice and his book "The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968." His systematic approach to categorizing directors and films influenced how critics analyze cinema.

Pauline Kael wrote for The New Yorker from 1968 to 1991, publishing several collections of her reviews and essays on film. Her work emphasizes the cultural and artistic impact of movies while examining them within their historical context.

Peter Bogdanovich combined careers as a director and film historian, writing extensive interviews with classic film directors and detailed histories of Hollywood's golden age. His books include comprehensive interviews with Orson Welles and studies of directors like John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock.