8 Ways To Get Paid To Review Movies & Films

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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!

 

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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.

 

FAQ

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.

 

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