Film critics should be distinguished from film reviewers. Most people who call themselves film critics and publish commentary on films in periodicals are actually film reviewers. A film criticism is actually more closely aligned with philosophy than it is commentary. The film critic tries to come to understand why film works, how it works, and what effects it has on people. (See also film theory.)

By this definition, leading film critics include:

• Andre Bazin
• Siegfried Kracauer
• Sergei Eisenstein
• Christian Metz
• William Rothman
• Kaja Silverman
• Jean-Louis Boudry
• Andrew Sarris
• Mary Ann Doane
• Bela Balazs
• Peter Bogdanovich

Some notable film reviewers:

• Roger Ebert
• Pauline Kael
• Àlex Gorina
• Harry Knowles - Ain't It Cool News
• Leonard Maltin
• Janet Maslin
• Richard Roeper
• Joel Siegel
• Gene Siskel
• Peter Travers
• Barry Norman (UK)

See also Quote whore