The History of Film Magazines

For as long as there have been films there has been someone writing about them. The concept of a film magazine started around the same time as the first film about 1896. 

From this first magazine there has been 7 main magazines that have carried on publishing (there are thousands of film magazines but I am focusing on the most influential and long running ones).

Cinematography and Bio scope Magazine. To call this a magazine is a bit of a push, it is more of a trade paper. It primarily discusses issues and developments relevant to people working in the film industry. This paper formed and discussed issues and developments within the film industry around the 1990's. This paper also included on certain films that were going to be released such as 'Dick Turpin's Last Ride To York'.  

The Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly started in 1907 and was another trade publication that focused on business developments in the world of cinema and provided short, snappy reviews of current features. According to the British Film Institute (BFI) it is a distant ancestor to today’s Screen International. Again this also included short brief reviews.

Variety (1905-present) Variety was originally a trade magazine that covered vaudeville entertainments. In those days it was based in New York city but in 1933 Sime Silverman, founder of the magazine, launched Daily Variety in Hollywood. The publication still exists in various forms, including Variety.com, and is famous for using its own form of “language.” Writers for other publications often mirror the terms used in Variety as, being the longest running film publication, they are considered pretty much the ultimate authority on film.

Movie line (1985-2009) originally published articles that were generally derogatory in their demeanor. One of the most sarcastic critics of all time, Joe Queenan, enjoyed a long and glorious reign as one of their chief columnists. An issue from August 1990 reports on how Charlie Sheen landed his acting debut in Grizzly II: The Predator way back in 1984.

Empire (1989-present) Empire is still the leading film monthly in the UK today and you’d be hard-pushed to find any self-respecting film fan without at least one or two copies lying around. Their very first issue got off to a cracking start taking readers through the life and death of cult character Freddy Kreuger and offering insight into how Wall Street star Sean Young got such a bad name for herself. The front cover featured Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder posing for their roles in Great Balls of Fire – the 1989 biopic about Jerry Lewis.

Hotdog (2000-2006) Hotdog was, sadly, one of the shorter-lived film publications. It offered quite similar content to Total Film, putting a quirkier edge on mainstream movies. Favourite asides they specialized in included things like Movie Maths: “Se7en + Marilyn Manson x The Wizard of Oz = Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.” (September 2005).