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 -
Joel Siegel -
Gene Siskel -