The New Wave of Cinephiles

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If you’re anything like me then you spend an unhealthy amount of time on Letterboxd. There is something so addicting about scrolling through review after review of movies that you like and seeing what other people have to say. I have laid in bed scrolling for hours through reviews, picking out my favorites and liking them so I can look back at them later. The combination of long, drawn-out reviews that perfectly encapsulate the excellence of the film being squished in between silly one-liners, makes the experience even better. This makes me pose the question: what makes Letterboxd so addicting?

If you are unfamiliar with Letterboxd, it is an app used for logging and reviewing movies. Letterboxd’s user count skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has only been growing since, recently accumulating around 10 million users. Being inside a majority of the time caused many people to turn to a familiar form of entertainment, movies. I feel like the pandemic created an entirely new crowd of frequent movie-goers, and a culture that makes it a point to leave their thoughts on movies they just watched as they are leaving the theater. 

Image Courtesy: Victoria Lopez

Some notable features that Letterboxd has are the diary which can be used to view logged movies, the ability to make lists to rank or categorize your movies, and a watchlist which usually continuously gets added to and never quite gets touched. However, the most exciting feature of your Letterboxd account is your Letterboxd top four movies. 

This may not seem like a big deal, but your top four movies are the first impression you will be making on anyone who views your accounts. Your Letterboxd top four can say a lot about you and what you find most important about a movie. It is like getting insight into someone’s mind since movies can be so personal. For example, if someone were to say their favorite movie is “Lady Bird” by Greta Gerwig, then I am going to assume they enjoy coming-of-age films and maybe can relate to the same issues that the main character has with her family. Since Letterboxd has limited options as an actual social media, meaning there is no direct messaging feature and you can only follow other users, reading reviews and looking at people’s top four is one of the best ways to gauge their taste in movies and can help you decide if you want to follow them. 

Image Courtesy: FilmGrab

Image Courtesy: IMDb

How you decide your top four is up to you, whether you want to carefully curate your selection or go off of your first instinct. Either way, this combination of movies is a fun way to show off your taste to anyone who stumbles upon your account. I like to put my favorite movies of all time in my top four, even including a movie I have loved since I was a child. I have Jordan Peele’s “Nope” next to “My Babysitter’s a Vampire” directed by Bruce McDonald, which I think is hilarious and true.

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Although some users complain about the lack of “actual” reviews on the site rather than jokes that do not provide an actual in-depth opinion on the film, I prefer to look at it in a different light. I think that Letterboxd is meant to be a collection of user’s thoughts rather than a collection of professional critic-level thoughts. If they are looking for professional reviews then it would be better to look on Rotten Tomatoes or one of the many film critic sites out there! Since there is no correct way to use Letterboxd, all of the reviews can be based on whatever the user wants. So yes, “Shrek 2” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once” can both be five-star movies if that is what the user wants. I think the diversity of reviews that Letterboxd has is what makes it so addicting and fun to scroll through. It is a breath of fresh air to have the option to see both thought-provoking criticism of films and funny jokes if I want to!

Image Courtesy: FilmGrab

If you have been contemplating making a Letterboxd account then I implore you to do it! I feel like it has helped me discover so many new movies and expand my taste beyond what I was comfortable watching and see what I really enjoy. Not only that but it is a very good way to track what movies you have watched and when, without needing to open up your notes app ever again!

Strike Out,

Writer: Victoria Lopez

Edited By: Reanna Haase and Hollis Humphrey

Orlando

Victoria Lopez is a content writer for Strike Magazine Orlando. Obsessed with mobile games and playing dress-up, she is always looking for new little trinkets to buy. She enjoys watching copious amounts of television, listening to music, and meticulously curating her latest Letterboxd review. You can find her on Instagram @victoriaatyy or contact her through victoriatylopez@gmail.com.