Film criticism involves the analysis and evaluation of films, broadly categorized into academic and journalistic forms. Academic criticism, found in scholarly journals, focuses on film theory and its historical context, while journalistic criticism in popular media reviews films and significantly influences public perception and choices. Emerging in the early 1900s with publications like The Optical Lantern and Cinematograph Journal, it grew as figures such as Ricciotto Canudo championed cinema as the "Sixth Art" in 1911, advocating for its artistic merit beyond mere entertainment. By the 1920s, major newspapers began hiring dedicated film critics, solidifying its role in public discourse. Today, digital tools further enhance visual and auditory film analysis, continuing its evolution as a crucial cultural practice.