How to Become a Film Buff

Co-authored by Lucy V. Hay

Last Updated: January 1, 2024 References

From Hollywood classics to obscure cult films, the world of cinema can be fascinating. Having extensive film knowledge can help you better appreciate the movies you watch, and it makes for an interesting conversation topic at parties. With a little research and some critical viewing, you can become a film buff just by doing something you probably already love doing - watching movies.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Learning about Film

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1
Find a list of best films to watch from a film institute or respected reviewer. The Internet is full of “best movie” lists, but it’s better to look for a reputable source who has selected movies for their importance to the film world, not necessarily for their popularity. Here are a few good sources for film recommendations:
- Major film academies such as the New York Film Academy or American Film Institute
- Respected reviewers such as Roger Ebert
- Acclaimed directors such as Spike Jonze and Martin Scorsese
2
Start by watching the classics. By starting with older movies, you'll get a sense of where film started out.^{[1]
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Research source} Watching older movies without the technology and special effects of modern film can also help you appreciate the power of good storytelling and simple visuals. Some of the most critically acclaimed classics include:
- Gone With The Wind (1939)
- Casablanca (1942)
- King Kong (1933)
- Citizen Kane (1941)
- It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
- Vertigo (1958)
- Sunset Boulevard (1950)
- Some Like It Hot (1959)
- Duck Soup (1933)
- Ben Hur (1959)
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3
Watch films from a variety of genres. Get outside your comfort zone - you might surprise yourself with what you end up enjoying. Take a look at your list of recommended films from a reputable source, and make a point of watching at least a few that you wouldn’t normally be interested in. You’ll expand your understanding of film, and you may discover your tastes are more varied than you thought.
- Truly great films transcend genre. You may think most sports movies boring, but find yourself drawn in by the humor and humanity of Rocky. Or perhaps you can’t stand fantasy, but are still blown away by the visual splendor of Lord of the Rings.
4
Watch foreign films. Don’t be afraid of a few subtitles - foreign movies are a great way to broaden your understanding of film as well as other cultures. Start off by choosing movies from countries you’re interested in or familiar with, but try to choose a few from countries you know nothing about as well.
- Doing a little research on the film beforehand, as well as the country it was made in, can help give you a better understanding of its significance and make it easier to follow the plot.
5
Find affordable ways to discover new movies. Movie streaming websites and libraries are convenient ways to watch films you don’t own. You may also consider borrowing movies from a friend, or searching thrift stores for the titles you want.
- Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are very popular streaming sites, but there are also a number of smaller, more specialized streaming sites such as Fandor, Crackle, MUBI, Snagfilms (documentaries), and Crunchyroll (Anime).
6
Learn about what goes on behind the scenes. Choose a few of your favorite movies and do some research on how they were made. Who was the director, producer, writer? What other work have they done and how is it similar?
- Many modern films release short “making of” or “behind the scenes” features, which can usually be found online or in the DVD’s special features.
- There are several very interesting documentaries on filmmaking and Hollywood which can teach you more about life behind the scenes, such as Casting By,^{[2]
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  Research source} And the Oscar Goes To… and Hollywood: A Celebration of American Silent Film.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Watching Films Critically

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1
Watch movies in the order they were released. As you make your way through your list of chosen movies, try to order them so that you work your way from oldest to newest. This will give you a better idea of how film styles and techniques have changed with time.
- If you can’t go through all your chosen films in chronological order, try watching an older movie followed by a newer movie in the same genre. For instance, if you are watching 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the first and most famous movies about space travel, you might follow it with newer movies in the same theme, such as Contact or Solaris, and note how they compare.^{[4]
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2
Watch movies without distractions. If you want to get the most out of your viewing, don’t just have the movie on in the background while you do something else - clear your schedule, dim the lights, get comfortable and give the movie your full attention.
- Make sure you know the basic details about each movie before you watch it - director, release date, stars, and any particular details the film is famous for. Try not to read anything that will give away too much of the plot.
- Don’t worry if you don’t like every “important” movie you see. You can still appreciate and understand its significance even if it isn’t one of your favorites.^{[5]
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3
Read about and discuss what you saw. Once you’ve seen a movie, you can read more in-depth reviews without worrying about giving the plot away. Look online for reviews in major papers, such as the LA Times or the Washington Post.
- Try hosting a movie marathon and inviting a few friends to watch some of your chosen films with you and discuss them afterwards. They may have insights you hadn’t thought of, and talking about the movie will help you develop your opinions further.
- Learning some common film terms and what they mean will enhance your discussions and help you better understand reviews. Look for filmmaking glossaries geared towards film buffs, rather than those written for film professionals, which will contain technical terms not relevant to viewers.
4
Re-watch movies. After reading about and discussing a film, watch it again. Often, a second viewing will allow you to notice details you missed the first time around, and you may have a fresh perspective after discovering other viewer’s impressions of the film.
- Pay attention to things like how the movie begins and ends, and repeating images or concepts throughout the movie.^{[6]
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  Research source} Since you already know how the movie ends, you will be able to pick up on foreshadowing and recurring themes more easily the second time around.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finding Your Niche

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1
Keep track of the films you enjoyed. When you first start out, it’s important to watch a wide variety of genres, time periods, and directors. Make note of which ones were your favorites and what you liked about them. Do you notice any common themes in the movies you enjoyed?
- It can be helpful to start a “viewing journal” where you write down your thoughts and impressions of each movie you see for future reference. Try to write it down as soon after viewing as possible - it’s easy to forget details once some time has passed, especially after watching other films.
2
Choose a genre to explore further. The world of film is vast, and you’re never going to watch all of them - it helps to narrow your focus to something you’re particularly interested in.^{[7]
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Research source} If you’ve noticed that you’re especially drawn to film noir, for example, do some research on the genre and which films are considered important to its development, and make a point of watching them.
- You may want to join an online community or local film club that focuses on the genre you choose. This can be a great way to have helpful discussions and get more film suggestions.
3
Choose a specific element of films to learn more about. What’s a particular detail you always find yourself noticing while viewing? Costume design? Musical score? Find out who some notable film professionals are in that field and research their work
- Every time you watch a new movie, find out who is responsible for that element and look up what other work they’ve done. You may quickly find you have a favorite costume designer, makeup artist, etc., which can lead you to discover more films of your liking.
- If you want to be a screenwriter, read a lot of screenplays.
- You can find scripts of screenplays online in the BBC writer's room and simplyscripts.com. You can even google screenplay to find screenplays.
- Try and join Facebook groups to read other want-to-be screenwriters' work, swap work, and do peer reviews. For example, Bang2Writers.

Community Q&A

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Do I have to be an adult to be a film buff?

Community Answer

No. Just make sure you only watch films that your parents allow.

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Can I become an excellent director using these tips?

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Being knowledgeable in film and understanding how a film is made can help you develop the skills for directing your own movie, for sure.

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Are there any Autistic kids who are movie buffs and watch R-rated movies?

Tara Burke

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Most likely - ‘special/restricted interests’ are common for people with Autism, and being a film buff is a very interesting/engaging hobby, so it’s most likely quite common to find Autistic film buffs.

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Tips

Many films are intended by the director to be viewed on the big screen.^{[8]
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Research source} Often, smaller theaters will show special screenings of notable films geared toward film buffs. Check your local paper for listings.

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When watching a film on DVD, also view the "extras" on the DVD; many of them contain very interesting information on the making of the film, creating special effects, shooting screen tests, and earlier versions of the same story.

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Whenever possible, choose the widescreen version when selecting a DVD. Almost all films are shot in widescreen format, which means “full frame” DVDs are actually cutting out part of the original shot.

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