Talking 2026 movies and film criticism with Kit Stone (Female Film Critics Panel 80)

·1 hr 15 min·5 clips

Film critic Kit Stone reveals how a childhood dream of acting evolved into a unique approach to reviewing movies.

The episode begins with host Rachel welcoming guest Kit Stone, a film critic. Kit shares her background, starting with a childhood love for movies and dreams of acting or filmmaking, which evolved through college into journalism and film criticism. She explains her critical approach: not just evaluating films but helping them connect with suitable audiences, respecting the work of creators. The host asks about handling films she strongly dislikes; Kit mentions a few, like 'Dreams,' which used sexual assault as a plot device, making her unable to review it. They discuss the difficulty of balancing honesty with respect for filmmakers. The conversation shifts to genre bias in criticism, particularly against romantic comedies, with examples like 'The Holiday' having low Rotten Tomatoes scores despite popularity. Kit and Rachel talk about the scarcity of theatrical romantic comedies and studio decisions, like sending 'Bridget Jones' Mad About the Boy' to streaming. They explore the critic-influencer dynamic, noting how influencers are often invited to screenings without film expertise, blurring lines and affecting credibility. Kit recounts a critic admitting they promote films based on studio input rather than merit. The discussion covers film festivals: Kit describes her first Sundance experience, using accessibility accommodations due to a spine condition, and highlights films like 'Josephine,' 'Tuner,' and 'One in a Million.' They briefly touch on 2026 releases, such as 'Hoppers' and 'Redux Redux,' and Oscar nominees, with opinions on movies like 'Sentimental Value' and 'Begonia.' The episode concludes with recommendations for Hallmark movies and 'Bridgerton' Season 4, followed by promotional content and thanks.

As heard by us

A film-talk episode that blends criticism, freelance reality, and the changing role of influencers.

Rachel's Reviews uses this Female Film Critics Panel episode to center Kit Stone's path into film criticism and the work around it. The opening stays light, with a friendly chat about Hallmark movies and how the hosts connected online, before turning to Stone's long interest in…

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Why you'd press play

You get film criticism, freelancer reality, and a closer look at how influencer invites and follower counts get discussed.

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