Film Critic Rex Reed Dies at 87

Film criticism just lost one of its sharpest voices. Rex Reed, the caustic and unapologetic film critic who made a career out of calling movies exactly what he thought they were, has died at 87. He passed away at his home in New York City, according to a friend who confirmed the news on Tuesday morning.

Reed spent decades reviewing films with the kind of wit and candor that could either delight or infuriate readers—sometimes both at once. His final review appeared in the New York Observer in November, where he tackled the film“Truth&Treason,”staying true to form right up until the end. That’s the mark of a true critic: working until the very last moment, because the work itself was the point.

What made Reed stand out in a crowded field of film commentators was his refusal to play nice for the sake of access or reputation. In an industry built on relationships and glad-handing, he remained stubbornly honest about what worked and what didn’t. Critics like that—the ones who say what they actually think instead of what they’re supposed to think—become fixtures in their readers’lives. People didn’t always agree with Reed, but they read him because they knew exactly where he stood.

The loss of Reed marks another chapter closing in film criticism itself. As streaming services and social media have fragmented how audiences consume entertainment, the role of the serious, opinionated film critic has shifted dramatically. Reed represented an older tradition: the critic as a trusted voice, someone with enough experience and conviction to guide audiences through the noise. Whether that role can survive in today’s media landscape remains an open question.

In the end, Reed’s legacy isn’t measured in the number of films that took his advice or rejected it. It’s in the clarity and courage he brought to every review. He made people think about why movies matter, and that kind of influence never really goes away.