I Lost It at the Movies

work by Kael

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June 29, 2026

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"I Lost It at the Movies" is a 1965 collection of film criticism by Pauline Kael. The book became a bestseller and established Kael's reputation as a prominent American film critic. Kael's reviews were known for being witty, opinionated, and written in an engaging style, often considering films within their cultural context. The collection's success led to further assignments from major magazines, and Kael eventually became the film reviewer for The New Yorker. The book's characteristic title reflects Kael's approach to film criticism, which was both knowledgeable and deeply personal.1

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Pauline Kael
…form under the characteristic title I Lost It at the Movies. The book was a best-seller and won her assignments from such major general-circulation magazines as Life, Holiday, Mademoiselle, and McCall’s. She was the regular film reviewer for McCall’s for some months in 1966 and for The New Republic in…
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…form under the characteristic title I Lost It at the Movies. The book was a best-seller and won her assignments from such major general-circulation magazines as Life, Holiday, Mademoiselle, and McCall’s. She was the regular film reviewer for McCall’s for some months in 1966 and for The New Republic in…
Read More