Last Updated on August 3, 2021
1. EMPIRE
I’ll admit that it’s hard to tell the difference with a lot of these magazines. They all promise the same exclusives, most use the same pictures, and they all seem to hype up the same films over and over again. None of them are as fun as this though. In case you’ve never noticed it, it’s the giant bitch in the back row that sells for over $10 Canadian and takes three weeks to read. They have a U.K. edition and an Australian one. Their features are always top notch including a regular top ten list that greatly influenced my start up of this column. There’s some great inserts as well. The current issue boasts a double sided wall chart filled with two decades of fun trivia that will have you staring at your wall for hours. It’s like Hustler, for fanboys.
2. PREMIERE
This is the best the U.S. has to offer when it comes to reading about films and the people that make them. They continuously score excellent exclusives and treat us to fantastic photography every month. They’re very similar to E.W. with their Academy Awards devotion and page turning annuals such as The Power List. They don’t try too hard to be funny and leave no interesting facts in the editing room.
3. FANGORIA
Rue Morgue is quickly catching Fango in it’s dominance of the horror genre but these boys still have seniority. Over 20 fricking years of seniority! It’s the first movie magazine I ever read as a kid. I would lose myself in articles about FRIDAY THE 13th and THE EVIL DEAD all night and then struggle to go to sleep in anticipation of sneaking into a theatre. My hat’s off to you boys. Thanks for the nightmares.
4. TOTAL FILM
Mainstream movie coverage at it’s finest. There’s lots of content, lots of pictures, and lots of ass kissing. Sometimes though, when you want to give in to the pressures and let yourself get really excited about the latest blockbuster media frenzy, it’s exactly what you need. A great read throughout and some sweet-ass covers to boot.
5. RUE MORGUE
The newest face in horror coverage has a big future. The recent onslaught of horror films has given these boys from Toronto a chance to step into the spotlight and they’ve done everything but disappoint. Their reviews are unforgiving, some of the pictures make you skip lunch, and they have no problem reminding us how dark and terrifying the world can really be.
6. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
To be fair, the movie folk have to share ink with the books, television, and music more than any other book on this list. When they focus though, and give us things like their seasonal movie previews, it’s a beautiful thing. They also have to work 4 times as hard as all the others with weekly deadlines. The cover photo shoots are unmatched as are their year in picture issues and Oscar countdowns
7. HOT DOG
This just might be the closest thing to a JoBlo magazine you’re going to find on the shelves. They’ll cover your generic blockbuster hopeful and then whip into some old school tribute piece. Top ten lists are common and their reviews are short and to the point. Their writers are funny and hardly ever pull any punches. I still don’t really understand the name of the magazine though.
8. FADE IN
They’re the best at getting behind the camera and showing how the film industry rolls from the inside. Whether you want to break into the business or just marvel at those who do it best, Fade In has got an article for you. Question and answer sessions with anyone that matters in Hollywood and a relentless gift of making us feel like we’re in the wrong field of work.
9. STARLOG
When you’ve hung around for 30 years and over 345 issues you’ve got to be doing something right. It jumped on the STAR WARS bandwagon before we even knew what a Wookie was and had a big part in uniting Tekkies across the world. Sci-Fi enthusiasts can still count on in-depth coverage and geeky references from front to back.
10. TRIBUTE
If you’re like me you like to get to the theatre early, make sure you claim your favourite seat, suck down a gigantic Coke, laugh at people that trip on the stairs, and read the free literature provided at the door. Tribute has been around for ages here in Canada and doesn’t disappoint when it comes to silly gossip and ridiculously easy trivia.
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