# Amy Nicholson

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Amy_Nicholson
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Amy_Nicholson.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Nicholson
> Source revision: 1356890170
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American film critic and podcast host

Amy Nicholson Nicholson in 2025 Education University of Oklahoma (B.A.) University of Southern California (M.A.) Occupations Film critic podcast host author Years active 2002–present Employers LA Weekly (2013–2016) MTV News The New York Times Variety The Washington Post Los Angeles Times (2024–present)

**Amy Nicholson** is an American [film critic](/source/Film_criticism) for the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. She is the co-host of the podcast *[Unspooled](/source/Unspooled)*. She has reviewed films for several publications, including *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)*, *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*, and *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*.[1]

## Early life and education

Nicholson was raised in [San Antonio](/source/San_Antonio), [Texas](/source/Texas). As a child, she developed her admiration for films after watching "ancient films on TV" with her father. Nicholson repeatedly watched *[Home Alone](/source/Home_Alone)* (1990) with her friends, along with films that starred [Leonardo DiCaprio](/source/Leonardo_DiCaprio) at the time.[2] Her childhood favorite was *[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles](/source/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_(1990_film))* (1990).[3]

After she graduated from [Incarnate Word High School](/source/Incarnate_Word_High_School), Nicholson attended the [University of Oklahoma](/source/University_of_Oklahoma) (OU) and initially enrolled in psychology.[4] During her freshman year, Nicholson enrolled in a course called "Films in Context of the Great Depression," taught by Joanna Rapf. "I hadn't realized movies were important in that way," Nicholson reflected, "that they were a timeline of history."[3]

At OU, Nicholson worked at the [Bizzell Memorial Library](/source/Bizzell_Memorial_Library), and used their [interlibrary loan](/source/Interlibrary_loan) service to request lesser-known films that were not available at [Blockbuster Video](/source/Blockbuster_(retailer)). During her senior year, she decided to become a film critic, so she would be in "constant conversation with the culture."[3] In 2002, Nicholson graduated with a double major with a [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in Film Studies and Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma.[5]

After she graduated, Nicholson relocated to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) and interned at *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)*. There, she wrote freelance theater reviews for the paper for nine years.[5] She later enrolled in the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California) (USC) and graduated with a Master's in Professional Writing in 2008.[6]

## Career

### Film critic

After she graduated from USC, Nicholson served as the editor-in-chief of *Boxoffice Magazine*. In that capacity, she launched *Boxoffice Weekly*, an [iPad](/source/IPad)-exclusive e-magazine. Meanwhile, she also freelanced for the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, *[Movieline](/source/Movieline)*, *[LA CityBeat](/source/LA_CityBeat)*, and *[IndieWire](/source/IndieWire)*. Furthermore, she served as the film editor at *Inland Empire Weekly* from 2006 to 2010.[5]

In July 2013, Nicholson was hired as a full-time film critic for *LA Weekly*, a position she considered her dream job. Her reviews were featured in both the print and online editions, as well as eleven publications owned by [Voice Media Group](/source/Voice_Media_Group).[4][5][7] When reflecting on her role as a film critic, she stated, "I judge a film based on what it wanted to do."[4] In 2014, Nicholson wrote an essay "Why [Renée Zellweger](/source/Ren%C3%A9e_Zellweger)'s Face Matters," which was published in *LA Weekly*. Because of her essay, she won the Best Online Commentary Award at the 2015 [National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards](/source/Los_Angeles_Press_Club). She also won the Best Critic Award in Broadcast or Print for her submitted reviews of *[American Sniper](/source/American_Sniper_(film))* (2014) and *[Fifty Shades of Grey](/source/Fifty_Shades_of_Grey_(film))* and *[Focus](/source/Focus_(2015_film))* (both released in 2015).[8]

In January 2016, Nicholson left *LA Weekly* and became the chief film critic for [MTV News](/source/MTV_News).[9] Afterwards, she reviewed films and wrote articles that were published in *Variety*, *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*, and *The Washington Post*.[10] In November 2024, Nicholson was hired as the film critic for the *Los Angeles Times*.[1]

In February 2025, Nicholson was a member of the international jury of the [75th Berlin International Film Festival](/source/75th_Berlin_International_Film_Festival).[11]

### Author

Nicholson at the 2016 [San Diego Comic Con](/source/San_Diego_Comic_Con) (SDCC)

In 2014, Nicholson published her first book, *Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor*. When asked why she decided to write about [Tom Cruise](/source/Tom_Cruise), she replied: "He's hiding in plain sight. Everybody knows who he is but no one really takes him as a serious actor. I really like taking someone that everybody thinks they know and making the argument that he's even more than we think."[4] She was given two and a half months to write the book, in which she watched ten of Cruise's films and analyzed them to determine his growth as an actor.[4] Her second book *Extra Girls* is scheduled to be released by [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster).[12]

### Podcast host

In 2014, Nicholson began hosting the podcast series *[The Canon](/source/The_Canon_(podcast))* on [Earwolf](/source/Earwolf), alongside [Devin Faraci](/source/Devin_Faraci).[13] In October 2016, due to a sexual assault allegation made against Faraci, Nicholson and Earwolf mutually agreed to place the podcast on an indefinite hiatus.[14]

In April 2017, *The Canon* returned from its hiatus but without Faraci. That same month, she invited actor [Paul Scheer](/source/Paul_Scheer) to discuss the 1984 film *[Ghostbusters](/source/Ghostbusters)*. Scheer defended the film's artistic merits, in which Nicholson thoroughly enjoyed the conversation that she invited Scheer back to discuss *[The Room](/source/The_Room)* (2003) later that year. In 2018, she and Scheer launched their joint podcast *Unspooled*.[2] The podcast debuted at number 1 on [iTunes](/source/ITunes) Film & TV podcast rankings and number 4 on the iTunes overall top chart.[15][16]

## Publications

- [*Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5fEEoQEACAAJ). [Phaidon Press](/source/Phaidon_Press). 2014. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-714-86801-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-714-86801-1).

- ["Why Renée Zellweger's Face Matters"](https://www.laweekly.com/why-rene-zellwegers-face-matters/). *LA Weekly*. October 21, 2014.

- Nicholson, Amy (2018). "Amy Nicholson on *[The Decline of Western Civilization](/source/The_Decline_of_Western_Civilization)* I & II (1981 & 1988)". In [Malone, Alicia](/source/Alicia_Malone) (ed.). *The Female Gaze: Essential Movies Made By Women*. [Coral Gables, Florida](/source/Coral_Gables%2C_Florida): [Mango Publishing](/source/Mango_Publishing). pp. 88–89. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-63353-837-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-63353-837-5).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AmyNicholsonLATimes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AmyNicholsonLATimes_1-1) ["L.A. Times names Amy Nicholson as film critic"](https://www.latimes.com/about/pressreleases/story/2024-11-21/l-a-times-names-amy-nicholson-as-film-critic). *Los Angeles Times* (Press release). November 21, 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241121180607/https://www.latimes.com/about/pressreleases/story/2024-11-21/l-a-times-names-amy-nicholson-as-film-critic) from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Unspooled_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Unspooled_2-1) Martin, Deborah (May 13, 2020). ["Film critic Amy Nicholson talks about the classics on her podcast 'Unspooled' with Paul Scheer"](https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/movies-tv/article/Film-critic-Amy-Nicholson-talks-about-the-15267655.php). *[San Antonio Express-News](/source/San_Antonio_Express-News)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200515074626/https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/movies-tv/article/Film-critic-Amy-Nicholson-talks-about-the-15267655.php) from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SoonerMagazine_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SoonerMagazine_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SoonerMagazine_3-2) Croatto, Pat (Spring 2025). ["Pass the Popcorn to Amy Nicholson"](https://soonermag.oufoundation.org/stories/pass-the-popcorn-to-amy-nicholson). *[Sooner Magazine](/source/Sooner_Magazine)*. Vol. 45, no. 3. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250808205101/https://soonermag.oufoundation.org/stories/pass-the-popcorn-to-amy-nicholson) from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-OUDaily_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-OUDaily_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-OUDaily_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-OUDaily_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-OUDaily_4-4) Deaton, Megan (January 16, 2014). ["Exploring the mind of a film critic"](https://www.oudaily.com/weekender/escape/exploring-the-mind-of-a-film-critic/article_e78ff624-7ef0-11e3-b8bf-001a4bcf6878.html). *[OU Daily](/source/OU_Daily)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241108052620/https://www.oudaily.com/weekender/escape/exploring-the-mind-of-a-film-critic/article_e78ff624-7ef0-11e3-b8bf-001a4bcf6878.html) from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-VoiceMediaGroupPressRelease_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-VoiceMediaGroupPressRelease_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-VoiceMediaGroupPressRelease_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-VoiceMediaGroupPressRelease_5-3) ["Voice Media Group Hires Amy Nicholson As Los Angeles-Based Film Critic"](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voice-media-group-hires-amy-nicholson-as-los-angeles-based-film-critic-213850651.html) (Press release). Voice Media Group. July 1, 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131023123709/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voice-media-group-hires-amy-nicholson-as-los-angeles-based-film-critic-213850651.html) from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Amy Nicholson"](http://www.lafca.net/critics/Amy_Nicholson.php). *[Los Angeles Film Critics Association](/source/Los_Angeles_Film_Critics_Association)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240613212831/http://lafca.net/critics/Amy_Nicholson.php) from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Greene, Steve (July 2, 2013). ["Amy Nicholson Hired as Full-Time Film Critic at LA Weekly"](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/amy-nicholson-hired-as-full-time-film-critic-at-la-weekly-127713/). *IndieWire*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241108053602/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/amy-nicholson-hired-as-full-time-film-critic-at-la-weekly-127713/) from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Stewart, Jill (December 7, 2015). ["LA Weekly Film Critic Amy Nicholson Wins Best Critic at the National Arts and Entertainment Awards"](https://www.laweekly.com/la-weekly-film-critic-amy-nicholson-wins-best-critic-at-the-national-arts-and-entertainment-awards/). *LA Weekly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210413124810/https://www.laweekly.com/la-weekly-film-critic-amy-nicholson-wins-best-critic-at-the-national-arts-and-entertainment-awards/) from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Bryant, Jacob (January 12, 2016). ["MTV News Adds Amy Nicholson, Molly Lambert and Mark Lisanti"](https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/mtv-news-amy-nicholson-molly-lambert-mark-lisanti-1201678033/). *Variety*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160114234157/https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/mtv-news-amy-nicholson-molly-lambert-mark-lisanti-1201678033/) from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENicholson201889_10-0)** [Nicholson 2018](#CITEREFNicholson2018), p. 89.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Berlinale 2025: International Jury"](https://www.berlinale.de/en/2025/news-press-releases/262698.html). *[Berlinale](/source/Berlin_International_Film_Festival)*. January 30, 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250130223102/https://www.berlinale.de/en/2025/news-press-releases/262698.html) from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Caroline Frost, in conversation with Amy Nicholson, discusses The Last Verse"](https://vromansbookstore.com/Caroline-Frost-discusses-The-Last-Verse). *[Vroman's Bookstore](/source/Vroman's_Bookstore)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241108073409/https://vromansbookstore.com/Caroline-Frost-discusses-The-Last-Verse) from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Indie Focus: Movies that excite, 'Aloha' buzz and 'The Canon'"](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-indie-focus-heaven-knows-what-aloha-newsletter-20150531-htmlstory.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. May 31, 2015. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved May 5, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** @TheAmyNicholson (October 11, 2016). ["In light of recent events, Earwolf and I have decided to place The Canon on hiatus"](https://twitter.com/TheAmyNicholson/status/786037530550423552) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))). Retrieved November 8, 2024 – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Unspooled Podcast – Listen, Reviews, Charts"](https://chartable.com/podcasts/unspooled). *Chartable*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211017122200/https://chartable.com/podcasts/unspooled) from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** @TheAmyNicholson (May 18, 2018). ["High five to all the film friends embarking on our AFI Top 100 adventure with me and @paulscheer! Unspooled was number #4 of **all** podcasts yesterday. I'm as happy as Charles Foster Kane dancing a gig"](https://twitter.com/TheAmyNicholson/status/997547528017989632) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144221/https://twitter.com/TheAmyNicholson/status/997547528017989632) from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2024 – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

## External links

- [Amy Nicholson](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7638929/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Amy Nicholson](https://x.com/https://x.com/theamynicholson) on [X](/source/X_(social_network))

- [Amy Nicholson's articles for the *Los Angeles Times*](https://www.latimes.com/people/amy-nicholson)

Authority control databases International GND National France BnF data Netherlands Catalonia Artists MusicBrainz Other IdRef

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Amy Nicholson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Nicholson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Nicholson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.