Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips has signed off after more than two decades at the paper, following the Tribune’s decision to eliminate its film critic position.
Phillips, who joined the Tribune in 2001 as a theater critic before moving into film, announced that he accepted a buyout rather than reassignment. It marks the first time since the 1950s that the Tribune will be without a chief film critic.
Phillips’ farewell column and social media posts confirmed the change. “Goodbye for now,” he wrote, explaining that the film critic job had been cut as part of a newsroom restructuring. His departure also follows the exit of longtime Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper earlier this year, leaving both of Chicago’s dailies without a full-time film reviewer, an extraordinary shift for a city long associated with influential voices in criticism, from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert to Phillips himself.
During his tenure, Phillips became a prominent presence both locally and nationally. He briefly co-hosted At the Movies after Ebert’s illness, contributed to Turner Classic Movies programming, and remained a steady voice in coverage of major film festivals, including Cannes. His reviews often reflected a balance of sharp insight and approachable style, making him a trusted guide for moviegoers in Chicago and beyond.
Though his Tribune role has ended, Phillips is not stepping away from the art form he has championed. He continues as a regular guest on WBEZ’s Filmspotting podcast and contributes weekly segments to WFMT’s Soundtrack. He also serves as an adviser to the Roger Ebert Fellowship at the University of Illinois, mentoring the next generation of critics.
For a city with such a rich cinematic history, Phillips’ departure from the Tribune underscores the changing landscape of arts journalism. Yet his ongoing work ensures that Chicago audiences will still hear his voice, even if not in the pages of the daily paper he called home for more than 20 years.
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