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Common questions
When did Empire magazine first hit newsstands?
The first issue of Empire hit newsstands in May 1989. This launch established a philosophy that movies should always be fun, even if they could sometimes be art.
Who edited Empire magazine for the first 44 issues?
Barry McIlheney served as the founding editor for the first 44 issues of Empire magazine. He held the position until March 1993 when he handed the reins to assistant editor Phil Thomas.
Which film was the first Empire Masterpiece feature?
Raging Bull was the first film to feature as an Empire Masterpiece in issue 167 in May 2003. This regular feature consisted of a two-page essay on a film selected by Empire in the Re.View section.
What was the number one film in the September 2008 Empire readers poll?
The Godfather in 1972 topped the list selected in September 2008 by over 10,000 Empire readers, 150 filmmakers, and 50 film critics. Steven Spielberg was the most represented director on the list with eleven films in the top 500.
When did Empire magazine stop holding the Empire Awards?
The last Empire Awards were held in 2018 and the awards were discontinued for undisclosed reasons after that date. The event ran from 1996 until 2018 and was originally sponsored by Sony Ericsson and from 2009 sponsored by Jameson.
When did Empire launch its first podcast The Empire Podcast?
Empire launched their first podcast The Empire Podcast in March 2012. The podcast was released weekly and hosted by Chris Hewitt alongside Helen O'Hara and James Dyer.
Empire (magazine)
The first issue of Empire hit newsstands in May 1989 with a bold declaration that movies should always be fun, even if they could sometimes be art. This philosophy was the brainchild of David Hepworth, who had previously published the music magazines Q and Smash Hits, and he recruited Barry McIlheney to edit the new publication. The magazine achieved its initial sales target of 50,000 copies within its first month, proving there was a hungry audience for a film magazine that did not take itself too seriously. The cover of that inaugural June and July 1989 edition featured Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder for the film Great Balls of Fire, setting a tone that prioritized entertainment over pretension. Unlike other publications of the time, Empire committed to reviewing and rating every single film released in UK cinemas, establishing a comprehensive archive of cinema history from the very beginning. The magazine introduced a star rating system between one and five stars with no half-points, a decision that forced reviewers to make definitive choices and gave readers clear, unambiguous guidance on what to watch.
The Editor's Chair
Barry McIlheney served as the founding editor for the first 44 issues, establishing the magazine's voice before handing the reins to assistant editor Phil Thomas in March 1993. Thomas held the position until 1995 when Andrew Collins took over for just three issues before moving to Q, leaving Mark Salisbury to step up as editor. The magazine has seen eleven editors in total, each bringing a different perspective to the role, from Ian Nathan and Emma Cochrane to Colin Kennedy and Mark Dinning. Mark Dinning had a unique career path within the publication, leaving to become Editor of Total Film before returning to take up the same role for Empire until July 2014. The editorial history is marked by a steady rotation of talent, with Terri White and Nick De Semlyen following in the footsteps of their predecessors. Steven Spielberg guest-edited the magazine's 20th Anniversary Issue in June 2009, while Sam Mendes guest-edited a Spectre special in September 2015, showing that the magazine's influence extended beyond its own staff to the highest levels of Hollywood.
The Classic Scene
Every issue of Empire, with the exception of issues 108 through 113, featured a Classic Scene which was a transcript from a notable film scene. The first such classic scene to be featured was the I coulda been a contender scene from On the Waterfront, inviting readers to engage with cinema history in a tactile way. This feature allowed the magazine to celebrate the written word of film, preserving dialogue that might otherwise be lost to time. The magazine also included a Re.View section that covered Blu-ray and DVD news and releases, where critic Kim Newman wrote a regular feature called Movie Dungeon. Newman has written for Empire since the first issue, focusing his reviews on the most obscure releases, mostly low-budget horror movies. This dedication to the fringe of cinema ensured that Empire was not just a magazine about blockbusters, but a publication that respected the entire spectrum of film culture.
The feature How Much Is A Pint of Milk? presented celebrities' answers to silly or unusual questions, including the question How much is a pint of milk. This segment was intended as a guide to the chosen celebrity's contact with reality, and as such could be more informative than a direct interview by reporting some surprising responses. Willem Dafoe was the first interviewee in issue 59 in May 1994, setting a precedent for the magazine to humanize stars through trivial inquiries. The magazine also included a Spine Quote, in which a relatively challenging quote was printed on the spine of the magazine. There were usually some obvious and obscure links from the quote to the main features of that month's edition, and readers were invited to identify the film source and the links to win a prize. These features created a sense of community and interaction, turning passive readers into active participants in the magazine's world.
The Masterpiece Essay
The Empire Masterpiece was a regular feature since Raging Bull featured in issue 167 in May 2003, consisting of a two-page essay on a film selected by Empire in the Re.View section. Only a few issues since the first masterpiece feature have not featured one, with gaps appearing in issues 179, 196 through 198 and 246. Issue 241 in June 2009 had director Frank Darabont select 223 masterpieces, demonstrating the magazine's willingness to let filmmakers curate the canon. L.A. Confidential and Magnolia have been featured twice, highlighting the magazine's appreciation for complex, layered storytelling. The feature allowed for deep dives into films that might not have received the same level of attention in standard reviews, giving readers a chance to understand the artistic merit of cinema beyond the box office numbers. This commitment to the essay format elevated Empire from a simple review magazine to a publication that engaged with film as an art form.
The Polling Power
Empire occasionally polls readers to find out what their favourite films are, creating a democratic list of cinema history that reflects the tastes of the audience rather than just critics. A poll of Empire readers was published in September 2001 and listed Star Wars in 1977 as the greatest movie of all time. In March 2006, a readers' poll of The 201 Greatest Movies of All Time had The Shawshank Redemption in 1994 as the number one choice. The list was selected in September 2008 by over 10,000 Empire readers, 150 filmmakers, and 50 film critics, and was topped by The Godfather in 1972. The list's most represented director was Steven Spielberg, who had eleven films in the top 500. In July 2014, during their 25th anniversary year, a readers' poll of The 301 Greatest Movies of All Time was topped by The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, showing the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise among the magazine's readership.
The Awards Ceremony
From 1996 until 2018, Empire organised the annual Empire Awards, voted for by readers of the magazine, which were originally sponsored by Sony Ericsson and from 2009 sponsored by Jameson. The last awards were held in 2018 and after that the awards were discontinued for undisclosed reasons, marking the end of an era for the magazine's live events. The awards were a celebration of cinema that allowed the readers to have a direct say in who won, making the event a reflection of popular opinion rather than critical consensus. The magazine also published special editions, including genre guides in 2001 to the best films by genre including science fiction, horror, crime, action, and comedy. In 2001, Empire published a special issue on Steven Spielberg as part of The Directors Collection, highlighting the magazine's ability to focus on specific filmmakers and their contributions to the industry.
The Podcast Revolution
Empire launched their first podcast, The Empire Podcast, in March 2012, released weekly and hosted by Chris Hewitt alongside Helen O'Hara and James Dyer. The podcast regularly featured other Empire journalists such as Amon Warmann, Ben Travis and Terri White, and included film news, listener questions, interviews, and reviews. Many of these episodes were included on a separate subscription-only feed that cost 2.99 pounds per month, showing the magazine's adaptation to the digital age. In September 2018, Empire launched a second podcast focused on television shows, called The Pilot TV Podcast, hosted by James Dyer, Terri White and Boyd Hilton. In July 2022, the podcast won in the Best Live Podcast category at the British Podcast Awards following a live episode held in Kings Place, London to celebrate the podcast's 500th episode. The live episode included returning favourites of lethal cunning, as well as guests such as Brett Goldstein, Tom Holland and Johnny Knoxville, proving that the magazine's reach extended far beyond the printed page.