Pauline Kael books in order
American film critic
- Lived
- 1919–2001
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 16
Pauline Kael published 1 novel, 5 non-fiction books, 2 plays and 8 other books, beginning with I Lost It at the Movies (1965).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Pauline Kael
Start here
I Lost It at the Movies
Pauline Kael's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Reeling (1976)
Non-fiction in order
I Lost It at the Movies (1965)
5001 Nights at the Movies (1982)
Taking It All in (1984)
Hooked (1989)
Afterglow (2002)
Plays in order
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (1968)
Deeper into Movies (1973)
Other books in order
Going Steady (1970)
When the Lights Go Down (1980)
State of the Art (1985)
The Citizen Kane Book (1985)
Movie Love (1991)
For Keeps (1994)
Raising Kane and Other Essays (1996)
The Age of Movies (2011)
About Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael was an American film critic who wrote for The New Yorker from 1968 to 1991. Known for her "witty, biting, highly opinionated and sharply focused" reviews, Kael often defied the consensus of her contemporaries.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Pauline Kael FAQ
- How many books has Pauline Kael written?
- Pauline Kael published 1 novel, 5 non-fiction books, 2 plays and 8 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Pauline Kael's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with I Lost It at the Movies.
- What is Pauline Kael's last book?
- Afterglow (2002).
- What is Pauline Kael's most famous book?
- I Lost It at the Movies (1965) is Pauline Kael's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.