David Stratton; the celebrated film critic, writer, educator, and decades-long television presence alongside Margaret Pomeranz, has died aged 85. According to ABC, his family confirmed his death on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his Blue Mountains home. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," they said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend. David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, coll

David Stratton; the celebrated film critic, writer, educator, and decades-long television presence alongside Margaret Pomeranz, has died aged 85. According to

ABC,

his family confirmed his death on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his Blue Mountains home. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," they said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend. David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime." Stratton’s family also issued a special request to the public: "[We] invite everyone to celebrate David's remarkable life and legacy by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie of all time —

Singin' in the Rain."

Details of a public memorial will be announced soon.

Tributes Flow from Across the Country

Reactions flooded social media following the announcement, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "With dry humour and sharp insight, David Stratton shared his love of film with our country," Albanese wrote on X. "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on. May he rest in peace." Actress Rachel Griffiths described him to the

ABC

as "a giant in his field, the biggest champion of Australian stories." She praised his humility and curiosity: "He was gentle in manner… never putting himself as the overlord of the creative, but as a servant to creativity itself. He had an ear for truth and a love for the human, and knew almost instantly when a new talent had announced itself." Independent cinema chain Dendy Cinemas called him a "legendary" critic and historian with an "unrivalled" dedication to Australian film. The

ABC’s

Phillip Adams farewelled his "old friend and colleague" with: "Vale David Stratton… now reviewing movies for the Almighty."

Early Life and Love for Cinema

Born in England in 1939, Stratton was sent to live with his grandmother during his father’s service in WWII. She introduced him to the movies when he was just a toddler. "When my father came home from the war and we moved away from my grandmother's house, I was deprived of movie-going very abruptly," he told the

Sydney Morning Herald

in 2019. He recalled seeing films regularly from the ages of two or three until six, when suddenly there were "no movies in my life. That was quite a shock." By his late teens, Stratton had developed a passion for foreign films and founded a local film society. In 1963, he emigrated to Australia under the “ten-pound Pom” scheme, part of Labor’s populate or perish policy.

Career in Festivals and Television

Only three years after arriving, Stratton became director of the

Sydney Film Festival;

a role he held from 1966 to 1983. His appointment was linked to his outspoken fight against film censorship. In 2014, it emerged that ASIO had monitored him during this period due to the festival’s inclusion of films from the USSR and other politically sensitive nations. In 1984, Stratton joined SBS’s The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, adopting a style reminiscent of American critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. The duo’s on-screen chemistry and frequent disagreements became a beloved part of Australian film culture, with audiences often declaring themselves either a “David person” or a “Margaret person.”

Stratton and his on-screen partner, Margaret Pomeranz, hosted film review shows together for 28 years. (Randwick City Council via ABC)

One of his most famous critiques came in 1992, when he refused to rate Geoffrey Wright’s Romper Stomper, even as Pomeranz awarded it four-and-a-half stars. Wright later confronted Stratton at the Venice Film Festival and threw a glass of wine at him. "A critic has to call it as they see it," Stratton told The Australian in 2023. "We may not be right, always, but… Obviously it’s hurtful to a filmmaker… but I thought that particular incident was a little stupid." The pair moved to the

ABC

in 2004 to host At the Movies with Margaret and David, remaining there until 2014. Alongside television, Stratton spent 35 years lecturing on world cinema at the University of Sydney and 33 years reviewing for The Weekend Australian.

Later Years and Recognition

Stratton retired in 2023 due to declining health. "You obviously can't keep going forever. I feel relaxed about it… I’ve done the best I could over a number of years and I feel a sense of satisfaction from that," he told

The Guardian.

In June 2024, Stratton and Pomeranz were honoured with a star on the

Australian Film Walk of Fame

outside Randwick’s Ritz Cinema , the first non-actors to receive the accolade. "It is gratifying to be connected to the Ritz Cinema, which is one of the finest movie places in Australia," he said at the time.

A little more informed. A little more connected.