Ann Hornaday, prominent Washington Post film critic, dies at 66

Ann Hornaday, the prominent film critic for The Washington Post, died on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at her home in Baltimore, Maryland. She was 66. Her husband, Dennis Greenia, confirmed that the cause of death was glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Hornaday’s career in journalism included roles at the Austin American-Statesman and The Baltimore Sun before she joined The Washington Post in 2002. A 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalist for criticism, she was widely respected for her intelligent and accessible approach to cinema. Her early career included freelance work for Premiere magazine and a position as an assistant to Gloria Steinem at Ms. magazine.

In 2017, she published ‘Talking Pictures: How to Watch Movies’, a guide to film literacy. She had also been working on a book regarding the production of the film ‘All the President’s Men’, which is expected to be published posthumously in 2028. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, and a brother.