CineSnob.net was founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 2007 by film journalist Kiko Martinez.
As a journalism major in college, Kiko had been writing film reviews for his personal blog, OurTinyWorld.com, and the student-run newspaper since 2001. The following year, he landed a newspaper gig that actually paid him to write reviews, which quickly expanded into a freelancing career once he graduated.
Initially, CineSnob.net began as an online portfolio where Kiko would repost the film reviews and celebrity interviews that he published with other outlets. Over the next few years, he continued freelancing for publications across the U.S. and reposted that work to CineSnob.net.
When he reached his 30s, Kiko realized he couldn’t operate the website single-handedly anymore, so he recruited fellow film enthusiast and San Antonio native Cody Villafana to join the team. It was an easy decision since they had the same brain when it came to their taste in film. Plus, it didn’t hurt that Cody could turn a phrase.
Soon, other writers were sporadically brought on board, including movie lover, digital media guru and former San Antonio native Jerrod Kingery. In 2014, Kiko, Cody and Jerrod launched The CineSnob Podcast to reach moviegoers who were more inclined to listen to a conversation about a film rather than read a conventional review.
Kiko participated in the podcast for about a year before turning the reigns over to Cody and Jerrod, who manned the ship as a duo for the next decade. During that time, Kiko, Cody and Jerrod also wrote reviews, covered film festivals, interviewed celebrities and established a series of film screenings across San Antonio.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and studios weren’t releasing new films, CineSnob.net went dormant apart from the podcast, which Cody and Jerrod continued to operate by reviewing whatever new streaming content they could get their hands on. That year, they recruited former news reporter and communications connoisseur Jocelyn Durand to turn their twosome into a trio.
At the end of 2024, Jerrod decided to take a hiatus from the podcast, although he still graces the gang with his presence any time a Marvel Universe or Transformers movie is on the docket. Soon after Jerrod’s departure, Kiko returned to the podcast alongside Cody and Jocelyn.
On April 21, 2025, CineSnob.net was relaunched with a central focus on The CineSnob Podcast. The website also launched two new podcasts – CineSnob Sessions and Somos Hollywood – featuring video interviews Kiko conducts as a working film journalist.
Looking ahead, CineSnob.net is excited to bring longtime fans and new listeners the best in fascinating conversations with Hollywood talent and engaging film reviews based on our in-depth cinematic knowledge, analytical insight and unique points of view.
We pride ourselves in reviewing films with a fair and firm approach. You may not always agree with our opinions, but don’t beat yourself up over it. Nobody’s perfect.
