The term SHOW FOR CRITICS can be summarized by two crossword solutions: PREVIEW (7 letters) and SCREEN (6 letters). A PREVIEW is a showing of a movie or other performance before its official release, usually for the purpose of allowing critics to review it. A screening is a showing of a movie or other performance for a select audience, such as critics, before its official release. Both previews and screenings are used to allow critics to review a performance before it is released to the public.