Collin studied aesthetics and the philosophy of film at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
From 2007 to 2011 he wrote a weekly film column for the News of the World until the newspaper's closure.
In August 2013 he guest presented BBC Radio 4's Film programme.
He guest-presents Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, also with Edith Bowman, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Ben Bailey Smith.
In 2018 Collin compiled a list of the 100 greatest films of all time for the Telegraph, with Singin' in the Rain at number one.