Maltin was born in New York City, the son of singer Jacqueline (née Gould; 1923–2012) and Aaron Isaac Maltin (1915–2002), a lawyer and immigration judge, as part of a Jewish family, and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Maltin began his writing career at age 10, with a weekly magazine called The Bergen Bulletin. At 13, he started writing for the Pennsylvania-based 8mm Collector, with a column called Research Unlimited, where he answered film questions. He began writing a monthly column for a Canadian publication, Film Fan Monthly, edited by Daryl Davy, dedicated to films from the golden age of Hollywood. In May 1966, Davy asked 15-year-old Maltin if he would take over as editor and sold the publication to him for $175. At the time it had a circulation of 400 in 11 countries. He expanded the circulation to 2,000 and continued to publish it until 1974. In the December 1968 issue of Esquire magazine, he wrote an article listing his 75 best movies shown on television and the 25 worst. He also wrote for Classic Images.
He created a film society at Teaneck High School and graduated in 1968. Maltin later earned a journalism degree at New York University.
