In this review, we present the recent progress on film metrology focused on the advanced and novel technologies during the last two decades. This review consists of various technologies and their measurement schemes to provide the inspiration for understanding each of the measurement principles and applications. In the technology and analysis section, several optical techniques used in film metrology are introduced and described with their benefits and limitations. The temporal, spatial and snapshot measurement schemes of optical film metrology are introduced in the measurement scheme section, and finally, the prospect on optical film metrology will be provided and discussed with the technology trend.