Rotten Tomatoes: Movie & TV Show Reviews, Trailers
Rotten Tomatoes has become synonymous with movie and TV show reviews. Since its inception, the platform has significantly influenced how audiences choose what to watch. But what makes Rotten Tomatoes so influential, and how does it work? — Rose Schlossberg: The Enigmatic Kennedy Granddaughter
What is Rotten Tomatoes?
Rotten Tomatoes is a website that aggregates reviews from film and television critics. The site provides a "Tomatometer" score, which represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show. A score of 60% or higher indicates a "fresh" rating, while a score of 59% or lower indicates a "rotten" rating.
How the Tomatometer Works
The Tomatometer isn't an average of the ratings given by critics; instead, it reflects the proportion of critics who have given the film a positive review. For example, if 75% of critics recommend a movie, it gets a 75% "fresh" rating, regardless of how enthusiastic each individual critic was.
Audience Score
In addition to the Tomatometer, Rotten Tomatoes also provides an audience score, which represents the percentage of users who have rated the film or show positively. This can often differ significantly from the Tomatometer, reflecting different tastes between critics and general audiences.
The Influence of Rotten Tomatoes
The Tomatometer score can significantly impact a film's success. A high score often leads to increased ticket sales and positive word-of-mouth, while a low score can deter potential viewers. This influence has led to discussions about whether the site wields too much power over the film industry.
Impact on Box Office
Studios are keenly aware of Rotten Tomatoes scores, often using them in marketing campaigns. A "fresh" rating is a valuable asset, while a "rotten" rating can be a marketing challenge.
Critic vs. Audience
Sometimes, there’s a vast difference between critical and audience reception. Films that critics pan can still find a dedicated audience, and vice versa. This divergence highlights the subjective nature of taste and the varied expectations of different viewers.
Controversy and Criticism
Rotten Tomatoes isn't without its critics. Some argue that the binary nature of the Tomatometer (fresh or rotten) oversimplifies critical opinion and reduces nuanced reviews to a single number. Others suggest that the site's influence can lead to a herd mentality among critics. — Rebecca Sugar: The Creative Mind Behind Steven Universe
The Oversimplification of Reviews
Critics often write detailed reviews that explore various aspects of a film. Reducing these complex analyses to a simple positive or negative can be misleading.
The Impact on Creative Risk-Taking
Some filmmakers worry that the focus on Rotten Tomatoes scores discourages studios from taking creative risks, as films that deviate from established formulas may be more likely to receive negative reviews. — Why Do People Lie? Exploring The Reasons Behind Untruths
Navigating Rotten Tomatoes Effectively
Despite its controversies, Rotten Tomatoes remains a valuable resource for moviegoers. Here are some tips for using the site effectively:
- Read full reviews: Don't rely solely on the Tomatometer score. Read several reviews to get a sense of the film's strengths and weaknesses.
- Consider the source: Pay attention to which critics are contributing to the score. Some critics may have tastes that align more closely with your own.
- Look at the audience score: See how general audiences reacted to the film. This can provide a different perspective than the critics' reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes offers a wealth of information for film and TV enthusiasts. By understanding how the site works and considering its limitations, viewers can use it as a tool to make informed decisions about what to watch. Whether you agree with the critics or not, Rotten Tomatoes provides a valuable starting point for exploring the world of cinema and television.
Check out Rotten Tomatoes and decide for yourself!
