Why You Shouldn't Take Rotten Tomatoes Ratings Seriously

While Rotten Tomatoes can be a useful tool for gauging general audience and critic sentiment about films and TV shows, there are several critical reasons to approach its ratings with caution. This article delves into these reasons, helping you to make more informed decisions about the films and TV shows you choose to watch.

Binary Rating System: A Simplistic View

Rotten Tomatoes employs a binary rating system, where a film is either 'fresh' (70% or higher) or 'rotten' (less than 70%). This black-and-white approach can oversimplify complex assessments of film quality, potentially masking the nuanced nature of film reception.

Reviewer Selection: Bias in the Ratings

The site aggregates reviews from various critics, but the selection of critics can be bias. Some movies may receive more reviews from critics with specific tastes, skewing the overall rating. This can lead to an inaccurate representation of the film's quality, depending on the philosopher, as noted in the example provided.

Audience vs. Critic Scores: Discrepancies Undermine Accuracy

A significant disparity often exists between critic scores and audience scores. A film may be critically acclaimed but poorly received by audiences, or vice versa. This discrepancy can lead to confusion about the film's actual quality and make it difficult to gauge the general reception accurately.

Subjectivity of Film Appreciation

Film appreciation is highly subjective. Different viewers have different tastes and preferences, leading to vastly different opinions on the same film. Critics and audiences may have very different perspectives, especially in niche or controversial genres.

Impact of Marketing and Hype: Biased Receptions

Films with strong marketing campaigns may receive inflated scores based on audience expectations rather than the actual quality of the film. Conversely, flims that receive critical acclaim may still be poorly liked by the general public. This marketing influence can skew both critic and audience opinions.

Review Bombing: Manipulated Scores

Some films can be unfairly rated due to coordinated efforts by groups of users, often for political or social reasons. These tactics can lead to artificially low audience scores and manipulated perceptions of the film.

Outdated Reviews: A Thing of the Past?

Reviews can sometimes be outdated or not reflective of the current cultural context, affecting how a film is perceived over time. This can be particularly true for older films that may have gained a new audience in the present day.

Breaking Down the Rotten Tomatoes Score

Rotten Tomatoes combines two key metrics: the critic score and the user score. The critic score represents the percentage of professional critics who have given a positive rating. A film with 65% positive ratings from critics will receive a 65% critic score. However, as mentioned, a film with 59% critics giving a 10/10 rating and 41% giving a 5/10 can still score 59% but be considered 'rotten'.

The user score is based on the percentage of non-professional user reviews that are positive. Like the critic score, it is a percentage. For instance, if 60% of users who watched the film gave it a positive review, the user score will also be 60%.

It's crucial to understand that the Rotten Tomatoes score is not the end-all-be-all. The score is merely a starting point. To get a more accurate assessment of a film, you should read individual reviews and consider a variety of sources. A film might have a high critic score but low user engagement, or vice versa.

Conclusion

While Rotten Tomatoes can offer a quick snapshot of general reception, it is essential to approach its ratings with a critical eye. Reading the reviews, understanding the context, and considering multiple sources will provide a more comprehensive understanding of a film's quality. As noted by many, the only true measure of a film is whether you enjoyed it. So, use Rotten Tomatoes as a tool, not as the definitive guide to your viewing experience.