Introduction
In the age of the internet and social media, film criticism has become more accessible than ever. Websites like Rotten Tomatoes allow audiences to gauge the critical reception of a film before they even buy a ticket. While Rotten Tomatoes has become a popular tool for movie-goers, it can also be confusing and controversial. In this article, we will explore what Rotten Tomatoes is, its algorithm, and its impact on the film industry as a whole.
The Complete Guide to Understanding Rotten Tomatoes and Its Role in Film Criticism
Rotten Tomatoes is a website that aggregates film and television reviews from professional critics and audiences. The website assigns a score based on two metrics: the Tomatometer and the Audience Score. The Tomatometer is the percentage of positive reviews a film receives from critics, while the Audience Score is the percentage of positive reviews from regular movie-goers. These scores are displayed as a percentage next to a colored tomato icon, with a red tomato indicating a positive review and a green tomato indicating negative.
History of Rotten Tomatoes
The website was launched in August 1998 and initially started as a personal project for Senh Duong, who wanted to compile reviews for Jackie Chan films. Over the years, the site grew in popularity and was eventually acquired by Flixster in 2010. In 2016, Fandango acquired Rotten Tomatoes and has since worked to integrate the site with its ticketing services.
The Two Scores on Rotten Tomatoes
The Tomatometer score and the Audience Score can offer very different perspectives on a film’s quality. While the Tomatometer score is based solely on the opinions of professional critics, the Audience Score is influenced by the opinions of regular folks. As such, it’s not uncommon to see a significant gap between these two scores.
Rotten Tomatoes Explained: How the Site’s Algorithm Determines a Movie’s Score
The process of determining a film’s Tomatometer score is relatively straightforward. Rotten Tomatoes’ staff takes an aggregate of reviews from trusted critics, such as those from major publications like The New York Times or NPR. They then assign each review a positive or negative rating based on the critic’s overall opinion. Reviews that receive an overall positive rating are considered “fresh” and contribute to a film’s Tomatometer score, while negative reviews are “rotten.” For a film to receive a “fresh” score, it must have at least 60% positive reviews from critics.
The Controversy Around Rotten Tomatoes
While Rotten Tomatoes’ algorithm might seem objective, it has sparked some controversy in recent years. Some critics have accused Rotten Tomatoes of oversimplifying the complexities of film criticism. They argue that a Tomatometer score doesn’t capture the nuances of a film’s themes, performances, or technical merits. Additionally, some filmmakers have accused Rotten Tomatoes of fueling a “culture of negativity” surrounding movies.
From Citizen Kane to Black Panther: Examining Controversial Film Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Despite the controversy surrounding Rotten Tomatoes, the website has been an integral part of film criticism in the digital age. Rotten Tomatoes has played host to some of the most iconic and polarizing reviews of all time.
Reading Actual Reviews vs. Relying Solely on Scores
While Rotten Tomatoes can be a useful resource for determining a film’s critical reception, it’s important to remember that it’s just one tool in a larger arsenal. Rotten Tomatoes scores should be taken with a grain of salt, and it’s recommended that audiences read actual reviews to get a deeper understanding of a film.
Online Review Bombing and Its Impact on Rotten Tomatoes’ Scores
Besides reviews being manipulated by Rotten Tomatoes’ formula, there have also been instances of online review bombing, where a group of individuals will coordinate to negatively review a film in an effort to bring down its score. This kind of behavior can significantly affect a film’s critical reception despite having nothing to do with the quality of the film itself.
A Visual History of Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomato Meter: The Evolution of Film Criticism
Rotten Tomatoes has been around for over two decades, and over that time, film criticism has changed significantly. Rotten Tomatoes has played a significant role in shaping the way we critique and think about movies.
How Rotten Tomatoes Influences Film Criticism and Movie-goer Behaviour
Rotten Tomatoes has a lot of sway within the film industry. Many studios rely on Rotten Tomatoes scores to gauge public interest in their films. Additionally, Rotten Tomatoes can significantly impact a film’s box office success. In recent years, it’s not uncommon to see advertisements that proudly declare a film’s Tomatometer score.
Why Rotten Tomatoes Can Make or Break a Film’s Success: An Analysis of Box Office Impacts
As mentioned earlier, Rotten Tomatoes can significantly impact a film’s box office success. A study by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism found that a positive Rotten Tomatoes score could increase a film’s box office earnings by up to 30%. However, not all films rely solely on Rotten Tomatoes scores to be successful.
Examples of Films That Have Done Well Despite Low Rotten Tomatoes Scores
In recent years, there have been several films that buck the trend of relying on high Rotten Tomatoes scores to be successful. For example, Suicide Squad received a 26% Tomatometer score yet went on to earn over $745 million at the box office. Similarly, The Greatest Showman received a 56% Tomatometer score yet went on to earn over $435 million at the box office.
The Potential Downsides of Relying Too Heavily on Rotten Tomatoes Scores
While Rotten Tomatoes can be a useful tool for movie-goers and studios, it’s essential to remember that it’s just one factor in a film’s overall performance. Relying too heavily on Rotten Tomatoes scores can lead to missed opportunities for great films and can force filmmakers to create films that cater to the masses rather than taking risks.
The Pros and Cons of Rotten Tomatoes: Is It a Helpful Tool or Does It Oversimplify Film Criticism?
Rotten Tomatoes is a polarizing site that has sparked intense debate amongst film critics and audiences alike. As this article has demonstrated, there are both pros and cons to relying on Rotten Tomatoes scores for film criticism.
Summarizing the Main Points of This Article
This article has explored the complete guide to understanding Rotten Tomatoes and its role in film criticism. We have discussed the history of the website, the algorithm used to determine scores, and the potential downsides of relying too heavily on these scores. It is important to remember that Rotten Tomatoes should be only one resource used when it comes to film criticism and viewing decisions.
Personal Thoughts on Rotten Tomatoes and Its Role in the Film Industry
As a film lover and critic, I find Rotten Tomatoes to be a useful tool for gauging a film’s general critical reception. However, I also recognize that it can oversimplify the complexities of cinema and contribute to a culture of negativity surrounding movies. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide how much weight they place on Rotten Tomatoes scores when making their viewing decisions.
Conclusion
Rotten Tomatoes has become an integral part of the film industry, offering audiences and studios a quick and easy way to gauge a film’s critical reception. However, it is essential to remember that no tool, no matter how convenient, should be the only deciding factor when it comes to film criticism. We encourage readers to think critically about the reviews they read and continue to explore other resources available for film analysis and criticism.