Rotten Tomatoes aggregates movie and TV show reviews from hundreds of critics to produce a “Tomatometer” score, reflecting the percentage of positive reviews. This score, coupled with an audience score, significantly influences viewer perception and can impact a film’s box office success, despite its often debated methodology.
The Core Mechanism: How the Tomatometer Works
At its heart, Rotten Tomatoes is a review aggregation website. It doesn’t generate its own reviews, but rather meticulously collects and categorizes them from a vast network of approved critics. Each review, irrespective of its specific nuance or rating system (stars, numbers, grades), is boiled down to a binary “fresh” or “rotten” designation. This is the foundation upon which the Tomatometer is built.
A movie earns a “fresh” rating if at least 60% of the approved critics give it a positive review. This translates into a Tomatometer score. For example, if 75% of critics review a film positively, it earns a 75% Tomatometer score. A score below 60% results in a “rotten” rating, visually represented by a splattered green tomato.
The “Certified Fresh” designation is an additional seal of approval. To achieve this, a film needs a Tomatometer score of 75% or higher, a minimum of five reviews from Top Critics (a curated subset of reviewers known for their prestige), and a specified number of total reviews (generally 80 for wide releases, 40 for limited releases). This ensures that the high score is based on a considerable and respected critical consensus.
Beyond the Tomatometer, Rotten Tomatoes also displays an audience score, representing the percentage of users who rated the movie 3.5 stars or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5). This provides a contrasting perspective, reflecting the general public’s enjoyment of the film, which can sometimes diverge significantly from the critical assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H3: What are ‘Top Critics’ and why are they important?
Top Critics are a subset of Rotten Tomatoes-approved critics deemed to be more reputable or influential. This designation is based on factors like the critic’s publication, their track record, and their overall standing within the film criticism community. Their reviews carry more weight in the Certified Fresh calculation, ensuring that the designation is based on opinions from recognized experts. The inclusion of Top Critic reviews helps to mitigate potential biases and ensure a higher standard for films receiving the “Certified Fresh” label.
H3: How does Rotten Tomatoes decide which critics are approved?
Rotten Tomatoes employs a rigorous vetting process to approve critics. They consider factors such as the critic’s publication (its size, reach, and reputation), the critic’s history of publishing reviews, the overall quality and consistency of their work, and their adherence to ethical journalistic standards. Freelance critics are often required to provide evidence of regular, published work. This process aims to maintain a certain level of credibility and professionalism amongst the participating reviewers.
H3: Does Rotten Tomatoes favor certain studios or genres?
Rotten Tomatoes vehemently denies any preferential treatment towards specific studios or genres. The algorithm is designed to be neutral and simply aggregates reviews based on their positive or negative assessment. However, concerns have been raised about the subjectivity of the “fresh”/ “rotten” binary and the potential influence of social media trends or pre-release hype. While the platform strives for objectivity, human interpretation always plays a role.
H3: Can studios manipulate Rotten Tomatoes scores?
Direct manipulation of scores is highly unlikely due to the vast number of reviews and the constant monitoring by Rotten Tomatoes staff. However, studios can influence the overall perception of a film through strategic marketing campaigns aimed at shaping public opinion and influencing critics’ initial impressions. Providing early access to films for select critics and hosting elaborate press junkets are common tactics.
H3: How does Rotten Tomatoes affect a movie’s box office performance?
The Tomatometer can significantly influence a movie’s box office performance. A high score can generate positive buzz and encourage moviegoers to see the film, while a low score can deter potential viewers. Many people use Rotten Tomatoes as a quick and easy way to gauge whether a film is worth their time and money. The audience score also plays a role, often reflecting the movie’s “word-of-mouth” appeal.
H3: What’s the difference between the Tomatometer and the Audience Score?
The Tomatometer represents the percentage of professional film critics who gave the movie a positive review, whereas the Audience Score reflects the percentage of users who rated the movie favorably. These two scores can often differ significantly, reflecting the divergence between critical opinion and public enjoyment. For example, a film might be critically panned but widely enjoyed by general audiences, resulting in a low Tomatometer score but a high Audience Score.
H3: What does it mean when a movie has no Tomatometer score?
A movie may have no Tomatometer score for several reasons. It could be a smaller, independent film that hasn’t received enough reviews from approved critics to generate a score. Alternatively, it might be a very new release that hasn’t yet been widely reviewed. In some cases, studios might strategically withhold a film from review if they anticipate a negative reception.
H3: Are foreign film reviews included in the Tomatometer?
Yes, Rotten Tomatoes includes reviews from approved critics writing in languages other than English, providing a more global perspective on a film. This helps to ensure that the Tomatometer reflects a broader range of opinions and cultural perspectives. However, the availability of foreign language reviews can vary depending on the film and its international distribution.
H3: How often is the Tomatometer score updated?
The Tomatometer score is typically updated throughout the day as new reviews are added. This allows the score to reflect the evolving critical consensus as more and more reviews are published. The frequency of updates can vary depending on the volume of reviews and the size of the film’s release.
H3: Can a Tomatometer score change after a movie’s release?
Yes, a Tomatometer score can fluctuate even after a movie’s release as new reviews are added or as existing reviews are re-evaluated. This means that a film’s score can potentially improve or decline over time, reflecting the long-term critical reception of the movie. It is also important to note that Rotten Tomatoes occasionally reviews past articles and recategorizes them which will directly affect the Tomatometer score.
H3: Are there any criticisms of the Rotten Tomatoes system?
Yes, the Rotten Tomatoes system has faced several criticisms. One common concern is the “fresh” / “rotten” binary, which some argue oversimplifies the nuances of film criticism. Critics may feel pressured to give a clear thumbs-up or thumbs-down, even if their overall opinion is more ambivalent. Another criticism involves the potential for review bombing by organized groups who seek to influence the Audience Score for political or ideological reasons. Finally, some argue that the Tomatometer focuses too much on consensus, potentially diminishing the value of individual critical voices.
H3: Beyond scores, what other information does Rotten Tomatoes offer?
Beyond the Tomatometer and Audience Score, Rotten Tomatoes provides a wealth of information about movies and TV shows. This includes synopses, cast and crew details, trailers, news articles, interviews, and user reviews. The platform also offers personalized recommendations based on your viewing history and preferences. In essence, Rotten Tomatoes serves as a comprehensive online resource for all things film and television.