What even is a Rotten Tomatoe?
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) is a quality measurer for film and TV. You have probably seen their percentage ratings whenever you search up a movie or a show as they give their view on if a film is good or bad. Rotten Tomatoes has been measuring on their Tomatometer since 2000, with the aim of collating different critics reviews and getting one overall rating based on the percentage of critics that give a positive/negative review. If it is over 60%, the movie and/or show is considered fresh, but if it is under 60%, then it is rotten. However, some content has been rated 0%. As in absolutely nothing. A special type of perfection. There are around 43 films and around 16 shows (that I could find) and counting in the history of Rotten Tomatoes that have achieved this. Considering the amount of shows and films that there are in the world, the number of 0% rates is very little, but still, how is this possible? How can people make content that no critic likes AT ALL? And how does the rating system work?
RT has eligibility criteria for their critics, including them doing reviews for at least two years and consistently bringing out content. An overall rating for a show or movie is dependent on how many good or bad reviews there are. Some stuff is rated ‘rotten’ largely because there were not enough reviews to rate it higher. TV shows like ‘Stark Raving Mad ‘ – a show with a decent cast and creator (the same guy that made ‘Modern Family’ ) were just victim to a lack of viewers. I am not saying that there is an exact formula of people to create a ‘good’ show or movie, but this show won a People’s Choice Award in 2000 for Favourite New TV Comedy and was still rated 0% and it was cancelled, mainly because of low viewership. It didn’t even get an audience rating.
The RT audience rating system allows users to submit their own ratings, which I think is great because we can get a wider range of people giving their thoughts. For instance, ‘Kronk’s New Groove’, an absolute tour de force, was criminally rated 0% after only 6 critic reviews. But despite the 0%, it is rated 45% by audiences, which redeems it slightly and shows that it’s about what the general public want! This is the case with many other programmes and movies like ‘Dads’, ‘Miami Medical’ and ‘Max Steel’. I wanted to test the critics verses the audience for you all so I bit the bullet and watched a 0% rated film and give my own thoughts – ‘The Ridiculous 6’. This film was harshly reviewed by critics and if I’m being honest, could not finish the movie. So sorry. As it says in the title, the movie is ridiculous…but because that’s the point of the it, I wouldn’t give it 0% – I would say a reasonable 16% and keep it moving! It’s on Netflix if you want to share that experience with me…
Be your own critic!
One of the reasons that Screenscope is not a review page is because:
1. I like good vibes! Some of the reviews are so mean and pretentious?? My critiques are usually based on themes and they are short and cute x
2. I don’t like writing lengthy and analytical reviews on things. If you want to see extremely quick reviews though, check out my Letterboxd to see some brief thoughts the stuff that I watch. I will do a list for every blog post so you can get some recommendations 😉
Even though I believe that there is a need for critics to say their piece, I don’t think that we should let RT play a definitive part in us watching/not watching things, especially because review percentages can change if more reviews are added. I can understand that it can influence your decision slightly, but if the film/tv show seems good despite the review, give it a try! I rewatched ‘A Thousand Words’, another 0% winner, and I did not think it was that bad! Did I finish it? Again, no I did not. But in my opinion, I have seen worse films that have higher ratings *cough* ‘The Hottie and the Nottie’ *cough*
As I have said, be guided but not misled. Those reviewers are experienced, but they are not you. RT came under scrutiny a few years ago that their critic pool mainly consisted of white men – of which I am neither. Sure, don’t have to be the same gender and race to like the same thing, but the lack of diversity limits the viewpoint. Also, to be honest, I would listen more to a good critic who looked like me than one who didn’t. Even though they have a more diverse pool nowadays, the best judge of what you like and do not like is you! Take reviews in, but with a pinch of salt, because some 0% rated shows and movies could actually be your new favourite. I even think 0% ratings should not exist because there is at least some art and heart in all content. If you disagree with me and think that there are some things that deserve 0%, or are just not good at all, let me know on Instagram or the comments below! Even with the stuff that I have watched and commented on in this blog – do not take my word for it; I am just a messenger — try it for yourself and let me know how it goes.
Love this! Especially what you said about the lack of diversity in the critic pool which is something I noticed too. Not every film or show has it be objectively “good” by the standards of the industry in order to be enjoyed. We are all different and have unique preferences and things that make us smile. That’s why I’m also a fan of taking the audience rating into account. But most importantly, my own rating. 😉
Exactly! Thanks for sharing your thoughts