Rotten Tomatoes’ New Rating System: A Power Play?
Rotten Tomatoes, the internet’s go-to movie review aggregator, has made a significant and controversial shift. The platform has replaced its traditional Audience Score with a new “verified ratings Popcornmeter” system. This move, aimed at combating so-called “review bombing,” only considers ratings from users who purchased tickets through Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes’ parent company. While this change might seem like a step toward authenticity, it raises serious questions about the integrity of audience feedback and the potential for excessive control over a film’s success.
A Tight Grip on Audience Ratings
Fandango, a major player in U.S. movie ticket sales, partners with the likes of AMC, Regal, and Cinemark. Yet, despite its dominance, Fandango represents only around 1,500 theaters in the United States. That’s out of an estimated 5,500 theaters nationwide, meaning Fandango covers just 27% of the market. Globally, the numbers are even starker. Fandango’s reach outside the U.S. is minimal, covering roughly 14.5% of the world’s screens. This discrepancy raises a significant issue: Rotten Tomatoes now relies on a data set that is far from comprehensive, potentially skewing the results.
This narrow focus could present a distorted view of audience sentiment. It primarily reflects the opinions of those who purchase tickets through Fandango, sidelining the vast majority of moviegoers. This shift, under the guise of authenticity, could end up silencing many voices.
The Danger of Manipulation
With Rotten Tomatoes’ new system, the power to influence a film’s success lies in the hands of one company—Fandango. By controlling the verification process, Fandango could shape the narrative around a film’s popularity, favoring certain movies over others. This situation is troubling. A film’s “Verified Hot” badge might reflect not genuine audience approval but rather the preferences of a limited and specific group of users.
The risk of bias is real. Films from studios with strong ties to Fandango or those performing well in Fandango-served theaters might be favored. Independent films, international releases, or those distributed through alternative ticketing platforms could find themselves marginalized. This shift could narrow the definition of success in the film industry, favoring blockbusters while sidelining smaller, more diverse projects.
Excluding the Majority
Another glaring issue is the exclusion of users who purchase tickets outside Fandango. Moviegoers who use other platforms or buy directly from theaters won’t have their opinions counted in Rotten Tomatoes’ new rating system. Even if someone buys multiple tickets for friends or family, only the purchaser’s rating will be verified. This limitation drastically reduces the pool of valid ratings, creating a narrow and possibly unrepresentative data set.
This exclusion creates a system where only a fraction of the audience is heard. The broader public, whose tastes and opinions might differ from Fandango users, are left out of the conversation. This could lead to a significant disconnect between the ratings and the actual sentiments of the wider moviegoing public.
A Narrow Vision of Success
Rotten Tomatoes’ move to a Fandango-verified rating system is more than an effort to ensure genuine reviews. It represents a step toward concentrating control over what is deemed a successful film. With Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango under the same corporate umbrella, the potential for conflict of interest is undeniable. This change could affect everything from marketing strategies to box office performance, marginalizing films that don’t fit within the Fandango ecosystem.
This new system, while seemingly designed to protect against false reviews, may end up distorting the very audience opinions it aims to safeguard. By narrowing the pool of contributors, Rotten Tomatoes risks becoming an echo chamber, amplifying the voices of a select few while silencing the broader public.
Rotten Tomatoes might be making headlines with this new system, but the question remains: Is this really about accuracy, or is it a strategic move to control the narrative? As the dust settles, it’s worth considering who really benefits from this shift—and whether the average moviegoer is getting left behind.
Read this article and more at August Tales Comics. Your go-to site for trade paperback exchanges and comic book news! Trade. Read. Repeat.
#comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel #graphicnovels #augusttales
