Ever wondered how to quickly figure out if a new movie is worth your time and money? Well, chances are, you’ve probably stumbled upon a website called Rotten Tomatoes! But what exactly is it, and why the strange name?
The name “Rotten Tomatoes” comes from an old theater tradition! Back in the day, if a stage performance was really bad, the audience would actually throw fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, at the performers. A splattered, rotten tomato symbolized a terrible show!
Rotten Tomatoes acts as an aggregator, collecting movie reviews from professional critics all over the world. They then determine if a review is “fresh,” meaning positive, or “rotten,” meaning negative. The famous “Tomatometer” score is simply the percentage of positive reviews! So, a 90% score means 90 out of 100 critics gave it a thumbs up.
But wait, there’s more! Besides the critics’ Tomatometer, there’s also an “Audience Score,” represented by a popcorn bucket, showing what regular moviegoers thought. And for truly great films, those with consistently high scores (75% or higher) and enough reviews, they earn the prestigious “Certified Fresh” badge!
So, why is this important? Rotten Tomatoes offers a quick, at-a-glance way to gauge critical consensus before you commit to watching a film. It helps you make informed decisions, whether you’re heading to the cinema or scrolling through streaming options. It’s a handy tool, isn’t it?
From old theater traditions to modern movie-watching, Rotten Tomatoes helps us navigate the vast world of cinema. Next time you’re wondering what to watch, you know where to look!