Rotten Tomatoes Changes Rating System, Users Criticize

Rotten Tomatoes, the widely-used film and TV review aggregation platform, has unveiled a new audience designation system aimed at enhancing the credibility of user feedback. The new labels—“Verified Hot,” “Hot,” and “Stale”—will categorize films based on ratings from the “Verified Audience,” specifically those who have purchased tickets through the platform's parent company, Fandango. A film must achieve a 90 percent positive score from verified viewers to earn the “Verified Hot” distinction. This initiative comes in response to concerns over the platform's vulnerability to “review bombing,” where films receive a surge of negative reviews intended to lower their ratings. Notable films like *Top Gun: Maverick* and *Oppenheimer* have faced such targeted attacks. The new system aims to highlight films that have garnered genuine support from audiences, with Rotten Tomatoes expressing excitement about showcasing movies that fans have embraced. However, the response on social media has been polarized. Critics argue that elevating audience scores undermines the site's original purpose, which was to prioritize critic reviews. Some users expressed concern that this shift could lead to further manipulation of ratings, while others welcomed the change, believing it could provide a more balanced view of films that may be underrated by critics. As the debate continues, Rotten Tomatoes faces the challenge of maintaining its integrity while adapting to the evolving landscape of film criticism and audience engagement.