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Verified Hot: Honoring The Films with the Highest Verified Audience Scores

We're honoring the hottest titles on the popcornmeter, including deadpool & wolverine , twisters , inside out 2 , bad boys: ride or die , it ends with us , and more..

At Rotten Tomatoes, we’re continually striving to enhance our recommendation tools for movie and TV fans. We’re excited to introduce a new elevated distinction to our Verified Audience Score: Verified Hot . This new designation will complement our Certified Fresh rating, helping fans not only find films that are widely praised by critics but also discover those beloved by audiences. It’s a win-win!

We’re breaking down Verified Hot – a new way to celebrate audiences. pic.twitter.com/1aaqnfFere — Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) August 21, 2024

But how does a film become Verified Hot? In order to qualify, it has to earn a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher on the Popcornmeter and meet a set of eligibility requirements, which you can read about here

Below, you’ll find a list of over 200 Verified Hot films at launch on the Popcornmeter. This includes some of the summer’s hottest titles — like Deadpool & Wolverine , Twisters , Bad Boys: Ride or Die , and It Ends With Us — as well as films that have resonated most with audiences since we launched our Verified Audience Ratings and Reviews in May 2019.

See below for the full list of studio titles in alphabetical order that will receive Verified Hot as of September 2, 2024:

• 12 Mighty Orphans
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• A Journal for Jordan
• A Man Called Otto
• A Quiet Place Part II
• American Fiction
• American Underdog
• Angel Has Fallen
• Arthur the King
• Avatar: The Way of Water
• Bad Boys for Life
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• Black and Blue
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Black Widow
• Blinded by the Light
• Blue Beetle
• Bob Marley: One Love
• Brian Banks
• Bring the Soul: The Movie
• BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas
• Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers
• Clifford the Big Red Dog
• Dark Waters
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie — Mugen Train
• Downton Abbey
• Downton Abbey: A New Era
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
• Dream Horse
• Dune: Part Two
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• Echo in the Canyon
• Fly Me to the Moon
• Ford v Ferrari
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
• Godzilla Minus One
• Godzilla vs. Kong
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
• Gran Turismo
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant
• Harold and the Purple Crayon
• His Only Son
• I Heard the Bells
• I Still Believe
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody
• In the Heights
• Inside Out 2
• Ip Man 4: The Finale
• It Ends With Us
• Jackass Forever
• Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
• Jesus Revolution
• Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon
• Jojo Rabbit
• Journey to Bethlehem
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie
• Jungle Cruise
• K.G.F: Chapter 2 — The IMAX 2D Experience
• Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss that Never Ends
• King Richard
• Land of Bad
• Last Night in Soho
• Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist
• Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
• Little Women
• Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
• Mission Mangal
• Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning
• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
• My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
• My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission
• No Safe Spaces
• One Piece Film: Red
• One Piece: Stampede
• Oppenheimer
• Ordinary Angels
• Pain and Glory
• PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
• PAW Patrol: The Movie
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire
• Possum Trot
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
• Queen & Slim
• Raya and the Last Dragon
• Redeeming Love
• Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
• Richard Jewell
• Rite Here Rite Now
• Ron’s Gone Wrong
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Show Me the Father
• Someone Like You
• Something to Stand For
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sound of Freedom
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Spies in Disguise
• Spirit Untamed
• SUGA: Agust D Tour D-Day the Movie
• Sword Art Online: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night
• Sword Art Online: Progressive — Aria of a Starless Night
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
• That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond
• The Ark and the Darkness
• The Art of Racing in the Rain
• The Bad Guys
• The Beekeeper
• The Boys in the Boat
• The Color Purple
• The Courier
• The Croods: A New Age
• The Equalizer 3
• The Girl Who Believes in Miracles
• The Holdovers
• The Iron Claw
• The Jesus Music
• The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli
• The Last Full Measure
• The Little Mermaid
• The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
• The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith
• The Peanut Butter Falcon
• The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie
• The Secret Life of Pets 2
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• The Wandering Earth 2
• The Woman King
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Toy Story 4
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
• Trolls Band Together
• Unsung Hero
• Waitress: The Musical
• Weathering With You
• West Side Story
• Where the Crawdads Sing
• Wrath of Man

Here at Rotten Tomatoes, we pride ourselves on delivering the most trusted entertainment recommendations possible to audiences across the world, and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve that experience. The Popcornmeter wouldn’t be nearly as useful without the contributions from those of you who continue to leave user ratings and reviews, so be sure to leave plenty of them, and your fellow movie and TV lovers will thank you for it!

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One Alien Movie Stands Above The Rest On Rotten Tomatoes

The "Alien" franchise is on everyone's mind again thanks to "Alien: Romulus," the latest entry in the on-going sci-fi horror series. A sequel  and prequel, "Romulus" is set 20 years after "Alien" and 37 years before the sequel "Aliens." "Romulus" is a box office hit , and critics have mostly enjoyed the film, too. I seem to be the outlier there — while I don't think it's a bad movie, I did find it to be the least-interesting entry in a franchise that has always tried to change things up from film to film. As I wrote in my review, "This is by no means a bad film — it's a triumph of production design, handsomely mounted and loaded with plenty of icky thrills and chills. And yet, 'Romulus' has no aspirations. It's less of a new entry in a long-running series and more of a collection of greatest hits moments. It's like a cover band that knows how to play all the right notes but is too afraid to add anything fresh to them."

My review aside, "Alien: Romulus" is currently sitting at a "fresh" 81% on Rotten Tomatoes . Speaking of Rotten Tomatoes, you might be wondering what the best rated "Alien" movie is over on the review aggregator site. As always, we urge you to remember that Rotten Tomatoes is just a guide, not the final say in a film's quality . That said, if you're curious about what the best-reviewed "Alien" movie is there, I have the answer, and it might surprise you. 

Aliens is the best-rated Alien movie

So what's the best-rated "Alien" movie on Rotten Tomatoes? Believe it or not, it's  not the original "Alien." Instead, James Cameron's action-packed sequel "Aliens" takes the lead, with 94%, based on 143 reviews . Ridley Scott's "Alien" is a close second, with 93% based on 203 reviews . In third place we have the aforementioned "Alien: Romulus," with 81%. The misunderstood prequel "Prometheus" comes in at number 4, with 73% . "Alien: Covenant," a movie I absolutely love, is next, with 65% .

After that, the remaining films enter "rotten" territory. "Alien: Resurrection" has 55% , "Alien 3" is at 44% , "Alien vs. Predator" sits at 22% , and at the very bottom of the list is "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem," which has 12% . Do those ratings seem right? I'm pretty sure most people would argue that for all its flaws, "Alien 3" is better than "Alien: Resurrection." As for James Cameron's "Aliens," well, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't think the movie rules. It's an action-packed extravaganza loaded with iconic moments, and a reminder that Jim Cameron is one of the best to ever do it. 

But is it really the best "Alien" movie? 

The best Alien movie

While I think James Cameron's "Aliens" is an excellent film, Ridley Scott's "Alien" is, in my humble opinion, the best movie in the series. To be fair, the difference between "Alien" and "Aliens" on Rotten Tomatoes is one percentage point, so we're not exactly talking about a major disparity here. Still, Scott's original movie, a slow-burning sci-fi horror masterpiece, remains a classic for a reason. 

"Aliens" has more action, and I suppose you could argue that it's more entertaining than "Alien" as a result. But between the two of them, the film I return to the most is Scott's 1979 original, which gave us the franchise to begin with. This is a meticulously crafted story of working-class stiffs in space who run afoul of a nasty, gooey monster. Even worse than that, they find themselves completely on their own — the greedy company they all work for would be perfectly fine if they all died horrible deaths, as long as the murderous xenomorph survives. Yes, even in the future, corporate overlords are terrible. 

30 Highest Rated Movies of all Time: Movies With 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

For 23 years, Rotten Tomatoes has been the go-to for those looking to get the scoop on what is new in movies. Aggregating opinions from fans and critics across the country, Rotten Tomatoes uses its “Tomatometer” system to calculate critical reception for any given film. If 60% of reviews are positive, the movie is given a “Fresh” status, but if positive reviews fall below that benchmark, it is deemed “Rotten.” A popular piece of media will typically fall between the 70-90% range, but rarely, a project will receive a 100% score. This means every last review from critics was positive.

Close to 480 films with at least 20 reviews have achieved a 100% score, with many coming very close. Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” had a 100% rating with 196 positive reviews before a critic submitted a negative one, knocking it down to 99%. The immortal classic “Citizen Kane” had a 100% rating until a negative review from a 1941 issue of the Chicago Tribune was rediscovered, revoking its 100% status.

Here are Rotten Tomatoes’ highest-rated movies that have managed to maintain a 100% score and have the highest number of reviews.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

“The Philadelphia Story” is based on the 1939 Broadway play and follows a socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the arrival of her ex-husband and a tabloid magazine journalist. Directed by George Cukor, he film stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart and Ruth Hussey.

“It’s definitely not a celluloid adventure for wee lads and lassies and no doubt some of the faithful watchers-out for other people’s souls are going to have a word about that,” Variety ‘s review said. “…All of which, in addition to a generous taste of socialite quaffing to excess and talk of virtue, easy and uneasy, makes “The Philadelphia Story” a picture every suburban mamma and poppa must see – after Junior and little Elsie Dinsmore are tucked away.”

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Christmas musical film “Meet Me in St. Louis” follows a year of the Smith family’s life in St. Louis leading up to the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, known as the St. Louis World’s Fair, in the spring of 1904. The film stars Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart and Joan Carroll and directed by Vincente Minnelli, who Garland later married.

“‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ is wholesome in story [from the book by Sally Benson], colorful both in background and its literal Technicolor, and as American as the World’s Series,” Variety ‘s review said. “Garland achieves true stature with her deeply understanding performance, while her sisterly running-mate, Lucille Bremer, likewise makes excellent impact with a well-balanced performance.”

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

The musical romantic comedy “Singin’ In the Rain” follows three Hollywood stars in the late 1920s dealing with the transition from silent films to talkies. Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, the movie was one of the first 25 films selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

“‘Singin’ In the Rain’ is a fancy package of musical entertainment with wide appeal and bright grossing prospects,” Variety ‘s review said. “Concocted by Arthur Freed with showmanship know-how, it glitters with color, talent and tunes, and an infectious air that will click with ticket buyers in all types of situations.”

Seven Samurai (1954)

Epic samurai action film “Seven Samurai” follows the story of a village of farmers in 1586 who seek to hire samurai to protect their crops from thieves. The film was the most expensive movie made in Japan at the time.

“Director Akira Kurosawa has given this a virile mounting,” Variety ‘s review said. “It is primarily a man’s film, with the brief romantic interludes also done with taste. Each character is firmly molded. Toshiro Mifune as the bold, hairbrained but courageous warrior weaves a colossal portrait. He dominates the picture although he has an extremely strong supporting cast.”

The Terminator (1984)

Sci-fi action film “The Terminator” follows a cyborg assassin (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose son will one day save mankind from extinction from artificial intelligence, Skynet. Co-written and directed by James Cameron and co-written and produced by Gale Anne Hurd, the film topped the U.S. box office for two weeks and grossed $78.3 million.

“‘The Terminator,’ which opens today at Loews State and other theaters, is a B-movie with flair. Much of it, as directed by James Cameron (‘Piranha II’), has suspense and personality, and only the obligatory mayhem becomes dull,” wrote Janet Maslin in a New York Times review. “There is far too much of the latter, in the form of car chases, messy shootouts and Mr. Schwarzenegger’s slamming brutally into anything that gets in his way. Far better are the scenes that follow Sarah (Linda Hamilton) from cheerful obliviousness to the grim knowledge that someone horrible is on her trail.”

Toy Story (1995)

Animated comedy film “Toy Story” follows the first adventures of cowboy doll Woody and space cadet action figure Buzz Lightyear. Owned by a boy named Andy, Woody and Buzz are a part of a group of toys that spring to life when humans aren’t around. Birthed after the success of Pixar’s short film “Tin Toy,” “Toy Story” was the first feature film from Pixar and the first entirely computer-animated feature film.

“To swipe Buzz’s motto –“To infinity and beyond”–“Toy Story” aims high to go where no animator has gone before,” wrote Leonard Klady in a 1995 Variety film review . “Fears at mission control of the whole effort crashing to Earth proved unwarranted; this is one entertainment that soars to new heights.”

Toy Story 2 (1999)

“Toy Story 2” continues Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s journey as the co-leaders of the toy group. When Woody is stolen by a toy collector, Buzz and the other toys must find set out to find him. During his time with the collector, Woody meets Jessie and Stinky Pete, other toys also based on characters from the TV show “Woody’s Roundup.” The animated film was originally supposed to be a direct-to-video sequel, but was upgraded to a theatrical release by Disney.

“In the realm of sequels, “Toy Story 2″ is to “Toy Story” what “The Empire Strikes Back” was to its predecessor, a richer, more satisfying film in every respect,” wrote former chief film critic Todd McCarthy in a 1999 Variety film review . “The comparison between these two franchises will be pursued no further, given their utter dissimilarity. But John Lasseter and his team, their confidence clearly bolstered by the massive success of their 1995 blockbuster, have conspired to vigorously push the new entry further with fresh characters, broadened scope, boisterous humor and, most of all, a gratifying emotional and thematic depth.”

Deliver Us From Evil (2006)

“Deliver Us From Evil” is a documentary that follows the case of convicted pedophile Oliver O’Grady, who molested approximately 25 children as a priest in northern California between the late 1970s through early 1990s. Filmmaker Amy Berg tracks O’Grady down to Ireland, where he was deported after being convicted of child molestation in 1993 and serving seven years in prison.

“Given how strong this kind of testimony is, “Deliver Us From Evil’s” decision to hype it more than it needs to be is unfortunate,” L.A. Times film critic Kenneth Turan said about the film in a 2006 review. “The film has a weakness for over-dramatization, for unsettling music and portentous close-ups of O’Grady’s hands and lips that are distracting and unnecessary.”

“There is nothing over-dramatic, however, about the deeply painful testimony of the adults who were victimized as children and their still traumatized parents,” he continued. “’He was the closest thing to God that we knew,’ one mother says. ‘I let the wolf in through the gate.'”

Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)

“Taxi to the Dark Side” is a documentary film directed by Alex Gibney about the 2002 killing of an Afghan taxi drive named Dilawar, who was beaten to death by American soldiers while being detained without a trial and interrogated at a black site, a detention center operated by a state where prisoners are incarcerated without due process or court order.

The film was a part of the “Why Democracy?” series, produced by The Why Foundation, which consisted of 10 documentary films examining democracy.

“Gibney (“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”) has crafted more than just an important document of systemic abuse — he’s stripped the rhetoric from official doublespeak to expose a callous disregard for not only the Geneva Conventions but the vision of the Founding Fathers,” writes Jay Weissberg in a Variety film review . “All enemies in wartime are perceived as animals, but Gibney uncovers the ways the White House and Pentagon have encouraged torture while distancing themselves from responsibility.”

Man on Wire (2008)

James Marsh’s “Man on Wire” documents the death-defining hire-wire stunts of Philippe Petit, who in 1974, performed a tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. “For contemporary audiences, Petit’s moment of mastery is inevitably shot through with a sense of loss; the following scenes, which reveal the band’s subsequent dissolution, reaffirm the bittersweet truth that triumph is but fleeting,” wrote Catherine Wheatley, who reviewed the film for Sight and Sound in 2010. “The film’s vision, though, is ultimately uplifting: relationships, like buildings, can collapse into rubble, but as [Annie Allix] tenderly puts it, sometimes ‘It is beautiful that way’.”

Poetry (2010)

Lee Chang-dong’s “Poetry” chronicles the life of Mija, a Korean grandmother who is simultaneously dealing with an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the violent crime committed by her teenage grandson. “Now is the time to bestow on yourself the gift of one of the most, well, poetic films of 2010,” Lisa Kennedy wrote for the Denver Post in 2011. “And by ‘poetic,’ we mean rich with soulful pauses that are at once visual and aural and deeply observant of the dance of routine and quiet surprise.”

Waste Land (2010)

Lucy Walker’s “Waste Land” follows modern artist Vik Muniz to Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, the world’s largest landfill. There, he photographs the work of “catadores,” men and women who collect the refuse to recreate classical art. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times in 2011, “I do not mean to make their lives seem easy or pleasant. It is miserable work, even after they grow accustomed to the smell. But it is useful work, and I have been thinking much about the happiness to be found by work that is honest and valuable.”

The Square (2013)

“The Square” is a documentary film by Jehane Noujaim, which follows Egyptian revolutionaries during the Egyptian Crisis, a period that started with the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 at Tahrir Square and lasted for three years. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won three Emmys.

“Continuing to follow a group of activists as they rally against the undue powers of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Army, ‘The Square’ understands that the Revolution itself is a work in progress, and while its immediacy means it, too, will soon be superseded, it stands as a vigorous, useful account,” writes Jay Weissberg in a 2013 Variety film review .

Gloria (2013)

Sebastián Lelio’s “Gloria” follows the relationship between an aging divorce and an amusement park operator after their chance encounter at a singles disco. “With someone else in the central role, ‘Gloria’ might have been cloyingly sentimental or downright maudlin,” wrote Joe Morgenstern in his 2014 Wall St. Journal review. “With [Paulina García] on hand, it’s a mostly convincing celebration of unquenchable energy.”

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2014)

Isao Takahata’s “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” tells the fable of a beautiful young woman who sends her suitors away on impossible tasks in hopes of avoiding a loveless marriage. In a 2015 review for Sight and Sound, Andrew Osmond wrote, “While the characters feel very simplified at times, there are scenes that put great weight on performance and subtle expressions, in a way that’s nearer to the classical Disney tradition than most Japanese animation.”

Seymour: An Introduction (2014)

Ethan Hawke’s documentary “Seymour: An Introduction” chronicles the life of Seymour Bernstein, a concert pianist who, at age 50, gave up performing to become an educator and composer. “Coming off of his superb one-two performances for Richard Linklater in ‘Before Midnight’ and ‘Boyhood,’ Hawke continues to work at a creative high level,” wrote Bruce Ingram in his 2015 review for the Chicago Sun-Times. “He demonstrates a rapport and openness with his subject that proves exceptionally affecting.”

Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2014)

From directors Ronit and Shlomi Elkabetz, “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” follows an Israeli woman’s three-year battle to separate from her husband who refuses to dissolve their marriage. “Ultimately the movie is wearying, but then it’s likely supposed to be,” Tom Long wrote for Detroit News in 2015. “If Viviane’s going through the wringer, you’re going through the wringer too.”

One Cut of the Dead (2017)

Shin’ichirô Ueda’s “One Cut of the Dead” follows Director Higurashi and his crew who attempt to shoot a zombie movie at an abandoned WWII Japanese facility. Things go wrong when they realize they are being attacked by real zombies. In his 2019 Los Angeles Times review, Carlos Aguilar called the film, “A master class in endless narrative inventiveness and an ode to the resourceful and collaborative spirit of hands-on filmmaking, ‘One Cut of the Dead’ amounts to an explosively hilarious rarity.”

Leave No Trace (2018)

Debra Granik’s “Leave No Trace” follows a father and daughter hiding in the forests of Portland, Ore. When a misstep tips off their location to local authorities, they must escape and find a new place to call home. Peter Travers wrote in his 2018 Rolling Stone review, “Debra Granik’s drama about a damaged war vet (Ben Foster) living off the grid with his teen daughter, brilliantly played by breakout star Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, is hypnotic, haunting and one of the year’s best.”

Summer 1993 (2018)

Carla Simón’s “Summer 1993” is told through the eyes of six-year-old Frida, who watches in silence as her recently deceased mother’s last possessions are packed into boxes. “Some creatures are able to grow new limbs,” wrote Joe Morgenstern in his 2018 Wall Street Journal review. “Frida, given more than half a chance after demanding it, achieves something no less remarkable. She grows new joy and hope.”

Minding the Gap (2018)

“Minding the Gap” follows the relationship of three boys who use skateboarding as an outlet to escape their hardships at home. “The film captures more than a decade long documentary footage showcasing their friendship. In some documentaries, the filmmakers attempt to make themselves invisible. Despite Liu’s camera-shyness, he never pretends to be anything other than a part of the story, hitting his subjects with direct, deeply personal questions,” wrote Peter Debruge, who reviewed the film for Variety in 2018.

Honeyland (2019)

“Honeyland” is a Macedonian documentary film that was directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov. The movie follows a woman and her beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of North Macedonia. Guy Lodge from Variety describes “Honeyland” as it begins as a “calm, captured-in-amber character study, before stumbling upon another, more conflict-driven story altogether — as younger interlopers on the land threaten not just Hatidze’s solitude but her very livelihood with their newer, less nature-conscious farming methods,” he said.

Welcome to Chechnya (2020)

“Welcome to Chechnya” released in 2020, exposes Russian leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his government as they try to detain, torture and execute LGBTQ Chechens. “A vital, pulse-quickening new documentary from journalist-turned-filmmaker David France that urgently lifts the lid on one of the most horrifying humanitarian crises of present times: the state-sanctioned purge of LGBTQ people in the eponymous southern Russian republic,” wrote Guy Lodge from Variety in 2020.

Crip Camp (2020)

“Crip Camp” is based on Camp Jened, which was a summer camp for teens with disabilities in the ’70s that inspired real-life activism. The film eliminates stereotypes and challenges the way people think about disabilities. “It may be startling for those who haven’t spent time with people with cerebral palsy or polio to see how a paraplegic gets from his wheelchair into the pool,” wrote Peter Debruge for Variety in 2020. “On closer inspection, it becomes clear that these teenagers…are having the time of their lives.”

76 Days (2020)

“76 Days” is a documentary released on Netflix in 2020 that shows the struggles of medical professionals and patients in Wuhan, China dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. “As an artifact alone, the result is remarkable, capturing all the panic and pragmatism greeting a disaster before its entire global impact had been gauged, while strategies and protocols are adjusted on the hoof,” wrote Guy Lodge for Variety in 2020. “That it’s so artfully and elegantly observed, and packs such a candid wallop of feeling, atop its frontline urgency is testament to the grace and sensitivity of its directorial team, not just their timely savvy.”

His House (2020)

“His House” is a horror movie that initially released on Netflix and terrified audiences. The plot follows a refugee couple that try to create a new life for themselves in an English town by escaping South Sudan but find their new home is haunted. Jessica Kiang reviewed the film for Variety in 2020 and wrote “‘His House’ is at its most persuasively terrifying when it gets out of the house and into the existential terror of reality. Out there are aspects of the refugee experience that contain greater horrors and mortifications than all the blackening plaster, childish ghostly humming and skittering presences in the walls could ever hope to suggest.”

Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020)

“Quo Vadis, Aida?” documents the journey of Aida, a translator for the U.N. in Srebrenica interpreting the crime taking place when the Serbian army takes over the Bosnian town. “This is not historical revisionism, if anything, ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ works to un-revise history, re-centering the victims’ plight as the eye of a storm of evils — not only the massacre itself, but the broader evils of institutional failure and international indifference,” wrote Jessica Kiang, who reviewed the film in 2020 for Variety.

Hive (2021)

“Hive” tells the true story about a woman, Fahrije, who becomes an entrepreneur, after her husband goes missing during the Kosovo War. She sells her own red pepper ajvar and honey, and recruiting more women to join her. “Within the heavily patriarchal hierarchy of the country’s rural society, this places these maybe-widows in an impossible situation, especially when, like Fahrije, they have a family to care for,” writes Jessica Kiang for Variety . “They are expected to wait in continual expectation of their breadwinner-husbands’ return, subsisting on paltry welfare handouts, because to take a job or set up a business is looked on not only as a subversion of the natural order, but as a sign of disrespect to the husband and possibly loose morals.” 

Descendant (2022)

Netflix described its 2022 film, saying, “Descendants of the enslaved Africans on an illegal ship that arrived in Alabama in 1860 seek justice and healing when the craft’s remains are discovered.” “This past remains present, Brown shows, as activists explain how the land on which Africatown (formerly Magazine Point) was established once belonged to Meaher, who sold some of it to former slaves.,” wrote Peter Debruge for Variety . “Talk of racial injustice calls for nuance, and it’s impressive just how many facets of the conversation Brown is able to include in her film.”

20 Days in Mariupol (2023)

“20 Days in Mariupol” tells the story of a group of Ukrainian journalists who are trapped in Mariupol during the Russian invasion and struggle to continue documenting the war. The film is directed by Mstyslav Chernov, a Ukrainian director and it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film in 2024. “Powerful as those glimpses were to international viewers, Chernov doesn’t spare his documentary more brutally sustained moments,” wrote Dennis Harvey for Variety . “There’s no political analysis or sermonizing here, just a punishingly up-close look at the toll of modern warfare on a population.”

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Incoming Reviews

It felt like they took every 1980's comedy trope & tried to stuff it into this movie and threw in a sprinkle of Superbad along the way. It's not funny and you've seen it before.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Sep 2, 2024

Incoming is unfortunately a dissatisfing addition to Netflix's catalogue of high school comedies. It struggles to find its footing, relying too heavily on things we've already seen before...

Full Review | Sep 2, 2024

While it's possible to forgive the film's puerile mess of scatological humour, Incoming's creepy misogyny simply doesn't belong...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 30, 2024

Unfunny teen comedy.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 30, 2024

The end result just isn't as funny or as risqué as it hopes.

Full Review | Aug 28, 2024

Not every movie asks for much, and this one is indeed full of a lot of dumb stuff. That said, it had a few laughs I appreciated.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Aug 28, 2024

Eddie and Connor are the highlight of the film as they get caught up in chaos alongside the most popular girl in school. Raunchy and hilarious, Incoming is anchored by a solid main cast as they learn one night can change everything.

Full Review | Aug 27, 2024

[T]he Chernins’ film is one that neither panders in an overtly preachy manner, nor lets its players off the hook easily. In this raunchy little escapade, actions have consequences.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 27, 2024

This raunchy high school drama has its moments...definitely qualifies as a guilty pleasure.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 27, 2024

Even though it may have the usual genre elements and follow traditional narrative points, this film stands out with so many things that just click together. For example, Incoming‘s charming main cast simply brings this film’s joy to life.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 26, 2024

Incoming isn't the next Superbad — it's just super bad.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Aug 26, 2024

A rough and tumble cut and pasting from every teen movie to precede it.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Aug 26, 2024

An 81-minute knockoff preaching the importance of being yourself while doing nothing to forge an identity of its own.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 24, 2024

Maybe this movie would have been fine in the Superbad era. But today? It’s just offensive. It’s not funny, and depicting high school like this is not okay.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/10 | Aug 24, 2024

Some of the things people do in the cheerfully gross movie range from morally questionable to flat-out criminal.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 24, 2024

There are a few instances of viable comedy – a clever line here, a passing bit there – but ultimately, the laugh-to-nausea ratio is way out of whack.

Full Review | Aug 23, 2024

Though Incoming has a decent handle on the raucous momentum of a high school party and the crass dialect of freshman boys, the film has the consistently distracting sheen of a made-for-streaming film, making for cheap comparison to its inspirations.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 23, 2024

The Chernins manage a jaunty pace that energizes these familiar ingredients, more in the gag department than in the film’s superficial dramatic components.

Instead of beer bongs, there are lines of ketamine; instead of fart jokes, there’s diarrhea in a Tesla. Maybe that’s progress. But I’d say the filmmakers flunked.

Everything about Incoming feels like an empty exercise that will only make it harder to make these movies in the future.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/10 | Aug 23, 2024

23 highest-rated Netflix movies that are 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

These Netflix movies are required viewing

Let’s be frank, Netflix movies don’t have the best reputation , especially the Netflix Originals. That little red “N” logo on a movie poster is often less of a seal of approval, and has become a warning to skip rather than stream. That doesn’t mean the streamer never gets it right. In fact, there are plenty of Netflix movies that aren’t just good, but downright great — a few are legit masterpieces. And, of course, Netflix's movies aren't just limited to those it produces, as we've just added two critically-acclaimed titles it licensed in.

Here at Tom’s Guide, putting together a list of our favorite Netflix movies involves days of debate — as our staffers disagree on many picks. And while we relish those polite arguments, sometimes it’s good to look at the bigger picture. In this case, that means taking a look at review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes , which offers a broad critical consensus that helps provide insight to help us pick the Netflix movies that truly deserve top billing. 

Once you're done with this list, though, peep the list of new Netflix movies in 2023 to see what's on deck and see what new Netflix titles to watch this weekend. As for what Netflix has just added, we've got the latest batch of the best new Netflix movies that are 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes based on February additions.

Now we’re not suggesting these are the only Netflix movies worth watching. For starters, I think crime thriller Windfall is hugely underrated (and it scored only 59% on RT). However, if you’re looking for something new to watch on Netflix you really can’t go wrong with any of these 23 options. So without any more preamble, these are the highest-rated Netflix movies with a high Rotten Tomatoes score that you watch right now.  

Call Me by Your Name (2002)

While not a Netflix Original (which means it's not likely to stay here forever), Call Me by Your Name a fantastic and critically acclaimed film that just recently returned to Netflix. Call Me By Your name was also the big break for director Luca Guadagnino, who's gone on to make similarly complexed and nuanced films.

Call Me by Your Name gives audiences the vantage point of young 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet), who is as inexperienced as he is pretentious. On vacation with his family in Italy — while his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) is working on his academic studies — Elio meets Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old interning with Elio's father.

While Elio and Oliver don't click at first, they soon actually find a spark. Unfortunately, it doesn't end as well as both parties would prefer. – Henry T. Casey

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Genre: Romantic drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Stream it on Netflix

The Woman King (2022)

The Woman King is based on the impressive and intimidating all-women army of the Agojie tribe, from the Dahomey Kingdom in West Africa. This film sees General Nanisca (Viola Davis) working both to prepare her new class of warriors to protect the region from colonizers, and disagreeing with King Ghezo (John Boyega).

We should note that The Woman King got hit with a boycott, with some arguing it glosses over the Dahomey Kingdom's involvement in the slave trade. That said, if you're going into The Woman King for a film that's less of a historical document than a feel-good action movie with some basis in reality, you'll be entertained. Davis and Boyega may be the stars, but Lashana Lynch and Thuso Mbedu earned critical applause for their supporting roles. – Henry T. Casey

Genre: Action/Drama Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Watch on Netflix right now

 Marriage Story (2019)

Inspired by the breakup of his own marriage, director/writer Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story is sort of like Kramer vs Kramer for the modern age. Carried by towering leading performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, this emotionally charged film follows a theater director and his leading lady as their relationship dissolves. The filmmaking on display is excellent throughout, but it’s the nearly flawless screenplay that holds the whole picture together. – Rory Mellon

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% Stream it on Netflix

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Spike Lee doesn’t do half-measures, and he goes all in on Da 5 Bloods. The film focuses on a group of Vietnam vets who return to the country in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader. The central foursome — Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters and Norm Lewis — are excellent, as is the late Chadwick Boseman as the leader of the Bloods in several flashback sequences. Commenting on both the past and the present, Da 5 Bloods is a gripping post-war movie that will have you laughing and crying throughout its lengthy 156 minute runtime. – RM Genre: War Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% Stream it on Netflix

The Irishman (2019)

Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman spent years in development hell and at one point it looked as if the project was destined to never see the light of day. Thankfully all that waiting, and perseverance from the famed director, was worth it. It may be almost three and a half hours long but The Irishman holds your attention throughout. Reuniting Scorsese with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, The Irishman tells the tale of a truck driver turned mobster with focus on his swift rise and inevitable fall. Although the digital de-aging tech is a mixed bag, it’s a gangster movie that hits hard.  – RM

Genre: Crime Rotten Tomaotes score: 95% Stream on Netflix

 Roma (2018)

A passion project for director Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is a semi-autobiographical recount of his own upbringing in Mexico City.  Cuarón rightly won Best Director at the Academy Awards for this deeply personal film about family, loss and growing up. Actress Yalitza Aparicio is truly phenomenal as Cleo, a maid helping a mother take care of her four children in the 1970s. If one film on this list is going to make you tear up, it’ll almost certainly be Roma.  – RM

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% Stream it on Netflix

The Two Popes (2019)

Based on true events, The Two Popes is a real actors movie giving legends of the screen Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce the chance to shine. The film sees Hopkin’s play Pope Benedict XVI as he seeks to convince Jorge Mario Bergoglio (who is now the serving Pope) to reconsider his decision to resign as an archbishop. It might not sound the most thrilling concept on paper, but the interplay between Hopkin and Pryce keeps the film comfortably ticking along across its entire two-hour runtime. – RM

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% Stream on Netflix

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

One of the first Netflix Original movies to make waves on the awards circuit, Beasts of No Nation sees Idris Elba play a fierce African warlord who takes in a young boy named Agu (Abraham Attah) in order to train him to fight in his guerrilla army. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga has since gone on to helm Daniel Craig’s last Bond outing, No Time to Die, and directed and produced the first season of HBO’s True Detective, but Beasts of No Nation arguably remains his best work.    – RM

Genre: War Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Stream on Netflix

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

We definitely didn’t need a follow-up to Breaking Bad in the form of a feature-length movie, but El Camino proved there was another story worth telling in this universe. Serving as an epilogue to the original series, El Camino follows Jesse Pinkman as he seeks to evade the cops and leave New Mexico behind forever. The film’s narrative does spin its wheels a little, but the strength of the performances from Aaron Paul and Jesse Plemons are once again top-notch. And necessary or not, it’s nice to get some closure after Breaking Bad’s slightly ambiguous ending.  – RM

Genre: Thriller Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% Stream it on Netflix

Dolemite is My Name (2019)  

Dolemite is My Name sees Eddie Murphy play Rudy Ray Moore, the larger-than-life performer better known under his stage name, you guessed it, Dolemite. Murphy completely loses himself in the role and was rightly nominated for a Golden Globe for his work. The film’s unique comedy styling also helps set it apart. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself needing to pause Dolemite is My Name in order to compose yourself after some of its best gags.  – RM

Genre: Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score: 97% Stream it on Netflix

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Did we need another feature-film adaptation of the 1929 novel All Quiet on the Western Front? Probably not, the 1930 Best Picture-winning original is still a hugely powerful watch. Netflix’s effort from last year just about stands shoulder to shoulder with the older versions of this film. The movie follows an idealistic 17-year-old named Paul who enlists in the Imperial German Army during the First World War. His head stuffed full of propaganda and believing he's set to become a war hero, the brutal realities of the harrowing conflict soon rock the schoolboy to his core. This staunchly anti-war picture is a hard watch, but it’s also a timely reminder that in war there are no real winners.   – RM

Genre: War Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Stream it on Netflix

Uncorked (2020)

Strained family relationships are something that many of us can relate to, and it’s those dynamics that Uncorked plays with. Mamoudou Athie plays Elijah, a wannabe sommelier struggling to deal with the expectations of his demanding father (Courtney B. Vance) who insists that Elijah will take over the family barbecue business. A deeply tender film about personal aspirations and growing into the person you want to be, much like a fine wine, Uncorked should be savored.  – RM

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% Stream it on Netflix

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)

Crip Camp is a Netflix documentary film that focuses on a summer camp in New York named Camp Jened. Described as a “loose, free-spirited camp designed for teens with disabilities,” the film focuses on the loveable cast of campers and their fight for stronger accessibility laws. Regardless of whether you’ve been to summer camp or not, Crip Camp is sure to strike a chord with you. And frankly there’s something refreshing about a Netflix doc that isn’t in the true crime genre.   – RM   

Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% Stream it on Netflix

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

While some of the best Netflix movies are prestigious dramas, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is one of the best Netflix movies in ages and also very easy to watch. Almost akin to a bag of chips you can't stop eating, Glass Onion is a very fun watch. In it, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back with another mystery on his hands, but not the one he or you will expect. The mystery unravels in an incredibly modern situation — tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) has invited his merry band of influencers to a private island — and riffs on most aspects of modern culture. Kate Hudson (who plays the dim-witted Birdie) gets most of the best lines, which she delivers with a perfect lack of awareness. – Henry T. Casey

Genre: Comedy/Mystery Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% Watch it on Netflix

Descendant (2022)

While many an education included a history lesson or few on the slave trade, the story of Africatown is one that's gone under the radar for many. This region (found near Mobile, Alabama) is finally getting its spotlight thanks to director Margaret Brown's film Descendant. In it, the descendants of those aboard the last known ship to smuggle stolen Africans to America finally get the chance to tell their own story. An engrossing film that reminds us all of the need to pass down truths that haven't been told to a wider audience, Descendant is a must-see. – HTC

Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% S tream it on Netflix

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Helmed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, in her feature film directional debut, The Lost Daughter follows an older woman (Olivia Coleman) who becomes obsessed with a young mother (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter while holidaying alone. Coleman is truly phenomenal in the leading role and rightfully received a wave of awards nominations for her performance. But it should be noted that The Lost Daughter is actually a fairly divisive movie. While its RT score from critics is almost perfect, its audience rating is far less impressive at just 52%. So be mindful, this ambitious flick won’t be to everybody’s tastes. – RM

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Stream it on Netflix

Mudbound (2017)

Set in the American South during World War II, Mudbound is a story of two families made enemies by the social hierarchy of the times but bonded together by shared farmland in the Mississippi Delta. Packing an ensemble cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Rob Morgan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jonathan Banks and Mary J. Blige, Mudbound boasts tour-de-force performances all over the place. But it’s the emotionally devastating ending that will truly stick with you. One of the earliest examples of a Netflix Original movie that really made waves. – RM

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 97% Stream it on Netflix

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Considering its produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who also worked on Spider-Man : into the Spider-verse and The Lego Movie, it should come as little surprise to learn that The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a delightfully fresh animated movie. Focused on the eponymous family, the zany flick sees the Mitchell's road trip vacation disrupted when the world's electronic devices come together to stage an uprising. It's now down to the bumbling family foursome (and their beloved pet pooch) to save the world. We're doomed!  – RM

Genre: Animation Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Stream it on Netflix

The Tinder Swindler (2022)

Netflix offered a tidal wave of true crime in 2022, and one of the streamer's most popular documentary offerings of last year was undoubtedly The Tinder Swindler. Centred on the exploits of conman Simon Leviev, it showcased how he was able to use the popular dating application to connect with various individuals across the world and manipulate them into supporting his lavish lifestyle. The Tinder Swindler is the perfect blend of shocking and compelling, and it's all packaged together with highly polished production values. After watching this feature-length true crime doc you just might find yourself deleting all your dating profiles. – RM

Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Stream it on Netflix

Hustle (2022)

Adam Sandler doesn't just make movies for Netflix that involve copious amounts of fart jokes. Hustle is a sports drama movie that sees Sandler play an NBA scout who discovers a raw but very talented basketball player in Spain (Juancho Hernangómez) and sets out to prepare him for that season's NBA draft. It's an against-type performance from Sandler that earned him his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and a well-time reminder that while he may often plight his trade in toilet humor he's actually a very talented drama actor as well. – RM 

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Stream it on Netflix

Matilda the Musical (2022)

Based on the Tony-award-winning stage production of the same name, Matilda the Musical is an all-singing all-dancing retelling of the beloved Roald Dahl book. It sees Alisha Weir play the eponymous young child who is neglected by her parents and mistreated at school by the sinister Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson) but develops magical powers that help her overcome the obstacles in her life. With new songs written by original composer Tim Minchin, Matilda the Musical is sure to be a family favorite for years to come. – RM

Genre: Musical Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Stream it on Netflix

 Enola Holmes (2020)

Enola Holmes follows the teenage sister of world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes as she attempts to strike out on her own and prove herself equally adept at solving mysteries. But what starts out as a search for her missing mother soon becomes a whole lot bigger as a plot that threatens the entire United Kingdom comes to light. Millie Bobby Brown, most well-known for her role in Stranger Things, stars in the eponymous role while Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin and Helena Bonham Carter also feature. Plus, if you enjoy this zippy mystery film, it's now part of a franchise. Enola Holmes 2 was released on Netflix last year and pulled an even more impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes . – RM

Genre: Adventure Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Stream it on Netflix

Miss Americana (2020)

Taylor Swift continues to be one of the biggest stars in the world, and this 2020 documentary offers an exclusive sneak peek behind the scenes at her life. It primarily covers a tumultuous period of Swift’s career that saw her struggle against a sizeable social media backlash as well as voice her political opinions in public for the first time. There’s also a smattering of behind-the-scenes concert footage from Swift’s 2018 Reputation Stadium tour, and plenty of insight into the recording of her seventh studio album Lover. One of Netflix’s best biographical docs to date, this slickly-presented film just might convert you to a Swiftie, if you're not one already! – RM

Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Stream it on Netflix

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Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team. 

• Henry T. Casey Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

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Rotten Tomatoes has made a big change to its ratings system

A movie can now be Certified Hot.

Rotten Tomatoes has introduced a new badge that will give more power to moviegoers.

The review aggregator website has unveiled a Verified Hot badge set to reflect the average audience's opinions. Announced today (August 21), the new designation will require a movie to earn a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher on its Popcornmeter to be assigned, as well as comply with more eligibility requirements.

Only reviews from users who have purchased a ticket to a specific film via Fandango — also owned by Rotten Tomatoes' parent company, Comcast — will count towards that title's Verified Hot rating.

Related: Borderlands lands dismal Rotten Tomatoes rating following first reviews

Rotten Tomatoes has already bestowed the new badge upon recent flicks, including Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine , Twisters , Inside Out 2 and It Ends With Us , with more than 200 titles to receive the badge retroactively.

The new Verified Hot title will be assigned automatically to all movies that qualify and were released in or after May 2019, when the Audience Score was first introduced.

The website has also launched a general Hot badge to be given when 60% of reviews for a certain film have earned a rating of at least 3.5 stars out of 5, and a Stale badge for those movies that fall below the 60% threshold.

Related: Halle Berry's Netflix movie debuts with fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating

But these are just some of the updates that Rotten Tomatoes has added to its rating system. The website has clarified the numbers of reviews needed for a movie's audience and critics' scores to appear.

The threshold hinges on domestic box office projections from an independent source. Movies that are projected to earn more than $120 million will need 40 reviews for a Tomatometer score to appear, and 500 for a Popcornmeter score. The number of critics' reviews goes down to 20 and 10 for films projected to gross between $60-120 million and less than $60 million respectively.

This tweak will change the game for films that have their debuts at festivals, with these titles now needing 10 reviews before being assigned a Tomatometer score.

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Watch out hollywood, rotten tomatoes is adding “hot” movies to its “fresh” rankings.

Movies that are 'Verified Hot' by filmgoers will join those that are 'Certified Fresh' from critics, in a move meant to give more weight to consumer opinions, as the site also tweaks its review eligibility requirements.

By Alex Weprin

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The Rotten Tomatoes “Certified Fresh” badge has become online shorthand for checking the quality of films, a sign that professional critics — or at least a large percentage of them — think that a movie is worth watching. Now, the Comcast-owned digital movie site is making a significant addition to its film rankings, unveiling a new “Verified Hot” badge on Aug. 21 meant to reflect the views of average moviegoers.

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Box office: 'inside out 2' on fire at friday box office, now heading for joyful $130m-$140m u.s. debut, a marvel project finally gets a perfect rotten tomatoes score.

Rotten Tomatoes scores occasionally become battlegrounds for fandom and culture war clashes, with Disney+’s Star Wars series The Acolyte (which, amid allegations of review bombing, has not been renewed for a second season) serving as the latest example and 2016’s all-female Ghostbusters reboot often considered the first mainstream instance of users seeking to game the scores. Such attempts at manipulation do reflect, however, that the site’s scores have over the years gained clout to convey a certain degree of coveted pop culture credibility. 

The first films to receive the Verified Hot badge include Deadpool & Wolverine , Twisters , Bad Boys: Ride or Die , Fly Me to the Moon and It Ends With Us . The site is also adding the badge retroactively to more than 200 films.

In another move, Rotten Tomatoes is updating the minimum number of critic reviews for a film before a Tomatometer score can appear. If a movie debuts at a film festival or is projected to have a box office of $60 million or less, then it will need to have 10 reviews for a score; if it has a projected box office of $60 million to $120 million, it will require 20 reviews; and if the projected box office is greater than $120 million, it will need 40 reviews. 

The changes are significant on multiple fronts. A high score on either its consumer-centric Popcornmeter or critic-centric Tomatometer can make or break a movie in the days just before or after it bows at the box office.

In addition, the new Verified Hot badge appears to shift power from critics to average moviegoers, who can now in aggregate help a film generate a coveted badge, something that had been reserved for pro reviewers with the Certified Fresh designation.

“On Rotten Tomatoes, fans love to consult our verified audience score, in addition to the Tomatometer critics’ score, when discovering new movies and deciding what they want to watch next,” said Amanda Norvell, senior VP of direct-to-consumer services at Fandango. “With the addition of Verified Hot, we are excited to celebrate and shine a spotlight on the theatrical films that fans have unanimously embraced and have taken the time to share their incredible moviegoing experience with other fans.”

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Turning Red is Pixar ’s latest movie, and unsurprisingly, it’s already getting positive reviews from critics. Pixar continues to be a powerhouse in the world of animation and keeps on treating the audience to at least one movie per year, each one with a different setting exploring a different culture or world, but all with the studio’s signature moral lesson at the end and with a good dose of humor. In 2022, Pixar will bring two very different movies for the audience to enjoy, and the first one is Turning Red .

Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red takes viewers to Canada to meet Meilin "Mei" Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student who one day discovers that whenever she gets too excited or stressed, she turns into a giant red panda, but she can turn back if she becomes calm. This “condition” turns out to be linked to her ancestors, who have a shared history with the species as a family curse, but the curse can be contained by performing a special ritual on one specific night… which to Mei’s luck, coincides with a concert of her favorite boy band. All of this, of course, as she deals with everything puberty throws her way.

Related: Where To Find Luca’s Turning Red Pixar Easter Egg

Turning Red was originally planned to be released in theaters, but as the coronavirus pandemic evolved and the Omicron variant appeared, Pixar and Disney changed their plans and Turning Red was sent directly to Disney+ (though it will be released in theaters in countries where Disney+ isn’t available). At the time of writing, Turning Red holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes , with critics praising the story, animation, Shi’s direction, and its approach to a different culture. Here’s what the positive reviews of Turning Red are saying:

Associated Press :

“The best thing about “Turning Red” is how it broadens the horizons of the 36-year-old animation powerhouse with a refreshing vantage point and some new moves. If some of Pixar’s greatest movies have used high concepts to illustrate existential quandaries, “Turning Red” (which like the previous two Pixar releases is streaming only; it debuts Friday on Disney+) is one of the studio’s most specifically drawn films.”

“For decades, Disney sold little girls polished princess fantasies to sell toys. But in that, they also sold an idea of girlhood that was woefully limiting. Here, the fantasy has an element of body horror but is treated with a jocular touch that makes Turning Red an absolute blast. In giving us a protagonist who is confident, kooky, but also a mess, Disney and Pixar gave kids a role model who rejects convention and is better for it — and better for us.”

“Shi has transformed the studio's typical visual sensibility to incorporate the influence of 2D anime, where the facial expressions of characters are pushed to the extreme, and backdrops can change entirely alongside a character's emotions. Pixar's creative team have never been silent about their love for anime (the studio's last film, "Luca", was set in a fictional town named after Hayao Miyazaki's "Porco Rosso"), but the genre's visual sensibility has seldom influenced the look of one of their movies quite like this. [...] It's more of a hyper-kinetic feast for the senses than we've come to expect from Pixar, and more than any of their movies in recent years, immediately invites repeat viewings just to pore over every single detail.”

“The Ludwig Göransson score thrums and flutters like only a Ludwig score can. And the distinct visual style — incorporating anime speed-lines, face-filter emoji reactions, and a defiantly tween-girl pastel-pink sparkly sheen — means it looks unlike anything the studio has done before. Turning Red not only keeps Mei’s experiences and emotions at the heart of the story; the entire film feels like it’s filtered through her personality: ebullient and energetic and irresistible.”

“Turning Red is a film that takes what appears to be a familiar tale of culture clash under the backdrop of a coming-of-age story of self-discovery and breathes new life into it. With literal magic, Turning Red leans into the creative possibilities that come with the story's time period and themes. The red panda element to the story gives Turning Red its core premise but it's the cast's naturally buoyant energy that makes the film stand a cut above the rest.”

Turning Red follows the trademark computer-animated style of Pixar movies, but its anime influences are what are making it stand out from the rest, and they also gave the creative team more freedom to better express Mei’s emotions and struggles through her more exaggerated facial expressions and even the colorful backgrounds. Although these details have been pointed out as some of the biggest strengths of the movie, along with the story itself and how it addresses puberty, its use of culture, and Ludwig Göransson’s score, there are some critics that aren’t fully on board with what Turning Red has to offer, with some finding that it continues some of Pixar’s worst recent trends and doesn’t bring anything new. Here’s what some of the negative reviews and opinions of Turning Red are saying:

In Review Online :

“The animation style is an unthinking hodgepodge of comic book affectation and broadly “Asian” nods, its aesthetic design primarily cribbing from anime, but throwing in some Kaiju iconography for good measure. The skill still impresses, even as its conception is haphazard at best and borderline offensive at worst, but ultimately not much worth lineating given how derivative it all is. [...] Turning Red is not only a disappointment in its own right, though, but is as blunt an expression of post-2009 Pixar’s worst tendencies as we’ve yet seen: uninspired, insipid, and increasingly reliant on winking referentialism to compensate for lacking originality.”

The Guardian :

“It’s also, perhaps, a self-aware demotion for another under-par film, one that’s not without merits and the occasional biggish swing, but a far far cry from the partnership’s wildly inventive heyday. What once felt organic has come to feel far too over-calculated from the wacky but-wait-what-if set-up to the but-wait-it’s-actually-really-about allegory and coming out less than a year after Luca, which had a similar transformation narrative, Turning Red feels like factory line Pixar.”

Pixar has a well-established formula that even though it’s repetitive, most movies manage to give it a fresh twist thanks to their stories and characters, but it’s still going to be a talked-about point about Pixar’s movies . Turning Red is no exception, and it’s not surprising that it has been mostly well-received but it has also been divisive, as it’s a new visual style for the studio and addresses more serious and at times complex themes that some viewers might not want to watch in a Pixar movie, but are ultimately necessary for the studio to be more inclusive and diverse and ensure that viewers have at least one movie or character they can relate to.

Next: Will Lightyear Also Release On Disney+ Since Turning Red Is?

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Rotten Tomatoes announces huge change to way films are rated

Change has been criticised by many users of the popular review aggregation website, article bookmarked.

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Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes has overhauled its rating system with a major new addition.

The popular platform amalgamates reviews from critics and members of the public to give films and TV shows an overall percentage number .

Traditionally, the primary focus of the site has been critics’ reviews, with films being deemed “Fresh” or “Rotten” depending on the proportion of positive reviews they receive.

However, Rotten Tomatoes has now launched a new designation, in which films are branded “Verified Hot”, “Hot”, or “Stale”, depending on the feedback of the “Verified Audience”.

The “Verified Hot” distinction is being awarded only to films that achieve a 90 per cent positive score among users who attended screenings of the film.

Rotten Tomatoes is owned by US ticketing platform Fandango, which is how the website will determine who has actually purchased tickets to the film in question. According to IndieWire , the website is also in the process of collaborating with other ticketing websites to verify users who purchased tickets elsewhere.

Historically, the website’s score system has been vulnerable to manipulation, with some films being targeted with an influx of negative reviews in a deliberate attempt to drive the rating down, a practice known as “review bombing” .

Bad Boys: Ride or Die , Deadpool & Wolverine , Twisters , and It Ends With Us , are among the summer releases to receive the new “Verified Hot” badge, with hundreds of older films dating back to 2019 also retroactively receiving the rating.

These include movies such as Top Gun: Maverick , Parasite , Oppenheimer , and Spider-Man: No Way Home .

Films will need to achieve a 90 per cent positive rating to be included in the “Verified Hot” category, with the cutoff between “Stale” and “Hot” sitting at 60 per cent.

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“On Rotten Tomatoes, fans love to consult our verified audience score, in addition to the Tomatometer critics’ score, when discovering new movies and deciding what they want to watch next,” said Amanda Norvell, the senior vice president of direct-to-consumer services at Fandango.

“With the addition of Verified Hot, we are excited to celebrate and shine a spotlight on the theatrical films that fans have unanimously embraced and have taken the time to share their incredible moviegoing experience with other fans.”

However, responses to the change have been mixed on social media, with some fans suggesting that the new prominence given to members of the public devalues the original purpose of the website.

“The worst thing Rotten Tomatoes has done is gradually elevating the importance of audience scores alongside critic scores. That’s not what the site was ever supposed to be,” one person wrote on X/Twitter.

“If there’s anything a site allegedly for film critics needs it’s more vindication for audiences that have historically review[ed] bombed movies and tv shows,” commented another.

“This sucks. even more incentive for weirdos to review bomb/boost the audience score,” someone else wrote, while another person remarked: “It’s like a participation award for people who complain participation awards and have bad taste in movies.”

Others, however, were more optimistic, with one person commenting: “LOVE this and they’ve been needing something like this. Too many times there are fantastic films that the people love but get terrible Rotten Tomatoes score. This will definitely help balance out the uneven scores that often occur.”

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Daniel Choi is a writer who’s currently pursuing a BA in Film & Television from New York University. With a background in amateur film production, Daniel is fascinated by how artists’ cultural backgrounds inform their work, subconsciously or not, and how that work is then perceived by different audiences across time and space. He joined Hollywood Insider to promote its mission statement of substantive entertainment journalism, and hopes to enrich readers’ understandings of cinema through insightful analysis.

Dec 28, 2020

Table of Contents

Photo: Rotten Tomatoes

Before we waste our time and money sitting through an entire feature film or television series, we go online to check its ratings. Many of us probably have a mental threshold for what’s worth seeing–80%, maybe 70%. 60% is right on the cusp–that’s a film you might approach with dampened expectations. But is this the right way to go about things?

Like many modern fixtures of the internet, Rotten Tomatoes was once a novelty–it quickly became such an authoritative denominator of a film’s quality that a bad rating can tank box office performance. Good ratings, on the other hand, are now often featured in trailers.

Aggregate review sites such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic are excellent and useful tools for getting an idea of a work’s critical reception at a glance, but they’ve also shaped our ideas of what it means for a piece to be “good” or “bad,” for better or for worse. Ratings were never meant to be a conclusive evaluation of a film’s quality, but that seems to be the way that the general public looks at it. 

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For the most part, they tell you what you need to know. If a film has a rating of 17%, it’s probably not going to impress. Nevertheless, their percentage scores hide a lot of nuances that has simultaneously bolstered the collective power of critics while undermining the significance of the individual voice. In this article, I’m going to discuss the reasons why a percent rating shouldn’t be taken at face value, specifically in terms of Rotten Tomatoes, as that has become the most powerful locus of critical discussion of film and television.

Rotten Tomatoes: Thumbs-up or Thumbs-down

Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer score is calculated by simple division–the number of positive reviews over the total number of reviews. Becoming a Tomatometer-approved critic is an application-based process and no critic’s opinion is given more weight than any other. 

However, in order to calculate this basic percentage, Rotten Tomatoes simplifies each critic’s reviews–in the same way that a film is either “fresh” (exceeds 60% approval) or “rotten,” a critic’s review is either favorable or unfavorable. Hypothetically, a film to which every critic gives a rating of 3.5/5, for instance, would attain a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%. It’s unlikely that this would occur outside of this hypothetical scenario, but is plausible nonetheless. 

Related article: MUST WATCH –  Hollywood Insider’s  CEO Pritan Ambroase’s Love Letter to Black Lives Matter – VIDEO

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On the other end of the hypothetical spectrum is a film that garners deific praise from half of those who saw it, and abject disdain from the other half–a polarised reception. This film would receive an ultimate rating of 50%, which is commonly interpreted as a bad rating. 

If you look at contemporary reviews of what are now legendary films, many received polarised critical reception. 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly , for instance, would probably have received around 50% if Rotten Tomatoes were around, but are now considered exemplars of their genre. 

Their current Tomatometer ratings reflect the result of their re-evaluations, but will films of the present be granted the same amnesty moving forward? In this way, Rotten Tomatoes has solidified the film canon while casting immediate judgment on new releases, coloring their public perception prematurely.

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The Illusion Of Objectivity

Additionally, the fact that ratings are presented in the form of a percentage necessitates the comparison with schoolyard letter grades . With no evidence to back up this statement, I postulate that our deeply-ingrained concept of letter grades contributes to the ease with which we accept percentage ratings as indicators of quality.

Educators and pundits have long expressed the inadequacies of measuring student performance through summative assessment–causing students to focus more on earning a grade rather than learning the material, for instance, not to mention the impossibility of a subjective evaluation being translated objectively into a numerical value.

If it’s impossible for a teacher to objectively evaluate a 500-word essay, it’s impossible to put an objective numerical value on the quality of a film. However, that was never Rotten Tomatoes’ goal. Aggregating critical reviews is just a good way to get a finger-in-the-wind type of reading, but many people don’t care to look beyond that convenient, monolithic percentage. Its democratic approach to rating a film has contributed to a sense of objectivity, but the value of film criticism has always come from more than an objective, ultimate indictment.

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Pauline Kael , one of the most influential film critics of all time, is famous for her derision of the “ideal critic’s” aim of achieving objectivity, calling it “saphead objectivity.” Her reviews were grounded in her personal experience of the film, as opposed to the commonplace approach of technical, esoteric didacticism. Her style and philosophy were pivotal in the landscape of criticism and analysis, proving that a film couldn’t just be reduced to a technical examination of its craft.

Why Critics Aren’t As Credible

Today, fewer people read individual reviews than ever before. The open forum of the internet has done much to dispel classic notions of elitism, and people have shied away from critics who tell them what’s good and what’s bad–Pauline Kael was rebelling against the same thing decades ago. 

Furthermore, there has been a greater outcry in recent years about the lack of diversity among professional film critics, a point justly made. The opinion of the white male is less valuable in a world of film and television offering greater diversity and stories thereof.  

To read an individual review reveals these underlying issues, but taking that plethora of opinions and turning them into nameless “yays” or “nays” depersonalizes them. People aren’t trusting of singular opinions, but amass a bunch and it becomes a poll. The fact that Rotten Tomatoes offers an audience score furthers the idea that this is simply a populist approach to judging films. The question of what a film does right and what it does wrong is no longer relevant–the question is- how many people out of 100 liked it?   

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In his review of Spirited Away , Roger Ebert wrote, “Movies made for “everybody” is actually made for nobody in particular.” This quote has always stuck with me and seems to repudiate the philosophy that Rotten Tomatoes have nurtured–a “good” film is one that’s palatable to most people. 

It’s important to note that it was never the intention of Rotten Tomatoes to be a barometer of “quality,” but it seems to me that the Tomatometer score is often interpreted by the average person as such. In turn, it seems like studios make a greater effort to cater to their audience before the film even comes out.

It’s unfortunate that a website which aggregates reviews of films has wound up affecting the works that it only meant to discuss–it reminds me of an actor becoming self-conscious because a mirror is held up to their face. While ratings are certainly a useful tool, I only want to emphasize how it shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of critical discussion.

By  Daniel Choi

Click here to read H ollywood Insider’s  CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Black Lives Matter,  in which he tackles more than just police reform, press freedom and more – click here.

An excerpt from the love letter:  Hollywood Insider’s  CEO/editor-in-chief  Pritan Ambroase  affirms,  “Hollywood Insider  fully supports the much-needed Black Lives Matter movement. We are actively, physically and digitally a part of this global movement. We will continue reporting on this major issue of police brutality and legal murders of Black people to hold the system accountable. We will continue reporting on this major issue with kindness and respect to all Black people, as each and every one of them are seen and heard. Just a reminder, that the Black Lives Matter movement is about more than just police brutality and extends into banking, housing, education, medical, infrastructure, etc. We have the space and time for all your stories. We believe in peaceful/non-violent protests and I would like to request the rest of media to focus on 95% of the protests that are peaceful and working effectively with positive changes happening daily. Media has a responsibility to better the world and  Hollywood Insider  will continue to do so.”

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Daniel Choi is a writer who's currently pursuing a BA in Film & Television from New York University. With a background in amateur film production, Daniel is fascinated by how artists' cultural backgrounds inform their work, subconsciously or not, and how that work is then perceived by different audiences across time and space. He joined Hollywood Insider to promote its mission statement of substantive entertainment journalism, and hopes to enrich readers' understandings of cinema through insightful analysis.

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Should You Trust Rotten Tomatoes Anymore? Inside the Review Manipulation Scandal

• Author: Jessica Sager

Rotten Tomatoes reviews can often help make or break some movies and TV shows—but now trust in the aggregator has been called into question.

A study found that about 36% of moviegoers check a film's Rotten Tomatoes score before buying tickets at the box office, which means that for better or worse, Rotten Tomatoes can play a big role in whether a movie makes money. (That said, there are plenty of audiences that don't care about Rotten Tomatoes reviews, considering that The Super Mario Bros. Movie did gangbusters at the box office and scored well with audiences and not critics!)

Find out exactly what happened with Rotten Tomatoes reviews to make people question the authenticity of the site's scores—and what William Shakespeare has to do with it. (Yes, really!)

Related: The Best Movies of 2023 So Far

How trustworthy is Rotten Tomatoes?

A new report from  New York Magazine  suggests that Rotten Tomatoes scores can be easily manipulated, alleging specifically  that a public relations firm, Bunker 15, has paid low-level, often self-published reviewers for positive write-ups as a way to game scores. One alleged example from the exposé involved the 2018 movie Ophelia , a reimagined take on Shakespeare's Hamlet told from the point of view of his girlfriend, played by Daisy Ridley . The film reportedly had a 48% rating, but after the PR company's alleged paid reviews, that was bumped up to 62%—taking it from a green "rotten" tomato score to a red "fresh" one.

Related: The Best Shakespeare Movies of All Time, Ranked

Bunker PR denied the alleged manipulation, telling New York Magazine in a statement, "We have thousands of writers in our distribution list. A small handful have set up a specific system where filmmakers can sponsor or pay to have them review a film." Rotten Tomatoes also said in a statement that they take "the integrity of [their] scores seriously" and "do not tolerate any attempts to manipulate them."

That said, there are ways that studios themselves can strategize their rollouts to manipulate the scores, though not always intentionally, and sometimes to their own detriment. By way of example,  New York Magazine points out the scores for Blonde and The Whale : Festival crowds overseas loved them, boosting their Tomatometer scores for weeks in the 80s, but when American critics and audiences were finally able to screen the film, The Whale landed at 64 and Blonde at 42. Conversely, Disney's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny initially had a low rating of 33% after premiering at the "snootiest" Cannes Film Festival for six weeks before its screenings stateside. After that period, its score actually rose into the 70s, but the damage was done, and the film turned around disappointing box-office numbers.

Related: Movies In the Running for the 2024 Oscars That You Can Watch Now

What does it mean to be 100% on Rotten Tomatoes?

Ostensibly, it means critics unanimously think a movie is really good. A score of 75% of higher on Rotten Tomatoes will get a movie "Certified Fresh," complete with a glowing red tomato icon.

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Is it good to have 100% on Rotten Tomatoes?

Yes! It means critics across the board loved a movie. That said, there are plenty of films and TV shows that have gotten significantly lower—sometimes even "rotten"—scores that have made a ton of money and satisfied audiences.

Related: Every MCU Movie, Ranked

Is 65 Rotten Tomatoes good?

According to the Rotten Tomatoes "Tomatometer," anything above a score of 60 is considered "fresh," which is theoretically good. Of course, taste is subjective.

Related: The Best Animated Movies of All Time, Ranked

How is something certified on Rotten Tomatoes?

Rotten Tomatoes certification math is, for better or worse, relatively simple: Every review is categorized as either positive or negative. The number of positive reviews is divided by the number of total reviews. For example, if a movie had 50 good reviews out of a total of 100 reviews, it would score a 50%. If a movie had 10 good reviews out of a total of 11 reviews, it would score a 91%.

Related: The Best '90s Movies, Ranked

Is Rotten Tomatoes biased?

In theory, no, but in practice, it might be. In 2019, the Columbia Journalism Review found that most Rotten Tomatoes reviewers skewed white and male, which reportedly tended to negatively impact overall scores of films that women critics liked. Rotten Tomatoes has since reportedly added more women, BIPOC, minority and LGBTQIA+ reviewers to its roster—but the majority are still cishet white men. Interpret that data how you will.

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Rotten Tomatoes: Where movie reviews are fresh or rotten

March 4, 2018 / 10:04 AM EST / CBS News

Thanks to the internet, the views of movie critics nationwide are being forged into a single critical mass. Jim Axelrod shows us how it's done:

If the artwork in the lobby of this California tech company doesn't tip you off, take a walk down the hall, past the themed conference rooms, such as the "Casablanca" room.

Or listen in to the discussion at the morning meeting. "Our top movies are 'Black Panther' and … it's just 'Black Panther'!" said Zoey.

Welcome to the headquarters of Rotten Tomatoes.

Even as the entertainment industry gathers tonight to see which of this year's films the Academy thought best, this company may be re-shaping the way we go to the movies -- and how we choose what we see.

"Without a Rotten Tomatoes, I as an individual, I guess I'd have to go read a hundred reviews," said Paul Yanover, the president of Fandango -- the online ticket company that acquired Rotten Tomatoes two years ago.

"Perfect marriage here of a technology company and an entertainment company," he said.

More than a third of moviegoers now make checking Rotten Tomatoes the last thing they do before buying a ticket. The site aggregates dozens of reviews curated from thousands of company-approved critics, and calculates the percentage that are positive.

"We're democratizing that research, and then we are democratizing access to it through the internet," said Yanover.

Jeff Voris, a vice president at Rotten Tomatoes, explained: "A curator will go find a review, put it in the system, and then read it to determine, is it 'fresh' or 'rotten'? If they're not sure, then our process is we send it to three other curators on the team who all read it independently."

Yanover added, "If there's real uncertainty, we'll go to the source and say, 'You're not being clear. Are you recommending this movie, or are you not?'"

If 75% or more of the critics post positive reviews (like 97% did with "Black Panther"), the movie is "Certified Fresh."

A score of 60 to 74 on the "Tomatometer" (like "Beauty and the Beast," with 71%) only gets you a "Fresh."

What you are trying to avoid as a filmmaker is a number under 60. That gets a "Rotten" thrown at it.  

"50 Shades Freed," for instance, had a Tomatometer score of 12!

It's Siskel and Ebert for the digital age.

When asked how wigged out studios are by Rotten Tomatoes, Ethan Titleman, who works for the National Research Group (a polling firm that tracks industry trends), said, "I think they're scared. It's still that shortcut. 

"And you can agree or disagree with the reviewer, but really nothing beats seeing that score at the end to know, yeah, I wanna spend my money or I don't wanna spend my money on this movie."

And that's exactly what spooks the studios: The idea their marketing machines may not be as able to overcome bad reviews in the age of Rotten Tomatoes.

"Rotten Tomatoes came on the scene, and it wasn't the voice of individual reviewers that mattered; it was a collective voice of Rotten Tomatoes," said Michael Lynton, the former CEO of Sony Entertainment. "I do know people pay a lot of attention to it. And I do think it does have an effect on how a movie opens. And it certainly has an effect on what the legs of a picture are."

Perhaps that's why director Martin Scorsese recently called Rotten Tomatoes "hostile to serious filmmakers," in a column for the Hollywood Reporter :

"They rate a picture the way you'd rate a horse at the racetrack, a restaurant in a Zagat's guide, or a household appliance in Consumer Reports . They have everything to do with the movie business and absolutely nothing to do with either the creation or the intelligent viewing of film. The filmmaker is reduced to a content manufacturer and the viewer to an unadventurous consumer."

"It's a very oversimplified system -- fresh/rotten" remarked Claudia Puig, president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who sees more negative than positive with Rotten Tomatoes. "And there's a lot more nuance in film criticism. There's a lot more nuance in people's appreciation of film. I wish that there were more categories -- that there was, you know, a slightly overcooked tomato, a slightly raw tomato!"

Even with her issues with Rotten Tomatoes, Puig is still one of their top reviewers.

It seems there's no disputing the website's influence these days. "Certainly, studios are thinking, 'How are we going to reach the largest amount of people? How are we going to make the most money?'" said Puig.

And to do that in this day and age, she said, "You gotta get a good score on Rotten Tomatoes."

Axelrod asked Fandango's Paul Yanover, "Do you dispute the notion that Rotten Tomatoes has now almost achieved make-or-break status for movies being released?"

"I think that's too strong a statement," he replied. "I don't think it's make-or-break."

Jeff Voris said, "We don't think that at all. We believe that, if anything, we help shine a light often on films or TV shows that you might not know a lot about otherwise."  

Axelrod said, "I guess the school of thought there is, if you want to make a successful movie now, you've got to thread this Rotten Tomatoes needle. Do the moviemakers, the producers, the studios, do they have a point?"

Yanover said, "I look at it this way: Right now, there are nine Oscar-nominated movies [for Best Picture]. I believe every single one of them is Certified Fresh."

This year's Best Picture Oscar nominees, in order of Rotten Tomatoes' "Certified Fresh" ranking :

"Get Out" 99% "Lady Bird" 99% "Call Me By Your Name" 96% "Dunkirk" 93% "The Shape of Water" 92% "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" 92% "Phantom Thread" 91% "The Post" 88% "Darkest Hour" 86%

         For more info:

• rottentomatoes.com
• National Research Group
• Follow  @ClaudiaPuig on Twitter
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association

     Story produced by Gabriel Falcon.

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10 "Rotten" Action Movies With a High Rating on IMDb

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The action genre has a unique charm that has, for many years, made it one of the most popular with audiences. Characterized by grand setpieces, eye-popping visual spectacle, and elaborate stunts, action films are very easy to be entertained by and very rarely boring. Most of the time, critics and audiences mostly agree on whether a certain action movie is good or bad, but when they don't, it's very interesting to see.

On the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , there are plenty of action films with a "rotten" rating of 59% or less , meaning that less than 60% of the accounted critics gave the movie their seal of approval. Viewers typically agree that these are all-out failures, but a few have excellent ratings from users on IMDb . From modern blockbusters like Bullet Train to older cult classics like The Boondock Saints , these are extravaganzas that quenched audiences' thirst for thrills, even if they didn't live up to critics' standards.

10 'Bullet Train' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes score: 54% vs. imdb rating: 7.3/10.

Though he made his name as a stunt performer and coordinator at first, David Leitch has quickly become one of the most promising directors in the action genre. Bullet Train is one of his most idiosyncratic movies, a high-octane, non-stop comedy about five assassins aboard a swiftly moving train, trying to find out what their missions have in common.

With an impressively stacked cast, a twisted sense of humor, and some visually striking set pieces throughout its runtime, Bullet Train is perfect for those who enjoy relentless action thrillers that never cease to excite. Audiences found it funny and entertaining enough for what it was, while critics thought that all the noisy spectacle detracted from what could have been a really effective and mysterious story had it had a little more of a sense of direction.

Bullet Train

Watch on Netflix

9 'The Accountant' (2016)

Rotten tomatoes score: 52% vs. imdb rating: 7.3/10.

One of the most underrated action movies of the last few years is Gavin O'Connor 's The Accountant . A conspiracy thriller, the film centers on Christian Wolff, a math savant who uncooks the books for a new client while the Treasury Department closes in on his activities as the body count starts to rise. With an exciting story and one of Ben Affleck 's strongest performances in the genre, it's a perfect fit for fans of bloody set pieces.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics were let down by The Accountant 's messy narrative , ludicrous plot twists, and what they deemed to be a questionable depiction of autism in the titular action hero. However, audiences were much more forgiving , finding Affleck's character and his arc engaging and the action surprisingly entertaining and well-choreographed. It may not be any kind of arthouse masterpiece, but The Accountant sure is an awful lot of explosive fun.

Watch on Hulu

8 '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' (2016)

Rotten tomatoes score: 51% vs. imdb rating: 7.3/10.

Though he's not exactly known for the high quality of his work, Michael Bay is certainly one of the most popular directors in the action genre. He has made multiple films that split the opinions of critics and audiences, but few have been quite as visibly divisive as 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi . It shows an attack on a U.S. compound in Libya, where a security team struggles to make sense of the chaos.

Those who enjoy explosive war thrillers will surely find 13 Hours to be one of the most underrated war films in recent years . Critics didn't appreciate the cartoonish tone that Bay approached the harrowing subject matter with or its lack of subtlety and historical accuracy . However, viewers looked past that and found Bay's deep focus on the characters and their personalities to be very effective , serving as the foundation for a technically impressive action spectacle.

7 'The Next Three Days' (2010)

Rotten tomatoes score: 50% vs. imdb rating: 7.3/10.

In Paul Haggis 's psychological thriller The Next Three Days , Elizabeth Banks and Russell Crowe play a married couple whose life is turned upside down when she is accused of murder. What follows is a tense thrillfest that's fully aware of the ludicrousness of its far-fetched story and tries its damnedest to take full advantage of it.

Critics loved Banks and Crowe's performances , praising how they almost managed to make suspension of disbelief at least somewhat plausible—keyword: almost . Audiences didn't seem to mind nearly as much, though, creating a sharp divide between their opinions and critics' . Fans enjoyed the dramatization of the justice system's flaws and thought that its story was full of compelling mysteries that were enough to get anyone's heart racing.

6 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006)

Rotten tomatoes score: 53% vs. imdb rating: 7.4/10.

The popularity of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may have decreased since it first took the world by storm, but it still holds some of the most underrated sequels Hollywood has produced recently. Gore Verbinski 's Dead Man's Chest , the first sequel to the 2003 original, took a darker and more epic approach to the material. It centers on Johnny Depp 's Jack Sparrow in his race to recover the heart of an immortal villain to avoid enslaving his soul to the seafarer's service.

Doubling down on the swashbuckling action that made Curse of the Black Pearl such a success, Dead Man's Chest found in fans of pirate films and unconventional fantasy a strong niche. On IMDb, they love the movie for the strong character writing and fun combat sequences. On the other hand, Rotten Tomatoes' critics missed the humor and originality of the first film and thought Depp's performance as Jack Sparrow had already overstayed its welcome.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Watch on Disney+

5 'Law Abiding Citizen' (2009)

Rotten tomatoes score: 26% vs. imdb rating: 7.4/10.

In F. Gary Gray 's Law Abiding Citizen , a frustrated man takes justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. With Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx delivering a pair of surprisingly solid performances for such a seemingly middle-of-the-road action flick, the movie isn't afraid to deliver the kind of adrenaline-pumping and graphic action that fans of the genre typically enjoy.

Even though they agreed that the film's story was nothing special and got progressively more absurd as it went along, culminating in a pretty terrible ending, reviewers on IMDb thought Law Abiding Citizen was more than entertaining enough to deliver a good time . On the opposite side of the coin, critics found its taste for bloodshed unnecessarily sadistic and thought that its abundance of plot holes and contrivances was far too much to tolerate.

Watch on Max

4 'Enemy at the Gates' (2001)

Rotten tomatoes score: 54% vs. imdb rating: 7.5/10.

It may not be counted among the best World War II movies ever made , but Jean-Jacques Annaud 's Enemy at the Gates is a suspenseful war drama about a Russian and a German sniper playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad. With a compelling narrative centered on an ensemble of interesting characters, it has something for everyone, from history buffs to action addicts.

Rotten Tomatoes begged to differ, though. Though they called the film atmospheric and thrilling, critics thought Enemy at the Gates ' collection of trite war movie tropes , including a rather misplaced romance, was uninspired and detrimental to the material. Those willing to watch any WWII film with a good depiction of the conflict should be satisfied by Enemy at the Gates , but those with a different taste might end up agreeing with critics.

Watch on Paramount+

3 'Die Hard: With a Vengeance' (1995)

Rotten tomatoes score: 58% vs. imdb rating: 7.6/10.

The original Die Hard is hard to beat, considering it's widely regarded as one of the most perfect action movies ever made. The sequels that it inevitably spawned were of varying quality, with many feeling Die Hard 2 was too similar to the original for it to truly stand out. Thus, John McTiernan 's Die Hard: With a Vengeance went in an exquisitely different direction, showing hero John McClane on a race against time, working with a Harlem store owner to stop a German terrorist from robbing the Federal Reserve Building.

Adding elements of mystery thrillers and even buddy comedies (with Samuel L. Jackson flawlessly playing the charming other side of Bruce Willis 's coin), the third installment in the franchise has a story jampacked with exciting set pieces and one of the most underrated villains of 1990s movies . Though audiences on IMDb seemed to enjoy everything Die Hard did differently from its predecessors, critics thought it was shallow and too snappy .

2 'The Boondock Saints' (1999)

Rotten tomatoes score: 26% vs. imdb rating: 7.7/10.

Fans won't hear its title in many people's lists of the best crime movies ever , but The Boondock Saints has enough fans to warrant a reevaluation of its quality. It's the story of two Irish Catholic brothers who become vigilantes and wipe out Boston's criminal underworld in the name of God. The result is a rather unconventional dark comedy with brutal action and effective thriller elements.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics considered The Boondock Saints a lesser Tarantino-esque crime movie . In their opinion, Troy Duffy 's movie was a shoddy B-movie with no fresh ideas. On the other hand, viewers on IMDb thought it was a sharply written and very distinct take on the genre , with action dazzling enough to earn the film a loyal cult following.

Watch on Amazon Prime

1 'Elite Squad' (2007)

Rotten tomatoes score: 51% vs. imdb rating: 8.0/10.

Severely underrated, the Brazilian film industry has put out many phenomenal outinthroughout of its history. José Padilha 's Elite Squad is one of the most popular Brazilian movies, a crime drama about a captain who has to find a substitute for his position in 1997 Rio de Janeiro while trying to take down dangerous criminals before the Pope visits.

Reviewers on IMDb commend Elite Squad 's depiction of the underbelly of Brazil's crime world , even drawing comparisons to the renowned Oscar-nominated masterpiece City of God . They love how the story's bubbling with energy and brutal action, which is precisely something that Rotten Tomatoes didn't connect with. Critics took issue with the voiceover's pointlessness and called the over-the-top action senseless , showing that audiences and critics aren't always looking for the same things when approaching an action film.

Watch on Tubi

NEXT: Every Action Movie That Won Best Picture at the Oscars, Ranked

• Rotten Tomatoes

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'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Rotten Tomatoes Verified Audience Score Thread

I will continue to update this post as the score changes.

Verified Audience Score History:

95% (4.8/5) at <50

98% (4.8/5) at 50+

96% (4.7/5) at 100+

95% (4.7/5) at 500+

96% (4.7/5) at 1,000+

96% (4.7/5) at 2,500+

Rotten Tomatoes

Critics Consensus: While it's nowhere near as thrilling as turtle tipping your way to 128 lives,  The Super Mario Bros. Movie  is a colorful -- albeit thinly plotted -- animated adventure that has about as many Nintendos as Nintendont's.

Metacritic: 47 (48 Reviews)

With help from Princess Peach, Mario gets ready to square off against the all-powerful Bowser to stop his plans from conquering the world.

Chris Pratt as Mario

Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach

Charlie Day as Luigi

Jack Black as Bowser

Keegan-Michael Key as Toad

Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong

Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong

Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek

Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike

DIRECTED BY: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

PRODUCED BY: Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto

SCREENPLAY BY: Matthew Fogel

BASED ON: Mario by Nintendo

MUSIC BY: Brian Tyler, Koji Kondo

RUNTIME: 92 Minutes

RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2023

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Growing perfect plants, one answer at a time.

What do tomatoes and popcorn mean on movies?

A red tomato means the movie received positive reviews. A splattered green tomato means the movies has been negatively reviewed. The popcorn images are from Flixster, the full popcorn container means the audience generally liked the movie. The spilled popcorn container means audiences didn’t find the movie More.

What do tomatoes mean in movies?

A red tomato score indicating its fresh status, is designated when at least 60% of the reviews are positive. A green splat indicating rotten status, is displayed when less than 60% of the reviews are positive. If there is no score available, it usually just means the movie or show hasn’t been released or there aren’t enough reviews yet.

You should be asking “What do tomatoes mean in movie ratings?”

This is what I found. when at least 60% of reviews for a movie or TV show are positive, a red tomato is displayed to indicate its Fresh status. When less than 60% of reviews for a movie or TV show are positive, a green splat is displayed to indicate its Rotten status.

What is the meaning of the tomatoes in the movie popcorn?

Percentage of critics and audience members who liked the movie; Red tomato means movie got positive reviews Splattered green tomato means The tomatoes and popcorn are related to the cultural way to represent something that is good or bad.

Some sources claimed a splattered green tomato means the movies has been negatively reviewed. The popcorn images are from Flixster, the full popcorn container means the audience generally liked the movie. The spilled popcorn container means audiences didn’t find the movie appealing.

Tomatoes = critics. Popcorn = audience. This was useful info! Was this comment helpful? Yes | No 87% Helpful What do the tomato and popcorn icons stand for? What do the icons mean next to the movies title , such as the tomato and the bag of popcorn? What are the tomato and popcorn box symbols in info?

Popcorn means the movie got postive response red tomatoes means positive . Source: What do the popcorn and tomatoes symbols mean on direct tv ratings? Was this answer helpful?

A question we ran across in our research was “What is the difference between red tomato and popcorn?”.

You see, red tomato is rotten tomatos review; red tomato=positive, splattered= negative. Popcorn means flixster review; popcorn=positive, tipped over popcorn= negative .

What do the Tomatometer and Rotten Tomatoes mean?

Here’s what they mean. The Tomatometer is a “ Fresh ” critic rating – a high 60% minimum overall rating and reviews from at least 40 critics. Is a “Rotten” critic rating 59% or less positive. (That’s not an asterisk it’s a green tomato that’s gone splat!).

This begs the question “What does the Rotten Tomatoes rating mean?”

I learned as the reviews of a given film accumulate, the Rotten Tomatoes score measures the percentage that are more positive than negative, and assigns an overall fresh or rotten rating to the movie. Scores of over 60 percent are considered fresh, and scores of 59 percent and under are rotten.

You might be thinking “Where did the term Rotten Tomatoes come from?”

One way to consider this is although the name “Rotten Tomatoes” connects to the practice of audiences throwing rotten tomatoes when disapproving of a poor stage performance, the original inspiration comes from a scene featuring tomatoes in the Canadian film Léolo (1992).

What is Rotten Tomatoes used for?

Rotten Tomatoes and the Tomatometer score are the world’s most trusted recommendation resources for quality entertainment . As the leading online aggregator of movie and TV show reviews from critics, we provide fans with a comprehensive guide to what’s Fresh – and what’s Rotten – in theaters and at home.

What is a tomatometer rating?

The Tomatometer is a “ Fresh ” critic rating – a high 60% minimum overall rating and reviews from at least 40 critics. Is a “Rotten” critic rating 59% or less positive. (That’s not an asterisk it’s a green tomato that’s gone splat!) means less than a 59% positive score (less than 3.5 star) from audiences at Flixter and Rotten Tomatoes.

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