The Academy Awards can be a popularity contest—but what’s really popular?
I’m not sure aggregate sites like Rotten Tomatoes are good for movies.
They just mash up critics and audiences to spit out an arbitrary number that supposedly rates a movie.
I think the best way to absorb a movie is to just go see them. Or pick one critic you think aligns closely with what you enjoy, like many did with Roger Ebert. (If you’re looking for recommendations, I love Justin Chang and Amy Nicholson, but I digress.)
I saw a conversation on Reddit that piqued my interest. In the entire history of Rotten Tomatoes, only two films in the last 50 years have been certified “Rotten” and nominated for Best Picture.
This year’s entry, Don’t Look Up, joins Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as the only two rotten noms.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the movies are bad, just that the aggregating site says they are. I actually liked both these movies, but that’s just me.
To be “rotten” you have to be below 59% on the site’s scoring ledger.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
