Ever opened Rotten Tomatoes and wondered what those red and green icons actually tell you? You’re not alone. The site is a go‑to spot for movie fans, but the way it calculates scores can be confusing. In this guide we’ll break down the Tomatometer, the audience rating, and some handy tricks so you can decide what to watch without the guesswork.
The Tomatometer is the big red‑or‑green circle you see on every movie page. It shows the percentage of professional critics who gave the film a "fresh" (positive) review. If 75 out of 100 critics liked the movie, the Tomatometer reads 75%. A "fresh" review usually means the critic rated the film above a certain threshold, not that they loved it outright. Below 60% the score turns "rotten," indicating most critics were unimpressed.
It’s important to remember the Tomatometer doesn’t average the actual star ratings. A critic who gives a movie 3 out of 5 stars and another who gives it 4 out of 5 both count as "fresh" if they cross the critic’s positive line. That’s why a film can have a high Tomatometer but still receive mixed reactions when you dig into the written reviews.
Don’t stop at the Tomatometer. Below it you’ll see the Audience Score – a percentage based on user ratings. This is useful because critics and everyday viewers often have different tastes. A blockbuster might be "rotten" with critics but loved by fans, while an indie film could flip the opposite.
Check the number of reviews behind each score. A 95% Tomatometer based on 10 reviews isn’t as reliable as a 70% score from 200 critics. Rotten Tomatoes also flags "Top Critics" – those from major outlets – so you can see how the elite press feels versus the broader critic community.
Finally, read a few short excerpts from the critics. The site shows a one‑sentence summary for each review, giving you a quick sense of why people liked or disliked the film. That way you avoid relying on a single number and get a clearer picture of the movie’s strengths and weaknesses.
With these basics, Rotten Tomatoes becomes a useful tool rather than a mystery box. Use the Tomatometer to gauge critical consensus, glance at the Audience Score for fan opinion, and skim a couple of review snippets before hitting play. Happy watching!
Dexter: Resurrection kicks off with a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, beating all past Dexter series entries. Critics are praising its clever mix of nostalgia and new stories, with the limited series following Dexter Morgan's return in New York City and a fresh supporting cast.
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