Hollywood vs. Rotten Tomatoes

[Solo4114]

Know how often I check Rotten Tomatoes?

Never.

It literally plays no role in my decision to see a film. Whether the film looks interesting, and whether specific sites that I trust or friends I trust have reviewed it well are the sole determinants.

And even then, I really don't go to the theater much anyway. I see Star Wars films in theaters, and occasionally a Marvel film (although I probably miss about half of those). That's pretty much it.

You know what gets me to the theater? Two things. (1) A movie that I think NEEDS to be seen on the big screen, and (2) the fact that Studio Movie Grill lets me order dinner and drinks while I watch, and I get to sit in a really comfortable chair. I pay extra for that, and I pay it happily. But the film needs to be something that I really ought to see in theaters.

Too many films come out that I look at or hear about and thing "Well that just sounds deeply ****ing stupid." Why would I waste my time and money on those?


And again, look above at the decision-making process and notice that Rotten Tomatoes is nowhere involved. The closest I get to Rotten Tomatoes being involved is that I often buy tickets through Fandango.

 

[edge10]

Know how often I check Rotten Tomatoes?

Never.

It literally plays no role in my decision to see a film. Whether the film looks interesting, and whether specific sites that I trust or friends I trust have reviewed it well are the sole determinants.

And even then, I really don't go to the theater much anyway. I see Star Wars films in theaters, and occasionally a Marvel film (although I probably miss about half of those). That's pretty much it.

You know what gets me to the theater? Two things. (1) A movie that I think NEEDS to be seen on the big screen, and (2) the fact that Studio Movie Grill lets me order dinner and drinks while I watch, and I get to sit in a really comfortable chair. I pay extra for that, and I pay it happily. But the film needs to be something that I really ought to see in theaters.

Too many films come out that I look at or hear about and thing "Well that just sounds deeply ****ing stupid." Why would I waste my time and money on those?


And again, look above at the decision-making process and notice that Rotten Tomatoes is nowhere involved. The closest I get to Rotten Tomatoes being involved is that I often buy tickets through Fandango.

Based upon your second paragraph, I can write your decision tree in one minute:

If 'Star Wars' || 'Marvel' then 'go see it' else 'post on The RPF'

Not much need for any reviews, is there?

 

[Solo4114]

Based upon your second paragraph, I can write your decision tree in one minute:

If 'Star Wars' || 'Marvel' then 'go see it' else 'post on The RPF'

Not much need for any reviews, is there?

Actually, I'll see other stuff (it's just hard to think of things I've seen recently), but I have to have heard good things from friends I trust, or read a review from a site I trust (e.g. AVClub). Let's see... I saw the third Hunger Games movie, although that was at my wife's request and after having enjoyed the first two. I saw Star Trek Into Darkness and was...unimpressed. I saw Inception years ago. Saw a few others here and there. But for the most part, the movies that come out just...don't seem that interesting, and my decision tree is usually more along the lines of "I want to go see that movie in the theater" to the point where I've already decided to see it, rather than "I want to go to a theater to see a movie. What shall I go see?"

 

[JoeG]

The only people I know that put any stock in RT are all under the age of 30. They wont go see a movie in the theaters if it doesn't have a good score on RT. So, basically they don't go to the movies that often.

 

[SethS]

There's one other demo that looks to RT-- studios.

 

[Funky]

Heck, I'll say it.

I love Rotten Tomatoes. I've followed them for several years because for ME, it works. I used to check reviews AFTER I would see a movie, and sure enough, it would sum up my thoughts precisely.

Say what you will. I'm a "sheeple". I follow the masses. I'm a mindless cog. I have no brain of my own. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever, Slick. I know you're SO much cooler, sexier and smarter than the rest of us because of your "down with the man!" attitude! You refuse to follow anybody or anything and will go against the grain just so you can be a rebel, a rogue. You hate things that everybody else likes because you're just too complex to understand!

:lol Get over yourself, Sport. Rotten Tomatoes is POPULAR for a reason. Not everybody mindlessly follows the masses. Most people use the site as a tool because, well, let's face it. Movies are very expensive now days. If we decide to go to a movie, we have to find a sitter, plan the night and spend no less than 50.00 to sit through a two-hour, first run flick. Yes, its a chore but it doesn't detract us from the movie going experience, we just have to choose carefully what we go see as it may be three months before we get another opportunity. So, we use Rotten Tomatoes to help in making a smart decision about what we choose to see.

So say what you will about the site, SOMEONE finds it useful or it wouldn't be the monster that it is...and growing!

 

[CessnaDriver]

It's a great consumer tool if you actually read some of the reviews.
A movie with a high number simply may not work for me based on my tastes.
And conversely is so.