Rotten Tomatoes: Use Scores to Pick Movies and Shows

Rotten Tomatoes can save you time or steer you wrong — depending on how you read it. Here’s a clear, practical guide to the Tomatometer, audience score, and simple rules you can use next time you scroll for a film or series.

What the scores mean — in plain terms

The Tomatometer shows the percent of critics who gave a positive review. If 75% of critics liked a movie, the Tomatometer is 75%. “Certified Fresh” is a label for films with high scores and enough reviews. The Audience Score is the percent of users who rated it positively. Both matter, but they measure different things.

Remember: Tomatometer = critics’ view. Audience Score = what regular viewers think. A big gap between them tells you a story — usually about taste, tone, or expectations.

Quick rules to use when choosing what to watch

If both scores are high, it’s a safe bet. If both are low, skip it unless you’re curious. When critics love it but audiences don’t, expect a film that’s smart or slow — good if you want something thoughtful. When audiences love it but critics don’t, expect crowd-pleasing entertainment — fun if you want to be entertained.

Check the number of reviews. A 95% score based on 20 reviews is not the same as 95% from 200 reviews. Small sample sizes swing wildly.

Look at top critics and user comments. Critics explain why they liked or disliked a film. User comments show whether viewers found it entertaining, confusing, or emotionally moving. Both help you decide faster than the score alone.

Use the audience score for genre picks. Horror and action often get higher audience scores than critics give. If you like a genre, pay more attention to the audience side. If you care about craft, visuals, or originality, lean on critics.

Trailer plus score = better filter. Watch a short trailer and check both scores. If the trailer grabs you and at least one score is strong, it’s worth a try.

How we use Rotten Tomatoes at Ginger Apple News: when a film or show matters to our readers, we reference both Tomatometer and Audience Score and add context — like why critics disagreed or which parts viewers loved. Our aim is to help you decide quickly, not to replace your own taste.

Want a quick tip? Create your own mini-rules: 1) If Tomatometer >80% or Audience >80% and reviews >100, prioritize it. 2) If scores conflict, read one short critic review and two user comments. You’ll know fast.

Scroll down to see all stories tagged "Rotten Tomatoes" for reviews, analysis, and quick picks. If you’ve seen something with mixed scores, tell us why — reader takes help others decide.