Frequently Asked Questions

• ABOUT ROTTEN TOMATOES

  Who owns Rotten Tomatoes? Who is the parent company?

  Rotten Tomatoes is owned by Fandango, which is a joint venture of majority owner Versant, and minority owner Warner Bros., which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

• COMMUNITY
  CODE OF CONDUCT

  Does Rotten Tomatoes have a Community Code of Conduct?

  At Rotten Tomatoes, we are always looking to update our policies to try to ensure we maintain a safe and fair community for every movie and TV fan. For our Community Code of Conduct, click HERE. You can also find our Tomatometer-approved Critics Code of Conduct HERE.

• ACCESSIBILITY

  At Fandango, we are committed to making our products, content, and experiences accessible to the widest possible audience, including people with disabilities. We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of Rotten Tomatoes. This website strives to conform to level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. We also provide closed captions on movie trailers that are available through our website. For more information or to contact us about an issue related to website accessibility, please contact us: Customer Support.

• TOMATOMETER

  What is the Tomatometer?

  Tomatometer scores are based on the collective opinions of hundreds of film and television critics and serve as a trusted measurement of critical entertainment recommendation for millions of fans. The Tomatometer score represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show. Learn more about our Tomatometer HERE.

  When does a Tomatometer score appear on the site?

  We have recently updated our criteria for the number of reviews it takes for a Tomatometer score to populate. You can read more about that HERE.

  Why do some scores fluctuate or change?

  Tomatometer scores are fluid, they can change over time as review counts fluctuate for a given film or TV show. Learn more about our Tomatometer HERE and how reviews are curated HERE.

  What is the difference between the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter?

  The Tomatometer score is calculated from reviews published by Tomatometer-approved critics. The Popcornmeter is calculated from ratings submitted to Rotten Tomatoes by users. Learn more about our Tomatometer and the Popcornmeter.

  How Does the Tomatometer work for Television?

  For television, there are three distinct Tomatometers: the overall Series Tomatometer, the Season Tomatometer, and the Episodic Tomatometer. Each television show has an overarching series page that contains individual season pages, and each season page contains individual episode pages. If one or more episodes get a score, they are averaged into an Episodic Tomatometer that is then averaged with the overall Season Tomatometer. In a nutshell, here's the Tomatometer math: The sum of all Seasons' Tomatometers ÷ Number of Seasons = Series Tomatometer.

  Why doesn't Rotten Tomatoes have a mixed rating?

  Tomatometer scores fall into 3 easy-to-understand categories: Fresh (60% and up), Rotten (59% and below), and Certified Fresh for films with more than 75% positive reviews that meet other criteria - see the criteria HERE.

  What is the Adjusted Tomatometer?

  The Adjusted Tomatometer Score, which often appears in editorial lists, takes into account the number of reviews, the year of release, and the average Tomatometer scores of other films released contemporaneously. It is primarily used when comparing or ranking films across several decades. The adjusted score is not the official Tomatometer score, and it is not used on movie or TV pages.

  What is the Recommendation Formula?

  The Recommendation Formula, which often appears in editorial lists, takes into account a movie's Tomatometer rating with assistance from its Popcornmeter. Other factors weighing into the movie recommendation formula: the number of critic reviews, the number of user ratings, and year of release. An editorial pass is reserved to finesse the final list, which includes minimum thresholds for each of these data points.

• REVIEWS

  What is an embargo date?

  A review embargo is set by the studio or TV network and prohibits outlets and organizations that have seen the film / TV show from posting reviews until that specified time. Sometimes studios and TV networks also set embargoes for social media reactions from critics and journalists.

  Why don't certain movies or TV shows have Tomatometer scores yet?

  We have recently updated our criteria for the number of reviews it takes for a Tomatometer score to populate. You can read more about that HERE.

  Why do certain movies only have a few reviews?

  There are a variety of reasons why a film or TV show may not have many reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The simplest explanation is there may not be many reviews from Tomatometer-approved critics available for that specific film or TV show in question. Other reasons include:

  • Some available reviews haven't been collected or added yet.
  • A film or TV show is from an era when film criticism was not as robust as it is now.
  • A film or TV show review appeared in a print publication and may not have been published or made available online.

  Why is one review with a 2.5 marked Fresh while another review marked 2.5 is marked Rotten? Likewise, why is one review with a 3/5 marked Fresh while another is marked Rotten? Shouldn't they always be Fresh or always be Rotten?

  Sometimes a reviewer will give a rating that is in the middle, so a decision has to be made: is it Fresh or is it Rotten? When those reviews have been added to RT by a self-submitting critic or publication, we defer to their judgement. When our review curation team comes across a mixed review, we have a process in place to determine whether it is mixed-positive or mixed-negative. When two reviews that have the same individual rating are alternately marked Fresh and Rotten, it means that for one of those reviews, the critic felt mixed-positive, and for the other, the critic felt mixed-negative. Learn more about our curation process HERE.

  Who writes these reviews? Will you post mine?

  Tomatometer-approved critics come from all across the U.S., and the world. They publish on a variety of platforms - among them you'll find podcasters, newspaper and magazine writers, bloggers, and YouTubers. Their reviews embody several key values - insight and dedication among them - and meet a set of Eligibility Guidelines. See our list of Tomatometer-approved critics.

  While only critics’ reviews populate the Tomatometer score, Rotten Tomatoes users may rate and review movies and TV seasons to count for the Popcornmeter.

  Where is the Average rating now on the site?

  The average rating can be viewed by clicking on the Tomatometer or Popcornmeter in the score box on movie and TV pages.

  What is the Average Rating? How is it calculated?

  The Average Rating is an average of the individual critic scores, based on a 1-10 scale. Each critic's original rating scale (e.g. star, letter grade, numeric) is converted to a number between 1 and 10, and then the numbers are averaged. Reviews without individual ratings are not counted in the Average Rating calculation, and a minimum of five reviews with individual ratings is required for an Average Rating to be calculated. The Average Rating measures the overall quality of a film or TV show based on an average of individual critic scores. The Tomatometer simply measures the percentage of positive reviews for a given film or TV show.

  Where do television reviews go?

  TV reviews are added to the season page, not the series page. Reviews written by the same critic or publication that analyze a season in installments, episode by episode, are added to the appropriate episode pages. Reviews by the same critic cannot be added to both the season page and the episode pages at the same time.

• CRITICS

  Does Rotten Tomatoes employ critics?

  No, Rotten Tomatoes does not employ critics.

  What is a review aggregator?

  A review aggregator is a website that collects reviews of products and services. Rotten Tomatoes collects film and TV reviews from critics who publish at outlets worldwide. These reviews are rated either Fresh or Rotten, which contributes to a film or TV show's Tomatometer score. Learn more about the Tomatometer HERE.

  What is the difference between a critic review, an audience review, and a user rating?

  Critics’ reviews count towards the Tomatometer, while audience reviews and ratings count towards the Popcornmeter.

  A critic review is a review of a film or TV show that has been published by a Tomatometer-approved critic or source.

  An audience review is a review of a film or TV show that has been submitted by a Rotten Tomatoes user. A Rotten Tomatoes user may choose to leave only a rating (no review) through a star-rating mechanism. Learn more about audience reviews and user ratings HERE.

  Who are the approved Tomatometer critics?

  Tomatometer-approved critics come from all across the U.S., and the world. They publish on a variety of platforms - among them you'll find podcasters, newspaper and magazine writers, bloggers, and YouTubers. Their reviews embody several key values - insight and dedication among them - and meet a set of Eligibility Guidelines. See our list of Tomatometer-approved critics.

  Is there a list of all the critics and outlets on Rotten Tomatoes, and where can I find it?

  This page lists the active critics on RT: rottentomatoes.com/critics/authors.

  Critics who have “Individually approved” next to their name may add reviews even from outlets that are not approved. Those without this indicator may only add reviews from Tomatometer-approved outlets.

  This page lists the active outlets on RT: rottentomatoes.com/critics/sources.

  Outlets that have “Approved publication” next to their name may add reviews even from critics that are not approved. Those without this indicator may only add reviews from individually approved critics. Critics and outlets’ active status change constantly because of their activity.

  Critics that are no longer active on the Tomatometer but whose past reviews are still part of the Tomatometer can be found HERE.

  How can I become a Tomatometer-approved critic?

  To become Tomatometer-approved, critics and outlets need to meet the eligibility guidelines and key values outlined in our Critics Criteria. Applications for Tomatometer-approval are available to individual critics and publications (including podcasts, YouTube channels, and written outlets) – submissions are open annually in March.

  What is the difference between a Tomatometer-approved critic and a Tomatometer-approved publication?

  Individually-approved critics are professional film and TV critics whose reviews are included on Rotten Tomatoes, even when the review’s publication is not Tomatometer-approved.

  Tomatometer-approved publications include websites, online video outlets, newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, alt-weeklies, podcasts, radio programs, and TV shows. If a publication is approved, its reviews of movies or shows are included on the Tomatometer, even if the critic who authored it is not individually approved.

  How does someone become a Top Critic?

  Unlike Tomatometer-approved critics, who can apply for approval, Top Critic status is granted based on a set of criteria and a selection panel that includes the Rotten Tomatoes critics community and curation teams, and an Advisory Board of professional critics. It cannot be applied for.

  Top Critic status can be awarded to individual critics and publications. Critics’ reviews show the badge when they are individually designated (all of their reviews have the badge) or when contributing to a Top Publication (their reviews only receive the badge at Top Publications).

  How are Top Critics and Top Publications selected?

  Rotten Tomatoes has an internal team who continuously monitors and proactively identifies critics who qualify for Top Critic status. Candidates are reviewed by a group of their peers and professional critics.

• AUDIENCE REVIEWS

  What is the difference between an audience review and a user rating?

  An audience review is a text review of a film or TV show that has been submitted by a Rotten Tomatoes user. A User Rating is a user's star rating on a film or TV show, without a text review.

  How do I leave a review?

  If you are logged in, you can go to any movie or TV show's page to rate and/or review it using the star-rating system and text box. You can see your review and rating history by clicking on Profile in the drop-down menu at the top right of the page.

  What is the minimum length of an Audience Review?

  We require reviews to be a minimum of 8 characters in length.

  What is the maximum length of an audience review?

  Reviews cannot exceed 1,000 characters in length.

  When do I get to submit my audience review?

  After confirming your email address, you can write a review when logged in to the site through a Rotten Tomatoes account or Gmail log-in. When you are logged in, you'll be able to view a movie's details page and rate and/or review the movie using the stars and text box. For movies, reviews can be left after the film's theatrical release date. For TV, you may only leave reviews under a specific Season once it premieres.

  Why is my review not showing up right away?

  Reviews are evaluated against our Community Code of Conduct. In some instances, reviews may get routed in our system for additional checks and this may result in a slight delay. If you continue having trouble, contact customer service.

  When does the Popcornmeter appear?

  The Popcornmeter becomes available after the release date for a film or TV show, after audiences have had a chance to view and review or rate it. For the Popcornmeter to populate, a TV Season needs a minimum of 25 audience reviews or ratings; movies need 50 or more. You can read more about our thresholds HERE.

  Why can't I leave a review before the movie is released?

  Rotten Tomatoes users can only leave audience reviews and user ratings following a movie's U.S. release date, as listed on our site.

  Why do some movies display a Popcornmeter before their release date?

  A number of films are shown in special preview screenings or early screening series prior to their official U.S. release date. We allow users to rate and review these movies from the time of their first large-scale screenings.

  What is a Verified Review?

  A Verified Review is a review written by a user who we can confirm bought a ticket to the movie they're reviewing, which we believe is a strong indicator that they have seen the movie. “Verified” will be displayed next to a review to help users identify which reviews are “Verified.”

  How does my review become verified?

  When you submit a review on Rotten Tomatoes, if the account matches the email address you used to buy your ticket on Fandango, we will mark your review as “Verified”. You may alternatively leave a Verified Review through Fandango, using the account associated with your ticket purchase.

  How do I know if my review has been verified?

  If we're able to verify your ticket purchase, you'll see “Verified” next to your review once it's posted to Rotten Tomatoes.

  Why is my review not verified?

  Currently, if you did not buy your ticket from Fandango, your review cannot be “Verified”. We are planning to work with other ticket providers to help verify Rotten Tomatoes reviews and will add new options for verification in the future. If you purchased a ticket from Fandango and are having issues with your review being verified, please contact customer service.

  Do all movies have Verified Reviews?

  Verified Reviews are possible for movies released in theaters in the United States from May 2019 onward. Currently, Verified Ratings or Reviews are not possible for movies released before that date and movies not released theatrically, as well as TV and streaming titles. We are planning to add functionality that will allow us to verify reviews no matter how and where a user saw a movie, TV, or streaming title.

  Can I see all user ratings and reviews, even if they weren't Verified?

  Yes - click on the Popcornmeter and choose “All Audience” to see those reviews.

  Can reviews from outside of the United States be verified?

  Currently, we are only able to verify reviews for movies from reviewers who purchased tickets in the United States. We are working on ways we may be able to offer this feature for other reviewers outside of the United States in the future.

  Why aren't there Verified Reviews on television pages and all movie pages?

  Verified Reviews are available for movies that were released in the United States May 2019 - the date we added this feature. We're planning to add other ticket and content providers in the future to help us verify reviews for more movies and TV/streaming.

  Will you be adding more ways to verify reviews?

  We are actively working on adding more ticket providers to help us confirm ticket purchases, as well as functionality that will allow us to verify reviews no matter how and where the user saw a movie.

  Can I verify my reviews for Netflix and other streaming services?

  Not currently, but we are always looking to improve the usefulness of our audience rating system for fans and are working on ways we may be able to do this in future.

  I purchased a physical ticket to a movie; how do I verify my review?

  Currently, we cannot verify physical ticket purchases. However, we're currently considering ways we could do so in the future.

  Someone purchased a ticket for me, how do I verify my review?

  At this time, we can only verify one review and rating per transaction. So, if someone buys more than one ticket - say, for a bunch of friends - each person can leave a review, but only the person with the email address used for the purchase can have their review verified.

  Which companies are included in verifying tickets? Will there be more added in the future?

  Currently, users can verify their reviews through Fandango. We are currently working to bring on additional ticket providers to help us verify reviews and ratings.

  If my review is Verified, why isn't it included in the Tomatometer?

  The Tomatometer is generated by the reviews of Tomatometer-approved professional critics who meet a set of criteria. These are professional, working movie and TV critics. Verified Reviews and Ratings are made up of users who we can confirm purchased a ticket to the movie they're reviewing.

  I have a Rotten Tomatoes account, why is my review not Verified?

  Reviews and Ratings are Verified when we can confirm the user bought a ticket to the movie.

  I did buy a ticket on Fandango, but my review is not verified: why?

  The review might not be verified for a couple of reasons. First, if the email address for your Rotten Tomatoes account does not match your Fandango account email, we will not be able to confirm your ticket purchase and verify your review. Second, verifiable reviews may not be possible for the title you are reviewing (e.g. if it is an older movie being re-released, or if it is a streaming or TV title).

  My ticket purchase was confirmed, but my Verified Review is not showing up on the site. Why can't I see my review?

  Reviews are subject to moderation and evaluated against our Community Code of Conduct. In some instances, reviews may get routed in our system for additional checks and this may result in a slight delay. If you continue having trouble, contact customer service.

• CERTIFIED FRESH &
  VERIFIED HOT

  How does a movie or TV show qualify for Certified Fresh or Verified Hot status?

  For information on Certified Fresh and Verified Hot status, click HERE.

  What is the difference between a Certified Fresh or Verified Hot wide release and a Certified Fresh or Verified Hot limited release?

  Because films in limited release open in far fewer theaters than films in wide release, the threshold to achieve Certified Fresh or Verified Hot status is lower. For more information on what qualifies a film for Certified Fresh or Verified Hot status, click HERE.

  Can a film or TV show lose Certified Fresh or Verified Hot status?

  Yes. To keep a Certified Fresh designation, a film or TV season must maintain a Tomatometer of 70% or higher. Verified Hot titles must remain at 80% on the Popcornmeter or above.

  Why are TV/streaming titles not eligible for Verified Hot?

  In order to be eligible for Verified Hot, we need to verify ratings and reviews. At this time, we’re working on expanding our verification capabilities to include television.

• CURATION

  What does the curation team do?

  Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes may be added by a team of curators who check Tomatometer-approved sources daily for new review articles, videos, and podcasts. Reviews are thoroughly assessed by a curator to determine if it should be rated as Fresh or Rotten. Next, the curator looks for a pull-quote that best demonstrates the review’s overall sentiment. Lastly, they include the original rating given by the critic, when available.

  Reviews may also be added directly to the site by the Tomatometer-approved critics or outlets that published them. They choose their own quotes and Fresh/Rotten designations.

  How are reviews submitted?

  Reviews are added in two ways: either through curation or by self-submitting Tomatometer-approved critics, who add their reviews themselves. Only reviews from approved critics and sources are included on the Tomatometer. Have we missed any? Please submit any reviews by Tomatometer-approved sources HERE.

  What is the difference between a self-submitted review and a curated review?

  A self-submitted review is directly added to Rotten Tomatoes by either the Tomatometer-approved critic or publication. A curated review is added by a member of the Rotten Tomatoes curation team.

  Do you ever reach out to a reviewer to get clarification on a review?

  Yes. If the curation team is unable to reach a consensus on a review, we reach out to the reviewer and ask them to make the call.

  How do you determine whether a review with no star rating is Fresh or Rotten?

  When a review does not have a star rating or letter grade, a Rotten Tomatoes curator will assess whether it is Fresh or Rotten. The curator may also reach out directly to the critic or publication for confirmation.

  How do I submit a movie title to Rotten Tomatoes?

  Before submitting a movie title to us, please do the following:

  • Make sure we don't already have the title in our database by searching for it in the search field at the top of our site.
  • If you'd like to make a simple edit to an existing page, submit a data request to us with the following: a link where information about the movie is listed, or provide basic details including the title, release year, and name of the director(s).
  • If you cannot find the title you're looking for, submit a new page request via this form and provide as much information as possible. Please note that page creation is at the discretion of Rotten Tomatoes staff and may depend on additional criteria, as well as team resources. Not all requests may be fulfilled

  Your movie/actor information is wrong!

  Thanks for catching that. We work hard to make sure all of our movie and actor information is correct, but sometimes this is not the case, due to studio changes, data import errors, etc. We also list wide release dates, which may look wrong to users who live in areas with previews and limited release showings.

  If you do find inaccurate data, please tell us HERE and we will check the data against our sources and contact the publicist or distributor if necessary.

• USER ACCOUNTS

  Can I merge my Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes accounts?

  No, Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes accounts cannot be merged.

  I can't log into my RT account through the web or App. What should I do?

  If you've tried refreshing and using different browsers, but still have difficulties accessing your account, please reach out to our support team.

  What can I do if my account has been deleted?

  Inactive accounts may be deleted per our account retention and security policies. If you wish to rejoin Rotten Tomatoes, you may create a new account.

  Why can't I login via Facebook?

  Facebook login is no longer supported on Rotten Tomatoes. We support email, Google, and Apple login. If your Facebook email address is different from your Rotten Tomatoes account email, OR you disabled email sharing at the time of account creation in your Facebook privacy settings, your data may be lost. Contact customer service for further assistance.

  Why can't I change my account username?

  If you are logged in through Rotten Tomatoes, you can change your account username by scrolling over your name in the top right corner of any RT page and clicking the “Account” link. That will take you to the Account Settings page, where you will see the option to change your Profile Display Name.

  Why can't I change my account profile image?

  Currently, there is no way to change your profile image on the web. The RT App, however, offers multiple profile picture options under “edit profile”. If you update your profile on the App, the new avatar will be reflected on RottenTomatoes.com.

  Why do I need to confirm my account?

  We ask our users confirm their accounts as a security precaution and to maintain the authenticity of the Popcornmeter.

  How do I cancel a profile and remove my account?

  If you want to cancel a Rotten Tomatoes account, please tell us HERE or log in through our App to delete your account.

  I have a question regarding my Flixster Video Ultraviolet account.

  Flixster video is no longer in service and neither is UltraViolet.

• ROTTEN TOMATOES APP

  What is the Rotten Tomatoes App?

  The Rotten Tomatoes App is your go-to guide for discovering what to watch next across movies and TV.

  The App features everything you know and love, including thousands of movies and TV discovery pages, Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores, critic and audience reviews, celebrity interviews, trailers, entertainment news, and more, all wrapped into an intuitive, mobile-friendly format. It also creates a space for you to curate personal watchlists, leave ratings and reviews, and share your favorites, while following other trusted voices on your social feed

  Do I need to create a Rotten Tomatoes user account to access the App?

  Yes.

  How do I sign up for an account?

  Once you download the Rotten Tomatoes App, you can create an account using your email address, Google or Apple.

  How is the App different from RottenTomatoes.com?

  On the App, you can:

  • Personalize your experience with a custom avatar and social handle
  • Create and share lists of your favorite movies and TV shows
  • Follow users, critics, and publications
  • Discover content through featured and following feeds
  • React with Tomojis
  • Get insider tips from aRTi, Rotten Tomatoes' official AI assistant

  Is the App available for both iOS and Android?

  Yes.

  Where can I download the Rotten Tomatoes App?

  Simply search for “Rotten Tomatoes” in the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

  Is the App free?

  Yes, the App is free to download and use.

  Is the Rotten Tomatoes App available internationally?

  Currently, the App is only available in the United States and is not yet accessible worldwide.

  Do I need an internet connection to use the App?

  Yes, the App requires an internet connection

• aRTi

  What is aRTi?

  aRTi is Rotten Tomatoes' official AI assistant and will serve as the ultimate trusted guide to discover what to watch and where to watch it, providing the best recommendations for everything related to movies and TV.

  How was aRTi created?

  aRTi was created from the extensive site data available from Rotten Tomatoes, leveraging the world famous Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores, critic and audience reviews, RT's editorial features and guides to create recommendations for users.

  Is aRTi the ultimate critic?

  No, aRTi is the ultimate recommendation resource and does not replace any of the key features on Rotten Tomatoes. aRTi leverages scores, reviews, and RT editorial guides to help you find what to watch and where to watch it. aRTi can also share fun entertainment facts and suggest pages and official accounts you may want to follow.

  What does aRTi stand for?

  It's a fun spin on an AI version of Rotten Tomatoes.

  Is aRTi compatible with all systems?

  aRTi is currently available on the Rotten Tomatoes App and web.

  Do I need an RT account to use aRTi?

  Yes, you do need to create a Rotten Tomatoes user account.

  Can aRTi understand different languages?

  While it works best in English, aRTi can understand and respond in different languages.

  Is aRTi available outside of the United States?

  aRTi is currently only available in the United States.

  Can I still use search as I always have?

  Yes.

• FEEDBACK

  Feedback can be submitted to our customer service team HERE.