We believe it is safe to say that the TV and movie review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes, has become somewhat of a Boggart (a shapeshifter). The review platform categorizes movies or TV shows into “fresh” or “rotten” based on the number of certified critics’ scores. On the other hand, the platform’s audience’s score is an aggregate of the viewers who give their scores after watching a film or a TV series. However, the number of criticisms and doubts raised by people regarding the credibility of Rotten Tomatoes has enhanced significantly in the last few years. Nowadays, it has become common to see projects with notable differences between their critics’ and audience’s scores. The latest epitome of this scenario is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The majority of critics have declared Sony’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire a “rotten’ film, with a 44% score based on 162 certified reviews. However, the story with the film’s audience’s score is quite different. Frozen Empire’s audience score stands at 86% based on 100+ verified ratings.
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Note: The ratings may change as more critics and audiences are expected to pour their reviews on Rotten Tomatoes after watching the film.
We have witnessed this sort of noticeable divide between critics’ and audience’s scores on Rotten Tomatoes many times. Do you remember Venom (2018)? For critics, the Tom Hardy starrer was nothing except an overstuffed mess. However, fans loved the entertainment it offered. Plus, Venom benefitted immensely from the global prominence of the character and its leading man. Critics gave it a 30% “rotten” score, whereas the audience rated it 80%.
People like having a good time while watching movies in theatres. They often look to save themselves from reading lengthy and laser-focused reviews from movie critics before watching movies. In addition, some people do not value critics’ reviews at all. Moreover, some critics get paid or rewarded for leaving good reviews of horrible movies and TV shows. So, it becomes hard for people to figure out which critic reviews they should consider.
While its credibility remains questionable, the audience’s score and its significance are something we cannot ignore. Nowadays, people believe the audience’s score more than the critics’, even if the former scores are fake. Many believe that the people who have watched a movie give their honest opinions about that film via the audience’s score. The value of the audience’s score represents the people’s overall mood towards a particular project.
One of the reasons behind Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire receiving such a high audience’s score is the nostalgia attached to it. The OG Ghostbusters gang, led by Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman is enough to attract all the diehard Ghostbusters fans. After all, who they gonna call if they see something strange in their neighbourhoods? Ghostbusters! Sorry folks for being a bit cheesy here!
Another factor that has contributed to this scenario is the film’s cast. It looks jam-packed! Apart from Murray and the OG Ghostbusters gang, we have Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, and more. These stars are not only talented but also quite popular among young viewers.
The consensus for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is that it is fun and exciting. However, the film lacks serious character development and appears overstuffed. But these things do not matter to people. They just want to have a good time! Frozen Empire will arrive in India on April 19, 2024. Stay tuned for more updates
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