Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb (Internet Movie Database) are well-known film review websites that help people look up and learn about films. These online sources assist people in deciding whether to watch a film or not. Although their opinions may not always align with your own views about a film, their ratings are generally unbiased and based on honest audience reviews. Each website has its own parameters for rating a movie and both have strengths and weaknesses.
Key Takeaways
- IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are online databases of films with ratings, but IMDb is broader, covering opinions on TV shows and video games.
- Rotten Tomatoes was launched in 1998, while IMDb is older, having started in 1990.
- IMDb ratings are based on audience reviews, while Rotten Tomatoes bases its ratings on reviews from certified members of writing guilds.
While IMDb covers a wider range of content, including TV shows, actors, and production crews, Rotten Tomatoes mainly focuses on Hollywood films. IMDb takes pride in being a rich database of films and entertainment media, even including video game reviews.
IMDb ratings, which range from 1-10, are based on audience reviews. Rotten Tomatoes, on the other hand, bases its ratings on reviews from certified members of writing guilds. The site’s staff then determines if the review of any critic is “fresh” (positive) or “rotten” (negative). Every year, one film is chosen to receive a golden tomato, signifying that it was the highest-rated film of the year.
In summary, both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are subjective but carry significant respect among audiences. IMDb covers more content apart from films, while Rotten Tomatoes is mostly concerned with Hollywood films. IMDb ratings are based on audience reviews, while Rotten Tomatoes bases its ratings on reviews from certified members of writing guilds.
