Rotten Tomatoes Revamps Rating System After Critics Condemn ‘Horror Flop’ from Director Eli Roth as ‘Worst in Years’
LOS ANGELES — In a significant shift for the film industry, Rotten Tomatoes has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its audience verification system, following widespread backlash over the polarizing reception of director Eli Roth’s latest horror film, which critics have labeled the worst in recent years.
The decision, disclosed by the site’s editorial team on Monday, comes after the film, an unreleased title from Roth, received a staggeringly low score of 9% on the Tomatometer, with audience scores divided sharply along verified and non-verified lines. Officials stated that the new system, set to roll out in March, will require audience reviews to be linked to ticket purchase receipts, aiming to curb alleged ballot-stuffing and manipulation.
“This is a direct response to the growing discrepancies we observed, particularly with high-profile releases from directors like Eli Roth, where unverified reviews have skewed the aggregate,” said a spokesperson for Rotten Tomatoes. “Our goal remains to provide a trustworthy metric for viewers.”
The move has ignited debate among industry insiders, with some praising the crackdown on fake reviews and others warning that it could suppress legitimate fan voices. Analysts noted that the keyword “rotten tomatoes” saw a 400% spike in search traffic following the announcement, reflecting high public interest in the platform’s integrity.