The Flawed Formula of Rotten Tomatoes’ Best Movies List
Popularity Over Art
Rotten Tomatoes recently released its list of the 100 Best Films of the 21st Century. Unfortunately, it often equates artistic quality with popularity. This approach can undermine the rankings since it leads to the inclusion of big animated hits in the top spots. Even more telling is the fact that films like "The King’s Speech," a 2011 Best Picture winner, made the list. This choice calls into question the list’s credibility, as it seems to overlook originality, timeless value, and cultural impact.
A Problematic Ranking System
The way Rotten Tomatoes combines the tastes of critics with those of general moviegoers is flawed. Their formula tends to favor movies with broader viewership, often resulting in a bias towards family-friendly films that attract large audiences. While some truly remarkable films do make the cut, most of the list includes movies that were simply popular among theatergoers.
Excluding Hidden Gems
One major issue with their approach is the focus on only Certified Fresh titles. This excludes great films that just missed the mark. The system attempts to balance critics’ opinions with those of everyday viewers, but it ends up favoring movies with more reviews. As a result, big-budget blockbusters and PG-rated family films climb to the top, while smaller indie films, with fewer viewers, are often ignored.
The Impact on Rankings
This skewed system means that popular movies with high viewership get the top spots. That’s why the list has only a handful of live-action films in the top 15. It’s a system that rewards box office success rather than artistic merit.
Finding a Better Balance
For a list like this to truly reflect the best films, it should find a better balance between popularity and artistic achievement. It’s important to include films that might not have been seen by millions but offer a unique storytelling experience or artistic innovation. By focusing too heavily on viewership numbers, the great, yet less mainstream, movies are overlooked.
Conclusion
Rotten Tomatoes’ list is supposed to capture the artistic essence of 21st-century cinema. However, by leaning heavily on popularity, it misses out on many gems that deserve recognition. While some fantastic films do make the list, the overall approach may not accurately capture the true spirit of the best films made since 2000.
