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IMDb vs Rotten Tomatoes: where critics and audiences part ways

We compared IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic on 4,741 films and series. The real split is not between the two websites but between critics and audiences: critics agree with critics (0.91), audiences with audiences (0.82). Rotten Tomatoes’ own critics and audience agree least of all (0.69).

Ratings as of 28 October 2026. Titles with at least 10,000 IMDb votes and 20 critic reviews.

Who agrees with whom

Each number is a rank correlation: 1 means two sources put the same titles in the same order, 0 means their orders have nothing in common.

Same kind of raterCritics against audiences

IMDb and the Rotten Tomatoes audience score are both votes by viewers, and they order titles much alike (0.82). The Tomatometer and Metacritic both sum up professional reviews, and they agree even more (0.91). Every pairing of a critics’ score with an audience score agrees less, including the two scores on the same Rotten Tomatoes page (0.69). So when IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes disagree, it is usually because one quotes critics and the other viewers.

Every title on one map

Each square counts the titles with that IMDb rating (across) and Tomatometer (up); the scale below the chart shows how many. The line is the typical Tomatometer for each IMDb rating, and the dots are the titles named further down.

Every title on one map Heatmap of 4,741 titles by IMDb rating and Tomatometer. Most titles sit along a curve that rises steeply between IMDb 6 and 7 and flattens close to 100% above IMDb 8. IMDb 3.0–3.1, Tomatometer 0–4%: 5 titlesIMDb 3.4–3.5, Tomatometer 0–4%: 1 titleIMDb 3.6–3.7, Tomatometer 0–4%: 1 titleIMDb 3.8–3.9, Tomatometer 0–4%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 0–4%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 0–4%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 0–4%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 0–4%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 0–4%: 3 titlesIMDb 3.0–3.1, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 3.4–3.5, Tomatometer 5–9%: 1 titleIMDb 3.6–3.7, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 5–9%: 3 titlesIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 5–9%: 5 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 5–9%: 1 titleIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 5–9%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 5–9%: 7 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 5–9%: 2 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 5–9%: 1 titleIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 5–9%: 1 titleIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 5–9%: 1 titleIMDb 3.8–3.9, Tomatometer 10–14%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 10–14%: 4 titlesIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 10–14%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 10–14%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 10–14%: 9 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 10–14%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 10–14%: 4 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 10–14%: 8 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 10–14%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 10–14%: 7 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 10–14%: 6 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 10–14%: 3 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 10–14%: 3 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 10–14%: 2 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 10–14%: 2 titlesIMDb 3.6–3.7, Tomatometer 15–19%: 1 titleIMDb 3.8–3.9, Tomatometer 15–19%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 15–19%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 15–19%: 4 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 15–19%: 3 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 15–19%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 15–19%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 15–19%: 7 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 15–19%: 10 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 15–19%: 16 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 15–19%: 13 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 15–19%: 5 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 15–19%: 3 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 15–19%: 4 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 15–19%: 1 titleIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 15–19%: 1 titleIMDb 3.8–3.9, Tomatometer 20–24%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 20–24%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 20–24%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 20–24%: 6 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 20–24%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 20–24%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 20–24%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 20–24%: 17 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 20–24%: 19 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 20–24%: 16 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 20–24%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 20–24%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 20–24%: 6 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 20–24%: 6 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 20–24%: 2 titlesIMDb 3.2–3.3, Tomatometer 25–29%: 1 titleIMDb 3.8–3.9, Tomatometer 25–29%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 25–29%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 25–29%: 3 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 25–29%: 1 titleIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 25–29%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 25–29%: 11 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 25–29%: 13 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 25–29%: 10 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 25–29%: 12 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 25–29%: 22 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 25–29%: 16 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 25–29%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 25–29%: 6 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 25–29%: 9 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 25–29%: 3 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 25–29%: 5 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 25–29%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 30–34%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 30–34%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 30–34%: 8 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 30–34%: 7 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 30–34%: 13 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 30–34%: 16 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 30–34%: 13 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 30–34%: 8 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 30–34%: 9 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 30–34%: 18 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 30–34%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 30–34%: 5 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 30–34%: 5 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 30–34%: 2 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 30–34%: 1 titleIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 30–34%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 35–39%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 35–39%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 35–39%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 35–39%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 35–39%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 35–39%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 35–39%: 13 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 35–39%: 19 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 35–39%: 5 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 35–39%: 15 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 35–39%: 18 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 35–39%: 13 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 35–39%: 11 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 35–39%: 15 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 35–39%: 2 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 35–39%: 3 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 35–39%: 1 titleIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 35–39%: 1 titleIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 35–39%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 40–44%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 40–44%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 40–44%: 3 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 40–44%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 40–44%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 40–44%: 4 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 40–44%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 40–44%: 21 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 40–44%: 15 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 40–44%: 11 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 40–44%: 25 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 40–44%: 14 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 40–44%: 16 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 40–44%: 8 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 40–44%: 3 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 40–44%: 5 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 40–44%: 1 titleIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 40–44%: 1 titleIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 45–49%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 45–49%: 4 titlesIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 45–49%: 1 titleIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 45–49%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 45–49%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 45–49%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 45–49%: 16 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 45–49%: 10 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 45–49%: 19 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 45–49%: 25 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 45–49%: 18 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 45–49%: 20 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 45–49%: 18 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 45–49%: 7 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 45–49%: 2 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 45–49%: 3 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 45–49%: 3 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 45–49%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 50–54%: 1 titleIMDb 4.8–4.9, Tomatometer 50–54%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 50–54%: 4 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 50–54%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 50–54%: 10 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 50–54%: 9 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 50–54%: 17 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 50–54%: 22 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 50–54%: 20 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 50–54%: 20 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 50–54%: 14 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 50–54%: 5 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 50–54%: 12 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 50–54%: 10 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 50–54%: 3 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 50–54%: 1 titleIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 50–54%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 55–59%: 1 titleIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 55–59%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 55–59%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 55–59%: 5 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 55–59%: 12 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 55–59%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 55–59%: 16 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 55–59%: 22 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 55–59%: 23 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 55–59%: 29 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 55–59%: 11 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 55–59%: 22 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 55–59%: 4 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 55–59%: 11 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 55–59%: 7 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 55–59%: 2 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 55–59%: 1 titleIMDb 3.0–3.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 4.0–4.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 60–64%: 2 titlesIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 5.0–5.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 60–64%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 60–64%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 60–64%: 8 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 60–64%: 6 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 11 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 60–64%: 17 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 60–64%: 18 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 60–64%: 27 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 60–64%: 18 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 18 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 60–64%: 19 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 60–64%: 11 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 60–64%: 8 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 60–64%: 5 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 60–64%: 3 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 60–64%: 3 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 60–64%: 1 titleIMDb 4.2–4.3, Tomatometer 65–69%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 65–69%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 65–69%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 65–69%: 4 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 65–69%: 12 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 65–69%: 6 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 65–69%: 14 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 65–69%: 17 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 65–69%: 29 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 65–69%: 39 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 65–69%: 23 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 65–69%: 26 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 65–69%: 25 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 65–69%: 10 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 65–69%: 6 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 65–69%: 12 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 65–69%: 5 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 65–69%: 3 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 65–69%: 2 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 65–69%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 70–74%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 70–74%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 70–74%: 6 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 70–74%: 12 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 70–74%: 8 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 70–74%: 27 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 70–74%: 24 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 70–74%: 37 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 70–74%: 40 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 70–74%: 31 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 70–74%: 29 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 70–74%: 21 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 70–74%: 12 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 70–74%: 8 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 70–74%: 6 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 70–74%: 3 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 70–74%: 2 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 70–74%: 3 titlesIMDb 3.2–3.3, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 4.4–4.5, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 4.6–4.7, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 75–79%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 75–79%: 5 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 75–79%: 9 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 75–79%: 13 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 75–79%: 29 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 75–79%: 29 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 75–79%: 27 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 75–79%: 52 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 75–79%: 41 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 75–79%: 38 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 75–79%: 23 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 75–79%: 13 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 75–79%: 19 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 75–79%: 10 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 75–79%: 4 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 75–79%: 4 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 75–79%: 4 titlesIMDb 9.0–9.1, Tomatometer 75–79%: 1 titleIMDb 3.6–3.7, Tomatometer 80–84%: 1 titleIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 80–84%: 1 titleIMDb 5.4–5.5, Tomatometer 80–84%: 3 titlesIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 80–84%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 80–84%: 7 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 80–84%: 7 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 80–84%: 19 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 80–84%: 19 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 80–84%: 30 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 80–84%: 39 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 80–84%: 55 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 80–84%: 59 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 80–84%: 42 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 80–84%: 41 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 80–84%: 25 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 80–84%: 25 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 80–84%: 16 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 80–84%: 14 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 80–84%: 7 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 80–84%: 2 titlesIMDb 9.0–9.1, Tomatometer 80–84%: 1 titleIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 85–89%: 3 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 85–89%: 4 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 85–89%: 14 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 85–89%: 18 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 85–89%: 35 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 85–89%: 38 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 85–89%: 57 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 85–89%: 84 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 85–89%: 75 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 85–89%: 65 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 85–89%: 40 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 85–89%: 39 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 85–89%: 33 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 85–89%: 22 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 85–89%: 9 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 85–89%: 2 titlesIMDb 9.2–9.3, Tomatometer 85–89%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.2–5.3, Tomatometer 90–94%: 1 titleIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 90–94%: 2 titlesIMDb 5.8–5.9, Tomatometer 90–94%: 3 titlesIMDb 6.0–6.1, Tomatometer 90–94%: 8 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 90–94%: 7 titlesIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 90–94%: 19 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 90–94%: 21 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 90–94%: 29 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 90–94%: 50 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 90–94%: 84 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 90–94%: 89 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 90–94%: 88 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 90–94%: 65 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 90–94%: 80 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 90–94%: 56 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 90–94%: 51 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 90–94%: 28 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 90–94%: 7 titlesIMDb 9.0–9.1, Tomatometer 90–94%: 5 titlesIMDb 9.2–9.3, Tomatometer 90–94%: 2 titlesIMDb 9.4–9.5, Tomatometer 90–94%: 1 titleIMDb 5.6–5.7, Tomatometer 95–99%: 2 titlesIMDb 6.2–6.3, Tomatometer 95–99%: 1 titleIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 95–99%: 2 titlesIMDb 6.6–6.7, Tomatometer 95–99%: 5 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 95–99%: 16 titlesIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 95–99%: 27 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 95–99%: 48 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 95–99%: 70 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 95–99%: 84 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 95–99%: 83 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 95–99%: 98 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 95–99%: 56 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 95–99%: 38 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 95–99%: 25 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 95–99%: 7 titlesIMDb 9.0–9.1, Tomatometer 95–99%: 7 titlesIMDb 9.2–9.3, Tomatometer 95–99%: 3 titlesIMDb 9.4–9.5, Tomatometer 95–99%: 1 titleIMDb 6.4–6.5, Tomatometer 100%: 2 titlesIMDb 6.8–6.9, Tomatometer 100%: 1 titleIMDb 7.0–7.1, Tomatometer 100%: 2 titlesIMDb 7.2–7.3, Tomatometer 100%: 6 titlesIMDb 7.4–7.5, Tomatometer 100%: 19 titlesIMDb 7.6–7.7, Tomatometer 100%: 15 titlesIMDb 7.8–7.9, Tomatometer 100%: 14 titlesIMDb 8.0–8.1, Tomatometer 100%: 26 titlesIMDb 8.2–8.3, Tomatometer 100%: 17 titlesIMDb 8.4–8.5, Tomatometer 100%: 12 titlesIMDb 8.6–8.7, Tomatometer 100%: 13 titlesIMDb 8.8–8.9, Tomatometer 100%: 4 titlesIMDb 9.0–9.1, Tomatometer 100%: 2 titlesIMDb 9.2–9.3, Tomatometer 100%: 1 titleIMDb 9.4–9.5, Tomatometer 100%: 2 titles 34567890%25%50%75%100% IMDb rating Tomatometer P.S. I Love You (2007): IMDb 7.0, Tomatometer 25%P.S. I Love YouWhere the Crawdads Sing (2022): IMDb 7.2, Tomatometer 34%Remember Me (2010): IMDb 7.1, Tomatometer 26%Collateral Beauty (2016): IMDb 6.8, Tomatometer 14%Man on Fire (2004): IMDb 7.7, Tomatometer 39%Man on FireLaw Abiding Citizen (2009): IMDb 7.4, Tomatometer 26%John Q (2002): IMDb 7.1, Tomatometer 26%The Terminal List (2022): IMDb 7.9, Tomatometer 42%Prison Break (2005): IMDb 8.3, Tomatometer 61%Prison BreakMarvel's The Punisher (2017): IMDb 8.4, Tomatometer 64%See (2019): IMDb 7.6, Tomatometer 63%Spartacus (2010): IMDb 8.4, Tomatometer 64%His House (2020): IMDb 6.4, Tomatometer 100%His House1922 (2017): IMDb 6.2, Tomatometer 92%The Night House (2021): IMDb 6.4, Tomatometer 88%Creep (2014): IMDb 6.3, Tomatometer 91%Freaky Friday (2003): IMDb 6.4, Tomatometer 88%Freaky FridayHigh School Musical 2 (2007): IMDb 5.3, Tomatometer 83%Strange World (2022): IMDb 5.7, Tomatometer 72%Stuart Little 2 (2002): IMDb 5.5, Tomatometer 82%
fewer titles more titles typical Tomatometer titles named in this article
4,741 films and series; IMDb ratings below 3 are drawn at 3.

Two different measurements

The Tomatometer is not an average. It is the share of critics whose review is positive: a film every critic finds decent scores 100%, a film half of them love and half of them pan scores 50%. IMDb shows a weighted average of votes from 1 to 10. The Rotten Tomatoes audience score, the Popcornmeter, is a share again: the viewers who give 3.5 stars or more.

That is why the Tomatometer runs out of room at the top. Between IMDb 6.0 and 7.0 the typical Tomatometer climbs from 55% to 84%; from IMDb 8.0 up it only moves from 93% to 96%. 136 titles have a perfect 100%, with IMDb ratings from 6.4 to 9.4: 100% means no critic disliked it, not that it is a masterpiece.

What an IMDb rating usually means on Rotten Tomatoes

IMDb ratingTypical TomatometerTypical audience scoreTitles
under 5.020%29%141
5.0–5.430%38%181
5.5–5.939%46%411
6.0–6.455%57%582
6.5–6.970%69%807
7.0–7.484%79%988
7.5–7.990%86%835
8.0–8.493%91%584
8.5–8.993%93%184
9.0 and up96%95%28

Typical = median: half the titles in the band score higher, half lower.

Where everyone agrees

At the very top the three scores meet. The most-voted titles with at least 8.3 on IMDb, 97% from critics and 95% from audiences:

Audiences loved them, critics did not

These titles score far below the typical Tomatometer for their IMDb rating. Three kinds of film and series come up again and again:

Tearjerkers and romance

Big feelings, swelling music, an ending built for tears. Viewers rate the experience; critics mark down the formula.

Taking justice into their own hands

Revenge thrillers and lone heroes: audiences enjoy the payoff, critics object to how the story gets there.

Series their fans stayed with

Critics mostly review a season from its first episodes; on IMDb, the fans who watched to the end do the rating.

Critics loved them, audiences shrugged

The opposite gap is rarer and smaller: above IMDb 7.5 the Tomatometer has little room left to beat expectations. Two kinds stand out:

Horror that critics champion

Low-budget horror with an idea gets reviewed for the idea. Viewers who came to be scared rate the scares.

Family films, judged as family films

Critics review a family film for what it sets out to do. On IMDb, everyone who watched it rates it like any other film.

Series, documentaries and old films

Critics and audiences agree much less on series (0.53) than on films (0.76). A series changes over its seasons, and one score has to sum up all of them.

Documentaries are where the Tomatometer tells least apart: the typical documentary scores 94%, against 75% for all films, and the orders of critics and IMDb voters barely match (0.43).

Films made before 1970 agree less (0.44) than films since 1990 (0.74). Only the old films people still watch reach 10,000 IMDb votes, so nearly all of them score well on both sites, and small differences decide the order.

When an audience score is a campaign

Audience scores are open to anyone with an account. When a title turns into a cause, such as a franchise change some fans reject or a film about a public figure, the votes measure the cause as much as the film. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best-known case: 91% from critics, 41% from the Rotten Tomatoes audience, 6.8 on IMDb.

Some of the largest gaps in our data, in both directions, are documentaries and biopics about politicians and other public figures. We left them out of the examples above: their ratings say more about the subject than about the film.

Both sites guard against this. IMDb shows a weighted average and does not disclose the weighting; Rotten Tomatoes also publishes an audience score from users it can verify have seen the film.

How hüt abig uses both

hüt abig’s Overall score counts both sides: IMDb 40, Metacritic 20, Rotten Tomatoes critics 15 and audience 5, TMDB 15, Metacritic users 5 and awards 10 (default weights). A title has to convince critics and audiences to reach the top. You can set your own weights in the app.

Open the ranking and set your own weights

FAQ

Is IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes more reliable?
Neither; they answer different questions. IMDb tells you how much viewers liked a title, the Tomatometer how many critics recommend it. On 4,741 titles the two agree fairly well (0.74); where they don’t, ask yourself which kind of viewer you are.
What is a good Rotten Tomatoes score?
It depends on the IMDb rating you compare it with: titles rated 7.0–7.4 on IMDb typically score 84% on the Tomatometer, titles rated 6.0–6.4 55%. Above 90% the Tomatometer hardly tells good from great.
Why is the Rotten Tomatoes audience score so different from the Tomatometer?
One counts critics’ reviews, the other viewers’ ratings, and the two agree less than any other pair we measured (0.69). Audience scores also move with campaigns, as Star Wars: The Last Jedi shows (91% critics, 41% audience).
How does hüt abig combine IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes?
With default weights: IMDb 40, Metacritic 20, Rotten Tomatoes critics 15 and audience 5, TMDB 15, Metacritic users 5, awards 10. Where a source has no rating, the others count. You can change the weights in the app.

Method and sources

Sources: