Do you let critic reviews influence your decision to see a movie?

[Reel-Man]

No, never. Unless I'm trying to watch an already released (home video) horror movie, then I look at IMDB user reviews but that's it.

 

[MadVillainy]

IF it's a movie that I WANT to see, then no. But if I'm trying to decide what movie to see, then they would come into play.

Pretty much

 

[redhawk23]

It can influence whether I see it opening weekend or the quality of theater I see it in. Things I'm rather iffy on but still want to see I ll see in a double feature atbthe drive in.

For the most part though movies I'm not going to like are easy to see a mile out. Suicide Squad was always going to be a disaster.

There are certain critics I read because while they may not share my tastes, they ha e a developed point of view and it's always easy to see what kind of movie it is based on their reactions. It's easy to read between the lines and see what I'm likely to think of the movie.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Yes. But not if I've already made the decision to see the film anyways. Like how they didn't stop me from going to see BvS. If I'm on the fence or the film is under my radar, great reviews can certainly get my attention or help make up my mind. It also depends on what is going on in real life. I'm much more likely to give a film a chance if I have a lot of free time than when I'm busy doing other things. Such as me skipping Suicide Squad in theaters. If SS came out in October, I probably would have gone regardless. August is vacation time and the Olympics are on too, so it would take some good recommendations to convince me to fit it in my schedule at a time I don't really want to be going to the theater period.

So yeah, there are certainly plenty of situations where they do matter for me, but it isn't black and white.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I kind of gave up on the X-Men series after The Last Stand. Add to the fact that it was pretty much the Wolverine movies, I was going to skip First Class but wound up going to see it because it had stellar reviews. So you would think I would say yes.

Yeah, I was expecting to skip First Class, but then reviews and word of mouth convinced me to give it a chance and ended up being my personal favorite X-Men film.

With CBMs, I find that I usually agree with the critics. Moreso than some other genres. The main exception is the Ben Affleck Daredevil. That I did like and critics did not. But usually, they are spot on. And even there, most other people seem to agree with the critics. I'm just one of the exceptions.

 

[P Supreme]

If I'm on the fence about a certain movie yes but a movie I've actively follow no I have to go see it no matter how bad I hear it is [X:A, BvS]

Jason Bourne I was on the fence heard the story wasn't up to par with the originals so I stood away from it

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Yes. But not if I've already made the decision to see the film anyways. Like how they didn't stop me from going to see BvS. If I'm on the fence or the film is under my radar, great reviews can certainly get my attention or help make up my mind. It also depends on what is going on in real life. I'm much more likely to give a film a chance if I have a lot of free time than when I'm busy doing other things. Such as me skipping Suicide Squad in theaters. If SS came out in October, I probably would have gone regardless. August is vacation time and the Olympics are on too, so it would take some good recommendations to convince me to fit it in my schedule at a time I don't really want to be going to the theater period.

So yeah, there are certainly plenty of situations where they do matter for me, but it isn't black and white.

This pretty much covers my attitude as well.

 

[metaphysician]

Sure. Why would I go to see a movie that's rubbish? If the critics are giving a movie terrible reviews, its a pretty safe bet its not worth watching. Likewise, if the critics are giving surprisingly good reviews, it has me consider checking the movie out ( this is the reason I saw DOFP in theaters ).

 

[Teelie]

Audience reviews and consensus are more important than a critics review since I think a lot of critics look at movies the wrong way and for the wrong criteria anyways.

Sometimes they line up, a lot of times they don't.

 

[Black Narcissus]

No.

Directors and actors do. Trailers still get my hyped tho or make me interested in fillms I had no knowledge it was coming out. That Chris Pine bank robbery flick is a good example of a trailer making me interested in seeing it before knowing the acclaimed praise on rt.

There are certain directors who are bulletproof for me tho and will see their films regardless.


Tarantino
Scorsese
Nolan
Fincher
PTA

 

[Whatupman]

There are exceptions, but for the most part I definitely listen to the critics. I usually agree with them and think that they know what they're talking about. I won't watch a movie just based on the trailer, because plenty of bad movies have good trailers. And I won't watch a movie just because it's directed by a director I like, or an actor I like is starring in it. Many good directors and actors have missteps, so I try to avoid watching them if I can.

 

[jmc]

Yes because tickets aren't cheap.

 

[flickchick85]

Yes. But not if I've already made the decision to see the film anyways. Like how they didn't stop me from going to see BvS. If I'm on the fence or the film is under my radar, great reviews can certainly get my attention or help make up my mind. It also depends on what is going on in real life. I'm much more likely to give a film a chance if I have a lot of free time than when I'm busy doing other things. Such as me skipping Suicide Squad in theaters. If SS came out in October, I probably would have gone regardless. August is vacation time and the Olympics are on too, so it would take some good recommendations to convince me to fit it in my schedule at a time I don't really want to be going to the theater period.

So yeah, there are certainly plenty of situations where they do matter for me, but it isn't black and white.

This is pretty much how I am as well.

 

[AnneFan]

Audience reviews and consensus are more important than a critics review since I think a lot of critics look at movies the wrong way and for the wrong criteria anyways.

Sometimes they line up, a lot of times they don't.

Yes. It's an opinion business and critics are not infallible. I find the criticism of certain movies overblown. Raking products over the coals in a combative nature as if the filmmakers insulted them personally. I find that trend absurd. Increasingly, it's either 'awesome' or it 'sucks' these days, and more reviewers are writing their click bait articles accordingly. Criticism should be smart and surgical. Not a flamethrower. So basically, I note what they say, but largely ignore it and go in with an open mind.

 

[smallville fan]

Depends on the movie for me. But given the power of social media these days, more and more people will say yes.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

No.

 

[John Locke]

Yes, but only if the score is in the single digits or the high 90s.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Nah.
This thread should tell my view on the matter

 

[Flint Marko]

I only see something in theaters if I'm interested.

I've never looked at RT and said, "oh wow, this one movie I've never heard of is at a 95%. Let's go see it".

Conversely I've never decided not to see something because it wasn't well-received.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I guess short answer yes. Bit if I really want to see a movie I check it out anyway, especially during the summer.
If I listened to critics this summer 1/2 of my most anticipated movies I wouldnt have checked out in theaters.

Even the other way, I had no interest in seeing Finding Dory. That came out and got great reviews...still didn't see it in theaters.

The primary time is when I'm on the fence or it's a new property. For instance, I think that new Ben Affleck movie called "The Accountant" looks really good. However, if it gets bad reviews I'm not gonna check it out in theaters. But say Ben Affleck was doing Batman, or even Star Wars, Marvel, Bond, a Tarintino film or any "brand" that I really like I'll check it out regardless/

I dont even think the GA really listens to critics. I know this thread idea was birthed from the Suicide Squad thread (another movie that I went to see despite critic reviews) but if you look at something like Suicide Squad. it actually made a ton of money opening weekend proving that people don't really care about critics. It's when the word of mouth of friends, family, etc. spread that it started to drop. It's still making it's money though.

I know people hate critics or whatever. But if I didn't listen to critics some of the time I'd just be pissed off. I was going to see Dirty Grandpa in theaters...ended up being the worst movie I saw this year and probably one of my least favorite comedies ever.

GA doesn't listen to critics. What critics show is the likely response from the GA.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Audience reviews and consensus are more important than a critics review since I think a lot of critics look at movies the wrong way and for the wrong criteria anyways.

Sometimes they line up, a lot of times they don't.

They line up more then they don't really. Also isn't it a bit false to suggest anyone looks at film the "wrong way"? If it is all personal judgement, how can one look at it the wrogn way?

 

[psylockolussus]

I voted no for the poll. RT rarely influences me to see something. But in some cases like if its a heavy drama or a comedy that doesn't really interest me, I'd so see the consensus first.

I did not watch that Sausage movie, even if it got a high rating in RT. I also didn't see The BFG, Pete's Dragon and the latest Meryl Streep movie and those films were reviewed well.

 

[Jake Cassidy]

No.

 

[Teelie]

They line up more then they don't really. Also isn't it a bit false to suggest anyone looks at film the "wrong way"? If it is all personal judgement, how can one look at it the wrogn way?

They don't. Look at the movies that are most successful, then look at what critics think of them. They are often not the same. A good example is Suicide Squad right now. Critics absolutely hate that movie but it has done well in the box office.

And when I say look at a film the wrong way, I mean they give every film a set of standards to look for, regardless of the purpose of the movie. Not every movie is going to fill some check box of acceptable criteria. For example, saying a movie has poor writing is often cited but big blockbuster popcorn flicks don't rely on writing so much as the visuals.

The Transformers films, hated by critics but visually very well executed. And the audience lovese thos movies.

And as you said yourself, it's subjective so a critic has to subjectively decide if a movie is good or not so they fall back on that set of criteria and often their bias will show through when a movie fails to click one, regardless of whether the movie is attempting to fulfill them or not.

 

[STARMAN]

I don't see a ton of movies at the theater. If I'm borderline on a film than critical or public WOM can sway me. It can go both ways. I didn't have much interest in seeing Tarzan. I saw critics ripping it apart. But friends and family liked it so I went.