rotten tomatoes: The Evolution of a Movie Review Aggregator"
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Rotten Tomatoes, a name synonymous with movie reviews, has become an indispensable tool in the film industry, influencing the reputation of a movie’s quality and even its box office success. But have you ever wondered where this iconic review aggregator originated? Let’s take a journey through the history of Rotten Tomatoes and explore its humble beginnings.
The Birth of Rotten Tomatoes
The story of Rotten Tomatoes begins with a 1998 action comedy film, rush hour, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Sehn Duong, a movie enthusiast, wanted to create a platform to collate various news articles and snippets about the film in the run-up to its release. This idea eventually led to the creation of Rotten Tomatoes.
The Name and Inspiration
The name “Rotten Tomatoes” was inspired by a scene from the 1992 film Léolo, where a woman believed she became pregnant with tomatoes. Senh Duong, one of the co-founders, was fascinated by this concept and thought it was a unique and memorable name.
The Early Days of Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes was launched in August 1998, alongside fellow University of California students Patrick Y Lee and Stephen Wang. Initially, the site was created to provide a platform for people to share their opinions about movies. The Tomatometer, a rating system that assigns a percentage based on the number of positive reviews, was introduced in December 1998.
The First Movie to be Rated on Rotten Tomatoes
The first movie to be awarded a rating via the Tomatometer was Star Trek: Insurrection, which received a 55% rating. Senh Duong recalled that the site had about 100 views on its first day, and it gained momentum after being featured in Usenet movie groups and Yahoo!.
The Evolution of Rotten Tomatoes
Over the years, Rotten Tomatoes has evolved to include news, interviews, and features. In August 2004, the site expanded into news, and today it remains a cornerstone of movie reviews. Senh Duong reflected on the site’s growth, saying, “I like Rotten Tomatoes making the Tomatometer part of every feature the site launches, its growing diversity of critics, and the expanding coverage of older films.”
Impact on the Industry
Rotten Tomatoes has had a significant impact on the film industry, influencing the reputation of a movie’s quality and even its box office success. The site’s influence can be seen in the way movies are marketed and promoted. The Fresh and Rotten elements have become a standard part of movie reviews, and the Tomatometer has become a benchmark for measuring a movie’s quality.
Conclusion
Rotten Tomatoes has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1998. From its early days as a platform for sharing movie opinions to its current status as a leading review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes has remained a cornerstone of the film industry. As the site continues to evolve, it’s clear that Rotten Tomatoes will remain a vital tool for movie enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
| Year | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Rush Hour’s release | Rotten Tomatoes was launched in August 1998, alongside fellow University of California students Patrick Y Lee and Stephen Wang. |
| 1998 | Introduction of the Tomatometer | The Tomatometer was introduced in December 1998, assigning a percentage based on the number of positive reviews. |
| 2004 | Expansion into news | Rotten Tomatoes expanded into news in August 2004, covering movie news and updates. |
“Seeing someone like that on screen, subconsciously it makes you feel more accepted.”
– Senh Duong, co-founder of Rotten Tomatoes
- Rush Hour (1998) – 62% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Rush Hour 2 (2001) – 51% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) – 17% on Rotten Tomatoes
References:
- Rush Hour
- A 1998 action comedy film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
- Rotten Tomatoes
- A review aggregator website that assigns a percentage based on the number of positive reviews.
- Star Trek: Insurrection
- A 1998 science fiction film that received a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Highlights:
* Rotten Tomatoes was launched in August 1998, alongside fellow University of California students Patrick Y Lee and Stephen Wang. * The Tomatometer was introduced in December 1998, assigning a percentage based on the number of positive reviews. * Rotten Tomatoes expanded into news in August 2004, covering movie news and updates.
