Best Sites For Rating Movies: 6 Top Movie Review Websites

Our society has grown to worship movies. This can be seen in the sheer number of movies made each year, some good and some bad. Because there are so many to choose from, finding a good one can be a challenge.

Movies now make up a huge part of the entertainment industry. But with so many choices comes the problem of finding the best ones to watch.

It would take hours upon hours to watch every movie made in a year, and even then you’d likely miss some great ones. So how can we solve this problem?

The answer reviews. Reviews allow us to get an idea of whether or not others liked the movie before we decide if it’s worth watching ourselves.

A review helps us determine if others were entertained by a movie before we spend our time and money on it.

Picking a movie to watch can be hard. You have your mood to consider, the weather, and the amount of time you have available.

And who to see it with? But even after all that, one question remains — is it any good?

   

With sites like Letterboxd, the answer is now as easy as logging into your social media account.

The internet can be an overwhelming place when trying to find a good, reliable movie review site.

With so many sites out there, it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth your time.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best movie review sites out there. Not everyone will be for everyone, but each reviewer has something unique to offer that makes it worth checking out.

Best Sites For Rating Movies

If you love the cinema, and you’re constantly looking for the best ways to keep up to date with what’s new and what’s upcoming, then one of these sites is going to be perfect for you.

Below, we’ve gone through some of the most popular movie websites on the internet today and reviewed them, so that you can find out which site is best for your film needs.

Let’s start off with my personal favorite!

Letterboxd

Letterboxd is a social network for sharing your taste in film. Keep a watchlist of films you’d like to see, and create lists/collections on any topic. Rate, review, and tag films as you add them. Find and follow friends to see what they’re enjoying.

Keep a diary of your film viewing, check in to films at theaters, and share your thoughts with the world. Search a database of over 2 million films, with filters that can refine your results by anything from decade and genre to personal ratings and reviews.

From Letterboxd themselves: “We’re proud of our place in a burgeoning ecosystem of film-related apps and websites that complement Letterboxd’s focus on social sharing, curation, and discovery.

In that spirit, we offer a range of developer tools to help integrate Letterboxd data into other applications and websites — you can explore these on our developer site.”

My Letterboxd profile can be found here, btw: FilmLifestyle’s Letterboxd profile. Give me a follow!

Letterboxd

Letterboxd is a social platform for sharing your taste in film. Use it as a diary to record your opinion about films as you watch them.

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iCheckMovies

iCheckMovies helps you keep a personal list of movies you have seen and liked. It’s a checklist more than anything else.

The main part of the site is the List, which is essentially a ‘Best Movies Ever’ list, as voted by users. Each movie in the list has been checked by at least 2 users.

The goal of the site is to provide an easy way to create and share your own customized list of favorite movies.

You can compare your lists with friends and explore other people’s lists. iCheckMovies helps you keep a personal list of your favorite movies and shows

• Create your own list of favorites to keep track of what you have seen and liked.
• Discover new movies by browsing lists created by our users.
• Compare your taste with other users and see how many movies you have in common.
• Explore the top-rated, most popular, and most discussed movies by our users.
• Get suggestions for movies and shows to watch based on your taste.

iCheckMovies

CheckMovies helps you keep a personal list of movies you have seen and liked. It’s fun and easy to use, whether you’re a movie geek or just a casual watcher.

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IMDb

IMDB is the most popular movie site with a user-generated rating feature.

It provides all the necessary information like reviews, ratings, images, videos, etc. that you may need to decide if the movie is worth watching or not.

   

Originally a fan-operated website, the database is owned and operated by IMDb.com, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon.

IMDb has approximately 4.7 million titles (including episodes) and 8.3 million personalities in its database,  as well as 83 million registered users.

IMDb stands out for its vast collection of film and television information. It’s not just a place for ratings; it’s a comprehensive resource for release dates, cast and crew details, trivia, and forums for discussion.

With user-contributed content and professional critic reviews, IMDb offers a balanced view of a film’s reception. Its integration with Amazon also allows for easy viewing options.

IMDb

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV, and celebrity information.

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Criticker

Criticker is a movie recommendation website. It lets you find movies that you will like based on movies that you already know you like. Y

ou rate some of your favorite (and least favorite) movies. You can do this by clicking “Rate Movies” on the left, or by using the Rate & Review links on the right side of movie pages.

Criticker recommends movies to you, based on the ratings of other people who have rated those same movies.

You can view your recommended movies in your member profile, or by clicking “Recommendations” on the left menu.

When you see a recommended movie, click on its title to view more information about it.

This includes a list of what other people who liked that movie also liked, as well as reviews from professional critics and user ratings.

If it sounds interesting to you, click the big “I Want to Watch This Movie!” button to tell Criticker that it is something you’d like to watch in the future.

This will add it to your own personal watchlist so you don’t forget about it later!

FilmAffinity

FilmAffinity stands out as a unique movie rating site, offering a personalized experience to its users. This movie recommendations website was created in 2002 in Madrid, Spain, by the film critic Pablo Kurt Verdú Schumann and the programmer Daniel Nicolás.

It’s known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive database. FilmAffinity allows users to rate movies and provides recommendations based on individual preferences. This feature sets it apart, as it tailors suggestions to match the user’s cinematic tastes.

The site also includes detailed information about films, including synopses, cast and crew details, and user reviews.

An important aspect of FilmAffinity is its international focus. It offers a broad range of films from different countries and in various languages, making it a favorite among global cinema enthusiasts.

Another notable feature is its ‘Soulmates’ function. This tool connects users with similar tastes, fostering a community of film lovers.

FilmAffinity is more than just a rating site; it’s a platform for discovering new films and connecting with a like-minded audience.

The Movie Database (TMDb)

The Movie Database (TMDb) is a popular choice for movie enthusiasts looking for an extensive and community-driven film database.

It’s known for its vast collection of film and television show information. TMDb stands out for its open-source model, where users contribute to the database by adding and editing content. This collaborative approach ensures that the information is up-to-date and diverse.

TMDb offers detailed film information, including plot summaries, cast and crew details, and high-quality images.

The site also provides user ratings, which helps viewers gauge the popularity and quality of films.

Its API integration is a significant feature, allowing developers to use its database for their websites and applications.

The site’s interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate and find information. TMDb also includes features like movie trailers, upcoming movie information, and box office statistics.

For users who appreciate being part of a community that actively contributes to building a comprehensive film resource, TMDb is an ideal choice.

For Critics

Here are the best sites for getting a lowdown on what critics thought of a movie.

Criticker

The TCI is a measure of the similarity between two people’s taste in films. The lower the TCI, the greater the tendency to agree on which movies ruled and which sucked.

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Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes is a great site to find out what the overall critical opinion is about a movie.

Rotten Tomatoes? How does it work?” width=”500″ height=”281″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Ga2Ij6rJZ0?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen>

It uses a unique ‘tomato meter’ to rate movies. A green tomato means fresh while red means rotten. You can also view the individual ratings given by critics.

Rotten Tomatoes is unique for its dual scoring system. The “Tomatometer” reflects the critical consensus, while the audience score gives a sense of general viewer reception.

This site is particularly useful for contrasting professional critique with popular opinion, offering a rounded view of a film’s reception. The “Certified Fresh” status is a coveted indicator of high-quality films.

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes and the Tomatometer score are the world’s most trusted recommendation resources for quality entertainment. 

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Metacritic

MetaCritic is another good website to check movie reviews from various sources at one place.

You can read full-length reviews of a movie and filter them by publication date and critic score or user score by clicking on their respective tabs at the top of the page.

You can also see a list of Top Movies by Critic Score or User Score and Top games as well at MetaCritic homepage.

Metacritic is distinguished by its methodology of aggregating reviews. Unlike other sites that simply calculate an average, Metacritic assigns a weight to each critic’s review based on their prominence and track record, offering a more nuanced overall score.

This makes Metacritic particularly reliable for those seeking a critically-acclaimed cinema experience.

Metacritic

Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). 

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Best Sites For Rating Movies – Why Use Movie Review Sites?

Movie Review sites like IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic are helpful for many reasons.

First, they’re an excellent source for learning about the best films.

Second, it’s another great way to find out about movies that are just being released or will be released in the future.

And third, movie review sites have other useful information like trailers, showtimes and tickets, DVD release dates, and more.

There are a lot of fans who love talking about movies, and these movie review sites offer them a great place to do just that. You can find out what other people think of the movie you’re watching.

Here are the top 5 reasons to use movie review sites:

1. You want to discover new films, new genres, or new directors to check out.

2. You’re not sure exactly what you want to see, and you’re looking for movie recommendations.

3. You’re looking for a good way to kill time when you’re stuck in a waiting room.

4. You wonder why that movie was such a big deal when it came out.

5. You want to find out how the latest movies compare to the classics.

User Experience and Interface

The user experience and interface of a movie rating site can significantly impact its usability.

IMDb offers a user-friendly interface with easy navigation to different sections. Its search functionality is robust, allowing users to find detailed information swiftly.

Rotten Tomatoes’ interface is clean and intuitive, with scores prominently displayed and easy access to both critic and audience reviews.

Metacritic’s layout is straightforward, focusing on presenting scores and reviews in an accessible format. Each site’s design enhances the process of discovering and evaluating movies.

Mobile Accessibility of Movie Rating Sites

The accessibility of movie rating sites on mobile devices is a crucial aspect for users who rely on smartphones and tablets.

IMDb provides a comprehensive mobile app, allowing users to access its extensive database on the go.

Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic also offer mobile-friendly websites and apps, ensuring that users can check movie ratings, read reviews, and find film recommendations easily, no matter where they are.

These apps maintain the functionality of their desktop counterparts, offering a seamless mobile experience.

Community Features of Movie Rating Sites

Community features play a significant role in movie rating sites. IMDb’s forums provide a space for in-depth discussions and debates among movie enthusiasts.

Rotten Tomatoes allows users to leave their own reviews and ratings, fostering a community of shared opinions.

Metacritic’s user reviews complement professional critiques, offering diverse perspectives.

These community elements enhance the overall experience by enabling engagement and interaction among users.

Streaming Service Ratings vs. Dedicated Movie Rating Sites

Comparing movie ratings on dedicated sites like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic with those on streaming platforms like Netflix reveals differences in approach.

Streaming services often use personalized algorithms to suggest films, focusing on individual viewing habits.

In contrast, dedicated movie rating sites provide broader insights with aggregated critic and user ratings, offering a more holistic view of a film’s reception.

This comparison helps users understand the value of different rating sources in selecting movies.

Movie Rating Sites – Wrap Up

Wrapping up, movie rating sites play an indispensable role in guiding viewers through the vast landscape of cinema.

Whether you are looking for critically acclaimed art-house films or mainstream blockbusters, these sites offer valuable insights and detailed information to inform your choice.

By leveraging the unique features and community aspects of each platform, movie enthusiasts can enhance their viewing experience, making informed decisions about what to watch next.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our complete guide to the best sites for rating movies. What’s your favorite movie review site? Let us know in the comments below!
 

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