Find out how massive negative criticism, known as review bombing, affects the reputation of cult films and series in the world of entertainment
He review bombing it’s a practice that has become increasingly common in the world of entertainment. It consists of the avalanche of negative reviews online for a movie or series, with the aim of affecting its reputation and its success at the box office or in the audience.. This tactic can be carried out by a group of people who have a particular opinion about the content in question or by individuals who simply want to cause harm.
In the geek world, review bombing has been used as a form of protest on several occasions. One of the most notorious cases has been that of the latest series based on the famous video game with the same name «The Last of Us«. However, in addition to the well-known case of the HBO Max series, what are some other examples of movies or series in recent years that have suffered from this practice? Here are 5 cases.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The animated series «Star Wars: The Clone Wars» was the victim of review bombing after the character of Ahsoka Tano it was introduced. Die-hard fans of the franchise believed the character did not fit the story and gave negative reviews online as a result.
Captain Marvel
In 2019, the premiere of the film «Captain Marvel» was the subject of review bombing in Rotten Tomatoes, a platform that collects movie reviews. Some users, mainly men, left negative reviews before the movie was released, arguing that it was a “feminist propaganda» and that the protagonist, played by Brie LarsonShe wasn’t attractive enough. This caused the film’s score to drop before its release.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
In 2017, the film «Star Wars: The Last Jedi” also suffered from review bombing on Rotten Tomatoes. Some fans of the saga expressed their dissatisfaction with the creative decisions made by the director Rian Johnson, leaving negative reviews en masse. This caused the film’s score to drop significantly, and caused a lot of controversy surrounding the film.
Game of thrones (season 8)
In 2019, the final season of the television series «Game of Thrones» was the victim of review bombing on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. some fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the plot and the end of the seriesand left negative reviews en masse, causing the average score for the season to drop.
The Boys
In 2020, the hit TV series «The Boys» was the subject of review bombing in IMDb. Some users expressed their dissatisfaction with the content of the series, arguing that it was violent and had a political bias. This caused a drop in the series’ ratings, but also sparked a debate about the role of violence in popular culture. However, the series continues to reap successes, already having three seasons, with the fourth about to be released and with un spin-off that we will be able to see during this year 2023.
Impact of review bombing on the entertainment industry
Review bombing can have a significant impact on the entertainment industry. May reduce viewership or interest in a movie or series, which may result in a decrease in movie ticket sales or the cancellation of the project. Besides, content reputation may be negatively affectedwhich can make future projects more difficult to produce or market.
In conclusion, the review bombing It is a harmful practice that can have serious consequences. for geek-themed movies and series. It is important to remember that online reviews are not always representative of the general opinion of the public and that viewers must form their own opinion of the content.
