As a long-time gamer and film enthusiast, I’ve witnessed the darker side of fandom unfold on the internet. The practice of review-bombing, where fans deliberately flood aggregate review sites with negative reviews to sabotage a movie or show, is not only disheartening but also distressing. I’ve seen this phenomenon target films and shows that feature female leads or tackle social issues, which makes it even more disturbing.
Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, acknowledges the issue of review-bombing against several female-led films in the franchise. He emphasizes that Marvel Studios values the well-being of its cast and crew above all. With the rise of audience review websites like Rotten Tomatoes and Letterboxd, some viewers have found new ways to express their harsh, sometimes offensive, criticisms anonymously. Review-bombing refers to a coordinated attack by a large number of individuals on these sites, aiming to flood them with negative reviews for a specific movie.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced criticism in the form of mass negative reviews before its films are even released, but “The Marvels” was hit harder than usual. On Rotten Tomatoes, disrespectful viewers expressed their prejudiced opinions ahead of the movie’s premiere, significantly impacting its average audience rating. During an interview with Slash Film, Kevin Feige shared that Marvel Studios offers assistance to actors dealing with such hostile reviews. Feige considered this phenomenon another unwelcome consequence of the internet’s expansion.
In my opinion, we’re always ready to lend a helping hand, and we try to keep a balanced perspective in tough situations. It goes without saying that safeguarding the cast is crucial during such incidents. However, social media can be a breeding ground for negativity. If anyone has a solution for making it a more positive space, I’d be grateful to learn about it.
Review Bombing has Become a Common Practice
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has encountered its fair share of backlash through review-bombing. Notably, “Captain Marvel” in 2019, “The Marvels,” and the Disney+ show “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” were all subjected to this harmful practice by biased fans. Review-bombing goes beyond posting a single negative review based on the film’s quality. Instead, these individuals create multiple accounts and flood the platform with numerous derogatory, hateful, and often offensive reviews, frequently targeting the (predominantly female) cast and creators. In some instances, it has been uncovered that these critics hadn’t even watched the movie or show they were evaluating – a clear violation of film criticism ethics.
As a movie enthusiast, I can confirm that review-bombing does impact a film’s box office success. When a large number of people deliberately leave negative reviews to manipulate public opinion, it can deter potential viewers and negatively influence box office revenue.
In the Disney universe, it’s not just the Marvel Cinemic Universe (MCU) that experiences malicious review-bombs from biased fans. The Star Wars franchise has gone through similar attacks in recent times. For instance, the latest Disney+ series, The Acolyte, has become the most recent victim of this trend. Despite generally positive feedback from authentic viewers who consider it an average but occasionally engaging Star Wars story, review-bombers have mercilessly labeled it as the worst addition to Star Wars since Jar Jar Binks.
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2024-07-29 19:33