Rotten Tomatoes has launched a new 'Verified Hot' badge, which signifies films and shows that have achieved a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher.

This new designation complements the existing 'Certified Fresh' badge awarded for strong critic scores, allowing films to hold both titles and benefiting both audiences and critics.

The 'Certified Fresh' badge has been part of Rotten Tomatoes for a while, alongside the 'Top Critics' feature introduced in 2020.

The introduction of the Verified Hot badge aims to combat review bombing by ensuring that user reviews come from verified viewers, utilizing ticketing data from Fandango.

However, there are concerns that this verification system may prioritize advertising synergy between Comcast-owned Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes over genuinely preventing review manipulation.

Critics express skepticism about the effectiveness of multiple badges, fearing they may confuse users regarding the meanings of 'Hot' and 'Fresh'.

In addition to the new badge, Rotten Tomatoes has enhanced its audience scoring system to better reflect both fan and critic sentiments.

Initial films to receive the Verified Hot badge include summer hits like 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' 'Twisters,' and 'Inside Out 2,' with over 200 films retroactively awarded this designation.

Notable films on the Verified Hot list also encompass popular titles such as 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Parasite,' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.'

Fandango, the parent company of Rotten Tomatoes, allows users to verify their ticket purchases, ensuring that only genuine moviegoers can rate films.

Rotten Tomatoes has established new minimum review thresholds for its Popcornmeter and Tomatometer scores, requiring a certain number of reviews based on a film's projected domestic box office.

This update builds on the existing Verified Audience Score feature introduced in 2019, aiming to provide a more reliable metric that reflects both critic and audience approval.