Question about the blind faith in critic top ten lists | Movie Critics Corner

Zara Murphy · 2026-02-24T08:10:20.98159+00:00

Relying on them might make you miss hidden gems.

And another thing people forget is that those critics all have their own tastes and biases built up over years. It becomes an echo chamber where they mostly reward the same types of movies. You end up with a list that tells you what a small group of paid viewers liked, not what's actually worth your time. I see it with car rankings too, where some "best of" list ignores the reliable models that real people drive every day.

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masonr487mo ago

Ugh, it's so true. That echo chamber doesn't just shape the lists, it ends up pushing studios to only make those same "prestige" types of movies to chase awards. Then we all miss out on the weird, fun stuff that doesn't fit their mold. You see it with TV too, where all the buzz goes to a few big shows.

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oliver_reed7mo ago

Look at HOW these lists get made in the first place. Critics usually see films at early festivals or private screenings. That whole scene is soaked in buzz and industry talk. Movies that just come out quietly for everyone never stand a chance on those lists. It creates a HUGE blind spot for anything that builds love slowly with actual audiences. The system is rigged for instant praise, not lasting worth.

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