The Little Mermaid: IMDb Ratings Manipulated by Review Bombing

The recent live-action remake of Disney's 1989 classic, The Little Mermaid, has been the subject of suspected review bombing online. The film, directed by Rob Marshall, has received a mixture of positive and negative reviews from critics and has performed reasonably well at the box office. However, reports suggest that the film has been targeted by review bombers in countries such as France, Germany, Korea, and beyond. IMDb has taken action to address this issue, issuing a warning about unusual voting activity and implementing an alternate weighting calculation to preserve the reliability of its rating system.

When users submit their votes, we take them into account, but not all votes carry the same weight in determining the final rating. In cases where we detect unusual voting patterns, we use a different calculation method to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our system.

The Little Mermaid's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes currently stands at an impressive 95%, indicating that the movie is well-received by American audiences. Despite its success in the domestic box office, the film has faced challenges in certain international markets. Some speculate that the casting of Halle Bailey, a Black woman, in the lead role of Ariel may be a contributing factor. However, the exact reasons behind the mixed reception remain unclear.

The backlash against Bailey's Little Mermaid casting began even before the film's release, with many criticizing her casting as too different from the original animated film's pale-skinned, red-haired Ariel. While some have attributed the recent wave of review bombing to Bailey's skin color and Disney's "political correctness," it's interesting to note that the backlash seems to be more concentrated in international markets rather than the U.S. Review bombing has historically been an effective way to bring down a film's overall rating on sites like IMDb, but despite a surge in one-star reviews, The Little Mermaid currently holds a 7/10 rating. With review bombing becoming more common, it's encouraging to see IMDb taking measures to ensure more accurate ratings.

Source: Deadline