How to find what to watch on Netflix
The fastest way to choose what to watch on Netflix is to read the IMDb rating and the Rotten Tomatoes score together: both high is a safe pick, both low is a skip, and a split tells you what kind of title it is. This guide turns that into a 60-second routine, with the caveats that stop ratings from misleading you.
How do I read IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes together?
The two scores measure different things. IMDb is an average rating from the general public, out of 10. Rotten Tomatoes is the percentage of critics who gave a positive review. Because they come from different groups with different priorities, their agreement is informative. Our IMDb vs Rotten Tomatoes comparison explains the difference in detail; here is the short version for choosing.
- Both high: the safest pick. Audiences and critics rarely agree by accident.
- High IMDb, lower Rotten Tomatoes: a crowd-pleaser. Good when you want to be entertained.
- High Rotten Tomatoes, lower IMDb: a critics’ favorite. Good when you want something ambitious and have the attention for it.
- Both low: usually safe to skip.
How do I choose what to watch on Netflix in 60 seconds?
This routine assumes you have installed the Rating Watch extension, which adds a badge to the top-right corner of each title card showing the IMDb rating and the Rotten Tomatoes percentage. Without it, you would be opening two other sites for every title.
- Scan the row and read the badgesBrowse a Netflix row and glance at the badge in the top-right corner of each card. It shows the IMDb rating out of 10 and the Rotten Tomatoes percentage. A badge that still shows a loading placeholder fills in within a moment.
- Drop anything where both scores are lowIf IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are both low, skip the title. Two different groups reaching the same verdict is the strongest signal on the page.
- Shortlist titles where both scores are highTitles that audiences and critics both rate highly are your safe picks. Take two or three of these as your shortlist.
- Break ties with your moodFor a split title, choose by mood: a higher IMDb score and lower Rotten Tomatoes score suggests a crowd-pleaser for a relaxed night; a higher Rotten Tomatoes score and lower IMDb score suggests something critics admired that rewards attention.
- Check the vote count on borderline or new picksIf a title is new or you are unsure about it, open its IMDb page to see how many people have voted. Scores from few votes can move quickly, so treat them as provisional.
- Press play and give it a fair startPick one title from the shortlist and start it. If it is not working after the first episode or the first stretch of the film, move to the next shortlisted title instead of browsing from scratch.
What should I do for each score pattern?
| What the badge shows | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Both scores high | Audiences and critics agree it is good. | Safe pick. Watch it. |
| IMDb high, Rotten Tomatoes lower | A crowd-pleaser that critics were cooler on. | Good for a fun, low-effort night. |
| Rotten Tomatoes high, IMDb lower | A critics’ favorite that did not win over everyone. | Choose it when you want something ambitious. |
| Both scores low | Neither audiences nor critics were impressed. | Skip it. |
| Only one score shown | The other score is not in the OMDb database for that title. | Use the one you have, with less confidence. |
| No badge at all | OMDb has no rating for that title. | Judge it by trailer and description instead. |
| Brand-new release | Scores are still settling. | Treat them as a first impression and re-check later. |
Why do vote counts and release dates matter?
A rating is only as stable as the number of people behind it. An average from a handful of voters can swing sharply with a few more, while an average from a very large crowd barely moves. The badge shows the rating but not the vote count, so for a borderline title open its IMDb page and see how many people voted before you trust a 9.0.
Release date matters for the same reason. Brand-new titles have had little time to collect votes and reviews, so their scores are a first impression. Older titles have settled ratings, which is why a long-standing classic is often a safer bet than a title that appeared last week.
How do genre and mood change which score to trust?
- Comedy, horror, action, reality: you are choosing for fun, so weight the IMDb audience score more. A lower Rotten Tomatoes percentage here often just means critics wanted something different.
- Drama, documentary, prestige series: craft is the point, so weight Rotten Tomatoes more. A high critic score is a useful reason to try something unfamiliar.
- Comfort rewatch: ignore the scores and watch what you love.
- Watching with other people: favor titles where both scores are high, so nobody feels dragged along.
These are rules of thumb, not laws. Ratings measure what many people thought, not what you will think, so adjust them to your own taste after a few picks.
Related guides: how to show IMDb ratings on Netflix and how to show Rotten Tomatoes scores on Netflix.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose what to watch on Netflix quickly?
Compare the IMDb rating and the Rotten Tomatoes percentage together. If both are high, it is a safe pick; if both are low, skip it; if they split, choose by mood. The Rating Watch extension puts both numbers on every title card, so you can decide while browsing instead of opening other sites.
What IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes scores count as good?
There is no official cutoff, so pick a starting point and adjust it to your taste. A reasonable approach is to shortlist titles that are comfortably above the middle on both scores, for example well over 6 out of 10 on IMDb and well over 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. If your picks feel too hit-or-miss, raise the bar.
Should I trust ratings on a brand-new title?
Be cautious. A new release may have few votes, and early scores can shift as more people watch and more reviews arrive. A rating from a handful of voters says little, so treat it as a first impression, check the vote count on the title’s IMDb page, and consider re-checking after a few weeks.
What if IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes disagree?
Read the direction of the gap. A higher IMDb score with lower Rotten Tomatoes usually means a crowd-pleaser that critics found less impressive; a higher Rotten Tomatoes score with lower IMDb usually means a critics’ favorite that audiences found less satisfying. Then pick based on whether you want easy fun or something more demanding.
Does Rating Watch show how many people voted?
No. The badge shows only the IMDb rating out of 10 and the Rotten Tomatoes percentage. To see vote counts, open the title on IMDb. For borderline or brand-new titles, that extra step is worth taking before you commit to a long series.