It starts the moment a trailer drops. One comment. Then ten. Then hundreds. Before the movie or game even releases, it’s already being attacked. One star ratings flood in. Words like “woke,” “ruined,” and “trash” take over the replies. And the thing hasn’t even come out yet.
This is review bombing. And it’s become a predictable mess in entertainment.
Studios are finally fighting back. Platforms are changing how reviews work. And the war between trolls and creators is happening before the story even gets told.
What Is Review Bombing?
It’s not real feedback
Review bombing is when a group of people intentionally leave negative ratings to harm a project’s reputation. It’s not based on real experience. Most of the time, the bombers haven’t even seen or played what they’re reviewing.
The reason? Usually outrage. A casting choice. A female lead. A diversity storyline. A line in a trailer. It doesn’t take much to trigger these campaigns.
Sometimes it’s coordinated in forums. Other times it spreads fast on social media. Either way, it can tank audience scores in minutes.
One of the biggest examples came with The Last of Us Part II. Long before players finished the game, the user scores dropped to 3.3 on Metacritic. Why? The story didn’t go the way certain fans wanted. That was enough.
Why It Matters
People trust the numbers
Rotten Tomatoes. IMDb. Steam. Metacritic. People use these platforms to decide what’s worth their time.
A 2023 Statista survey showed that over 65% of viewers check audience scores before watching a film or series. That means review bombs can scare away curious viewers. They change the narrative before it begins.
“I almost skipped Ms. Marvel because of the low rating,” said Kai, a Marvel fan in Atlanta. “Turns out it was great. Just got buried under hate.”
Once bad reviews spread, it’s hard to clean up. Even if the content is good, the first impression sticks. Studios sometimes have to spend more money to repair the damage or remove negative news articles from Google search when headlines start quoting fake outrage.
Who’s Behind It?
Trolls, incels, and gatekeepers
Not every bad review is a troll. But review bombing usually isn’t about quality. It’s about control.
Some fans think they “own” a franchise. When new voices show up or stories take a turn, they react with hate. It’s less about the product and more about power.
Incels (involuntary celibates) and toxic online groups sometimes lead these attacks. They target anything with female leads, LGBTQ+ characters, or diverse casting. You can see it in the language. It’s not criticism. It’s harassment.
Reddit, Discord, and 4chan threads often plan these review bombs before the content is even out.
How Studios Are Fighting Back
Delaying user reviews
Rotten Tomatoes and Amazon have both started holding reviews until after a movie or show is released. This gives people time to actually watch before they rate.
Steam and Metacritic also review suspicious activity and pause scores when needed.
These small changes help filter out noise. They don’t block real feedback, but they slow down the mobs.
Verifying purchases
Some platforms now check if you actually watched, played, or bought the item before letting you leave a review.
Amazon Prime Video started doing this after several original shows were hit by review bombs. Verified reviews show up first. Bots and trolls get buried.
“We want real users, not coordinated spam,” said a rep from one streaming platform. “That’s how people trust what they’re seeing.”
Stronger moderation tools
Studios now monitor early feedback more closely. They track keywords, report trends, and flag suspicious posts. If a show is getting hundreds of negative comments before episode one, they know something’s up.
Social media teams also work fast to hide hateful replies or block targeted attacks.
Some companies even partner with online reputation teams to manage the early cycle of press and fan reaction. It’s not just about marketing. It’s defense.
What Fans Can Do
Watch or play before rating
It seems obvious, but don’t rate something you haven’t seen or played. If you hate it after trying it, that’s fair. But wait until you know.
Ratings should help others, not be part of a protest.
Report obvious trolls
Most review platforms have a way to flag harmful or fake content. Use it. When enough people report, those reviews often get removed.
It’s not censorship. It’s cleanup.
Post your honest take
If you loved something and see it getting bombed, post your thoughts. It helps shift the average and shows support for the creators. Even one positive voice can stand out in the noise.
“I posted a real review for She-Hulk after seeing all the hate,” said Jalen, a viewer from Toronto. “Not because I’m a super fan. Just because I liked it and thought people were being unfair.”
What the Future Looks Like
AI is making it more complicated
Some trolls use AI to generate fake reviews or copy-paste similar messages. It’s faster and harder to track.
Platforms are starting to build filters to spot patterns. But the game keeps changing.
The next few years will bring smarter tools, but also smarter trolls. That means content creators and platforms will need to stay flexible.
Reputation is everything
Studios can’t afford to ignore early reviews. They know the first 48 hours shape public opinion. That’s why more are taking proactive steps to protect their content.
It’s also why more brands, creators, and even actors are managing their personal online presence. If hate spreads too fast, it can affect careers. Some turn to experts who help repair reputations or clean up bad content before it spreads.
It’s not about hiding bad feedback. It’s about stopping fake outrage from taking over.
Final Thoughts
Review bombing isn’t going away. But it’s getting harder to ignore.
Studios are learning how to fight back. Platforms are building smarter systems. And fans are starting to see through the noise.
The best way to fight review bombs? Watch the thing. Play the thing. Then speak your truth.
Because fair feedback helps creators grow. But fake hate just wastes everyone’s time.