Metacritic facts for kids
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Type of site
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Review aggregator |
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| Owner | CBS Interactive |
| Alexa rank |  1,222 (June 2018[update]) |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Free/subscription |
| Launched | January 2001 |
| Current status | Active |
| OCLC number | 911795326 |
Metacritic is a special website that gathers many expert opinions about movies, video games, music, and books. Think of it like a giant report card for entertainment! It helps people decide if something is worth their time.
The website creates a unique score called a Metascore. This score is an average, or a combined total, of all the reviews it collects. The Metascore is always out of 100 points. A higher score means more experts liked the movie, game, or album.
Contents
What is Metacritic?
Metacritic is a review aggregator. This means it collects reviews from many different critics and publications. Instead of reading dozens of reviews yourself, Metacritic does the work for you. It brings all these opinions together in one place.
How the Metascore Works
When a new movie or video game comes out, many different critics write reviews. Metacritic gathers these reviews. Then, it turns each review into a number score. For example, if a critic says a game is "amazing," that might become a 90 out of 100. If another critic says it's "just okay," that might be a 60.
After getting all the scores, Metacritic calculates an average. This average is the Metascore. It gives you a quick idea of how well-received something is by many experts.
Why Metacritic is Useful
Metacritic helps people make smart choices. Before you buy a new video game or watch a movie, you can check its Metascore. If the score is high, it means many critics thought it was good. If the score is low, it might be better to save your money or time.
It's also useful for creators. Game developers, movie directors, and musicians can see how their work is being received. A good Metascore can mean more sales and recognition.
History of Metacritic
Metacritic was launched in January 2001. It was created to help people navigate the huge amount of entertainment options available. Over the years, it has become a trusted source for many people looking for reliable reviews.
Ownership and Growth
For a long time, Metacritic was owned by CBS Interactive. This is a large company that owns many popular websites. In 2020, Metacritic became part of a company called Red Ventures. It continues to be an active and popular website today.
