# Why do only movies get stars in reviews? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847 "2022-12-20T13:32:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/1 "2022-12-20T13:32:16Z")
In my local paper (Washington Post), they review books, restaurants, plays, music, and movies. Only movies get a star rating (1 to 4). Why? IMHO except for the very best or very worst, whether you like a movie (or anything else) depends on the movie and what you like. Some people are going to enjoy a two-star movie, some will be bored by a three-star movie. I think it’s better to read a description than look at a bottom line rating. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/2 "2022-12-20T13:43:43Z")
I’ve seen star ratings in a lot of music magazines and websites for albums for decades. For instance Rolling Stone magazine has always done it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/3 "2022-12-20T13:53:22Z")
I can’t speak for the Post but Michelin famously uses stars in its restaurant reviews/ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/4 "2022-12-20T13:53:42Z")
And many places, like the New York Times, rate restaurants with stars ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/5 "2022-12-20T14:09:39Z")
Every single product on Amazon is rated with stars. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/6 "2022-12-20T14:26:06Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I think it’s better to read a description than look at a bottom line rating. Two thumbs up! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/7 "2022-12-20T14:39:53Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I can’t speak for the Post but Michelin famously uses stars in its restaurant reviews/ratings. Which is silly, because they should use tires. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/8 "2022-12-20T17:07:30Z")
It would send a mixed message. “This review says the restaurant is the most tired in the area, how dreadful.” ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/9 "2022-12-20T17:29:52Z")
On the Australian show “Review,” host Myles Barlow compulsively pursues risky life experiences in order to give them a star rating. Paying for sex gets two stars; divorce gets one star. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/p5zt_vJtWu0/hqdefault.jpg "Review with Myles Barlow - Season 1 Trailer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zt_vJtWu0) I give this show four stars! ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/10 "2022-12-20T22:47:36Z")
Pro westling journalist Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer popularized using star ratings to rate pro wrestling matches back in the mid 80s-early 90s. Do NOT talk to wrestling matches about star ratings though because some of them seem to be overly obsessed with the idea and very critical of Meltzer’s opinion of matches. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/11 "2022-12-20T23:03:01Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I can’t speak for the Post but Michelin famously uses stars in its restaurant reviews/ratings. nm. Ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/12 "2022-12-21T03:42:37Z")
But Michelin ratings only go up to three stars, max. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/13 "2022-12-21T03:49:32Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > In my local paper (Washington Post), they review books, restaurants, plays, music, and movies. Only movies get a star rating (1 to 4). Why? Since this seems to be true for your local paper, are you asking why they in particular only rate movies using the star system? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/14 "2022-12-21T04:15:55Z")
Uber drivers get rated with stats ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/15 "2022-12-21T04:26:36Z")
In general I have not seen reviews of books or live performing arts rated with stars anywhere. I am not asking about why the Post is the only one that does this, but rather why in general does this convention seem common. To me. BTW the Post used to rate restaurants with stars but stopped during covid and decided to make it permanent. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-only-movies-get-stars-in-reviews/976847/16 "2022-12-21T05:41:42Z")
Completely agree about how brilliant Review with Myles Barlow is. Three chefs hats and a Mickey Mouse sticker to you.