It’s a bold claim and it’s not 100% true. To be fair, some aspects of the Internet have helped the film industry. For example, it is much easier to check when and where a movie is playing and far easier to buy tickets. The days of checking the newspaper and buying the tickets on-site are gone.
The benefits the Internet provides to movies end there. Trolls and jaded fans are the reasons the Internet ruined cinema.
I Hate It So Everyone Must Hate It
There are a few types of trolls out there that are ruining cinema. I’m not sure which one is worse. Back in the day, you had to actually go to a movie to decide, for yourself, if you enjoyed it. We did not have Twitter/X, TikTok, or Rotten Tomatoes to destroy a movie before we see it for ourselves. If you wanted to read a review you had to wait until it’s printed in the newspaper or watch Siskel and Ebert. Back then you were less inundated with trashy reviews.
Today there are folks who will trash it before it’s even released. Some will create multiple accounts on sites like Rotten Tomatoes or Meta Critic simply to drive down the audience score. This is just pathetic.
There is another type of troll that devotes their time to nitpicking something to death and constantly sharing it on social media. It seems to be their life goal to constantly find something wrong and then die on that hill. I assume their intent is to influence others not to watch the show or movie. Unfortunately, there are many people who will be influenced by their keyboard crusade. I feel like movies and shows are rarely given a fair chance; they’re shunned before they even hit theaters or television.
Look, I get it if you don’t like a movie or show. You have every right to feel the way you feel but be respectful. Also, don’t be ashamed to like something just because some YouTube troglodyte hates it. Be your own fan. If someone asks me what I think, be it good or bad, I always tell them to go watch it and decide for themself.
/cheers