While official numbers show high scores, many users on X are accusing Rotten Tomatoes of manipulating results by removing negative reviews and allowing bot activity to inflate the audience score.
Official Scores vs. User Claims of Manipulation
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists The Odyssey at 95% on the Tomatometer from critics and 97% verified audience score based on over 5,000 ticket-confirmed ratings. However, users on X are pointing to raw data and personal experiences suggesting the real picture is very different.
Posts on X claim that Rotten Tomatoes is actively removing bad reviews. One widely shared post from @Anc_Aesthetics states that the raw JSON data shows the audience rating is actually around 56%, not 97%. The post accuses the platform of deleting negative reviews at the studio's request to protect the film's image. Multiple users report trying to post negative reviews after seeing the movie and having them deleted or rejected.
Other sites tell a different story. Metacritic user score sits around 5.1-5.3/10. Letterboxd averages 4.3/5. These platforms do not require verified ticket purchases, making them easier targets for organic criticism. IMDb sits higher at 8.3/10.
Pre-Release Backlash Over Woke Casting
Much of the anger started before release with casting choices seen as forced diversity. Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page in a key male role drew heavy criticism for deviating from traditional depictions in Homer's story. Trailers received massive dislike ratios on YouTube, with comments calling the film a "humiliation ritual" and attacking the "woke" direction.
Critics on X argue the movie prioritizes modern identity politics over faithful adaptation of the ancient epic. Some describe it as another example of Hollywood pushing progressive casting at the expense of story and historical feel. This backlash carried into post-release reviews, with users claiming legitimate negative feedback is being censored on Rotten Tomatoes while positive or bot-boosted reviews remain.
Review Removal and Bot Allegations on X
Recent posts on X directly accuse Rotten Tomatoes of cheating the system. Users report negative reviews disappearing shortly after submission. One thread highlights screenshots and claims that the platform is moderating out bad reviews to keep the verified audience score artificially high at 97%.
The @Anc_Aesthetics post with the JSON data screenshot has gained significant traction, arguing that the true unfiltered score is much lower around 56%. Other accounts echo this, saying bad reviews are being removed while bot or coordinated positive reviews stay. Critics of the film say this manipulation hides widespread disappointment with the movie's quality, pacing, and changes to the source material.
Despite these claims, the film has posted strong box office numbers. Supporters argue the verified system works and that negative campaigns are just review bombing from people who never saw it or hate the casting. On X, the debate continues with both sides accusing the other of using bots and fake reviews.
The real drama centers on whether Rotten Tomatoes is protecting a major studio release by cleaning up negative feedback while the verified audience score and commercial success tell one story, and raw data plus other platforms tell another.