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Netflix Removes User Reviews, Keeps Thumbs Recommendation System

“We are removing the ability to read and write reviews in the coming weeks,” a Netflix spokeswoman confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. “This feature is only offered on the website and has seen declining usage over time. We have notified members who have used the feature recently that they will no longer be able to write reviews by the end of July and will no longer be able to read reviews by mid-August.”

How do you get recommendations for films or TV? If you are like me, it’s probably from your favorite reviewers, whether it be a site or a critic, or if you spend less of your time blowing your nose in front of the computer screen, you might also talk to your friends about what to watch.

Anyway, however you do it, you won’t be able to get your over-vocabularized, incoherent and, most often, rather biased user reviews from Netflix anymore. The feature, as stated above, has been declining in its popularity (if it ever had one.) The decision, of course faced a backlash from the online community. You can check out Twitter for your daily bunch of online complaining and hate; Netflix does not get this that often so on the rare occasion, might as well enjoy it.

But no matter the negativity, fact remains fact – reviews are gone. Now, it’s just the thumbs up/down, folks! Yep, that’s it. No stars based on a 5-scale measure, none of that, it’s gone since Netflix replaced it last year. Thumbs is all that it takes for the recommendation system of the globe’s leading streaming website to tell you what to watch. And honestly, I can’t blame them. Entertainment advertisement and criticism is its own whole industry that spans many websites in the WWW. Plus, nothing obviously beats a recommendation from your mom, why would you watch anything other than history dramas anyway?

All it takes for Netflix to understand what to recommend to you is to learn what type of genres you enjoy and then base the remainder of decision making on the popularity of films or TV that is generated from outside influence. It’s been working out splendid and if stars didn’t work, well… I guess modern users have to settle with thumbs.

The recommendation system will not be affected by the shutdown of the member reviews feature.

CNET first reported the news of the impending reviews shutdown.

NetflixTed Sarandos
Michael Adonts: Hi, my name is Michael! I am a filmmaker based in Los Angeles, currently living in the SF/Bay Area, where I attend UC Berkeley as an undergrad, majoring in Psychology. Beyond my studies, I also work as a freelance producer, videographer and editor, having worked with a variety of clients, ranging from local musicians to up-and-coming start ups, making videos, commercials and trailers. My interest in film began in middle school when my family and I immigrated to LA, having previously lived in Russia and Armenia (my homeland.) Having limited experience in American culture and language, I took to watching platitudes of classical American films of the 70s, 80s and 90s, from which, while seeking to simply become educated in a foreign culture, I discovered my love for cinema and its different forms, like directing, writing, and editing. I started making my own films in high school, where I also began collaborating with friends on projects of various nature. Learning the craft myself, I continue to do so now as I start to dive into bigger projects, with the goal of writing and directing for film and TV! While early on I was mostly exposed to New Hollywood directors and 90s filmmakers like David Fincher, the Coen Brothers and Spike Jonze, I eventually began venturing to foreign cinema of the likes of Fellini, Bergman, Kurosawa, as well as Old Hollywood masters like Hitchcock, David Lean, and Billy Wilder. In films I primarily seek two things: passion and innovation. I love observing confident filmmakers masterfully submerge the audience into unique worlds and stories, utilizing all of cinema’s many possibilities like visuals, sound, music, and editing. Film has developed a universal language that is becoming more and more available to wider varieties of artists, which makes me excited to observe and engage in the future of both Hollywood and the world cinema!
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