I usually only check ratings & reviews after watching a movie, just to see what other people think about it. Seeing how easy it is to game such online ranking

I usually only check ratings & reviews after watching a movie, just to see what other people think about it. Seeing how easy it is to game such online ranking systems and how tastes can differ, not only on a personal level but also on the current mood, I simply don't trust the scores without having been able to make up my own opinion. The same goes for any other aggregate "review" site, e.g. restaurant reviews. Those are even worse for restaurant owners, since a bad review can stick around, even if you used its mentioned points to improve your service. At least movies don't usually change over time (Star Wars being one of the few exceptions), but it's still annoying to get caught up in a hype only to be bitterly disappointed, or the other way around, finally watching a movie after hearing so many bad things about it and then thoroughly enjoying it, making you wish you had seen it on the large screen instead. ...and not to forget paid social marketing, especially when it's not being disclosed.