"Star rating" is at least vaguely objective, but a "recommendation score" would give Netflix more latitude to put a thumb on the scale, if a movie studio was in

"Star rating" is at least vaguely objective, but a "recommendation score" would give Netflix more latitude to put a thumb on the scale, if a movie studio was interested in paying money to increase a movie's rating. Recommendations are ads, and people who spend more get bigger ad spots.