At the end of every Now Playing Podcast review, each host answers one simple question:
Would you recommend this movie?
That’s it.
We don’t assign stars, grades, letter scores, percentages, or numerical ratings. Every host independently decides whether they would recommend the movie to another viewer, and that recommendation is represented on our website by a green arrow or a red arrow.
Every Host Votes Independently
There is no group score and no attempt to reach a consensus.
Each host watches the movie, participates in the discussion, and arrives at their own conclusion. Sometimes all three hosts agree. Just as often, one host recommends a movie while another doesn’t. Those differing opinions are part of what makes the conversation interesting.
The Review Comes Before the Rating
The recommendation is only the final few minutes of the podcast.
Everything that comes before it is what really matters.
Throughout the review, we discuss the film’s story, performances, direction, writing, production history, technical achievements, cultural impact, and its fit within its franchise or genre. By the time we reach our recommendations, listeners have heard the reasoning behind each conclusion.
A green arrow doesn’t necessarily mean we think a movie is a masterpiece. A red arrow doesn’t necessarily mean a movie has no redeeming qualities. The recommendation is simply our answer to one question: Would we recommend spending your time watching it?
Not Every Recommendation Is Equal
Some recommendations are enthusiastic.
Others come with reservations.
Likewise, some “Not Recommend” votes are passionate condemnations, while others simply reflect a movie that didn’t quite work for us. Those degrees of enthusiasm aren’t captured by an icon on a webpage, which is why we encourage listeners to hear the full discussion rather than judging a review by its final recommendation alone.
The Brown Arrow
Now Playing Podcast also has one special recommendation: the Brown Arrow.
Created by Stuart, the Brown Arrow recognizes movies that are entertaining for all the wrong reasons. These are the films that fail as serious filmmaking but succeed as unforgettable viewing experiences because of bizarre creative choices, spectacular misfires, or glorious moments of unintentional comedy.
A Brown Arrow is still a recommendation. It simply celebrates a different kind of moviegoing experience.
Our Goal
The green and red arrows make it easy to browse our archive, but they were never intended to replace the review itself.
If you only want to know whether we recommended a movie, the arrows provide a quick answer.
If you want to understand why, that’s what the podcast is for.