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⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Rider Strong is lowkey censoring his Letterboxd ratings because being a total cinema extremist could actually tank his career. He’s hiding those spicy half-star reviews so he doesn't accidentally offend actors he wants to hire later!
📑 Quick Jump
Rider Strong is lowkey playing it safe with his Letterboxd reviews because being an honest critic might actually tank his professional reputation. While we love a spicy rating, the Boy Meets World alum realized that being too blunt on the app could make things awkward when he’s trying to land new jobs. He’s actively protecting his ability to write and direct future projects by keeping his ratings under wraps.
Avoiding Career Sabotage
The issue is all about how much everyone checks each other’s profiles these days. If Rider wants to cast an actor in a movie he’s directing, showing up with a half-star review for that person’s previous work is a massive vibe killer. Speaking on the Pod Meets World podcast, Strong explained that people definitely check these profiles before collaborating. I realized that if I’m asking an actor to be in a movie that I’m writing or that I want to direct, if I’ve rated one of their films half a star, that’s not a good look. Because of this, he decided to start self-censoring his star counts specifically “for the sake of my professional career.”
The Extremist Problem
It turns out Rider doesn’t really do middle ground when it comes to cinema. Most users tend to hover around a safe three-star average, but his profile looks like a total flat line because he only gives movies either half a star or five stars. Since he calls himself an “extremist,” hiding those polarising scores helps him avoid accidentally insulting potential collaborators.
He hasn’t completely scrubbed his history, though; he mentioned he has only removed about half of his actual star ratings, leaving the rest of his unfiltered opinions out there. This shift comes as Letterboxd continues its massive climb, surpassing 17 million subscribers since launching in 2011. The New Zealand-founded brand has even become a red carpet fixture, and while the owners have begun exploring a sale of the platform, it remains the ultimate hub for cinephiles to log and review their watches.
Do you think celebrities should keep their Letterboxd profiles private, or is the honesty worth the risk?
❓ People Also Ask
Why is Rider Strong hiding his Letterboxd star ratings?
Rider Strong is hiding his star ratings to protect his professional reputation and ensure he can land future acting or directing jobs. He realized that being too blunt on the app could create awkward situations with potential collaborators. For instance, if he wants to cast an actor in a project he is directing, having a half-star review for that person's previous work would be a major professional setback. He is actively self-censoring to avoid sabotaging his career opportunities.
How does Rider Strong describe his movie reviewing style?
Rider Strong describes himself as a cinematic extremist because he avoids giving middle-ground ratings to the films he watches. While most Letterboxd users tend to hover around a safe three-star average, his profile consists of polarising scores that are either half a star or five stars. This lack of a middle ground makes his reviews potentially insulting to industry professionals. By hiding these extreme scores, he hopes to avoid offending people he might need to work with in the future.
What impact could honest film reviews have on a director's career?
Honest film reviews can negatively impact a director's career by damaging relationships with potential cast and crew members. Because people frequently check social profiles before collaborating, a director who has publicly panned an actor's work might find it difficult to hire them. Rider Strong noted that showing up with a low rating for a performer's previous film is a vibe killer during the casting process. This realization led him to remove about half of his unfiltered star ratings to maintain professional harmony.
How many subscribers does the Letterboxd platform currently have?
Letterboxd has grown significantly since its launch in 2011 and now boasts more than 17 million subscribers. The New Zealand-founded platform has evolved into a major hub for cinephiles to log and review their films, even becoming a fixture on the red carpet. As the service continues its massive climb in popularity, the owners have even begun exploring the possibility of selling the brand. It remains a primary destination for movie lovers to share their unfiltered opinions on cinema.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Deadline