Our criticism
The Screening Room publishes reviews, essays, rankings, awards coverage, and release guides written from a clear editorial point of view.
Our reviews are expressions of the credited critic’s judgment. Writers are encouraged to make a case rather than imitate consensus, predict audience reactions, or soften an opinion to protect access.
Editors may revise work for clarity, accuracy, structure, grammar, and consistency with TSR’s editorial standards. The central argument and final judgment remain the responsibility of the credited writer.
Editorial independence
Studios, distributors, filmmakers, advertisers, publicists, and outside partners do not receive approval over TSR’s reviews, scores, rankings, or editorial conclusions.
The Screening Room does not accept payment in exchange for favorable coverage, guaranteed reviews, score changes, ranking placement, awards consideration, or inclusion in editorial features.
Advertising and commercial partnerships must remain separate from editorial decision-making. Any sponsored or paid material must be clearly labeled and should not imitate the presentation of an independent review.
Reviews and scores
TSR reviews use a ten-point scale with scores shown to one decimal place.
Scores represent the individual critic’s overall judgment at the time of publication. They are not calculated through a fixed formula and should be considered alongside the written review.
A score may reflect elements including performance, direction, writing, visual construction, sound, editing, originality, emotional impact, and the success of the film on its own terms.
Films receiving a score of 9.0 or higher receive the Screening Room Select designation.
Rankings and retrospective lists are editorial judgments and may not follow review scores exactly. A critic’s relationship with a film can change over time, and the purpose of a ranking is to establish an argued order rather than reproduce a numerical database.
Press screenings and access
Reviews may be based on public theatrical screenings, advance press screenings, festival screenings, or secure screening links supplied by studios and distributors.
Advance access does not guarantee coverage or influence the review’s argument or score. TSR does not allow studios, publicists, or filmmakers to review or approve criticism before publication.
TSR respects agreed publication embargoes. An embargo controls when coverage may be published, not what the coverage may say.
Any unusual material support connected to coverage, including paid travel, lodging, or substantial hospitality, should be disclosed within the relevant article.
Conflicts and disclosures
Writers and editors should disclose financial, professional, personal, or family relationships that could reasonably affect how readers interpret their coverage.
When a conflict is significant, the assignment should be given to another writer or declined.
TSR does not accept cash, gifts, or favors in exchange for editorial treatment. Promotional merchandise, event access, or other benefits must never influence coverage.
Affiliate links, sponsorships, advertising relationships, or other material commercial connections must be disclosed clearly and close to the relevant content.
Accuracy and sourcing
Names, credits, quotations, release dates, runtimes, production details, and other factual claims should be checked against reliable sources before publication.
Direct quotations must be accurately reproduced and attributed. Information from interviews, press notes, databases, and outside reporting should be credited when appropriate.
Reviews may contain interpretation, inference, and opinion, but they must not invent scenes, dialogue, production details, quotations, or events.
When reporting has not been independently confirmed, the language should make that uncertainty clear.
Corrections and updates
TSR corrects factual errors when they are identified and verified.
Substantive corrections should be acknowledged in a clearly labeled note at the bottom of the article explaining what was changed. The article’s updated date should also be revised.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting, or typographical changes that do not alter the meaning of the article may be corrected without a formal note.
Updates that add meaningful new information should be labeled as updates rather than presented as part of the original publication.
Opinions are not factual errors. Disagreement with a review, score, or ranking does not by itself require a correction.
Readers who spot a factual error are welcome to report a correction.
Spoilers
Reviews should avoid revealing major plot developments unless those details are necessary to the criticism.
Articles containing significant spoilers should display a clear spoiler notice before the main body. Writers should not place major revelations in headlines, decks, homepage excerpts, thumbnails, or social-media copy without a clear reason and warning.
A spoiler notice does not remove the responsibility to reveal only what the argument requires.
Images and artwork
The Screening Room uses studio-provided press materials, licensed images, original photography, public-domain material, and other imagery where permitted for editorial use. Image credits are displayed when required by the source, license, or agreement.
Alt text is written for accessibility and is separate from copyright attribution. Rights holders may contact TSR through the Contact page regarding an image or credit concern.
Contacting us
Questions about this policy, factual corrections, disclosures, image rights, or editorial concerns may be submitted through our Contact page. Please include the relevant article title or URL and enough information for the issue to be reviewed.