Entertainment Weekly Magazine: How To Use Reviews

When you use Entertainment Weekly’s reviews, you get more than just an opinion—you gain a tool to navigate the overwhelming choices in movies, TV, and music. Understanding their approach can help you spot what fits your tastes and why certain works stand out. But before you settle on that next watch or listen, you’ll want to know exactly how these reviews break things down, and what their grading system really means for your own viewing habits.

Understanding the Entertainment Weekly Review System

Entertainment Weekly employs a letter-grade review system that resembles traditional school report cards, assigning grades such as A, B, C, and, in rare cases, F for its assessments of movies, television, and other forms of entertainment.

This grading system encompasses various types of content, from TV reviews to movie recaps and comedy analyses. Each grade reflects the critic's perspective while adhering to standards specific to each genre, rather than averaging scores across categories.

Reader letters, which may discuss various topics such as reunions, performances by actors like Nicole Kidman, or binge-watching trends, are also published in the magazine.

This approach embraces subjectivity, allowing for diverse opinions that contribute to the broader entertainment discourse.

Grading Criteria and Methodology

The letter-grade review system employed by Entertainment Weekly serves as an analytical framework that extends beyond individual critic opinions. This methodology is designed to evaluate works across diverse genres, ensuring that films and television shows can be assessed equitably against established qualitative benchmarks.

Unlike star ratings, the grades (A, B, C, F) emulate the traditional academic grading system, which facilitates straightforward comparisons—for instance, allowing a romantic comedy to be juxtaposed with a crime drama.

This grading approach is consistently applied across various forms of content, including recaps, music reviews, movies, and podcasts, ensuring uniformity in evaluation.

Additionally, audience feedback, gathered through letters and staff commentary, provides insight into how readers perceive and respond to the grading methodology and its execution in the magazine and newsletters.

This structured assessment helps to clarify the basis upon which ratings are assigned, offering transparency in the critical process.

What Each Grade Means for Viewers

When reviewing films or television shows, critics often utilize a letter grading system to provide an overview of their evaluations.

An A+ rating, as may be seen in publications like Entertainment Weekly, indicates a high level of quality and is typically reserved for works that demonstrate exceptional merit, akin to strong contenders in prestigious award ceremonies.

Grades such as B suggest that the content is enjoyable and offers value, reflecting a good entertainment experience in genres like comedy or crime drama, as pointed out by critics such as Pierre and Mekishana.

A grade of C represents a work of average quality, indicating that it meets basic expectations but does not stand out.

Conversely, an F grade is a clear signal to bypass the content entirely, suggesting that it fails to deliver on key aspects of storytelling or production, despite potentially appealing elements like a recognizable cast.

Ultimately, these grades serve not only to assess the quality of the entertainment but also to communicate the critics’ subjective preferences.

Therefore, it is advisable for viewers to consider their own tastes when interpreting these evaluations in the magazine.

Evaluating Reviews Across Different Genres

The grading system employed by Entertainment Weekly is not a straightforward measure of quality applicable across all forms of content. Instead, it is designed to evaluate works based on their performance within their respective genres.

For instance, when reviewing television shows or films—ranging from Crime Drama to Comedy—the grades, such as A or F, reflect genre-specific expectations rather than a direct comparison among all types of entertainment.

Critics like Mekishana Pierre and Lauren Huff provide nuanced evaluations; for example, a grade of B in a Thriller may signify a satisfactory performance within that genre's standards, while the same grade in a Comedy might indicate a different level of effectiveness.

This genre-based approach is evident in various types of coverage, including podcasts, Grammy awards, and Tony awards, all of which reveal the intricacies of how genres influence ratings and critiques.

Understanding this framework allows readers and audiences to interpret reviews of movies, music, and books more effectively, acknowledging that a review's merits are inherently tied to the genre it addresses.

This evaluative strategy underscores the importance of context when assessing entertainment media.

How Reader Feedback Shapes Entertainment Weekly

Reader feedback plays a significant role in shaping the content published in Entertainment Weekly. By incorporating letters and responses from its audience, the magazine not only critiques various forms of entertainment but also fosters a dialogue with its readers. This engagement allows Entertainment Weekly to refine its coverage of TV reviews, movie evaluations, and music assessments, guided by contributors such as Mekishana Pierre and Nick Romano.

The inclusion of diverse reader opinions helps maintain a dynamic conversation about critical topics, such as reactions to ratings for crime dramas, evaluations of TV series, or discussions surrounding major awards like the Emmys and SAG. These insights ensure that the magazine remains relevant to its audience's interests and concerns.

By reflecting on reader perspectives related to award shows, reunions, and popular programs like Dancing With the Stars, Entertainment Weekly endeavors to offer content that accurately conveys the views of its readership. This approach underscores the magazine's commitment to aligning its editorial choices with the preferences and expectations of its audience.

Evolution of Entertainment Weekly’s Content

Since its inception in 1990, Entertainment Weekly has progressively expanded its range of content to reflect changes in the entertainment industry and audience interests. Initially focused on basic pop culture reporting, the magazine has broadened its coverage to include TV, movie, and music reviews, alongside detailed recaps of popular series such as "The Walking Dead" and coverage of comedy crime dramas. This evolution is further underscored by the implementation of a grading system—ranging from A to F—that allows readers to assess the quality of content at a glance.

In addition to traditional magazine articles, Entertainment Weekly has embraced digital media through newsletters, podcasts, and dedicated sections like Awardist and Festivals Movie, providing readers with timely insights and updates on industry events.

The contributions of established writers such as Mekishana Pierre, Lauren Huff, and Nick Romano have further enhanced the magazine's editorial quality. The digital transition has facilitated user-friendly features that enable readers to easily search for content, view comprehensive film listings, and receive updates through subscription options.

This strategic adaptation underscores Entertainment Weekly's commitment to staying relevant in an ever-evolving media landscape.

Engaging With Awards and Special Features

In the ever-evolving entertainment landscape, regular features and award-centric sections in each issue of Entertainment Weekly offer structured avenues for audiences to stay informed.

Key resources, including coverage of the Awardist, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Emmys, and Oscars, serve as essential tools for tracking the various award seasons. Features such as The Must List, Reunions, TV Reviews, Movie Reviews, and Recaps provide insights into current trends in the industry.

Specialty issues and initiatives like the Poppy Awards allow readers to participate in the recognition of series and performances that may not have received mainstream acknowledgment.

The contributions of feature writers such as Mekishana, Pierre, Nick Romano, Lauren Huff, Joey Nolfi, alongside the EW Staff, encompass various aspects of entertainment, including Movies, Music Reviews, and Book Reviews, thereby presenting a comprehensive overview for readers.

Conclusion

By using Entertainment Weekly’s reviews thoughtfully, you’ll make more informed entertainment choices and join broader cultural conversations. Don’t just rely on one review—explore different perspectives, compare grades, and see how your own insights align. Whether you’re into blockbusters or indie gems, these reviews guide you toward what’s worth your time. Dive into the discussions, share your opinions, and let EW’s evolving content help you discover new favorites in movies, TV, and music.