Rotten Tomatoes, founded in 1998 by Senh Duong, Stephen Wang, and Patrick Lee, began as a hobby project to aggregate movie reviews in one accessible place. Inspired by Duong’s difficulty finding reviews for Jackie Chan films, the site launched with a simple but revolutionary concept: collecting both positive and negative reviews, using a “Fresh” or “Rotten” rating system, and calculating a Tomatometer score based on the percentage of positive reviews. The name itself was inspired by the 1992 film “Léolo,” and the site’s core elements—Fresh/Rotten icons, review quotes, and the Tomatometer—were present from the start. Originally developed within their web design firm, Design Reactor, the founders quickly realized the site’s potential and transitioned it into a full-fledged business. After raising initial funding, they focused entirely on Rotten Tomatoes, which soon became a go-to resource for moviegoers and industry professionals alike. The site’s influence grew with the introduction of the “Certified Fresh” rating in 2004, a distinction for films with consistently high scores and a minimum number of reviews from top critics. Rotten Tomatoes has undergone several ownership changes, including acquisitions by IGN Entertainment and later Fandango, a unit of Fandango Media. The company generates revenue through advertising and by licensing its ratings and icons to digital retailers like iTunes and Netflix. Over the years, it has expanded to include TV reviews, original content, and live events, solidifying its status as an industry standard. Today, Rotten Tomatoes is known for its comprehensive curation of reviews, its impact on box office performance, and its role in shaping public opinion about movies and TV shows. Its journey from a Bay Area startup to a major player in entertainment reflects the power of innovative ideas and strategic growth in the digital age.