Do you feel the immediate urge to share your thoughts with the world when you finish a show or movie? That’s me—and there are so many reasons why it should be you, too.
1 It Improves My Recommendations
One of the best reasons to rate the shows I watch is how they improve my streaming recommendations. While algorithms analyze everything from what I watch to how long I stick with it, giving explicit feedback—like a thumbs-up or a high star rating—helps them fine-tune their suggestions.
For example, if I rate a sci-fi series five stars on Amazon Prime Video, the platform knows I’m into that genre and might highlight similar titles like The Expanse or Black Mirror. On the flip side, if I give a rom-com a low rating, I’m less likely to see similar recommendations in the future. It feels like training the system to understand my preferences instead of letting it guess based solely on my watch history.
Of course, not all streaming platforms support detailed ratings. Netflix, for instance, uses a simpler thumbs-up/thumbs-down system. But even small interactions like these (especially after resetting your Netflix recommendations) contribute to more personalized recommendations over time.
2 It Helps Me Avoid Accidentally Rewatching Shows
We’ve all been there: you’re a few episodes into a series, and something starts to feel…familiar. Then it hits you—you’ve watched this before. For me, rating every show has become the perfect way to avoid this awkward déjà vu.
When I rate a show, I’m not just providing feedback; I’m creating a record. Streaming platforms like Netflix or Prime Video usually track your watch history, but they don’t always make it obvious if you’ve already seen something or how you felt about it. That’s where my ratings come in. If I stumble across a series and see I’ve given it a thumbs down, I know I’ve watched it before (and it’s not worth revisiting).
3 I Can Spot Trends in My Preferences
An unexpected bonus of rating shows is the insight it’s given me into my own viewing habits. Over time, I’ve noticed patterns in what I rate highly—and what consistently falls flat.
I’ve realized that documentaries and biopics score the highest on my list, while lighthearted sitcoms often land in the middle. This wasn’t something I consciously knew about myself until I started rating every show I watched. Now, when choosing something new, I gravitate toward genres I know I’ll enjoy and feel more confident about trying recommendations within those categories.
This awareness also helps when choosing the best streaming service. By understanding what I like, I can subscribe to platforms that offer the most value for my preferences.
4 Sharing My Opinion Is Fun
For me, part of the joy of watching a show is reflecting on it afterward. Rating a series feels like my way of closing the loop and sharing my opinion, even if it’s just with myself or an algorithm.
When I finish a show and give it a high rating, it’s like saying, “Yes, this was worth my time.” On the other hand, a low score for a disappointing drama feels like closure. It might not be as public as posting on social media, but it’s still satisfying to leave a tiny mark.
Third-party movie rating tools like Trakt.tv make it even easier to track and share my opinions with friends. If a friend asks for recommendations, I can quickly pull up my list and suggest something I rated five stars—or warn them about a two-star flop. It saves me from having to recall every detail in the moment.
Rating every streaming show I watch might seem like a small habit, but it’s become essential to my viewing experience. It improves my recommendations, keeps my watchlist organized, and even helps me uncover trends in my preferences. Plus, sharing my opinions and reflecting on what I’ve watched adds more enjoyment to the process.
