Rating Methodology: Pulse Score
The Pulse Score (0–100) you see on every film page is Pulse of Cinema's own signature rating, not a copy of any single site, but three independent sources blended with our own formula: IMDb, Letterboxd and TMDB.
WR = (v × R + m × C) / (v + m) - v: vote count on that source
- R: raw score on that source (normalised to /10; Letterboxd ×2)
- m: source-specific confidence threshold
- C: that source's catalogue mean
Why three sources? One platform misleads. IMDb is broad and stable (the highest weight), Letterboxd carries cinephile/drama taste, TMDB is supporting. If a film is inflated on one platform (a high score on few votes), per-source shrinkage and the other sources pull it back in line. When a source is missing, weights are redistributed; a film is never penalised.
Light touches. Auteur directors, time-tested classics and films with our own editorial note get a small, capped bonus, but it can never lift a mediocre film to the top.
Low-confidence flag. For films with very few votes or resting on a single source, we show a warning next to the score: this Pulse may change over time.
Community Score. Separately from the Pulse Score, we also show the average of 1–10 votes cast by our members. To guard against fraud and spam, only signed-in users can vote; this is a fully user-based, independent signal.
Transparency. We show each source's raw score (IMDb, Letterboxd, TMDB) as a reference; those ratings belong to their respective platforms. The Pulse Score is our original composite of them. Our editorial review scores (our writers' marks out of 10) are separate and based on human judgement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pulse Score?
The Pulse Score is Pulse of Cinema's signature 0–100 film rating. It is not a copy of any single site; it is an original blend of IMDb (55%), Letterboxd (30%) and TMDB (15%) using per-source Bayesian shrinkage.
How is the Pulse Score calculated?
Each source is first shrunk with a Bayesian formula: WR = (v×R + m×C) / (v+m). The sources are then blended by weight (IMDb 55%, Letterboxd 30%, TMDB 15%) and stretched onto 0–100. Auteur directors, enduring classics and films with our editorial notes receive a small, capped bonus that can never push a mediocre film to the top.
How does the Pulse Score differ from the IMDb rating?
IMDb is a single platform's raw average. The Pulse Score blends three independent sources, corrects inflated low-vote scores with per-source Bayesian shrinkage, and is shown on a 0–100 scale.
Is the Pulse Score the same as the member/community rating?
No, they are separate. The Pulse Score blends three external sources; the Community Score is the average of 1–10 votes from signed-in members only. Both are shown separately on each film page.
What happens if a source (IMDb/Letterboxd/TMDB) is missing?
The weights are redistributed to the remaining sources and the film is never penalised.