What is your grading scale for movies? What do you rate the highest/lowest?

My scale is as follows:

9-10 -- A+
8 -- A/A-
7 -- B+
6 -- B/B-
5 -- C+
4 -- C/C-
3 -- D+
2 -- D/D-
0-1 -- F

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My grading criteria are:

Plot/story -- the highest weighted grade, 20% of my final grade
Acting -- 15%
Script (writing) -- 10%
Score -- 10%
Sets -- 10%
Costumes -- 10%
Cinematography -- 10%
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85%

Special Criteria Depending on Film Genre:

Special Effects -- 15%
Emotional Value -- 15%
Surprise Twist Ending -- 15%
Worthy Sequel -- 15%

* Each of these may decrease in value if more then one is applicable to a certain film

I use the traditonal A+ to F grading scale for my movies. In more detailed grading, I use the number grading that is used in schools. It seems much easier than making up your own and all.

A+ to A- : 100 - 90
B+ to B- : 89 - 80
C+ to C- : 79 - 70
D+ to D- : 69 - 60
F and Lower: 59 - 0

I grade 'em as I see 'em. I used to have these big, detailed number systems, then converted to grades of letters, but it's too confusing. If a movie feels like a B+, I give it a B+. Overtime, that may change to a B or B-, and I'll change it. Gut instinct is my grading system.

Simple. I like them. Mine is too complex I know. Oh well.

Actually, I have a tier system. Top tier movies are A+. Second tier movies are A. Etc. I place movies in their tiers relative to the movies in them. When I reach a tier in which a certain movie doesn't look like it belongs, I don't put it there. Easy as that.

Same here, though I don't really use percentages.

I grade them like I feel they deserve it

10 = A+

8-9 = A- or A

7-8 = B- or B or B+

5-6 = C or C+

4-5 = D+ or C-

0-4 = D or below

I have 5 categories that are each worth 20 points, then i total everything up and that is the grade out of 100.
The categories are:
Directing
Visuals/FX
Music/Score
Acting/Characters
Writing/Story

99-100=A+ (only one movie has ever achieved this, Aliens)
94-98=A
89-93=A-
87-88=B+
84-86=B
79-83=B-
77-78=C+
74-76=C
69-73=C-
67-68=D+
64-66=D
60-63=D-
0-59=F

How on earth did Aliens get 20 points in the 'acting' category :???: come to think of it, the 'music' category also. It stinks.

Are you kidding me?
The acting was great, Sigourney Weaver Was nominated for an academy award despite that fact that her sublot involving her daughter being dead was completely cut out of the film.
Carrie Henn did an amazing job as Newt in her first and only acting job.
The rest of the cast was also great. It is also considered to be one of the best sequels of all time by many people.
Aliens' music was also top notch. James Horner did the score and did a phenomenal job. Come to think of it, Aliens is 100% fresh at RT. It does only have 28 reviews, but they are not "it was good", "okay" etc, they are:
"A movie experience that sticks with you and begs for numerous revisits . . . the kind of film that marks career milestones and re-defines genres."
--Scott Weinberg, EFILMCRITIC.COM
"the ultimate science fiction war epic"
-- James Kendrick, Q NETWORK FILM DESK
"Aliens is an exercise in film craftsmanship that has rarely been equaled in the twelve years since its release."
-- Matt Easterbrook, MATT'S MOVIE REVIEWS
"Other than being overlong, this film is damn near perfect."
-- Alex Sandell, JUICY CEREBELLUM
"The most instense and satisfying piece of science fiction ever made. James Cameron's masterpiece."
-- Blake Davis, KFOR CHANNEL 4 NEWS
"Unquestionably the greatest sci-fi roller coaster ride ever."
-- Jeffrey M. Anderson, SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
"What happens when you take a premise, soak it in a combination of adrenaline and kerosene, then light the sucker."
-- Widgett Walls, NEEDCOFFEE.COM
"This is what this film does to you: it leaves you completely drained, just like the characters in this movie. Some say that the fact that this is exhausting is a major flaw; I say it's ingenius filmmaking, not a shock from James Cameron."
-- Ted Prigge, REC.ARTS.MOVIES.REVIEWS
""Absolutely smashing!""
-- John Hartl, FILM.COM
"The ads for Aliens claim that this movie will frighten you as few movies have, and, for once, the ads don't lie."
-- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"When it comes to the logical marriage of action, adventure, and science fiction, few films are as effective or accomplished as Aliens."
-- James Berardinelli, REELVIEWS

Aliens is #86 in IMDB's top 250 movies of all time. #21 in the top action movies of all time. It is also the #10 movie of the 80's at IMDB.

Aliens is the 33rd best movie of all time at RT. I could go on and on here (and i would like to), but i think that my point has been made.

Aliens was also voted the 42nd Greatest Film of all time by Entertainment Weekly. They describe it as the "greatest pure action movie ever."

I guess that i will just keep watching Aliens and in less than a week's time you can enjoy a favorite of yours, Catwoman.

A, B, C, D, or F. I give a grade on how good I thought the movie was.

So do we all