What is your *ONE* sole criteria when selecting a movie?
 

...to watch, obviously.

Some of us select a film basing purely on feedback from others, specially like-minded friends/contacts. Others decide by the director/makers, or the actors involved, performances, story/script, etc.

But if you had to select just ONE feature associated with a movie, which would it be?

For me, it's the story/script/premise. If it appeals to me, then I will select the film overlooking other crucial things listed above. Of course, weak direction and cardboard actors/characters can take away vital viewing interest, but I usually ignore those and favor a strong script.

Maybe that's the reason why I try to find even the least good things in a bad movie.

But then, there's stuff like The Village, North, The Item...oh boy...

Story for me as well, because a first and foremost a film should be trying to tell a compelling story. After that, the director & actors are what attract me.

Definitely the story/script/premise

you can put the best actors with top notch special effects in a movie, but if the script sucks...so does the movie.

hmmm.....could be a good thread

Story for sure - it's what the film is about that makes it what it is. If I'm not interested in the premise, I don't care who is in it usually.

Other things I'd use to recommend it to someone else by saying "so and so directed it/stars in it etc" but for me, it has to be the story that draws me in.

absolutely couldnt agree more.

Recommended film with a good or interesting Story but then, again, I have a tendency to check out any new genre film that either haven't reviewed yet properly or got a mixed reaction. Sometimes I felt it's my "duty" to warn or let others know here about a new bad/good film.:D

Favorite directors & actors also influenced me often but I really don't care about much about effects, technical aspects (unless they left a irritating/mind blowing impact on my viewing experience while watching the movie) & BO performance.

It is impossible for me to select 1 criteria when picking a movie. Sometimes its a director I like, sometimes it is the writer or actor. I find that 75% of the time I watch a movie based on a recommendation but it is impossible for me to pin it down to one sole criteria...In a way I think I would get bored if I chose movies based on 1 sole criteria...

Movie box/poster artwork.

Entertainment Value for me after all that's what movies are for. Entertainment value for me encompasses most of the other aspects like director, story etc. But yeah if it's not going to entertain me I'm not going to sit there for it's running time.

Never really gave a shit about how much money a flick made at the box office. 99% of the big money makers were rubbish films.

Reviews do tend to sway me into seeing something I might not have bothered with initially.

I always check out the reviews first. I hate getting psyched by a creepy trailer and then sitting there yawning through the entire movie. That's pretty much what happened to me when the Blair Witch Project came out.

Don't get me wrong it has aspects that I definitely liked but I didn't find it scary. I made the mistake of going to see it after I heard people in the USA were fainting in the cinemas. Bloody Americans :p

The news report failed to mention that those people who fainted were probably in dire need of motion sickness pills.