
| Grade | Definition |
| A+ | One of the very best of its genre; a seminal film worth seeing again and again |
| A | Outstanding; any flaws are easily overlooked |
| A- | A flawed gem; excellent movie with minor but noticeable shortcomings |
| B+ | Very good; worth going out of your way to see |
| B | Good; a solid effort–not essential viewing, but worth seeing |
| B- | Good but quite uneven; contains both compelling features and substantial problems |
| C+ | Slightly above average; nothing special but enjoyable |
| C | So-so; average–individual results may vary |
| C- | Mediocre but watchable |
| D+ | Pretty bad, although watchable in parts |
| D | Consistently poor; worth going out of your way to miss |
| D- | Quite awful, albeit with some minor redeeming quality |
| F | Notify Amnesty International–this film is a crime against humanity |