# Metacritic API

> Metacritic critic and user scores, reviews, and title rankings are available as a workflow and API.

Metacritic returns critic and user scores, reviews, and title details; Get scores needs a title and can use type, year, and platform. Metacritic lists highest-Metascore games, movies, or TV shows; List best reviewed can filter by year, genre, and platform.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/metacritic
- Handle: `@metacritic`
- Category: [Entertainment](https://fous.com/workflows/category/entertainment)
- Source website: https://metacritic.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Metacritic.

## Methods

### Get scores

Operation `get_scores`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Get Metacritic critic and user scores, reviews and title details by name. Some album titles without a release year may resolve to another album with the same name.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string | no | `"game"` | Kind of title, for example game; omit to search all kinds. |
| `year` | integer | no | `2022` | Release year to distinguish similarly named titles, for example 2022. |
| `title` | string | yes | `"Elden Ring"` | Title to find, for example Elden Ring. |
| `platform` | string | no | `"PC"` | Game platform, for example PlayStation 5; by default uses the platform with the most critic reviews. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "title"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "type": {
      "enum": [
        "game",
        "movie",
        "tv",
        "music"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Kind of title, for example game; omit to search all kinds.",
      "examples": [
        "game",
        "tv",
        "movie"
      ]
    },
    "year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Release year to distinguish similarly named titles, for example 2022.",
      "examples": [
        2022,
        2023
      ]
    },
    "title": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Title to find, for example Elden Ring.",
      "examples": [
        "Elden Ring",
        "The Bear",
        "Oppenheimer"
      ]
    },
    "platform": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Game platform, for example PlayStation 5; by default uses the platform with the most critic reviews.",
      "examples": [
        "PC"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "type": "game",
      "year": 2022,
      "title": "Elden Ring",
      "platform": "PC"
    },
    {
      "title": "Elden Ring"
    },
    {
      "type": "tv",
      "title": "The Bear"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string | `"game"` | Kind of title. |
| `title` | string or null | `"Elden Ring"` | Name of the matched title. |
| `artist` | string or null | `"Taylor Swift"` | Album artist. |
| `genres` | array |  | Genre labels. |
| `summary` | string or null | `"Chef Carmen \"Carmy\" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) returns home to run his family's sandwich shop in Chicago where he ` | Title summary. |
| `platform` | string or null | `"PC"` | Game platform used for the critic score. |
| `developer` | string or null | `"From Software"` | Game developer. |
| `metascore` | integer or null | `94` | Critic Metascore from 0 to 100; null when unavailable. |
| `publisher` | string or null | `"Bandai Namco Games"` | Game publisher. |
| `user_score` | number or null | `8.4` | User score from 0 to 10; null when unavailable. |
| `release_date` | string or null | `"2022-02-25"` | Release date as YYYY-MM-DD, if available. |
| `user_ratings` | integer or null | `24693` | Number of user ratings; null when unavailable. |
| `critic_reviews` | integer or null | `63` | Number of critic reviews; null when unavailable. |
| `metacritic_url` | string | `"https://www.metacritic.com/game/elden-ring/"` | Title page on Metacritic. |
| `cover_image_url` | string or null | `"https://www.metacritic.com/a/img/resize/86c7a59722e76cf9cb2c83bfac863f18f815bc2a/catalog/provider/6/12/6-1-824956-52.jp` | Cover or poster image link. |
| `must_play_or_see` | boolean | `true` | Whether the title has a Must-Play or Must-See distinction. |
| `metascore_verdict` | string or null | `"Universal Acclaim"` | Metascore rating label; null when unavailable. |
| `studio_or_network` | string or null | `"HULU"` | Movie studio or television network. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "type": "game",
  "year": 2022,
  "title": "Elden Ring",
  "platform": "PC"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "type": "game",
  "title": "Elden Ring",
  "artist": null,
  "genres": [
    "Action RPG"
  ],
  "summary": "A New World Created By Hidetaka Miyazaki And George R. R. Martin\n\nELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world …",
  "platform": "PC",
  "developer": "From Software",
  "metascore": 94,
  "publisher": "Bandai Namco Games",
  "user_score": 8.4,
  "release_date": "2022-02-25",
  "user_ratings": 24693,
  "critic_reviews": 63,
  "metacritic_url": "https://www.metacritic.com/game/elden-ring/",
  "cover_image_url": "https://www.metacritic.com/a/img/resize/86c7a59722e76cf9cb2c83bfac863f18f815bc2a/catalog/provider/6/12/6-1-824956-52.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200",
  "must_play_or_see": true,
  "metascore_verdict": "Universal Acclaim",
  "studio_or_network": null
}
```

### List best reviewed

Operation `list_best_reviewed`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

List the highest-Metascore games, movies, or TV shows for a release year or all time, with optional genre and game platform filters. Some titles lack user scores or release dates.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string | no | `"game"` | What kind of title to list, for example game. |
| `year` | string | no | `"2025"` | Release year, all_time, or current_year; for example 2025. |
| `genre` | string | no | `"Action RPG"` | Genre, for example Action RPG; use all for every genre. |
| `platform` | string | no | `"Nintendo Switch"` | Game platform, for example Nintendo Switch; use all for every platform. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `25` | Maximum number of titles to return, for example 25 (up to 100). |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "type": {
      "enum": [
        "game",
        "movie",
        "tv"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "game",
      "description": "What kind of title to list, for example game.",
      "examples": [
        "game",
        "movie",
        "tv"
      ]
    },
    "year": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "current_year",
      "description": "Release year, all_time, or current_year; for example 2025.",
      "examples": [
        "2025",
        "all_time",
        "1890"
      ]
    },
    "genre": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Genre, for example Action RPG; use all for every genre.",
      "examples": [
        "Action RPG",
        "Drama"
      ]
    },
    "platform": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Game platform, for example Nintendo Switch; use all for every platform.",
      "examples": [
        "Nintendo Switch"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 25,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of titles to return, for example 25 (up to 100).",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        25,
        55,
        4
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "type": "game",
      "year": "2025",
      "genre": "Action RPG",
      "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
      "max_results": 25
    },
    {
      "type": "movie",
      "year": "2025",
      "genre": "Drama",
      "max_results": 55
    },
    {
      "type": "tv",
      "year": "all_time",
      "max_results": 4
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `titles` | array |  |  |
| `titles[].link` | string | `"https://www.metacritic.com/game/xenoblade-chronicles-x-definitive-edition/"` |  |
| `titles[].rank` | integer | `1` | Position in the Metascore ranking. |
| `titles[].title` | string | `"Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition"` |  |
| `titles[].platform` | string or null | `"Nintendo Switch"` | Game platform; null for movies and TV. |
| `titles[].metascore` | integer or null | `87` |  |
| `titles[].user_score` | number or null | `8.5` |  |
| `titles[].release_date` | string or null | `"2025-03-20"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "type": "game",
  "year": "2025",
  "genre": "Action RPG",
  "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
  "max_results": 25
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "titles": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.metacritic.com/game/xenoblade-chronicles-x-definitive-edition/",
      "rank": 1,
      "title": "Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition",
      "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
      "metascore": 87,
      "user_score": 8.5,
      "release_date": "2025-03-20"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.metacritic.com/game/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma/",
      "rank": 2,
      "title": "Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma",
      "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
      "metascore": 81,
      "user_score": 8.2,
      "release_date": "2025-06-05"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-memoire-the-oath-in-felghana/",
      "rank": 3,
      "title": "Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana",
      "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
      "metascore": 79,
      "user_score": 7.6,
      "release_date": "2025-01-07"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@metacritic",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_scores",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "type": "game",
    "year": 2022,
    "title": "Elden Ring",
    "platform": "PC"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@metacritic\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_scores\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"type\": \"game\",\n    \"year\": 2022,\n    \"title\": \"Elden Ring\",\n    \"platform\": \"PC\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@metacritic",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_scores",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "type": "game",
    "year": 2022,
    "title": "Elden Ring",
    "platform": "PC"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@metacritic","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Compare critic and user scores for a title
- Find critic review and user rating counts
- Check release dates and title details
- Rank highly reviewed games, movies, or TV shows
- Filter best-reviewed titles by year, genre, or platform

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Metacritic?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Metacritic. This workflow reads the public metacritic.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Metacritic account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from metacritic.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### What are a title’s critic and user scores?

Get scores returns the critic Metascore and user score when available.

### Which games, movies, or TV shows are best reviewed?

List best reviewed returns titles ranked by Metascore.

### How many critic reviews or user ratings does a title have?

Get scores returns critic review and user rating counts when available.

## Related

- [Rotten Tomatoes API](https://fous.com/workflows/rotten-tomatoes.md): Rotten Tomatoes returns movie and TV details, scores, newest reviews, and listings for theaters, coming soon, or at home; series rating counts may be unavailable.
- [Pitchfork API](https://fous.com/workflows/pitchfork.md): Pitchfork provides music reviews and coverage, including the newest matching album reviews with ratings and details and recent reviews filterable by genre or Best New Music; broad-title searches may miss results beyond the first 120.
- [Common Sense Media API](https://fous.com/workflows/common-sense-media.md): Independent reviews and age guidance for family entertainment.
- [TMDB API](https://fous.com/workflows/tmdb.md): TMDB returns movie and TV details, cast, trailers, releases, viewing services, scheduled upcoming movies, and up to 20 homepage trending titles; future episode details depend on published schedules.
- [IMDb API](https://fous.com/workflows/imdb.md): IMDb returns movie, TV, person, episode, chart and Parents Guide details, including available weekly rank changes; missing details are null, and unaired or unrated episodes lack ratings.
- [MusicBrainz API](https://fous.com/workflows/musicbrainz.md): MusicBrainz provides community-maintained recording and release information, matching songs to identifiers and release dates and providing artist details and links when available; some release information may be incomplete.
- [Steam API](https://fous.com/workflows/steam.md): Steam returns game details, country-specific prices, reviews, and current and historical player counts, plus player rankings and sales lists; some details or prices may be unavailable, and review totals span languages and verdicts.
- [Letterboxd API](https://fous.com/workflows/letterboxd.md): Letterboxd provides films with ratings, cast, location-dependent watch services and popular reviews, plus popularity-ranked lists by time period, genre and decade; some details may be unavailable.
- [All Entertainment workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/entertainment)