re: Spinoff: Who was/is more Powerful at Influencing Moviegoers, Siskel & Ebert or RT

What Siskel and Ebert really did was promote films that would have slipped through the cracks. Look, huge movies are essentially review proof. People are going to see them opening weekend and then after based upon word of mouth. You trust your buddy Joe more than a film critic.

But where S&E had true influence was they could spotlight movies that were a bit under the radar. And back in the 80s, a lot more films flew under the radar due to the lack of options. They gave a real boost to the Coen brothers, Steven Soderbergh, and other smaller directors of the time.

And, yes, two thumbs up is still an industry catch phrase thanks to those two.