Die throw (review)

The "die throw" (Norwegian: terningkast) is a method of review which is often used in Norway. It is characterized by giving a score from one to six, where six is the highest, using a graphic of the corresponding side of a traditional die,^[1] instead of the stars or letters used in other countries.

The format was introduced by film director and then-film critic Arne Skouen in the 31 March 1952 issue of Verdens Gang (VG), as a part of the newspaper's visual redesign. Skouen wanted to "characterize a film première in a short, concise form".^[1] The first film to be reviewed in this way was Divorced (1951), which received a four in the same issue.

Die throws grew beyond film when VG introduced "Rampelys" ("spotlight") in 1981, which collected a large number of previously separate content relating to culture and entertainment. To achieve visual consistency, and because writers were encouraged to be concise, die throws became common practice. This was originally criticized by people inside and outside of VG. However, the newspapers own research showed massively increased interest for cultural content when coupled with die throws, and VG became the biggest newspaper in the country the same year. Other newspapers soon adopted die throws for their own reviews.^[1]

Skouen came to deplore his invention, describing it as his "fatal contribution to the littering of the Norwegian press" in 1996.^[2]