More movies sidestep critics

Critics are being shut out of more films as studios forgo advance screenings on flicks they expect reviewers to trash, figuring the movies stand a better chance of box-office success with no reviews rather than bad ones.

So far this year, 11 movies have not screened for critics before opening day, including the Rob Schneider-David Spade sports comedy “The Benchwarmers” and Mo’Nique’s fashion comedy “Phat Girlz,” both opening Friday.

During the same period last year, just two movies did not screen in advance for reviewers.

The practice does not sit well with critics. But it makes business sense for studios, which may presume the drawbacks outweigh the benefits if critics are likely to hate a movie.

“If we think screenings for the press will help open the movie, we’ll do it,” said Dennis Rice, publicity chief for Disney, which did not show its fright flick “Stay Alive” to critics before it opened in March. “If we don’t think it’ll help open the movie or if the target audience is different than the critics’ sensibilities, then it may make sense not to screen the movie.”