themoviedb.org
There is no denying the cultural impact that IMDb has had over the years. It is, for many, the premier source for learning more about movies and TV series, reading and leaving reviews, and learning about new and upcoming releases. In some respects, you could say that IMDb is like Wikipedia of film and TV info - a go-to source for information on all things movie and television related.
But what if I told you that there is a site that offers everything that IMDb offers, and then some? That is exactly what The Movie Database is. It takes everything that we know and love about IMDb one step further. By combining a nearly comprehensive movie database with social media elements and free streaming, this site has become the answer to all of IMDb's shortcomings.
I think it would be one thing if The Movie Database presented a better-looking, more intuitive, and more user-friendly media database (which it does, by the way). That, in my opinion, could have been enough. But The Movie Database goes above and beyond what I ever imagined a media database could be. It transforms everything that I once thought a database could be.
Apparently, a growing number of film and TV fans agree that The Movie Database is the best movie database on the web. They say that this site has the potential to unseat IMDb in popularity and I am rooting for them to succeed.
I think that one of the site's most unique and useful features is the fact that it is community-oriented. This is, again, a somewhat missed opportunity that IMDb never did really take advantage of. Anyone who has read a few of my reviews knows by now that I am a huge fan of when sites incorporate elements of social media. I think that it is the very nature of the internet to be collaborative and communal. So, if your site isn't embracing that very human element of the web, as far as I'm concerned, no matter what category your site falls under, you're more than likely going to be superseded by a site that does.
I love that The Movie Database has chosen to embrace streaming full-length movies and TV shows. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I was misled when I first visited the site because there is a section entitled "Free to Watch." However, clicking on a movie will not enable you to stream it directly on The Movie Database. Instead, the site informs you of which streaming services have it available, as well as a comprehensive list of where to rent or buy it.
Despite these flaws, The Movie Database still manages to one-up IMDb in numerous areas. For example, their database is overflowing with more information than IMDb, and their evaluation tools are much better. However, it might not be enough to convert you from IMDb.
Let's take a look at The Movie Database and see what it has to offer. It excels in offering information on movies, and is also fairly comprehensive. You can expect good things from it, but it may not be perfect for everyone.
History
The Movie Database was founded by Travis Bell in 2008. It originally collected and archived movie posters and began as a donation from the Open Media Database project. The Movie Database quickly grew in ambition and scope, seeking to compete with IMDb by the end of the 2010s.
In 2010, Bell sold The Movie Database to Fan TV. Fan TV agreed to continue managing the site, and the database has since grown exponentially. In 2015, for example, it contained 234,000 films and 583,000 people. By now in 2020, I wouldn't be surprised if those numbers hadn't come close to doubling.
Design
The design of The Movie Database really impressed me when I visited the site. I've always had some qualms with the design of IMDb, so when I came across the clean, intuitive, sleek, and modern look of The Movie Database, I was hooked. The site looks great.
I think the site's design is a good analogy for how it looks and behaves. It's easy to browse and sections are clearly marked. The Movie Database would be a great resource for learning about films, shows, and figures as well as discovering new ones.
The website offers plenty of ways to browse content. Click one of the sparse menu options (movies, TV, or more), or scroll down the home page and browse by genre and category. The Movie Database allows you to find titles by what's popular, free to watch, latest trailers, and trending.
I love the way that each section header has an intuitive selection of tabs to filter by content type (movies or TV, for example, while other sections let you automatically filter by Rent, Buy, in Theaters, etc.). This site is ideal in terms of how it is structured and organized.
Content and Features
I'm glad The Movie Database allows me to browse movies and TV shows. Each of them comes complete with a cast list, reviews, trailers, movie posters, community discussions, a user score, and recommendations. It's everything I want IMDb to be.
The content on The Movie Database is reviewed by other users. This makes for a very involved, engaged, and passionate userbase of film and TV buffs. Users can suggest edits to clarify or correct information, leave reviews, and discuss titles. This creates something of a quasi-subreddit for fans (or haters, I suppose) of every movie, show, and figure on the site. Members of The Movie Database are rewarded (beyond just their passion for movies and TV) by having the chance to appear on the site?s leaderboard.
The Movie Database is an extremely convenient tool for finding new content and streaming it, as well as a massive forum section and comprehensive list of mobile apps to help you stream your favorite movies and TV shows.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
I don't think this site is as well-designed as it could be. It would be great if they had an app!
The good news is that the site is perfectly optimized for mobile devices. So, you shouldn't have any problems browsing it on your smartphone or tablet. However, of course, it's always preferable to have a dedicated mobile app - here's keeping fingers crossed that they develop one soon!
Suggestions that I have for The Movie Database
Actually, I think developing an app would be a great suggestion for this site. Otherwise, I love The Movie Database, and I think you should stop reading this review right now and go check it out!
Popular search queries
