IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies TV Shows

IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers.

1. Basic Information
   • Founding and Ownership: Founded by Col Needham on October 17, 1990, IMDb started as a fan - run movie list shared on the Usenet group “rec.arts.movies”. It moved to the World Wide Web in 1993 and was acquired by Amazon in 1998. Since then, it has operated as a subsidiary of Amazon while retaining a great degree of operational autonomy, with Needham remaining as its CEO.
   • Scale and Influence: As of September 2025, the database boasts around 25.9 million titles and 14.8 million person records. It ranks 40th among the most visited websites globally and 35th in the United States, serving as an indispensable reference for global entertainment fans and industry insiders. The site is available in English, and registration is optional for users.
2. Core Features
   • Comprehensive Data Coverage: It covers a wide range of content including films, television series, podcasts, video games, and streaming content. Each entry for a film or show typically includes cast and crew details, biographies, plot summaries, release dates across different regions, box - office earnings, award records, and trivia. Entries for performers, directors, and other industry professionals also feature detailed resumes and related works.
   • User Rating and Ranking System: Registered users can rate titles on a scale of 1 - 10. These ratings are then converted into a weighted average to avoid malicious voting. Its most renowned ranking is the IMDb Top 250, a list of the highest - rated films based on ratings from regular users. Since 2008, The Shawshank Redemption has held the top spot on this list.
   • User Contribution Mechanism: Most of the site’s data is provided by volunteer contributors. Registered users can submit new information or edit existing entries. Those with a reliable contribution history get instant approval for revising cast lists and credits. However, changes to images, names, plot summaries, etc., require a review that takes 24 - 72 hours. Since 2015, the platform has also introduced contribution badges to recognize users’ efforts in categories like photos and biographies.
3. Special Services
   • IMDbPro: Launched in 2002, this is a paid premium service tailored for entertainment industry professionals. It enables actors and crew to post resumes and contact information, and also provides production details, box - office data, and industry event schedules, acting as a bridge for professional connections in the industry.
   • Affiliated Platforms: It has subsidiaries such as Box Office Mojo, which offers in - depth analysis of Hollywood box - office revenues. Previously, IMDb had message boards for user discussions, but these were shut down in February 2017.
4. Access and Usage
   Ordinary users can browse most content for free. Registered users gain additional privileges like submitting reviews, rating titles, and suggesting edits. User profiles display their registration date and optional personal rating records. Although the platform mainly relies on volunteer contributions, it has strict review mechanisms to minimize errors and vandalism, ensuring the reliability and authority of the data.