Custom Lists

Introducing Custom Lists, Auto Lists, and Tags: on SIMKL!

Creating and Managing Custom ListsCustom List TypesCustom List CollectionsImporting Custom Lists

Simkl now has Custom lists https://simkl.com/lists/

Custom ListsMedium

How to Discover Custom Lists on SIMKL?

The power of SIMKL lies not just in your own tracking, but in the collective curation of its community.

While your personal watchlists keep you organized, Custom Lists created by other users are the primary engine for discovering niche genres, awards-season contenders, and high-quality physical media collections.

1. The Global Search Bar (Direct Discovery)

The fastest way to find a list is by using the main search bar at the top of the SIMKL website or mobile app.

• How to do it: Type in a keyword related to a theme (e.g., "Criterion," "Marvel," "Best of 2024," or "Netflix Originals").
• The Workflow: After entering your search term, select the "Lists" tab from the results. This filters out individual movies or shows and displays only Custom Lists curated by users that match your keywords.
• Pro Tip: Use specific keywords like "Steelbook" or "A24" to find collectors who share your specific tastes.

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2. The "Discover" Section (Curated Discovery)

The Discover page is SIMKL’s primary hub for trending content.

• Top Lists: SIMKL frequently highlights "Top Lists" that are trending within the community. These are often based on current events.
• Featured Curators: Look for lists created by verified or high-activity users. These curators often maintain "Master Lists" for franchises or production companies.
• Filter by Media Type: On the Discover page, you can toggle between TV, Anime, and Movies. Each category has its own set of trending lists, allowing you to narrow your discovery based on what you are in the mood for.

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3. User Profiles (Social Discovery)

If you follow a user whose taste you trust, their profile is a goldmine for discovery.

• The Lists Tab: Navigate to any user's profile and click on the "Lists" tab.
• What you'll find: Here, you can see all of their Public and Unlisted collections.
• The "Clone" Feature: If you find a list you love, SIMKL allows you to Copy/Clone that list to your own profile. This lets you use someone else's curation as a starting point for your own "Plan to Watch" queue.

4. Discovering via Title Pages (Contextual Discovery)

If you are looking at a specific Movie or TV Show, you can see which Custom Lists that title belongs to. This is one of the most effective ways to find "Look-alike" content.

• How it works: Open the page for a movie, such as Inception. Scroll down to the "Appears in Lists" section.
• Why it’s useful: This shows you curated collections that include that movie. For example, you might find a list titled "Mind-Bending Sci-Fi Thrillers." By clicking that list, you instantly discover 20 other movies similar to Inception.

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Discovering "Lists That Include" a Specific Title

Instead of looking for a show within a list, you can look for all the curated lists that feature a specific show or movie.

This is perfect for finding like-minded fans and discovering new content by seeing what other "Breaking Bad" fans are watching.

How to Access This Feature

When you are on the main page of a specific title (like Breaking Bad), you will find dedicated sections titled "Member's Custom Lists Featuring [Title]" and "Member's Favorites Lists Featuring [Title]."

• Custom Lists (Community Curation): These are lists created by users with specific themes, such as "Finished Series on Netflix" or "Best Crime Dramas".
• Favorites Lists (Peer Validation): These show you the personal "Top" lists of users who consider that title one of their all-time favorites.

Exploring the "Lists That Include" Dashboard

By clicking "See more related lists," you are taken to a specialized dashboard that aggregates every public list containing that specific ID.

Key Navigation Tabs on this Dashboard:

• My Lists: Shows if you have already added this title to any of your own custom collections.
• Friend's: See if any of your friends have curated a list featuring this show—a great way to spark a conversation.
• Official: Displays lists curated by the SIMKL team or verified partners.
• Member's & Favorites: The bulk of the community content. You can see how many other users (e.g., "835 custom TV Shows lists found") have included this title in their collections.

Why This is a "Discovery Goldmine"

• Find Niche Genres: If Breaking Bad is in a list called "Shows with the Best Cinematography," you’ve just found a curated list of other visually stunning shows.
• Language-Specific Curation: You can find lists in different languages (e.g., German lists like "DE: Beendete Serien") or French lists ("Séries terminées"), helping you find content available in your specific region or language.
• Filter & Sort: You can use the V2 sidebar on this page to filter these results even further—searching for only "Ranked lists" or lists that "Have comments" to find the most detailed community recommendations.

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Discover new favorites and share your taste with custom lists

Discovering Custom Lists on SIMKL transforms the platform from a solo tracking tool into a social discovery network.

Whether you are using the global search for a specific format like "4K UHD" or browsing a friend's profile for "Hidden Gems," the Custom List ecosystem ensures that you will never run out of high-quality recommendations curated by real humans, not just algorithms.