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The Movie Database (TMDB) on SIMKL: Understanding the Connection & How It Works
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The Movie Database (TMDB) on SIMKL: Understanding the Connection & How It Works
Last updated
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The Movie Database (TMDB) is a community-driven movie and TV database that has been growing since 2008. It is one of the largest open-source platforms for movie and television metadata, powering entertainment services worldwide.
SIMKL integrates TMDB as a primary source for movie metadata, posters, trailers, and cast information, ensuring users have access to accurate and up-to-date details.
However, not all movie and TV show pages on TMDB are complete, leading to missing details on SIMKL as well. This guide explains why TMDB is essential, common issues, and how you can contribute to improving it.
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TMDB (The Movie Database) is an open-source, user-editable database that contains information on:
Movies, TV shows, and streaming content
Posters, trailers, and promotional images
Genres, cast, crew, and release dates
Viewer ratings and user-submitted reviews
Box office and production budget data
Since TMDB is crowdsourced, the accuracy and completeness of its data depend on user contributions. While it is one of the most reliable entertainment databases, gaps and missing information remain a challenge.
SIMKL integrates TMDB (The Movie Database) to provide detailed, community-driven metadata for its users. TMDB is an industry-leading, open-source Movie and TV database, widely used by developers, entertainment platforms, and movie enthusiasts.
SIMKL uses TMDB as a primary source for movie metadata because:
TMDB offers a vast database of movies and TV shows that is constantly updated by its global community. This ensures that SIMKL users have access to an extensive catalog of films and series.
A movie or TV show page is incomplete without its iconic poster or backdrop. TMDB is one of the best sources for high-resolution posters, backdrops, and promotional images, ensuring that SIMKL displays visually appealing movie and show pages.
TMDB is a globally recognized database with a strong international focus, supporting multiple languages, regional titles, and alternative names. This is crucial for non-English movies and TV series, allowing SIMKL users to access information in their preferred language.
TMDB provides a robust API that allows platforms like SIMKL to pull real-time movie and TV show data, ensuring users receive accurate and updated details on cast, crew, release dates, and more.
Since TMDB is community-driven, thousands of contributors add, edit, and update data daily. This ensures that even newly released films and TV shows are available quickly.
However, not all movies and TV shows have complete information, and some essential metadata may be missing, affecting the experience on SIMKL.
The Movie Database (TMDB) is a comprehensive, user-driven database that serves as a crucial resource for tracking and discovering movies worldwide. Like any community-powered platform, TMDB is constantly evolving with user contributions. However, data inaccuracies, missing details, and incorrect information can sometimes hinder the accuracy of the database.
This guide explains how to contribute, fix errors, and ensure data accuracy on TMDB to maintain high-quality, up-to-date movie information.
TMDB is widely used by streaming platforms, apps, websites, and third-party services to provide movie metadata. Accurate and complete information ensures:
Since TMDB is crowdsourced, anyone can edit and improve missing information. Here’s how:
Before adding a new movie, make sure it does not already exist on TMDB. You can do this by searching for the title using the TMDB Search function.
Enter Essential Details:
Movie Title (Official title from trusted sources)
Release Date (Theatrical, digital, or festival release)
Original Language (Language in which the movie was first released)
Country of Origin
Upload a High-Quality Movie Poster
Ensure the image meets TMDB’s quality guidelines.
Avoid watermarked or low-resolution images.
Fill in Additional Details:
Genres (Action, Comedy, Horror, etc.)
Movie Runtime (Total duration in minutes)
Production Companies
Official Website & Social Media Links (if available)
Click "Save Changes" to submit the movie entry.
Example: A newly released independent film without an entry in TMDB can be added with all necessary details to help movie enthusiasts discover it.
Sometimes, existing movie entries have incorrect or missing information. Users can edit these entries to correct errors and add valuable details.
Navigate to the Movie’s Page on TMDB.
Click "Edit" under the Overview tab.
Choose the Section to Edit:
Alternative Titles – Add translated or alternate names.
Cast & Crew – Add missing actors, directors, or writers.
Genres – Ensure the correct genres are selected.
Release Dates – Update missing or incorrect premiere dates.
External IDs – Add IMDb, JustWatch, and Wikidata links.
Production Information – Include budget, revenue, or filming locations.
Save Changes & Wait for Approval – Some edits may require manual review by TMDB moderators.
Example: A movie might be missing its IMDb link or official trailer. Adding these details makes the entry more informative and useful for users.
If a field is locked and needs correction or missing data needs to be added, a contributor can report the issue.
Common Issues That Require Reporting:
Incorrect titles, languages, release dates, genres, or metadata.
Missing IMDb, Wikipedia, or JustWatch links.
Locked fields preventing necessary corrections.
Movies that need to be merged due to duplicate entries.
Incorrectly assigned budget or revenue figures.
Method 1: Using the "Report" Option
Go to the Movie’s Page on TMDB.
Click on the Overview tab.
Find the "Report" button under the dropdown.
Select the type of issue:
Duplicate
Incorrect Content
Bad Image
Spam or Offensive Content
Design or Functionality Issue
Provide Detailed Information about the issue in the text box.
Choose “Public Report” or Keep it Private.
Click Submit to send the report.
Why This is Useful? Reports help moderators and experienced contributors review and fix locked fields where standard editing is not allowed.
Method 2: Opening a Thread in TMDB’s Support Forum
For complex issues, contributors may need to post on TMDB’s support forum:
Visit the TMDB Forum.
Go to the "Content Issues" Section.
Create a New Discussion Thread.
Provide the movie name, TMDB link, and details of the correction needed.
Include proof or sources for missing or incorrect information.
Submit & Wait for Moderator Approval.
When is this Necessary? If a field is locked and reporting via the standard “Report” button does not get a response, a forum post may escalate the request faster.
Certain fields are locked to:
Prevent spam or unnecessary edits.
Ensure accuracy and consistency across all entries.
Avoid frequent vandalism from unverified users.
🔒 Common Locked Fields:
Original Movie Language
Original Title
Box Office Revenue
Budget
Certain External IDs (IMDb, Wikidata, etc.)
🛠 If a Locked Field Needs Editing:
Use the "Report" feature on the movie page.
Post on the TMDB forum for manual review by moderators.
TMDB (The Movie Database) is one of the most widely used sources for movie metadata. It provides posters, trailers, cast details, and more, making it an essential tool for movie enthusiasts, streaming platforms, and services like SIMKL.
However, user-generated content on TMDB often results in missing data, errors, and inconsistencies that can negatively impact the browsing experience. Below, we analyze key issues affecting TMDB’s movie database and how users can help improve it.
TMDB has a connection feature that allows users to link movies across other sites (such as TVDB ID, Wikidata ID, Social links, etc). However, many movies lack these links or are incorrectly connected, leading to confusion with sync.
Why It Matters?
Improves movie discovery and franchise continuity.
Helps users follow correct watch orders for film series.
Eliminates confusion caused by incorrectly linked movies & proper sync.
A movie page without a poster looks incomplete and unprofessional. Posters help users recognize and engage with movies. Unfortunately, many films on TMDB lack official posters or have low-quality images.
A classic film might not have an official high-resolution poster.
An indie film may have a placeholder image instead of an actual cover.
Some posters may be low quality or incorrectly cropped.
Why It Matters?
Improves movie discoverability by making each listing visually distinct.
Boosts user engagement, as people are more likely to click on well-presented movies.
Creates a professional, polished database for all users.
IMDb (Internet Movie Database) is one of the most comprehensive sources for movie information, cast details, reviews, and trivia. However, many movies on TMDB lack IMDb links, making it difficult for users to access additional information.
A blockbuster film might be missing its IMDb link, preventing users from checking ratings, reviews, and trivia.
A foreign-language movie might not be linked to its IMDb page, making it harder for non-native speakers to find more details.
Why It Matters?
Helps users cross-check detailed information about a movie.
Improves searchability across platforms.
Provides additional ratings and reviews from IMDb.
A well-written plot description helps users quickly understand what a movie is about. Unfortunately, many TMDB movies lack summaries, have incomplete descriptions, or feature generic text.
A thriller film might only have a one-line description, providing no real context.
A foreign film could be missing an English-translated summary, making it inaccessible to global audiences.
Some movies have placeholders instead of real summaries.
Why It Matters?
Helps users make informed choices about what to watch.
Improves search rankings for movies with complete descriptions.
Enhances the overall user experience on SIMKL & TMDB.
Many movies on TMDB lack teaser trailers or official trailer links, making it difficult for users to preview films before watching them.
A newly released film may not have its official YouTube trailer linked.
A classic movie may be missing any preview material, even though trailers exist online.
Why It Matters?
Allows users to preview movies before watching.
Increases user engagement and watchlist additions.
Improves movie discoverability for upcoming releases.
Many movies on TMDB lack official parental ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, etc.), making it difficult for families to determine whether a film is appropriate for kids.
A horror film might not have an official rating, leading to confusion for parents.
A family-friendly animated movie could be missing a PG rating, preventing it from appearing in kid-friendly filters.
Helps users filter movies based on family-friendliness.
Ensures age-appropriate recommendations on streaming platforms.
Genres play a crucial role in helping users discover and categorize movies. However, many movies on TMDB are either missing genres or have incorrect classifications. This results in poor search results and incorrect recommendations on platforms that rely on TMDB data.
A sci-fi horror movie may only be categorized under "Horror", excluding it from sci-fi searches.
An animated fantasy film might be tagged only as "Animation", without recognizing its fantasy elements.
A historical drama could be misclassified as a documentary, affecting its discoverability.
Why It Matters?
Improves search accuracy, allowing users to find movies in the correct category.
Enhances recommendation algorithms, ensuring relevant movie suggestions.
Helps streaming services organize their libraries correctly.
Box office earnings and production budgets are essential for understanding a movie’s financial success and impact. However, many films on TMDB lack these details, making it difficult for users to compare performance, profitability, and industry trends.
A blockbuster movie might not have its budget or earnings listed, making it unclear whether it was a hit or a flop.
An indie film may have a low budget but significant earnings, yet without data, users can't see its financial success.
Some films list incomplete earnings, only showing domestic box office and ignoring international totals.
Allows users to see how movies performed financially.
Helps film analysts, critics, and fans compare industry trends.
Supports historical tracking of box office performance over time.
A movie’s director is one of its most important credits, influencing storytelling, style, and audience expectations. Additionally, release dates are critical for historical records and search results. However, many TMDB listings lack this data.
A film might be missing its director, making it harder for fans to track their favorite filmmaker’s work.
Some movies list only the theatrical release date, ignoring DVD, streaming, or festival release dates.
Older movies sometimes have incorrect release years, leading to confusion.
Improves filmography tracking for directors and creators.
Helps users find movies based on release years and availability.
Ensures streaming and TV platforms display the correct movie timelines.
Movies often have different titles in different countries to match local languages and marketing preferences. TMDB, however, often lacks these alternative titles, making foreign films harder to find for international users.
A movie like "Spirited Away" is only listed under its Japanese title "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi", making it difficult for English-speaking audiences to find.
The movie "Parasite" (2019) might not have its Korean title "기생충" listed, limiting accessibility for native speakers.
Some action films have localized marketing names (e.g., "Die Hard 4.0" in Europe vs. "Live Free or Die Hard" in the U.S.), but only one name is listed.
Improves international accessibility for foreign-language speakers.
Helps users find the correct movie under its known title in their country.
Allows for better localization in streaming services.
Many movies are mislabeled with the wrong language tags, making it difficult for users to filter films based on their original language or available subtitles.
A French film might be mistakenly labeled as "English", causing search errors.
Some multi-language films (e.g., "Babel") are only listed in one language, despite featuring multiple spoken languages.
A movie might list a dub language instead of its original (e.g., an anime marked as "English" instead of "Japanese").
Improves search filtering for users looking for movies in a specific language.
Ensures that original-language versions are correctly prioritized.
Helps streaming services offer the right language options.
The runtime (duration) of a movie is a crucial piece of information, helping users decide whether they have time to watch a film. However, many TMDB entries lack official running times, making planning difficult.
A 3-hour epic movie might not list its runtime, making it hard to plan a viewing session.
Some director’s cuts or extended editions do not specify their different running times.
Some movies only list approximate durations rather than exact minutes.
Helps users plan their watch time accordingly.
Prevents confusion over different versions (theatrical, extended, director’s cut).
Improves search results for users looking for short or long movies.
The TMDB Leaderboard is a dynamic ranking system that highlights the top contributors who actively edit and update movie data on The Movie Database (TMDB).
This system is designed to recognize and reward contributors who help improve the accuracy and completeness of TMDB's vast collection of movie information.
The leaderboard tracks user contributions on a weekly basis and ranks users based on the number of edits they have made. Each contribution is counted, whether it’s:
Contributions are updated in real time, and the leaderboard refreshes weekly to reflect the latest ranking of top contributors.
Each week, TMDB recognizes top contributors who have made the most edits. As shown in the leaderboard image:
Top Contributor: The user with the highest number of edits is ranked #1.
High Activity Users: Contributors who have consistently updated content are featured in the top 10.
New & Returning Users: Long-term and new members alike can climb the ranks through consistent contributions.
These users are making significant efforts to improve TMDB’s accuracy and data coverage.
The TMDB leaderboard is not just about numbers; it also provides insights into user engagement and contribution trends:
Edits Over Time:
The bar graph at the top of the leaderboard shows the number of edits made each day for the past 30 days.
This helps visualize daily activity spikes, showing when the community is most active.
Average Edits Per Day:
The leaderboard displays each user’s average daily edits, helping users track their productivity over time.
Contributing to TMDB is voluntary, but top contributors gain:
Recognition: Being listed on the leaderboard earns recognition within the TMDB community.
Authority & Credibility: Frequent contributors establish themselves as trusted editors.
Better Data for Everyone: Contributions help improve TMDB’s accuracy and discoverability for users worldwide.
Potential Perks: While TMDB currently does not offer direct rewards, top contributors may be considered for future privileges such as beta access, additional editing permissions, or moderation roles.
Want to be featured as a top contributor? Here are some tips to increase your contribution count:
Edit & Update Metadata Regularly:
Fix incorrect movie titles, descriptions, genres, and keywords.
Ensure movies have proper language tags and alternative titles.
Add Missing Images & Posters:
Upload high-quality posters, backdrops, and promotional images.
Make sure images meet TMDB’s quality guidelines.
Enhance Cast & Crew Details:
Add missing actors, directors, writers, and producers.
Link external databases (IMDb, JustWatch, Wikidata).
Correct Release Dates & Box Office Data:
Verify official release dates from trusted sources.
Ensure budget & box office revenue are correctly entered.
Report & Fix Locked Fields:
If you find locked fields (e.g., original title, budget), report them via the TMDB support forum:
The TMDB Leaderboard can be accessed directly from the TMDB website:
It updates every week, so contributors can check their progress and see how they compare with others.
Yes! TMDB is open for contributions, allowing anyone to add missing data, correct errors, and upload images.
If you find incorrect information, you can edit it. Changes are reviewed before being approved.
TMDB is updated in real time, as users contribute and edit content.
If a movie or show isn’t available on TMDB, SIMKL can’t retrieve its data. Adding the missing content on TMDB will ensure SIMKL updates accordingly.
Option 1: Manually update the missing info on TMDB.
Option 2: Contact SIMKL support with details about the missing data.
Yes! If a movie or TV show is missing an IMDb link, you can add it under the "External Links" section on TMDB.
Once a movie or TV show is updated on TMDB, the changes usually reflect on SIMKL within 24 hours.
SIMKL does not directly sync TMDB’s public lists, but users can create custom lists on SIMKL.
Add a poster, summary, cast, IMDb link, and trailer.
Ensure genres, runtime, and release date are correct.
Add any alternative titles for better discoverability.
Yes! However, some international movies, Asian dramas, and anime lack complete metadata, requiring user contributions.
The TMDB API (The Movie Database API) is a powerful tool that allows developers to access movie and TV show metadata, images, trailers, cast details, and much more.
Whether you are building a movie discovery app, a streaming tracker, or a website that integrates movie information, the TMDB API provides all the essential data.
The TMDB API is a RESTful web service that gives developers access to a wide range of movie-related data. This includes:
TMDB is community-driven, meaning users actively contribute data, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
To use the TMDB API, you need an API Key. Follow these steps to obtain it:
Go to API Settings – Click on your profile icon and navigate to API Subscription from the dropdown menu.
Choose Your API Plan – TMDB offers a free API for personal use and paid plans for commercial use.
Generate Your API Key – Under the Developer Plan, click on Access Your API Key Details to retrieve your unique key.
Start Using the API – Implement the key in your application by following the TMDB API documentation.
Yes, TMDB offers a free API for personal, non-commercial use. This means if you’re using it for a hobby project, movie tracking, or educational purposes, you can access the API at no cost.
However, if you plan to use TMDB’s data for a commercial product or service, you will need a paid subscription.
The TMDB ID is a unique identifier assigned to every movie, person, and TV show in the TMDB database. You can find a TMDB ID by:
Searching for the movie on TMDB and checking the URL. Example:
The Dark Knight: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/155-the-dark-knight
TMDB ID = 155 If you’re using the API, you can retrieve the ID by making a search request:
The API response will include the TMDB ID in the id field.
TMDB provides different API plans depending on your needs.
Cost: $0
Access: Full API access for personal, non-commercial use
Limits: Subject to rate limits but sufficient for individual developers
Ideal For: Hobbyists, students, and movie enthusiasts building personal projects
Cost: $149 per month
Access: Allows API usage for commercial applications
Limits: Increased rate limits compared to the free plan
Ideal For: Small businesses, startups, and media-related apps
Cost: Custom pricing (Contact Sales)
Access: Unlimited API requests, tailored for high-traffic applications
Limits: Highest rate limits, full support, and commercial licensing
Ideal For: Large-scale businesses, streaming platforms, and corporations
While TMDB is a fantastic resource for movie data, it still has several limitations that impact users and platforms like SIMKL.
These missing features and inaccuracies lead to gaps in information, making it harder for users to find complete and reliable data. Below are some of the key issues with TMDB and how they affect SIMKL.
What’s the Issue?
TMDB primarily focuses on live-action actors and does not provide proper support for voice actors in animated movies or dubbed versions.
Example of the Issue:
Anime Movies (e.g., Your Name (2016)) may only list the original Japanese cast but not the English or other dubbed voice actors.
Animated Movies (e.g., Toy Story 4 (2019)) may show the main cast but lack dubbing voice actors for different regions.
How It Affects SIMKL?
Users who want to track specific voice actors across movies and series won’t find complete details.
Dubbed versions are harder to search, making it difficult for non-English users to identify available voice talents.
Solution Needed
TMDB should add multi-language voice actor support to properly credit original and dubbed voice casts separately.
What’s the Issue?
TMDB only lists final box office figures, but it does not provide a timeline of how a movie performed over time (daily, weekly, or monthly).
Example of the Issue:
Avengers: Endgame (2019) broke several records, but TMDB does not show how much it earned per week in different countries.
Movies like Avatar (2009) had a slow start but later dominated the box office, but there's no historical tracking.
How It Affects SIMKL?
Users looking to track a film’s financial performance over time have no way of checking the trends.
It limits analytics tools for predicting movie success based on early trends.
Solution Needed
TMDB should introduce a historical box office performance section to track how movies earned over time.
What’s the Issue?
TMDB only supports a few external connections, such as:
IMDb
TVDB
WikiData
However, it does NOT support: 🚫 AniDB (for Anime metadata) 🚫 Netflix IDs (for direct Netflix catalog references) 🚫 Fan Sites & Reddit Links (for community discussions)
Example of the Issue:
If an original movie is available on Netflix, there is no Netflix ID on TMDB for users to find it quickly.
Anime movies are better categorized on AniDB, but there is no AniDB link integration.
Many Reddit discussions have valuable fan information, but no links exist to connect relevant threads.
How It Affects SIMKL?
SIMKL cannot auto-fetch streaming availability without JustWatch integration.
Anime fans must manually search AniDB because TMDB lacks direct connections.
Users cannot quickly find official fan sites, discussion pages, or extra content.
Solution Needed
TMDB should add support for JustWatch, AniDB, Netflix, and Fan Site links for better integration.
What’s the Issue?
TMDB only shows basic movie ratings (PG, R, etc.), but it lacks a proper Parental Guide system with detailed explanations.
Example of the Issue:
Deadpool (2016) is rated R, but TMDB does not specify why (violence, language, sexual content, etc.).
Some movies have different ratings in different countries (e.g., The Dark Knight was PG-13 in the US but rated 15+ in the UK).
How It Affects SIMKL?
Users looking for kid-friendly content cannot see specific details on why a movie is rated that way.
Parents cannot easily find detailed content warnings for movies before letting their children watch.
Solution Needed
TMDB should add a full Parental Guide section that includes:
Violence levels
Profanity warnings
Sexual content flags
Drug/alcohol references
Country-based ratings
What’s the Issue?
Many movies contain post-credit or mid-credit scenes, but TMDB does not provide a way to tag them.
Example of the Issue:
Marvel Movies (Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home) often have extra credit scenes, but TMDB does not indicate this.
Other movies (Pirates of the Caribbean, Fast & Furious) have mid-credit teasers, but there’s no label to indicate them.
How It Affects SIMKL?
Users who want to know if a movie has a bonus scene cannot easily find this information.
People may miss important post-credit sequences.
Solution Needed
TMDB should add a flag to indicate “Has Post-Credit Scene” or “Bonus Footage After Credits.”
What’s the Issue?
TMDB does not track movie awards and nominations, making it hard to see if a film won Oscars, BAFTAs, or Golden Globes.
Example of the Issue:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) won 11 Oscars, but TMDB does not list them.
Movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) dominated the award season, but there’s no record of its wins on TMDB.
How It Affects SIMKL?
Users who want to track award-winning movies need to go to IMDb instead.
SIMKL cannot filter movies by Academy Awards, Golden Globes, or Critics’ Choice wins.
Solution Needed
TMDB should add an Awards section that shows:
Oscar Wins & Nominations
BAFTA, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice Awards
Festival Awards (Cannes, Sundance, TIFF, etc.)
TMDB is a valuable resource for movie and TV show data, but it relies on community contributions to stay accurate. SIMKL users who actively update TMDB help improve search results, enhance recommendations, and create a better experience.
Go to TMDB’s "Add New Movie" Page: 🔗 Add a New Movie:
🔗 Forum Link: :
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Leaderboard Link:
Sign Up for an Account – Visit and create a free account.
🔗 Link to API documentation:
🔗 More details on pricing:
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