Table Of Content
imdb.com
Have you ever been watching a movie or tv show and thought to yourself, "I wish I could remember what other movies that actor has been in?" or "what is that actress's name again?" Sometimes these little curiosities can drive us crazy, sometimes to the point of ruining the experience of the show or movie we are watching. If only there was a site or an app that we could turn to in these times of dire need to quickly gather any and all information we require on our favorite movies and series.
There is an online resource called IMDb. This website is the unofficial authority on all things film, TV, video games, and streaming content. Quickly finding all the information you could ever require regarding cast, production crew, personal bios, plot synopses, and general trivia is easy with a few clicks. IMDb also offers professional critical reviews and fan reviews which can give you a sneak peak into the movie or show's reception before watching.
There is no other site like it on the web. IMDb is the go-to source for many cinephiles, both to brush up on their film and TV trivia and to discover new shows and movies. No matter what information you're looking for, IMDb has it and makes it easy to access.
History
Many important websites around the world begin as something extremely different from what they end up becoming. For example, Facebook, which originally began as a simple "hot or not" rating system at Harvard, went on to become one of the most influential social networking websites of all time. However, IMDb had similarly humble and divergent beginnings. Originally intended only to help people find information about movies they were interested in, IMDb quickly grew in popularity and is now one of the most visited websites on the internet.
Prior to becoming known as IMDb, there was a Usenet post called "Those Eyes." Created by British programmer Col Needham, this discussion thread was dedicated to discussing actresses who had beautiful eyes. Eventually, ?Those Eyes? caught on and inspired fellow cinema lovers to create their own lists of actresses with beautiful eyes.
This led Needham to create additional lists, such as archives of actors, directors, writers, actresses, etc., by the end of 1990. The overwhelming interest in these lists led Needham to code a version of the list that made it easily searchable for anyone curious. This was from this initial archaic combination of lists that IMDb would eventually be born.
In 1996, IMDb was created in the United Kingdom. For only 2 short years, it remained independently owned by Needham. In 1998, Jeff Bezos, a tech mogul, swooped in and acquired IMDb. The company has been attached to Amazon ever since as a subsidiary company.
Under new management at Amazon, IMDb continued to grow and expand its services. In January 2002, the subscription version of IMDb was introduced to the world, IMDb Pro. This additional service offered subscribers access to a massive database of information as well as exclusive film production and box office information on titles. IMDb Pro was touted as being some what of a must-have subscription for anyone trying to break into the film industry.
IMDb has continued to grow into new areas of media by launching a new streaming service known as IMDb TV on January 10th of 2019. IMDb TV allows users to stream movies for free with ads, and it seems likely that this service will continue to grow in popularity in the years to come.
Design
Although IMDb has found a way to strike a balance between the flashy and the understated, flashy and minimalist might be better terms to describe its aesthetic. IMDb achieves this through the juxtaposition of bright, neutral colors with simple and stylized typesets. Just open up the app and take a look at the splash screen to see for yourself how this works: a loud yellow background gives way to a simple black ?IMDb? that is reminiscent of how film titles span the screen.
From there, the site design is intuitive and easy to use. It's devoid of clutter, despite the terabytes of data that I'm sure this enormous database contains. Everything is organized and in its place. Whatever feature of IMDb you need to find, you can do so within seconds - even as a first-time user. This is how site design should be: immediately accessible, simple, and streamlined.
Content
On the top of the site, to the left of the convenient search bar, you will find a button labeled "menu." Clicking here will launch a dropdown menu that might as well be a new page, seeing as it fills the entire page. I like this style of a dropdown, though, because it gives you an extensive list of features and creates almost the illusion of a new page without having to go through the whole process of loading a new page. This is a very smart design.
This site provides an easy way to browse through different categories of content. The content is organized by the following: Movies, TV Shows, Awards & Events, Celebs, Videos, and Community. Each section has a long list of options below it to further guide your hand through this massive database.
The site offers up its streaming service, IMDb TV, and IMDb original content in order to offer the knowledge and entertainment that its visitors could ever need. If IMDb keeps up pumping out content like this, they could be poised to give streaming services like Netflix and Hulu a run for their money in the years to come.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
I highly recommend that you have the IMDb app and visit the desktop site from time to time. Together, there will be no stopping your knowledge of film, TV shows, and actors. The app is convenient to have in your pocket, and can make you the star of the conversation at a bar or café when friends are arguing about who played what role in a movie and nobody can think of the answer. In seconds, you will have it all. The app is easy to use and presents all of the features of IMDb in digestible and convenient bits.
I am someone who is sort of a purist when it comes to watching video content. I don't like to do it on my phone. If I'm going to watch something, especially some of the longer-form content that IMDb offers like movies or original series, I would much prefer to do so on my computer, where the resolution will be better and the screen larger. So, I would recommend using both the IMDb app and the desktop site to truly get the most out of this site.
Pricing and Plans
So, even if you're not a paying IMDb member, bookmark the site and visit it from time to time - there's always something interesting on there! But, for those looking to make more of their mark in the entertainment industry and get deeper into some of the world's best films and TV shows, an IMDb Pro subscription can sometimes be the perfect investment.
IMDb Pro is a platform that allows actors, crew members, agents, and executives to connect with each other. With a subscription, you can post your resume, upload headshots, and contact information. You can also browse an extensive list of industry contacts and gain the email addresses and phone numbers of some of the most valuable names in Hollywood. The monthly fee for IMDb Pro membership is $19.99 per month or $14.99 per year.
Conclusion
IMDb is a valuable resource that provides information for casual movie fans, hardcore film buffs, and industry professionals alike. This resource has everything you need to know about movies and TV.
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