TMDB

TMDb, or The Movie Database, is an online, open-content database that collects information related to films, television programs, and the people who work on them. Launched in 2008 by French developer Emmanuel Kasarherou and collaborators, it is maintained by The Movie Database, LLC and relies on user contributions to expand its catalog. The site covers metadata such as cast and crew, plot summaries, release dates, genres, languages, posters and images, trailers, and production companies. Entries are created and edited by registered users and are moderated to safeguard data quality. TMDb also provides a rating and popularity system and offers APIs for integration with third-party services.

The TMDb API provides programmatic access to the database, enabling search, discovery, and retrieval of images and metadata. Developers typically obtain an API key and must adhere to attribution requirements and rate limits. The API is widely used by media-center applications, streaming guides, and fan sites, reflecting TMDb’s role as a connected resource for entertainment metadata.

Content on TMDb is community-sourced, with guidelines to manage acceptable content. While data is widely reused across applications, users and developers are expected to comply with TMDb’s terms of use. The platform supports multilingual metadata and localized content, making it useful for a global audience. Notable features include localized information, an image hosting service for posters and backdrops, credits data, alternative titles, and user watchlists.