Each day thousands of people rush to the Internet Movie Database, commonly known as IMDB, to find out more about their favorite movies and television. Here, you will learn everything you need to know about that website. You'll learn how it works, why it's so popular among the masses, and why it's better than Rotten Tomatoes or other movie rating services available online.
History
IMDB, which stands for the Internet Movie Database, is a website that was founded by Col Needham in 1990. Needham was a film fan from an early age, and he used to compile lists of his favorite movies and actors. As he grew older, he realized that other people might be interested in his lists, so he started creating databases of movie information on his computer.
Eventually, Needham decided to share his databases with the world, and he launched the first version of IMDB.com in 1993. At first, the site was very basic, with only a few thousand entries, but over time it grew into the comprehensive movie and TV database that we know today.
In 1996 IMDb was incorporated in the United Kingdom, becoming the Internet Movie Database Ltd. Founder Col Needham became the primary owner. General revenue for site operations was generated through advertising, licensing, and partnerships.
In April 2017, IMDb celebrated its 25th anniversary. As of that year, Needham was still managing IMDb from its main office in Bristol in the Castlemead office tower.
In January 2019, IMDb launched an ad-supported streaming service called Freedive.[44] This was the company's second attempt at a streaming service; it launched a similar service in 2008. In June 2019, Freedive was rebranded as IMDb TV. In April 2022, the service was rebranded again as Amazon Freevee.
What does IMDB do?
it's a database of information about movies, TV shows, and the people who create them. You can search for information about any movie or TV show you can think of, and you'll find everything from cast and crew lists to plot summaries to user ratings and reviews. You can also create an account on IMDB and keep track of the movies and TV shows you've watched, rate them, and create watchlists.
How did IMDB become popular?
IMDB has become incredibly popular over the years, and it's now one of the most visited websites on the internet. So how did it become so popular? One reason is that it's incredibly useful for people who are interested in movies and TV shows. Whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore cinephile, IMDB is an invaluable resource for finding information about your favorite movies and TV shows.
As of 2021, the site boasts more than 7 million titles and over 10 million personalities in its database. The site also has a large and active user base, with over 250 million registered users as of 2021. The user-generated content, such as ratings and reviews, also adds to the site's popularity and has a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Another reason for IMDB's popularity is that it's very user-friendly. The site is easy to navigate, and the information is presented in a clear and organized way. Plus, the user-generated content (like ratings and reviews) adds a social element to the site that keeps people coming back.
How does IMDB earn money?
One of the main ways is through advertising. The site generates revenue through ads that appear on the site. The site also offers a paid membership program called IMDbPro, which is aimed at industry professionals and offers additional features like contact information for actors and crew members.
In terms of employees, IMDB has over 200 employees based in offices in Seattle, London, and Bristol.
IMDbPro is a subscription service offered by IMDB that is aimed at entertainment industry professionals. The service offers a range of features designed to help industry professionals manage their careers and connect with other professionals. Some of the features of IMDbPro include:
- Access to detailed contact information for industry professionals, including actors, directors, and producers.
- Advanced search tools that allow users to find and track projects, companies, and professionals.
- Customized notifications about industry news and updates.
- Tools for managing and promoting a professional profile on IMDB.
Why nowadays IMDB rating matter for movies or T.V. shows?
IMDB ratings have become an important measure of a movie or TV show's success, with many people using the ratings to decide what to watch. A high IMDB rating can also be a factor in a movie's box office success or a TV show's renewal. In addition, IMDB ratings can also influence critical reception and award nominations.
How Col Needham got this idea?
As a film fan from an early age, Col Needham used to keep track of his favorite movies and actors in lists that he compiled himself. As he grew older and the internet became more widely available, he started creating databases of movie information on his computer. Needham's love for movies and his interest in databases led him to the idea of creating a comprehensive online database of movie information that people could access from anywhere in the world.
In 1990, Needham began working on the first version of IMDB as a hobby project in his spare time. He started by compiling a list of movies and actors that he was interested in and then began researching and adding more information to the database. Over time, he added more features to the site, such as user ratings and reviews, and expanded the database to include TV shows and other forms of entertainment.
As the site grew in popularity, Needham began to invest more time and resources into it. He recruited a team of volunteers to help him manage the site and add new content, and he began to reach out to industry professionals to encourage them to use and contribute to the site.
In 1998, IMDB was acquired by Amazon, which helped to further fuel the site's growth and expand its reach. Today, IMDB is one of the most popular and widely used movie and TV databases in the world, with millions of titles and personalities listed in its database.
Features
The title and talent pages of IMDb are accessible to all users, but only registered and logged-in users can submit new material and suggest edits to existing entries. Registered users with a proven track record can add and make corrections to cast lists, credits, and some other data points.
formula to calculate their weighted rating:
W = (R•v + C•m)/(v + m)
Where:
W is the weighted rating.
R is the mean rating for the movie, from 1 to 10.
v is the number of votes for the movie.
m is the minimum votes required to be listed in the Top 250 (currently 25,000).
C is the mean vote across the whole report.
How IMDB is different from other rating websites and Rotten Tomatoes?
IMDB is a comprehensive database of movie and TV information, while Rotten Tomatoes is primarily a review aggregator that collects reviews from professional critics and calculates a "Tomatometer" score based on the percentage of positive reviews.
IMDB, on the other hand, features user ratings and reviews in addition to professional reviews and other information about movies and TV shows, such as cast and crew information, trivia, and box office data.
IMDB Rating System:
Uses a simple 10-point rating scale where users can rate movies and TV shows on a scale from 1 to 10.
IMDB ratings are calculated based on the average rating given by all users who have rated the movie or TV show on the site.
Users can also leave written reviews for movies and TV shows, which can be helpful for other users who are deciding whether or not to watch a particular title.
IMDB ratings are not limited to professional critics, and anyone can rate a movie or TV show on the site.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating System:
Uses a binary rating system where reviews are either classified as "Fresh" or "Rotten" based on the critic's overall opinion of the movie or TV show.
Rotten Tomatoes calculates a score based on the percentage of positive reviews, with a movie or TV show needing to have at least 60% positive reviews to receive a "Fresh" rating.
The site also features an Audience Score, which is based on user ratings and reviews rather than professional critic reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes only includes reviews from professional critics who have been approved by the site's editorial team.
Other rating websites, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDB show us a trailer for movies or TV Shows, so they have to pay for that?
Regarding trailers on these websites, typically, the studios or distributors who own the rights to the movie or TV show provide the trailers, and they do not have to pay to have them featured on IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, or other rating websites. Instead, having the trailers on these websites can be seen as a form of promotion and publicity for the movie or TV show, and can help generate buzz and interest among potential viewers.
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