# What happened to IMDB? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630 "2020-01-18T19:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/1 "2020-01-18T19:22:11Z")
Seems that IMDB got a makeover today. So far, I am not pleased or impressed. The entire front page is unusable for me, for instance. Were they bought by Amazon or by a film/TV production company recently? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/2 "2020-01-18T19:26:02Z")
I agree. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/3 "2020-01-18T19:28:17Z")
They were bought by Amazon in 1998… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/4 "2020-01-18T19:32:37Z")
What did you use the front page for? I ask because I almost never see the front page. I use iMDB mainly to look up cast and credits of movies I have seen. These don’t look terribly different. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/5 "2020-01-18T19:34:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > What did you use the front page for? > > I ask because I almost never see the front page. I use iMDB mainly to look up cast and credits of movies I have seen. These don’t look terribly different. Same. If I hadn’t have seen the OP, I wouldn’t have even known that there was a change. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/6 "2020-01-18T21:46:32Z")
So you both keep a handy link to IMDB that isn’t the front page? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/7 "2020-01-18T21:53:17Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So you both keep a handy link to IMDB that isn’t the front page? Google readily finds IMDB pages for whatever it is I want to look up. Like some sort of all-seeing search locomotive. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/8 "2020-01-18T21:54:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So you both keep a handy link to IMDB that isn’t the front page? No, but the only time I go to IMDb is from a Google search (like “imdb casablannca”), so I always bypass the front page and go wither directly to the show/actor/character I’m looking for, or to the search results page. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/9 "2020-01-18T22:02:28Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So you both keep a handy link to IMDB that isn’t the front page? As others have mentioned, I usually use a Google search. I will also go to the front page and search directly from the site. When I do that, I don’t pay any attention to the front page. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/10 "2020-01-18T22:20:23Z")
I use the app so maybe I’m seeing it different. Maybe more ads? I don’t know. I don’t randomly explore the site. I go directly to search and look up what I’m there for. That hasn’t changed. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/11 "2020-01-18T22:28:12Z")
You can add IMDB search plugins to Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer… > **[Mycroft Project: Imdb Search Engine Plugins - Firefox IE Chrome](https://mycroftproject.com/imdb-search-plugins.html)** > > Imdb Search Engine Plugins / Providers for Firefox / IE. The Mycroft Project provides a collection of OpenSearch and Sherlock Search Engine Plugins / Search Providers for Firefox, IE and Chrome. > **[How to Add Any Search Engine to Your Web Browser](https://www.howtogeek.com/114176/how-to-easily-create-search-plugins-add-any-search-engine-to-your-browser/)** > > Web browsers include a few search engines for you to choose from, but you can easily add more. Even if a website doesn’t offer an official search plugin, you can add any custom search engine you like with a few tricks. > **[Set your default search engine & site search shortcuts - Computer -...](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en)** > > You can use the address bar (omnibox) as a search box. It automatically uses Google, but you can set another default search engine instead. > If you notice unexpected changes in your search engine, you > **[Add the Search bar to your Firefox toolbar | Firefox Help](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-search-bar-firefox-toolbar)** > > You can search the Web from the address bar or from the New Tab page. You can also add a separate Search bar to Firefox. Learn how. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/12 "2020-01-19T00:21:20Z")
Just checked the front page, absolutely horrid, but I don’t think I’ve seen the old layout in years. Like the others I always go directly the the movie via a search engine or only look at the search bar. No reason to look a the rest of the front page. Same with Amazon and eBay. The only thing I look at is the search bar. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/13 "2020-01-19T00:30:05Z")
That site stopped being useful/fun when they dropped the message boards feature. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/14 "2020-01-19T00:31:32Z")
I use the IMDB search page as a bookmark. Bypasses Google (and avoids the front page). > **[\- IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/search/)** It looks the same today. P.S. Usually I go to IMDB for links to a movie’s reviews ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/15 "2020-01-19T00:32:27Z")
Like others, I never see the front page. But imdv has been degrading for a decade. It’s actually gotten to the point that I go to Wikipedia first for primary show or movie information. It’s only when I need to see an actor’s minor roles that I go to imdb. And there’s a direct link on the bottom of almost every relevant wiki page. If only they would do something about trivia excess. You should look at the trivial trivia for something like a Bond movie. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/16 "2020-01-19T00:48:54Z")
> [@phantom\_lamb](#): > > That site stopped being useful/fun when they dropped the message boards feature. +1 It used to be a valuable resource for discussions of movies. Yes, it sometimes devolved into trollish trashing of each other, but there were some deep discussions of the movie also. I rarely read the reviews and use the site for director/cast info and the synopsis only. Sadly, with the removal of the messages boards, there’s nowhere I’ve found for my interest (Asian movies and TV) for serious discussion. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/17 "2020-01-19T00:53:38Z")
Reposting to clarify something. > [@KarlGauss](#): > > I use the IMDB search page as a bookmark. Bypasses Google (and avoids the front page). > > [Advanced search](https://www.imdb.com/search/) > > It looks the same today. > > P.S. Usually I go to IMDB for links to a movie’s EXTERNAL reviews ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/18 "2020-01-19T01:12:19Z")
> [@phantom\_lamb](#): > > That site stopped being useful/fun when they dropped the message boards feature. > [@lingyi](#): > > +1 > > It used to be a valuable resource for discussions of movies. Yes, it sometimes devolved into trollish trashing of each other, but there were some deep discussions of the movie also. I rarely read the reviews and use the site for director/cast info and the synopsis only. > > Sadly, with the removal of the messages boards, there’s nowhere I’ve found for my interest (Asian movies and TV) for serious discussion. Another “agree” on this. Supposedly the Amazon honchos decided that the boards were hurting sales on Amazon–people would spend time on the boards instead of purchasing streaming or discs. That seems unlikely to me–it seems more likely that people discussing and arguing on the boards would be MORE likely to purchase a way to watch the show or movie being discussed, rather than less. And yes, no good substitute has arisen (whether for Asian fare or anything else), due to the fact that people dispersed to many sites. The virtue of the IMDb boards was in the sheer numbers of people gathered there. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/19 "2020-01-19T01:21:10Z")
The IMDB forums were poorly run. Every IMDB page had its own forum. So, they had a forum for each individual Bond movie, but not a forum for Bond movies overall. They had a forum for each individual episode of Cheers, but not one for the series overall. Even the most popular movies had very limited traffic. You could post a message, and nobody would reply for a year. There was really only one forum I found useful or interesting. Basically, the “identify this movie” forum, which was a lot of fun. I think they should have a message board of some sort, I just wish it was better thought out than the old one. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630/20 "2020-01-19T01:36:01Z")
The forums exist, more or less. [https://moviechat.org/](https://moviechat.org/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-imdb/846630.md?page=2)