IMDb

You can access IMDb data through a specialized MCP server that acts as a bridge to IMDb data via the IMDb API. It provides practical tools to search movies and TV shows, fetch detailed information, inspect cast and crew, see top and upcoming content, and explore region-specific data such as Indian cinema, with efficient pagination and caching to keep responses fast.

How to use

You will use this MCP server through an MCP client to request movie and TV show data. Start by running the server in one of the available transport modes, then invoke the provided tools from your MCP client to search, fetch details, or browse lists. The server returns results in small, consistent pages to keep interactions concise and easy to process. Common workflows include searching for titles, retrieving detailed IMDb records by ID, listing top or popular content, and exploring upcoming releases by country. Use the server to enrich conversations with accurate IMDb data and to drive decision making in content recommendations or research.

How to install

Prerequisites you need before starting are Python 3.13 or higher and a suitable MCP client environment. You will run the server either locally in stdio mode or in HTTP mode via containers or deployment tooling.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "imdb_mcp": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "imdb-server"]
    }
  }
}

Notes on starting in stdio mode

Start the server in stdio mode using the utility you have installed. You can run the standard UV-based command or the Python module as an alternative. Ensure your RapidAPI key is available in the environment when you start the server.

If you choose the UV-based start, use the following command to launch the IMDb MCP server in stdio mode:

Security and keys

You must provide your IMDb API key from RapidAPI to access data. In stdio mode, set the environment variable RAPID_API_KEY_IMDB with your key before starting the server. In HTTP mode, configure the key in your deployment configuration so each request carries the key.

Configuration

The server relies on an IMDb API key. In stdio mode you provide it via environment variables. In HTTP mode, the key is configured in the deployment system so every HTTP request includes authentication.

Troubleshooting

If the server does not start, verify that your Python version matches the minimum requirement and that the API key is correctly set. Check that the port is not already in use if you are running in HTTP mode. Review rate limits on your IMDb API subscription and adjust requests via pagination if needed.

Additional sections

Configuration, security, examples, and troubleshooting notes are included above to help you set up and run the IMDb MCP Server smoothly. You can rely on the provided tools to perform searches, fetch details, and browse lists with consistent pagination and caching for efficient responses.

Tools overview

The server exposes a comprehensive set of tools to access IMDb data, including search, details, cast and crew lookups, top and popular lists, box office data, country-specific information, upcoming releases, and India-focused content. Use these tools to construct rich queries that fit your use case.

Available tools

search_imdb

Search for movies and TV shows with various filtering options to discover titles that match your criteria.

get_imdb_details

Retrieve comprehensive information about a movie or TV show, including title, year, genres, rating, synopsis, and IMDb id.

get_directors

Fetch the list of directors for a given IMDb item.

get_cast

Fetch the cast list for a given IMDb item.

get_writers

Fetch the writers for a given IMDb item.

get_types

Return all available content types (e.g., MOVIE, TV_SHOW).

get_genres

Return all available genres supported by the IMDb data source.

get_countries

Return all available production or release countries.

get_languages

Return all available languages for IMDb items.

get_top_250_movies

Return the top 250 movies from IMDb, with pagination support.

get_top_box_office_us

Return US box office data for movies in a paginated format.

get_most_popular_movies

Return the most popular movies, with pagination support.

get_top_250_tv_shows

Return the top 250 TV shows from IMDb, with pagination support.

get_most_popular_tv_shows

Return the most popular TV shows, with pagination support.

get_upcoming_releases

Return upcoming movie and TV show releases by country, with pagination.

get_country_codes_for_upcoming_releases

Return the list of country codes for which upcoming releases are available.

get_top_rated_malayalam_movies

Return the top 50 rated Malayalam movies.

get_upcoming_indian_movies

Return the most anticipated upcoming Indian movies.

get_trending_tamil_movies

Return trending Tamil movies.

get_trending_telugu_movies

Return trending Telugu movies.

get_top_rated_tamil_movies

Return the top 50 rated Tamil movies.

get_top_rated_telugu_movies

Return the top 50 rated Telugu movies.

get_top_rated_indian_movies

Return the top 250 rated Indian movies.