TMDB (The Movie Database) API
Movies & TV Free key (no card)
AuthenticationFree key (no card)
Rate limitUp to 40 requests every 10 seconds, free
Documentation: developer.themoviedb.org ยท Checked Sep 13, 2026
About
TMDB is like a giant encyclopedia of movies and TV, kept up to date by movie fans around the world. It hands you posters, cast lists, ratings, trailers, release dates, and even where to stream something right now. Practically every movie app you've ever used gets its data from somewhere like this.
Details
Free to start. You may need a free key, but no credit card.
Auth: Free key (no card)
Rate limit: Up to 40 requests every 10 seconds, free
Verified: 2026-09-13
Best for: personal business developer fun
Setup
- Create a free account at themoviedb.org/signup
- Go to Settings, then the API section, and request an API key
- Choose the free developer option and describe your project in a sentence
- Copy your API key and paste it into your requests as ?api_key=YOUR_KEY
Example
https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/movie?api_key=YOUR_KEY&query=InceptionUse cases
- A small cinema or film club builds a 'what's showing this week' page with real posters and trailers automatically
- A blogger adds rich movie cards (cast, ratings, artwork) to their review posts without copying anything by hand
- A small business runs a date-night recommendation widget that suggests movies by genre and mood