If you’re like me, you love movies and spent most of the early pandemic binging dozens and dozens of them. So many, in fact, that you can’t remember how many, which ones, or when you even watched them.
This all changed when I was introduced to Letterboxd.
The social platform, which markets itself as ‘Goodreads for movies,’ is the place to be for any self-proclaimed cinephile to be.
If you love movies, here are 10 reasons why you need Letterboxd in your life:
1. Log movies (and sometimes k-dramas)
On Letterboxd, you can log movies you’ve watched, no matter when you watched them. For example, if I watched Saltburn three months ago but I forgot to log it then, I can still go back today and say that I watched it on that specific day.
Also, if you’re a fan of k-dramas or Bollywood films, or any other foreign cinema, you can also log those (Letterboxd has movies in over 150 langauges!)
Aside from logging them, you can also rate them (from 1 to 5 stars, with 0.5 star options as well), and also ‘like’ the ones you liked most.
2. Make watchlists
If there’s a movie you want to watch but haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, you can also add it to a ‘watchlist.’ This is great for people who are forgetful and constantly have a list of things they want to watch but can’t seem to find the time to get around to.
And you can edit the order later too!
3. Make lists
In this case, lists are different from watchlists on Letterboxd. The platform gives users a quick option to add a movie to their watchlist, but users can also make lists, just like you would make a playlist with a title and description. You can curate it however you want and share it however you want—they can be private, public to all users, or shared to a select few users you can choose yourself.
For example, I could make a playlist of movies with my favourite actor. Or even movies that give me the same vibe as Studio Ghibli movies. Or, if you’re feeling silly, “movies that are disliked / hated by actors / crew that worked on them.”
The possibilities are endless.
4. Add reviews
If you love posting your opinion online, you’re in luck. On the platform, anyone can play the role of film critic.
On Letterboxd, users can treat the website like a public diary by sharing reviews and their thoughts on a film. It can be as serious or as silly as you’d like—(if anything, the latter is more preferred).
5. Connect with other movie lovers
More than a film tracking website, Letterboxd is also a social platform. You can connect with other people who love movies by following them, seeing what they’ve watched, and seeing their reviews (and liking them too).
Note: if you don’t want to see spoilers, the platform also has a function that blocks reviews with spoilers and gives users the option to unblock them if they choose.
Aside from your friends, you can also connect with celebrities! Some celebrities with popular profiles are Martin Scorcese, Mike Flanagan, and Ayo Edebiri.
6. Organize your films
Sometimes we collect so many things that we lose track of what we have and need something to help us organize. Letterboxd allows users to tag the films and shows they’ve watched using keywords that individual users can make up themselves.
7. Use on your phone
If you don’t have access to your desktop or laptop but you really want to log the film you just watched, you can do it right on your mobile device. Letterboxd is available for both iOS and Android supported devices.
8. See where movies are available to watch
Let’s say you find a movie that your friend recently watched and you really want to watch it but you don’t know where it’s available, don’t fear; the website has a feature to let users know all the platforms that movies are available to watch.
(You can also watch trailers and see the description, cast, and crew right on the website!)
9. See which movies are popular these days
On the Letterboxd homepage, users can see which movies are popular and trending on the platform. From this, you can also see how other users (not just your friends) reacted to the movie by seeing a multitude of ratings and reviews
10. Customize your account, profile, and settings
Just like any other social platform, Letterboxd allows users to customize their profiles. You can select a username, add a specially crafted bio, link your website(s), connect your Twitter or Gravatar, and display your top 4 favourite films for other users to see.
If you were impressed by the free features mentioned above, Letterboxd has even more! (for a price).
Here are some additional features that users can have access to if they upgrade to Pro or Patron status:
Individual user data
Letterboxd provides Pro and Patron members with data about their individual viewership and website usage. You can see how many hours you spent watching movies, your favourite films, and the types of ratings you gave.
No third-party ads
Everyone hates ads. And some people get so annoyed with them that they might even pay to get rid of them. Letterboxd gives Pro and Patron members that exact option.
Streaming services
Pro and Patron users can select and filter their favourite streaming services and get notified when films on their watchlist arrive on those services.
Patron
Patron is the highest status a Letterboxd user can have.
With this status, members can pick posters for each film, add images for cast and crew members on a film, add a backdrop to your profile, reviews, and lists, and have your name in lights on the platform’s patrons page.
You’d also have access to beta features!
Movie lovers and Letterboxd go hand-in-hand. If you love movies, this is the website for you. If you aren’t on the platform, you’re missing out.