IMDb Turns 20, Launches Original Video to Celebrate

Moviefone isn’t the only film-centric site to turn almost-legal of late — IMDb.com is turning 20, and with that milestone is launching IMDb20, the Amazon-owned company’s 20-year anniversary campaign.

IMDb.com has been a beacon for film lovers for two decades now — I myself discovered it in high school — and although many journalism schools don’t count it as a “legit source,” it’s pretty much the bible for many a cinephile.

“IMDb saved me an insane amount of time in my life,” says director Kevin Smith in an announcement on IMDb.com. “I think of every fight I ever got in with somebody who just didn’t have a crucial piece of movie information at their fingertips. I said one thing. They said another. Loggerheads. Relationships destroyed. IMDb comes along and just immediately solves that.”

And, starting this week, there’s about to be a ton more stuff for Smith and Co. to check out in celebration of the big 2-0. Every day, IMDb will feature an original video interview with a celebrity (the site has supported vids since 2008, but this is its first foray into original content), until October 17, which is IMDb’s official b’day. All this will function as a kind of look-back at the last 20 years in film. Readers can also build top 20 lists of fave films with the help of IMDb’s list-making tool, which can then be shared on Facebook and the like.

If you head to IMDb’s dedicated IMDbB20 site now, there’s a ton of content to surf through, including a collection of trailers, top 20 lists and an interview with Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively.

What do you think of IMDb’s transformation over the years — from basic database to social integration to offering apps? Is it still your source for all things cinematic, or have you found something younger and more spry?

[via mashable] 

Posted in: Entertainment,IMDb