Letterboxd is the social network for film lovers, and its watchlist feature is crucial for keeping track of movies you want to see. Adding movies to your Letterboxd watchlist is remarkably simple, allowing you to curate a personalized list of films you’re eager to experience and share your cinematic aspirations with the community.
Why Use Letterboxd’s Watchlist Feature?
Letterboxd’s watchlist isn’t just a place to jot down movie titles; it’s a powerful tool that enhances your film-watching journey. It offers several advantages:
- Organization: Keep all the movies you want to see in one central location. No more forgotten recommendations or scattered notes.
- Reminders: Letterboxd can send you reminders about movies on your watchlist, prompting you to finally watch that critically acclaimed classic or quirky indie film.
- Social Sharing: Share your watchlist with friends, discover new movies based on their lists, and get recommendations tailored to your tastes.
- Personalized Recommendations: Letterboxd’s algorithm learns from your watchlist and viewing history, providing increasingly relevant movie suggestions.
- Tracking Progress: As you watch movies on your watchlist, you can mark them as seen, log your ratings and reviews, and update your list accordingly. This creates a dynamic record of your evolving cinematic preferences.
The Simple Steps to Add Movies to Your Watchlist
Adding a movie to your watchlist on Letterboxd is straightforward, regardless of whether you’re using the web interface or the mobile app. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Adding Movies via the Website
- Search for the Movie: Use the search bar located at the top of the Letterboxd website. Type in the movie title and click on the correct result from the dropdown menu.
- The Watchlist Button: Once you’re on the movie’s page, look for the “+” symbol with the word “Watchlist” next to it, typically located below the movie poster.
- Add and Go: Click this button. The button will change to a tick symbol indicating the movie has been successfully added to your watchlist.
Adding Movies via the Mobile App (iOS and Android)
- Search Functionality: Open the Letterboxd app and use the search icon (magnifying glass) at the bottom of the screen. Type in the movie title.
- Navigating to the Film: Select the correct movie from the search results to access its dedicated page.
- Utilizing the Watchlist Icon: On the movie’s page, you’ll find a “+” symbol with the word “Watchlist” or a similar icon, typically located below the movie poster or next to the film’s information.
- One-Tap Addition: Tapping this button adds the movie to your watchlist. The icon will change to reflect that the movie is now on your list.
Adding Movies from Lists
You can also add movies directly from other users’ lists or official Letterboxd lists:
- Browse the List: Navigate to the list you are interested in.
- Individual Movie Addition: Hover over the movie poster on the web, or tap the movie title in the app. An “add to watchlist” icon (typically a plus sign) will appear. Click or tap it to add the movie to your watchlist.
Managing Your Watchlist
Your watchlist is more than just a holding pen for movies. You can curate and manage it to suit your preferences:
- Viewing Your Watchlist: Access your watchlist by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner of the website and selecting “Watchlist” from the dropdown menu. In the app, navigate to your profile and tap on the “Watchlist” tab.
- Removing Movies: To remove a movie, go to your watchlist, hover over the movie poster (on the web), or tap the three dots beside the movie (in the app). Choose the “Remove from Watchlist” option.
- Sorting Your Watchlist: Letterboxd allows you to sort your watchlist by various criteria, such as release date, title, or date added. This helps you prioritize your viewing choices.
- Filtering Your Watchlist: You can filter your watchlist to show only movies that are currently available to stream on specific services (if Letterboxd knows your streaming subscriptions).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I add movies to my watchlist from a website other than Letterboxd?
No, you cannot directly add movies to your watchlist from external websites. You must first search for the movie within the Letterboxd platform itself. However, browser extensions exist that might offer this functionality, but their reliability is not guaranteed and not supported by Letterboxd directly.
2. Is there a limit to the number of movies I can add to my watchlist?
No, there is no known limit to the number of movies you can add to your watchlist on Letterboxd. Feel free to accumulate a vast collection of cinematic desires!
3. How do I prioritize movies on my watchlist?
While Letterboxd doesn’t have a built-in prioritization feature, you can manually reorder your watchlist by clicking and dragging movies on the web version. You can also create custom lists to organize movies by priority or genre.
4. Can other people see my watchlist?
Yes, by default, your watchlist is publicly visible. However, you can adjust your privacy settings to make it private or visible only to your friends. Privacy is a key feature that Letterboxd offers for all content.
5. How do I make my watchlist private?
To make your watchlist private:
- Website: Go to your account settings (accessed through your profile picture). Navigate to the “Privacy” section. Find the setting for “Watchlist Visibility” and change it to “Only Me” or “Friends”.
- App: Navigate to your profile, tap the settings gear icon, then tap “Privacy.” Find the setting for “Watchlist Visibility” and choose your desired option.
6. Can I share my watchlist with someone who isn’t on Letterboxd?
While you can’t directly share a link that non-Letterboxd users can view, you can take a screenshot of your watchlist or manually copy and paste the movie titles into a document to share.
7. Does Letterboxd notify me when a movie on my watchlist becomes available on a streaming service?
Letterboxd does not have a built-in notification system for streaming availability. However, it does display streaming availability information on movie pages based on your selected region. You can manually check movie pages to see where they’re available.
8. Can I add movies to my watchlist that aren’t officially listed on Letterboxd?
No, you can only add movies that are already in Letterboxd’s database to your watchlist. If a movie is missing, you can suggest it to Letterboxd for inclusion.
9. What is the difference between the “Watchlist” and “Likes” functions?
The “Watchlist” is for movies you want to see. “Likes” are used to express appreciation for a specific review, list, or other content on Letterboxd. They are separate functions.
10. Can I add TV shows to my watchlist?
Letterboxd primarily focuses on feature films. While some TV movies or limited series might be listed, it’s not designed for tracking full TV series.
11. I accidentally added a movie to my watchlist. How do I remove it?
Simply revisit the movie’s page and click the “Watchlist” button again (it will now be a tick mark). This will remove the movie from your list. Or, go directly to your watchlist and remove it from there as described above.
12. Is there a way to import a list of movies from another platform into my Letterboxd watchlist?
Letterboxd offers an import feature for some platforms, but it’s not universal. You may need to manually add movies from other platforms, or explore third-party tools (use with caution, as they are not officially supported). Refer to the Letterboxd help documentation for the most up-to-date information on import options.