If you’re a true cinephile, you know that discovering great films means digging deeper than the usual streaming service suggestions. Netflix recommendations, while convenient, often miss hidden gems and underrated foreign masterpieces. Whether you’re chasing obscure 1970s indie films, exploring the classics of world cinema, or just avoiding Hollywood clichés, you’ll need better tools to track and explore what to watch next.
TL;DR:
Streaming platforms like Netflix often push mainstream content, making it hard to discover indie or lesser-known foreign films. That’s where dedicated movie tracking apps come in. From social film diaries to detailed rating systems and curated watchlists, these apps help cinephiles find the next hidden masterpiece. This article breaks down the six best movie tracking apps loved by film lovers for expanding their cinematic horizons.
1. Letterboxd – The Social Network for Film Lovers
One of the most beloved apps in the film community, Letterboxd is far more than a movie tracker—it’s a full-fledged social platform designed around movies. You can log movies you’ve watched, rate them, write reviews, and even see what your friends or film critics are watching.
- Best for: Keeping a film diary and getting community-driven recommendations
- Unique features: Follower system, custom lists, and user reviews that often dive deep into film theory or personal interpretation
- Available on: Android, iOS, and web
Its strength lies in the vibrant community. Unlike Netflix algorithms, recommendations here come from like-minded cinephiles who share your taste. By following others, you can discover niche genres, foreign films, and retrospectives you might never have heard of otherwise.
2. JustWatch – Know Where to Watch Everything
Knowing where a movie is streaming is half the battle. JustWatch is an essential app that tells you where to legally watch movies and TV shows based on your country and subscription services. That makes it incredibly useful when you’ve discovered an obscure film and need to find where it’s available for streaming, rental, or purchase.
- Best for: Cross-platform availability tracking
- Unique features: Personalized watchlist, price drop notifications, and real-time streaming catalog updates
- Available on: Android, iOS, and web
The app’s clean interface makes it easy to filter by genre, release year, ratings, and streaming service. It doesn’t provide recommendations based on your viewing history but enables your discoveries by telling you where to find them.
3. Criticker – Film Suggestion, Reimagined
If you feel that most movie apps rely too heavily on mainstream critic or user scores, Criticker brings a refreshing change. This platform uses a unique algorithm called the “Taste Compatibility Index” (TCI) which matches you with users who have similar film preferences.
- Best for: Intelligent, data-driven movie suggestions
- Unique features: TCI system, prediction scores, ranking by percentile instead of stars
- Available on: Web-only (optimized for mobile browsers)
Criticker may not have the most modern interface, but its algorithm is incredibly effective at predicting what you’ll enjoy. It’s perfect for cinephiles frustrated by basic “more like this” recommendations and who crave more tailored viewing tips. After rating just a dozen movies, Criticker starts suggesting lesser-known titles that match your taste precisely.
4. Simkl – Heavy-Duty Tracking for Bingers
Simkl is more than just a movie tracker—it’s also popular among TV and anime fans for its encyclopedic watchlists. However, what makes it stand out among cinephiles is the ability to deeply customize your viewing history, sync data across services, and get very granular details on genres and watch habits.
- Best for: Tracking everything from classic films to anime
- Unique features: Sync with Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, and more; automatic tracking from browser plugins
- Available on: Web, with unofficial mobile support through third-party apps
If you’re trying to build the ultimate film log and want to categorize films by decade, director, or even cinematographer, Simkl might resonate with your inner archivist. It also supports exporting data, which is a dream for list-makers and spreadsheet aficionados.
5. IMDb App – Still a Go-To for Film Research
While mainly known for its database, the IMDb app is far more than just trivia and credits. It offers a comprehensive movie tracking system where you can rate, review, and build lists based on genres, moods, or personal favorites.
- Best for: Deep dives into film cast, crew, and production history
- Unique features: In-depth filmographies, user ratings, trivia, and “related titles” suggestions
- Available on: Android, iOS, and web
Although it’s an industry staple, IMDb can still be surprisingly useful for discovering lesser-known titles, especially through its “People who liked this also liked” feature and thematic user lists. It’s a great app to use in combination with others like Letterboxd or JustWatch.
6. TV Time – For Trackers Who Cross Over to TV Films
Many cinephiles enjoy TV movies, miniseries, or film-centric limited series. TV Time bridges that gap beautifully, allowing users to track both TV shows and movies in one unified platform. It’s especially handy for those who appreciate long-form storytelling, auteur miniseries, or seasonal film anthologies.
- Best for: All-in-one tracking of films and TV content
- Unique features: Social reaction features, episode progress tracking, community ratings
- Available on: Android, iOS, and web
Its watch history dashboard and community features can help you discover TV films that often slip under the radar, especially festival entries and international productions.
Bonus Tip: Combine Tools for Maximum Impact
Serious film fans rarely rely on just one app. Many use Letterboxd for journaling, JustWatch for streaming availability, and Criticker for suggestions—all in tandem. By combining strengths of each, you build a holistic film discovery ecosystem totally independent of Netflix’s algorithms.
Conclusion
The digital age has made it easier than ever to be a film lover, but also harder to cut through the noise and find the truly special stuff. These six apps offer powerful alternatives to passive recommendation systems, putting the control back in your hands. Whether you’re diving into the avant-garde, tracking the works of a specific auteur, or trying to watch all Palme d’Or winners, there’s a tool here that’ll make your cinematic journey richer—and far more interesting.