Watchmode API

Overview

The Watchmode API offers programmatic access to a comprehensive database of movie and TV show information, focusing on real-time streaming availability across a global array of services. Launched in 2018, the API aggregates data from over 100 streaming platforms, including major services and niche providers, to provide developers with a unified resource for media content data. This enables the creation of applications that can inform users where to watch specific titles, whether through subscription, rental, purchase, or free streaming.

Developers primarily utilize the Watchmode API for building content discovery tools, personal media libraries, and recommendation engines. The API provides essential metadata such as titles, genres, release dates, cast and crew information, user ratings, and detailed synopses. A core strength is its ability to provide deep links directly to content on various streaming platforms, enhancing the user experience by reducing friction in accessing desired media. The data covers both new releases and extensive back catalogs, ensuring broad application coverage.

The service is designed for scenarios requiring up-to-date information on media consumption options. This includes applications that notify users when a movie or show becomes available on a preferred service, platforms that compare pricing across rental/purchase options, and global content catalog management systems. Its capabilities extend to identifying content availability by country, which is critical for international applications dealing with geo-restricted licensing. For instance, developers targeting a global audience need to understand that content availability can vary significantly by region, as described in guides like the TMDB API overview on regional content. The Watchmode API aims to simplify this complexity by offering localized availability data.

The API provides a developer-friendly experience, featuring clear Watchmode API documentation with interactive examples and a generous free developer tier. This allows for initial experimentation and integration testing without an upfront financial commitment. It supports a range of programming languages, making it accessible to a broad developer community working on web, mobile, and desktop applications.

Key features

• Streaming Availability Data: Provides real-time information on where movies and TV shows can be streamed, rented, or purchased across over 100 services worldwide.
• Comprehensive Metadata: Accesses detailed information including titles, synopses, genres, release dates, runtime, cast, crew, trailers, and user ratings.
• Deep Linking: Generates direct links to specific titles on various streaming platforms, facilitating immediate access for users.
• Global Coverage: Offers localized content availability information, critical for applications serving international audiences due to regional licensing differences.
• Search and Discovery: Supports extensive search capabilities by title, genre, actor, and more, enabling robust content discovery features within applications.
• Watchlist Management: Allows users to track their favorite shows and movies, receiving updates on new episodes or availability changes (requires application-level implementation).
• Provider Filtering: Enables filtering content by specific streaming services, allowing users to find content available through their existing subscriptions.

Pricing

Watchmode offers a tiered pricing model that includes a free developer plan and scales up to enterprise solutions. As of May 2026, the details are as follows:

For the most current and detailed pricing information, refer to the Watchmode API pricing page.

Common integrations

• Web and Mobile Applications: Used to power content discovery, personal watchlists, and streaming guides within native apps and web platforms.
• Smart TV and Set-Top Box Apps: Integrates into living room devices to enhance content browsing and provide direct access to streaming services.
• Recommendation Engines: Feeds into machine learning models to suggest relevant movies and TV shows based on user preferences and availability.
• Chatbots and Voice Assistants: Enables conversational interfaces to answer questions like "Where can I watch [Movie Title]?" or "What's new on Netflix?".
• Media Center Software: Enhances local media libraries with rich metadata and streaming options, complementing platforms like Plex or Kodi.

Alternatives

• TMDB (The Movie Database): Offers extensive movie and TV show metadata, including cast, crew, and plot summaries, with community-driven content management.
• IMDb API (RapidAPI): Provides access to IMDb's vast database of film and TV information, though often via third-party wrappers.
• JustWatch API: Specializes in streaming availability and pricing information across various platforms, similar to Watchmode's core functionality.

Getting started

To begin using the Watchmode API, you first need to obtain an API key from the Watchmode developer portal after signing up for a free Developer Plan. Once you have your API key, you can make requests to the API endpoints. The following Python example demonstrates how to fetch details for a movie, including its streaming availability:

import requests
import json

API_KEY = "YOUR_WATCHMODE_API_KEY" # Replace with your actual API key
TITLE = "The Matrix"

# Step 1: Search for the title to get its Watchmode ID
search_url = f"https://api.watchmode.com/v1/search/?apiKey={API_KEY}&search_field=name&search_value={TITLE}"
search_response = requests.get(search_url)
search_data = search_response.json()

if search_data and search_data['title_results']:
    title_id = search_data['title_results'][0]['id']
    print(f"Found '{TITLE}' with Watchmode ID: {title_id}")

    # Step 2: Get full details and streaming sources for the title ID
    title_details_url = f"https://api.watchmode.com/v1/title/{title_id}/details/?apiKey={API_KEY}&append_to_response=sources"
    details_response = requests.get(title_details_url)
    details_data = details_response.json()

    print(json.dumps(details_data, indent=2))

    # Example: Print some streaming sources
    if 'sources' in details_data:
        print("\n--- Streaming Sources ---")
        for source in details_data['sources']:
            print(f"  Platform: {source['name']}, Type: {source['type']}, Region: {source['region']}, Link: {source['web_url']}")
else:
    print(f"No results found for '{TITLE}'.")

This script first searches for a movie by its title to retrieve its unique Watchmode ID. Then, it uses this ID to fetch detailed information, including all available streaming, rental, and purchase sources, along with their respective deep links. Remember to replace "YOUR_WATCHMODE_API_KEY" with your actual API key obtained from the Watchmode developer documentation.