What Is IMDb? How It Works for Actors, Movies & TV

A beginner’s guide to IMDb, IMDbPro, actor credits, profiles, ratings and how entertainment professionals use the database.

(By Tonya Tannenbaum)

(Photo: Cottonbro Studio | Pexels)

Last Updated: September 2026

If you are trying to become an actor, you will eventually hear someone mention IMDb.

Casting directors use it. Actors track their credits on it. Producers research performers and projects through it. Movie fans use it to identify actors they recognize. And entertainment professionals use its paid sister service, IMDbPro, for deeper industry research.

IMDb originally began as a movie database, but today it has become one of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable information platforms.

Here is what IMDb actually does, how its information gets there, how actors get listed, and why IMDbPro can matter to a working actor.

What Does IMDb Stand For?

IMDb stands for Internet Movie Database.

The service contains searchable pages for:

• Movies
• Television shows
• Streaming series
• Actors
• Directors
• Writers
• Producers
• Casting directors
• Other crew members
• Production companies

An actor’s IMDb page may contain a filmography, biography, photographs, “Known For” titles and other professional information.

A movie or television page usually contains the title’s cast, crew, release information, ratings, plot information and other production details.

What Is IMDb Used For?

(Photo: Fox | Pexels)

IMDb serves several different audiences at once.

Movie and television fans use IMDb to identify actors, check ratings, browse cast lists and research films or shows.

Actors use IMDb as a public record of many of their film and television credits.

Casting professionals, producers and representatives can use IMDb and IMDbPro to research performers, credits, productions and industry relationships.

Filmmakers and crew members can use their pages to document professional work and keep certain career information current.

That is one reason IMDb matters more to actors than an ordinary entertainment website: an IMDb page can become part of how someone in the industry researches your career.

Why Does IMDb Matter for Actors?

For an actor, IMDb can function like a publicly searchable professional history.

Someone researching an actor can quickly see:

• Film credits
• Television credits
• Character names
• Production dates
• Previous collaborators
• Selected photographs
• Projects the actor is best known for

IMDb should not replace an actor’s résumé, headshot, reel or casting profiles. However, it can support all of those materials by giving industry professionals another place to verify an actor’s previous work.

If you are still building your credits, read How Do You Get Actor Credits? for practical ways actors begin building a professional filmography.

How Does IMDb Work?

(Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels)

IMDb works by organizing entertainment information into interconnected database pages.

For example, imagine an actor appears in a television episode.

That episode can have its own IMDb page. The television series has another page. The actor has a personal page. The director has a page. The casting director may have a page. Each credit connects those people and productions together.

This creates a large network of relationships between:

• Actors
• Characters
• Movies
• Television episodes
• Directors
• Writers
• Producers
• Casting professionals
• Production companies

That interconnected structure is what makes IMDb so useful for entertainment research.

How Does IMDb Get Its Information?

IMDb receives information from many sources, including entertainment-industry contributors and user submissions.

People can submit additions and corrections to IMDb, including updates to filmographies and title information. However, submitting information does not mean it automatically appears immediately.

IMDb reviews submitted data before verified information is added to its main database.

This distinction is important for actors: you generally cannot simply type anything you want onto your public IMDb page and have it become a verified professional credit.

How Do Actors Get on IMDb?

Actors commonly receive an IMDb name page when they are associated with an eligible production that is listed in IMDb’s database.

For example, if you perform in an independent film, television episode, short film or other eligible production, the production and your role may be submitted to IMDb.

If the credit is accepted, your name can be connected to that title.

Actors can also submit corrections or missing filmography information for IMDb to review.

IMDbPro currently allows performers to claim an existing IMDb page—or create a new page when appropriate—and manage additional professional information connected with that page. IMDb notes that claim requests are reviewed and verified.

Can You Add Your Own Acting Credits to IMDb?

You can submit eligible film and television credits to IMDb, but IMDb distinguishes between verified IMDb credits and certain additional self-verified IMDbPro credits.

For example, IMDb currently identifies categories such as film, television, video games and other qualifying screen work as credits that go through its verification process.

IMDbPro also allows members to maintain additional self-verified professional categories such as:

• Commercials
• Theater
• Modeling
• Voice-over
• Hosting
• Industrial work
• Dance

Those additional self-verified credits may appear within IMDbPro rather than functioning exactly like verified film and television credits on the public IMDb site.

This is an important distinction for actors who assume every résumé credit will automatically appear in the main IMDb filmography.

What Is IMDbPro?

IMDbPro is IMDb’s professional membership service for people working in the entertainment industry.

It expands IMDb from a public entertainment database into a professional research and career-management tool.

IMDb says IMDbPro members can use features including:

• Professional contact information
• Talent representation information
• Advanced industry search
• Company information
• Professional networking information
• Profile-management tools
• Images and demo reels
• “Known For” management on eligible subscriptions
• Professional lists and research tools

IMDbPro also allows actors with claimed pages to manage professional profile information and credentials.

IMDb vs. IMDbPro: What’s the Difference?

IMDbPro currently provides access to professional contact and representation information for people and companies, although feature availability can vary by subscription level.

Do Actors Need IMDbPro?

No actor is required to subscribe to IMDbPro in order to become successful.

However, it can be useful for actors who actively research the business.

An actor might use IMDbPro to:

• Research who cast a movie or television series
• Find an actor’s representation
• Research production companies
• Study an agent or manager’s client list
• Track professional relationships between people in the industry
• Manage portions of a claimed professional page

For example, when researching casting directors, an actor can look up the movies and television shows they admire, identify who handled casting, and use IMDbPro to research available professional contact or company information.

Acting Magazine discusses this strategy in How Do I Find a Casting Director?.

Can IMDb Help You Get Acting Jobs?

IMDb itself is not a guarantee of auditions or acting jobs.

Simply having an IMDb page does not mean casting directors will suddenly begin contacting you.

Think of IMDb more as professional supporting evidence.

If someone is already considering you for a role, they may be able to use your IMDb page to see what you have worked on and whom you have worked with.

IMDbPro can also help an actor conduct industry research, but it should be used alongside the tools actors normally need to compete professionally, including:

• A strong headshot
• An acting résumé
• A demo reel
• Training
• Casting profiles
• Auditions
• Professional relationships
• Representation, when appropriate

Do Casting Directors Look at IMDb?

IMDb and IMDbPro can be useful research tools for casting professionals and other entertainment-industry decision makers.

That does not mean every casting director checks IMDb before every audition.

Casting decisions usually begin with the materials submitted through the actual casting process—such as an actor’s headshot, résumé, reel and audition.

But IMDb can provide additional context about an actor’s prior work.

Casting directors themselves typically evaluate submissions, organize auditions and help directors and producers narrow the field of performers. For more on that process, see How Do Casting Directors Cast Actors?.

Can You Manage Your Own IMDb Page?

To an extent, yes.

IMDbPro members can claim eligible name pages and manage various professional elements associated with them.

Depending on the membership level and feature, actors may be able to:

• Select or manage profile images
• Add demo reels
• Manage selected “Known For” credits
• Add professional credentials
• Add certain performer-profile information
• Maintain representation and contact information

However, claiming your page does not mean you gain unlimited control over every piece of verified information on IMDb.

Filmography changes and other verified-data updates can still require submission and IMDb review.

Is IMDb Free?

The general IMDb website can be used without an IMDbPro subscription.

Users can browse movies, television shows, actor pages, credits and ratings through the public service.

IMDbPro is a separate paid professional service with additional career and industry-research tools.

Actors should therefore distinguish between:

IMDb: the public entertainment database.

IMDbPro: the professional research and profile-management service.

How Do IMDb Ratings Work?

Registered IMDb users can rate movies and television titles.

The rating shown on a title page is not necessarily a simple arithmetic average of every vote.

IMDb uses a weighted system designed to produce a more representative score and reduce attempts to manipulate ratings.

For actors, however, IMDb ratings should usually be viewed as information about the project, not as a rating of the individual performer.

An actor should not assume that appearing in a highly rated project automatically makes them more employable—or that a poorly rated project damages their career.

Can Anyone Edit IMDb?

IMDb accepts contributions and corrections from registered contributors, but there is an important difference between submitting an edit and directly controlling the database.

Users can submit proposed changes.

IMDb then evaluates those submissions according to its data policies before verified changes appear.

This system allows the database to grow while still providing a review process for contributed information.

How Actors Can Use IMDb Strategically

Actors can get more value from IMDb by treating it as a research tool, not simply a vanity page.

1. Research actors whose careers resemble the one you want

Look at their earliest credits, not just their biggest movies.

You may discover regional television appearances, independent films, guest roles and smaller projects that helped them build momentum.

2. Research casting directors

If you admire the casting of a particular show, research who cast it.

Then look at that casting director’s other credits.

This can help you understand which offices regularly work on the types of projects that fit you.

3. Research representation

IMDbPro can display agent, manager and company information where available.

Rather than randomly contacting agencies, actors can research which representatives work with performers at similar career levels.

4. Keep your credits accurate

If legitimate credits are missing or incorrect, follow IMDb’s contribution process to submit corrections.

5. Keep IMDb in perspective

A beautiful IMDb page cannot replace strong acting.

Your goal is still to become better at auditioning, build relationships, earn credits and do good work.

IMDb Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions About IMDb

What does IMDb stand for?

IMDb stands for Internet Movie Database.

What is IMDb used for?

IMDb is used to research movies, television shows, actors, directors, crew members, credits, ratings and production information.

How do actors get an IMDb page?

An actor commonly receives a name page when they are connected to an eligible production listed in IMDb. Credits and corrections can also be submitted for IMDb to review.

Can I create my own IMDb page?

IMDbPro provides a process for claiming an existing page and, when appropriate, creating a new one. IMDb advises users to first make sure they are not already listed under another name or spelling.

Can anyone add an IMDb credit?

Users can submit eligible credit information, but verified database updates are subject to IMDb review.

Can actors add commercials to IMDb?

IMDbPro currently supports self-verified additional professional credits including commercials, although these are treated differently from verified film and television credits on IMDb.

What is IMDbPro?

IMDbPro is IMDb’s professional membership service offering career-management and entertainment-industry research tools, including professional contact information, advanced search, profile tools and representation information.

Is IMDbPro worth it for actors?

It can be useful for actors who actively research casting professionals, production companies, representatives and industry relationships. Whether it is worth paying for depends on how often the actor uses those professional tools.

Do casting directors use IMDb?

IMDb and IMDbPro can provide useful background research on actors and productions, but casting decisions are still primarily driven by submissions, auditions, professional materials and the needs of the role.

Does an IMDb page help you get auditions?

It can support your professional credibility, but an IMDb page alone does not generate auditions. Actors still need strong training, materials, submissions, networking and performances.

Is IMDb free?

The public IMDb database is available without an IMDbPro subscription. IMDbPro is a separate professional membership product.

Is IMDb owned by Amazon?

Yes. Amazon acquired IMDb in 1998.

Related Topics

How Do You Get Actor Credits? – Learn practical ways actors build legitimate film, television and other professional credits that can strengthen a résumé and IMDb filmography.

How Do I Find a Casting Director? – Learn how actors can use IMDb, IMDbPro and other research methods to identify casting professionals working on relevant projects.

How Do I Contact Casting Directors? – Explore professional ways actors can research and communicate with casting professionals.

How Do Casting Directors Cast Actors? – Learn how casting directors review submissions, organize auditions and help filmmakers select performers.

Who Typically Casts Actors in Their Roles? – Understand the roles casting directors, directors, producers and studios play in selecting actors.

What Is a Casting Director? – Learn what casting directors do and why they are important to an actor’s career.

Casting Directors Discuss How They Select Talent – Explore what casting professionals consider when deciding which actors move forward.

Final Thoughts: Is IMDb Important for Actors?

IMDb is much more useful to actors when viewed as a professional research tool rather than simply a place to collect credits.

Your IMDb page can help document your film and television work. IMDbPro can help you research casting professionals, representatives, production companies and other industry relationships. And the broader IMDb database can teach you a surprising amount about how careers are built.

But IMDb should remain one piece of a larger acting strategy.

A strong actor still needs training, compelling headshots, a professional résumé, a good reel, auditions, relationships and actual performances.

Use IMDb to research the industry. Use IMDbPro when its professional tools genuinely help you. And focus most of your energy on the thing no database can do for you: becoming a stronger actor.

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