--- {"title": "Import public film lists into a private collection", "description": "Learn how cinephiles can move public film lists into a private collection with steps, tools, and checks before choosing a workflow.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/how-to-import-public-film-lists-into-a-private-collection-for-cinephiles/", "date": "2026-10-13"} --- Learn how cinephiles can move public film lists into a private collection with steps, tools, and checks before choosing a workflow. Cinephiles can import public film lists by preparing a list source, choosing a collection workflow, connecting the needed tools, and checking that imported titles match the intended library. | Option | Import method | Cost details | |---|---|---| | Watcharr | Paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [^1] | not published | | Manual import process | Move titles from the chosen public list into the collection workflow by hand. | not published | | Shared list workflow | Maintain a chosen shared list and use the selected collection method. | not published | ## What you need before you start Cinephiles should have a public film list ready and know where the private collection keeps its movie and show records. Prepare the list source, decide which titles belong in the collection, and check whether the chosen workflow can handle movies, shows, or both. Have Radarr and Sonarr ready if they are part of the collection workflow. Radarr manages movies and Sonarr manages shows, so they can be used when imported titles need to move into those systems. Choose a method that makes it clear how titles are found, matched, and added. Keep notes about the list sources and collection rules so changes are easier to track later. Review the access each tool asks for before connecting it to the collection workflow. This helps keep the import process limited to the parts needed for the chosen setup. ## Step by step 1. Pick the public list source that contains the movies or shows to import, and confirm that the list can be shared or used by the chosen workflow. 2. Decide whether the collection needs movies, shows, or both. Separate these groups before importing if the workflow handles them differently. 3. Choose an import method that matches the collection setup. This can be a tool that creates collection links, a manual process, or another method that turns a list into usable titles. 4. Connect the chosen method to the collection workflow when needed. Review what access is requested and keep only the connections required for the import. 5. Check imported titles before adding them to the main collection. Confirm that names match the intended movies or shows and review any titles that need manual attention. 6. Keep the original list organized after the import. A clear source list makes it easier to update the collection when the list changes. 7. Check the collection after changes to the source list. A review step can help find titles that need attention before they become part of the final library. ## Tools that can do it Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr lets a cinephile paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [^1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. [^1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. [^1] Watcharr has a bookmark that can be clicked inside Radarr or Sonarr to add the list using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [^1] Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells users which ones it skipped. [^1] A manual import process can be used when a cinephile wants to move titles by hand. Check how the chosen method handles title matching and future list changes. A shared list workflow can be used when several people maintain a collection idea list. Check what list sources and collection tools it supports before choosing it. ## Common mistakes to avoid Avoid sharing a collection workflow without explaining which lists and titles should be included. Clear rules make it easier to manage imported items. Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it handles title matching, updates, and the way lists become part of the collection workflow. Avoid forgetting to review imported titles after setup. A source list can change, and some titles may need attention before they are added. Avoid skipping account and access checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what connections it uses before adding it to the collection process. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can Watcharr import public film lists into a private collection? Watcharr can import a public IMDb list by creating one link for Radarr with the movies and one link for Sonarr with the shows. [^1] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [^1] ### Can Watcharr handle IMDb watchlists and lists from different pages? Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. [^1] Watcharr also shows the list's covers in a row, with each cover opening TMDB plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer details. [^1] ### Does Watcharr need installation before importing a public list? The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. [^1] Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. [^1] ### How does Watcharr handle titles that cannot be matched? Watcharr looks up TheTVDB ids through TVMaze and TMDB, leaves out shows it can't match, and tells users which ones it skipped. [^1] Watcharr can keep serving the last list that loaded correctly if a read of the list fails. [^1] ### What should cinephiles check before choosing an import tool? Cinephiles should check how a tool handles list sources, title matching, collection updates, and access settings. Watcharr allows signed-in users to combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title on two lists is added only once. [^1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. [^1] - [Visit Watcharr](/go/start-watcharr) ## Sources [^1]: Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-watcharr)