---
{"title": "How to plan future additions for collection builders in 2026", "description": "Plan which movies and shows to add to a collection next, step by step, and compare the tools before you choose one.", "url": "https://vlcleanplayer.com/how-to-plan-future-additions-for-collection-builders/", "date": "2026-10-26"}
---
Plan which movies and shows to add to a collection next, step by step, and compare the tools before you choose one.

Collection builders plan future additions by writing a rule for the collection, gathering candidate titles in one place, and approving each batch before it is added. Watcharr is one option for the gathering step: it turns one public IMDb list into a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. [^1]

| Option | What it does | Cost details |
|---|---|---|
| Watcharr | Turns one public IMDb list into a Radarr link for movies and a Sonarr link for shows. [^1] | not published; commercial use is not licensed. [^1] |
| Other tools | No other tool is named here, because no source facts about other tools were provided. | not published |

## What you need before you start

Collection builders need a clear picture of what is already in the collection before they plan what comes next. Write down the titles you already have so new picks are not duplicates. Decide what the collection is for, such as one director's films, one franchise, or one genre, so every new title has a reason to be there.

Keep a single place for wanted titles. It can be a notes file, a shared document, or a public IMDb list. Watcharr reads public IMDb lists [^1], so a list kept there can feed it directly.

If you use Radarr for movies or Sonarr for shows, have them ready, because the approved links are read by those two apps. [^1] Decide who approves a title before it is added, and write that rule down.

## Step by step

Follow these steps in order, whatever tool you use.

1. Write down every title already in the collection, so you know what is covered.
2. Write one sentence that states the collection's rule, such as all films by one director, and check each candidate against it.
3. Gather wanted titles in one place, and remove any that are already in the collection.
4. Sort the remaining titles by priority, and mark the ones that need approval.
5. Confirm the approval rule with anyone who shares the collection, so nobody adds titles on their own.
6. Add approved titles on a set day each week, so the collection grows in steady batches.
7. Review the list each month, drop titles that no longer fit, and note any new releases that match the rule.

## Tools that can do it

Watcharr is one option for the gathering step, and it works from a public IMDb list. You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [^1] Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. [^1]

The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [^1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. [^1]

For shows, it looks up the ids that Sonarr needs, leaves out shows it cannot match, and tells you which ones it skipped. [^1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, and each cover opens details such as the plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. [^1]

If you sign in, the list is re-read about every 15 minutes, and you get a warning when a list fails three reads in a row. [^1] Signed-in users can also combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the household, and a title on two lists is added only once. [^1]

The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. [^1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [^1]

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing one, check how it reads your wanted titles, how it passes them to Radarr and Sonarr, and whether it has a cost.

## Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid pasting a list without checking that it is public. Watcharr accepts public lists [^1], so confirm the list is public before you paste it.

Avoid expecting a new title to appear at once. Radarr and Sonarr check their links on a set interval, so allow for that wait. [^1]

Avoid assuming a failed read has emptied the collection. If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [^1]

Avoid adding titles without a duplicate check. Compare each candidate against the collection list before adding it, so the same title is not added twice.

Avoid reviewing the list only once. A monthly look keeps the list tidy and the collection on its purpose.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do collection builders plan future additions to a collection?

Start with a written rule for the collection, then list the titles you already have. Gather candidate titles in one place, check each one against the rule and the existing list, and sort what is left by priority. Set an approval step so the collection grows in planned batches rather than by chance. Review the list every month to remove titles that no longer fit the rule.

### Can Watcharr turn one IMDb list into both Radarr and Sonarr links?

The result is a pair of links. You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. [^1] The links are built from the list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. [^1] A bookmark inside Radarr or Sonarr can add the list for you. [^1]

### What happens to Watcharr's links when an IMDb list cannot be read?

The links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. [^1] A signed-in user gets a warning when a list fails three reads in a row, and signed-in lists are re-read about every 15 minutes. [^1] Check the warning before assuming the list has changed.

### Can Watcharr combine several lists for a household collection?

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household. [^1] A title that is on two lists is added only once. [^1] Agree on the household's approval rule before merging lists, so titles from every list follow the same purpose.

### Is Watcharr's code available to read?

The code can be read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. [^1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. [^1] Read the licence text itself before deciding how the code can be used.

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)