How to run a bot that takes movie requests in Discord for media bot hosts in 2026

Learn how Discord media bot hosts can take movie requests in chat with a clear request setup and review routine.

By VLClean · 2026-10-31

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Discord media bot hosts can take movie requests in chat by choosing one request location, deciding who reviews requests, linking requests into the library workflow, and telling members the rules.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	A member searches for a movie or show on Askarr and requests it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Request form	People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the server that hosts the media already has a way to add the movies and shows members ask for, and decide which Discord channels members use so requests arrive where the host actually looks. Take the request and the adding of a title as two separate steps: the bot or tool records what a member wants, and the host controls what then gets added to the library.

Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to the library. Have them ready if requested titles are meant to be added through them, and know who reviews a request before anything is added.

Decide which friends or members should be able to send requests, and write the kinds of titles that are accepted so people do not guess. Keep the rules simple, such as whether any title is allowed or only certain types of movies and shows. Choose where requests will go, for example a request website a member opens from the server, or a channel where members type a title.

Step by step

Pick one place in the Discord server where members send requests, such as a pinned channel or a link to a request page, and tell everyone to use only that place.

Write down who reviews each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library.

Set up how requested titles reach the library. If Radarr and Sonarr handle the adding, follow the setup steps that the request tool itself gives for that part.

Write a short note for members that says who can request, what kinds of titles are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added.

Share the note and the request location in the Discord channel, with two lines on how to search for a title and how to submit one.

Look through new requests on a fixed day each week, approve the ones you want, and decline the rest.

Let members know when a title was added or downloaded, so the request process feels complete to them.

Ask a few members after the first week what confused them, and edit the note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site.

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] A member searches for a movie or show on Askarr and requests it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] The Discord host can post the Askarr page link in a channel so members open it to search and request.

Askarr is added to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] Nothing is installed, since Askarr is a hosted website. ^[1]

The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] A member can also find a title by pasting a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link. ^[1] Askarr plans include a request history with live status, so check the plan page for which plans carry it. ^[1] A dashboard can be tried with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. ^[1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. ^[1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. ^[1] Each friend who signs up through a member's link adds 10 requests a month to the limit. ^[1]

Two other methods fit the job without a named product. A request form lets people submit movie or show titles through the chosen form, and a shared request list lets people add movie or show ideas to the chosen list. No source facts about other tools were provided, so check how a form or list handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests move into the library workflow before choosing one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request link without explaining the rules. Members need to know what types of titles can be requested and who decides what gets added.

Avoid setting up requests in a place members do not check, such as a channel that is rarely read, because requests will go unanswered.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the library. The process should be clear both for the people sending titles and for the person managing the server.

Avoid forgetting to review requests after setup. A request list becomes harder to manage if old or unwanted requests are left without attention.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can a Discord media bot host take movie requests in chat?

A Discord media bot host can choose one request location, such as a pinned channel or a link to a request page, decide who reviews requests, and connect requests to the way titles are added to the library. The important parts are giving members a clear place to send titles and keeping the review process easy to follow.

Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

Does running Askarr require installing anything?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed, since Askarr runs as a hosted site. ^[1] The host adds Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then read requests from it. ^[1]

How do members find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

Members can search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and the owner's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1] The Askarr site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for Discord?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the media library is managed before choosing a request method.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]

Try Askarr

Sources

Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)