How to track required viewing for film courses in 2026

Q: Does Watcharr keep the same links for an IMDb list?

Watcharr gives the same links for the same IMDb list. Record which course the list belongs to, and keep assignment deadlines beside the viewing record. Before class, compare the current assignment with the titles recorded for it, especially after a syllabus change.

Organize required films, deadlines, viewing status and class notes, then choose a spreadsheet, paper checklist or course calendar.

By VLClean · 2026-11-14

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

Start with the viewing requirements in each course syllabus, then record the title, deadline, viewing status and discussion notes together. Use a spreadsheet or paper checklist to record coursework, and schedule viewing time in a calendar. Check assignments against the syllabus whenever requirements change.

Option	Method	Setup or upkeep
Spreadsheet	Record the course, title, deadline, viewing status and notes together.	Update each assignment after viewing and whenever its instructions change.
Paper checklist	Write assignments under each course and mark viewing progress beside them.	Copy deadline changes onto the checklist and keep references to longer notes.
Course calendar	Schedule viewing time before each assignment deadline.	Mark completion in the coursework record after viewing.
Watcharr	Paste a public IMDb list to get a movie link for Radarr and a show link for Sonarr. ^[1]	If Watcharr cannot read a list, its links still provide the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Gather the syllabus, assignment instructions and viewing schedule for each course. Separate required viewing from suggested films, background material and titles mentioned during lectures. Keep the original assignment wording nearby so the record can be checked when an instruction is unclear.

Check whether an assignment means watching a whole film, a particular episode or an extract. Copy any requirements about language, subtitles, edition or version. Record the date when viewing must be finished, which may differ from the date when a written response is due.

Prepare a place for the course name, assigned title, viewing deadline, completion status and notes. Decide what counts as finished: watching the material, preparing discussion points or completing a related response. Keep those tasks separate when the assignment requires them separately.

Have the assigned viewing location or access instructions ready. Check access before setting aside viewing time, and ask the instructor about unclear requirements. For shared planning, decide which information can be shared and which comments should remain private. Keep personal reactions, assessment feedback and account details out of any public title list.

Step by step

Copy the required assignments. Read each syllabus and course announcement, then enter the assigned titles using the instructor's wording. Include the relevant episode, extract or version where specified. Keep suggested viewing separate so optional titles do not obscure the work that must be completed before class. Note where each requirement came from.

Connect each assignment to its course and deadline. Record the viewing deadline beside the title, then add any separate discussion or submission date. If a film appears in different courses, preserve each assignment and its instructions. Do not assume that watching the title completes every task attached to it. Keep the relevant course prompt nearby.

Choose clear status labels. Use labels such as To watch, Watching and Watched, then record preparation for class separately. Apply the labels consistently rather than relying on memory or a title's position in a list. If viewing stops partway through, note the stopping point so the next session can begin in the right place.

Plan access and viewing time. Check the assigned version and viewing location before scheduling a session. Put viewing time before the course deadline, leaving room for notes or a written response. If access is unclear, contact the instructor or the relevant library service while there is still time to resolve it. Record any instructions received.

Update the record after viewing. Mark the viewing status, add the date watched and write notes tied to the assignment prompt. Include scenes or moments worth discussing, with timestamps where helpful. Keep plot reminders separate from analysis, and identify anything that needs another look before class. Record unfinished preparation beside the viewing entry.

Review upcoming work and changes. Compare the tracker with course announcements before planning the next viewing session. Update changed deadlines, retain the instructor's revised instructions and move completed work out of the list of upcoming assignments. Save a copy of the coursework record at the end of term if the notes will be needed later.

Tools for viewing lists and course tracking

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site, and the online version requires no installation or account. ^[1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb pages in other languages. ^[1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, and each opens the plot, genres, rating, background image and trailer. ^[1]

For a spreadsheet, put each viewing assignment on a row. Include the course, title, version, deadline, viewing status and notes. Keep the same labels throughout the record, and arrange upcoming assignments by deadline when planning study time. Preserve separate entries when different courses assign different work around the same film.

For a paper checklist, group assignments under their course names and write the due date beside each title. Leave space to mark viewing progress and refer to longer notes. Copy schedule changes onto the checklist when they arrive, and keep it with the materials used to prepare for class.

For a course calendar, reserve viewing time before the assignment deadline and include the title and course in the entry. Keep a completion record and discussion notes alongside the schedule. When a deadline moves, adjust the planned viewing session as well as the deadline entry.

Things to check before you choose: can the chosen method record completion, keep class notes private and save a copy for later? Check what information becomes public, whether an account is required and how schedule changes will be recorded. Keep the viewing record close to the assignment instructions.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid treating a title list as proof that the coursework is finished. Mark viewing completion deliberately, and record any discussion preparation or written response separately. A title's presence in the plan should not replace checking the assignment instructions.

Avoid recording only the film title when the course specifies a version, extract or episode. Preserve the instructor's wording and resolve uncertainty before watching. Keep the assignment source available so changes can be checked without reconstructing the original instruction.

Avoid combining course requirements so thoroughly that their deadlines disappear. When the same film is assigned in different classes, keep each course prompt and due date visible. Write notes for the relevant assignment rather than assuming the same preparation answers every assignment.

Avoid postponing access checks until the planned viewing session. Confirm where the assigned material should be watched and raise access questions early. Update the tracker when the instructor supplies a different viewing arrangement.

Avoid sharing private comments with a public list of titles. Review what is visible before sharing coursework planning, and keep personal reflections and assessment information in the intended private record.

Frequently asked questions

How can a spreadsheet track required viewing for film courses?

Create an entry for each assignment with its course, title, viewing deadline, status and notes. Preserve version or episode requirements from the syllabus. Mark viewing and written preparation separately when both are required. Review upcoming deadlines against course announcements, and keep separate assignment details when the same film appears in different classes.

Does Watcharr keep the same links for an IMDb list?

Watcharr gives the same links for the same IMDb list. ^[1] Record which course the list belongs to, and keep assignment deadlines beside the viewing record. Before class, compare the current assignment with the titles recorded for it, especially after a syllabus change.

What does Watcharr do with shows it cannot match?

Watcharr leaves out shows it cannot match and tells you which ones it skipped. ^[1] Compare that notice with the assigned titles before relying on the show link. Keep every viewing assignment and its deadline in the course record, including titles that need another way to find the assigned material.

Can Watcharr combine several IMDb viewing lists?

Signed-in Watcharr users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, with repeated titles added only once. ^[1] For course planning, keep the course name, assignment instructions and deadline beside every viewing task, including separate assignments that refer to the same title.

How often does Watcharr refresh an IMDb list?

If you sign in, Watcharr re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when it cannot read the list three times in a row. ^[1] Check the course assignment before a deadline and keep the required titles recorded beside their due dates.

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

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