What do you use IMDb for? Checking ratings for movies and TV shows. Grabbing synopses and runtime details before deciding to watch something. Browsing cast lists because you recognize a face but don't quite remember from where.

But there's so much more you can do with IMDb. You may be surprised how useful these other IMDb features can be in the right circumstances.

1. Content Advisory Guide

imdb parents guide

Nearly all mainstream movies receive a Motion Picture Rating by the MPAA (G, PG, PG-13, R, etc.) and nearly all TV shows receive some kind of age rating certification (differs by country).

These are okay for getting a general idea of how mature a certain title might be, but they never quite tell the whole story. Deadpool, Wedding Crashers, and The Passion of the Christ are all rated R. What does that rating really convey? Not much.

But visit any movie or TV show's IMDb page, scroll down to the Storyline section, and select Parents Guide. Here you can see how the film is rated in different countries, and explore what the content advisory warnings are. Sex and nudity? Violence and gore? Alcohol, drugs, and smoking? Or is it just an intense and frightening film?

It's way more useful for knowing what to expect before you watch, especially if you're a parent.

2. In Theaters and Coming Soon

imdb in theaters

The Movies in Theaters page on IMDb is divided into two sections: In Theaters for movies that have recently released or are releasing this week, and Coming Soon for movies that are releasing later this month.

Checking in once a month or so is a great way to stay on top of what's out there. You'll rarely miss an interesting film if you keep this page bookmarked. Each film in the list also has a Watch Trailer link.

If you just want to see the titles for all films with known release dates, you might prefer the Release Calendar page. If you're only interested in the trailers, you might prefer the Trailers page.

3. Watchlist

the lost city movie page on imdb

IMDb's watchlist feature allows you to track upcoming movies that you want to watch. It's private by default, but you can make it public and share it with friends. Or you can export it in CSV format if you prefer spreadsheets. To use this, you must create a free IMDb account.

To add a movie to your IMDb watchlist, simply click Add to Watchlist from the movie's page. Alternatively, select the dropdown arrow to add it to a custom list.

4. Top Lists and User Lists

imdb picks

IMDb is one of the best movie rating sites and has several dynamic Top Lists that you can use to find new movies and TV shows to watch: Top Rated Movies, Most Popular Movies, Top Rated TV Shows, Most Popular TV Shows, and IMDb Picks.

But the Top Lists don't change very often, so when you've gone through all of them, you may want to start following the Top Box Office, Latest Oscar Winners, and Most Popular by Genre lists instead. One other notable list is Recent VOD/DVD/Blu-ray Releases.

Regular IMDb users can create their own lists, which can be shared with others. Unfortunately, there's no central page where you can browse user lists. The closest thing is a page for lists by IMDb editors.

5. Trivia, Goofs, and Quotes

imdb did you know

Do you love watching behind-the-scenes cuts, director commentaries, and blooper rolls? Then you'll love what IMDb has to offer with its trivia, goofs, and quotes. It'll come in handy for when you play your next movie-based trivia game.

On any movie or TV show page, scroll down to the Did you know section and click the relevant section (e.g. trivia or quotes) to see more. Trivia involves neat facts surrounding production, goofs show mistakes in the actual movie or TV show, and quotes are self-explanatory.

While each of these pages is divided into spoilers and non-spoilers, you may want to wait until you've watched through the entire movie or TV show before going down the rabbit hole anyway. Don't say we didn't warn you!

6. News

imdb indie news

IMDb is the best way to stay on top of news—not just for movie and TV show developments, but for other kinds of related industry news. See Top News, Movie News, TV News, Celebrity News, and Indie News.

Here's why these news pages are so useful: they aggregate news from many sources, including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rolling Stone, The Wrap, Indiewire, Deadline, Collider, and more. It's all in one place and curated for your convenience.

7. Awards

imdb oscars

For a movie fan, one of the biggest events on the calendar is awards season. IMDb tracks all the major events like the Oscars, Emmys, and Sundance. Access all of this through the top Menu, beneath the Awards & Events section.

Not only can you get the news on upcoming events, with the list of nominees, surprise snubs, and presenters, but you can also go back through history and explore past shows. Want to know who won an Oscar in 1929? It's a few clicks away.

8. IMDb Pro

imdb pro

If you want to break into the film or television industries—whether as an actor, writer, crew member, or producer—then you should think about upgrading your IMDb account to an IMDbPro account.

As an IMDbPro, you'll gain access to all kinds of "insider" information, such as contact information for agents, actors, producers, and other industry workers. You'll also unlock extra information on the actual IMDb site, such as pages for movies and TV shows that are still in pre-production or development.

You'll also be able to post photos and resumes to help you find work in the industry, and as an actor, IMDbPro includes a casting service to help you find roles.

IMDb Pro costs $19.99/month (a discounted $149.99/year rate is available, which comes out to $12.50/month). You can trial the service for 30-days.

IMDb Is a Must-Have App for Movie Fans

As a movie buff, there are several mobile apps you'll want to keep on hand to streamline your movie-finding and movie-watching experience. One of these is IMDb, but there are plenty of other greats; like Netflix for streaming, Fandango for tickets, and Flixster for news and showtimes.