imdb api for other websites

The IMDb currently has two public APIs that are, although undocumented, very quick and reliable (used on their own site through AJAX).

1. A statically cached search suggestions API:

   • http://sg.media-imdb.com/suggests/a/aa.json
   • http://sg.media-imdb.com/suggests/h/hello.json
   • Format: JSONP

   • Downside:

     • It's in JSONP format, however the callback parameter can not be set by passing a callback-query parameter. In order to use it cross-domain you'll have to use the function name they choose (which is in the "imdb${searchphrase}" format, see example below). Or use a local proxy (e.g. a small php file) that downloads (and caches!) it from IMDb and strips the JSON-P callback, or replaces it with a custom callback.

     • If there are no results, it doesn't gracefully fallback, but displays an XML error instead

// Basic
window.imdb$foo = function (list) {
  /* ... */
};
jQuery.getScript('http://sg.media-imdb.com/suggests/f/foo.json');

// Using jQuery.ajax (let jQuery handle the callback)
jQuery.ajax({
    url: 'http://sg.media-imdb.com/suggests/f/foo.json',
    dataType: 'jsonp',
    cache: true,
    jsonp: false,
    jsonpCallback: 'imdb$foo'
}).done(function (result) {
    /* ... */
});

// With local proxy to a PHP script replacing imdb$foo with a sanitized
// version of $_GET['callback'] (http://stackoverflow.com/a/8811412/319266)
jQuery.getJSON('./imdb.php?q=foo&callback=?', function (list) {
    /* ... */
});

2. More advanced search

   • Name search (json): http://www.imdb.com/xml/find?json=1&nr=1&nm=on&q=jeniffer+garner
   • Title search (xml): http://www.imdb.com/xml/find?xml=1&nr=1&tt=on&q=lost
   • Format: JSON, XML and more
   • Downside:
     • No JSONP. In order to use from JavaScript cross-domain, a local proxy is required.
     • No documentation, more formats may be available
   • Upside
     • Live search!
     • Name support for actors as well!
     • Proper fallback to empty object

As said, both of these APIs are undocumented. They could change at any time.

See also http://stackoverflow.com/a/8811412/319266, for an example of a JSON API in PHP.