TMDB MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects your AI agent to The Movie Database and pulls ratings from IMDb or Metacritic. Useful when building media trackers or asking film trivia in chat.
claude mcp add --env TMDB_API_TOKEN=<TMDB_API_TOKEN> --env OMDB_API_KEY=<OMDB_API_KEY> --env TMDB_LANGUAGE=<TMDB_LANGUAGE> --env TMDB_REGION=<TMDB_REGION> --transport stdio tmdb-mcp-server -- npx -y tmdb-mcpWhat TMDB MCP Server does
The server runs over stdio. It provides an interface to query TMDB directly for movies, television shows, cast lists, and trending media. Functions like get_movies batch between 1 and 20 titles into compact data cards in a single network roundtrip.
Adding an OMDb key allows the server to enrich TMDB entries with critic ratings. The model receives Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and IMDb scores inside the same response. Discovery utilities help filter titles by date ranges, genre identifiers, studio credits, and country of origin.
Running the server requires a TMDB_API_TOKEN v4 read token. Missing tokens will cause errors. The OMDB_API_KEY, language code, and regional settings remain optional additions for localized plot overviews and external scores.
What it helps with
- look up actor or director filmographies directly in chat
- pull IMDb, Metacritic, and Rotten Tomatoes scores in a single call
- retrieve similar movies or series based on TMDB viewer trends
- filter releases by genre, release dates, and cast members
Example prompts for the agent
- Show the plot summary, genres, and runtime for Dune: Part Two.
- Compare the Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes ratings for Barbie and Oppenheimer.
- Find psychological thriller shows similar to Severance.
How to install TMDB MCP Server
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env TMDB_API_TOKEN=<TMDB_API_TOKEN> --env OMDB_API_KEY=<OMDB_API_KEY> --env TMDB_LANGUAGE=<TMDB_LANGUAGE> --env TMDB_REGION=<TMDB_REGION> --transport stdio tmdb-mcp-server -- npx -y tmdb-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add tmdb-mcp-server --env TMDB_API_TOKEN=<TMDB_API_TOKEN> --env OMDB_API_KEY=<OMDB_API_KEY> --env TMDB_LANGUAGE=<TMDB_LANGUAGE> --env TMDB_REGION=<TMDB_REGION> -- npx -y tmdb-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"tmdb-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"tmdb-mcp"
],
"env": {
"TMDB_API_TOKEN": "<TMDB_API_TOKEN>",
"OMDB_API_KEY": "<OMDB_API_KEY>",
"TMDB_LANGUAGE": "<TMDB_LANGUAGE>",
"TMDB_REGION": "<TMDB_REGION>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"tmdb-mcp-server": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"tmdb-mcp"
],
"env": {
"TMDB_API_TOKEN": "<TMDB_API_TOKEN>",
"OMDB_API_KEY": "<OMDB_API_KEY>",
"TMDB_LANGUAGE": "<TMDB_LANGUAGE>",
"TMDB_REGION": "<TMDB_REGION>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e TMDB_API_TOKEN=<TMDB_API_TOKEN> -e OMDB_API_KEY=<OMDB_API_KEY> -e TMDB_LANGUAGE=<TMDB_LANGUAGE> -e TMDB_REGION=<TMDB_REGION> tmdb-mcp-server npx -y tmdb-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about TMDB MCP Server
How to install TMDB MCP Server in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add tmdb-mcp -e TMDB_API_TOKEN=<TMDB_API_TOKEN> -e OMDB_API_KEY=<OMDB_API_KEY> -- npx -y tmdb-mcp. Provide your TMDB access token and optional OMDb key.
What is the OMDb key used for?
TMDB does not include third-party review data. Setting OMDB_API_KEY merges ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic into the movie output.
Can I receive movie descriptions in languages other than English?
Yes, pass the TMDB_LANGUAGE variable (such as ru-RU) to fetch localized plot overviews. You can also specify TMDB_REGION to adjust local release dates and certifications.
