What Do You Think of the New IMDB Layout?
Filed under: Site Announcements, Fandom
In case you aren't as addicted to the Internet Movie Database as I, the website launched a new layout recently. The funny thing is that despite my constant use of the site, I can't recall what it used to look like. I really do have the worst memory in the world, apparently. All I know is that it looks very different and that it took me a few seconds longer to navigate this morning -- not that this is a problem with the design; I just need to get used to it. To help us all get used to it, and explain what is being done and why, the IMDb gives us this FAQ.
Without a perfect -- umm, normal -- memory, I can't completely identify the changes, but I'll try to point out what I notice (actually for the time being, you can format your preferences or click here so you see the old design). The promotion of Amazon, which is IMDb's parent company, is less obvious. The links on the left hand side are smaller (eye-damaging small). Links are no longer underlined. The user rating has moved. And there's some distracting golden buttons near the top of each film's page that seem to be an attempt to encourage more user interaction (message boards, trailers, etc.). I haven't been a fan of other recent renovations, such as the addition of photos to the left of cast listings and the increased size of the thumbnails of promo pics, so I'm disappointed that the new version is continuing in directions that I dislike. But I guess the changes are being made to match common usage and user testing results. Plus, my dissatisfaction isn't going to keep me away from the site, which is the best film reference tool ever created.
What do you think of the new layout?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-01-2009 @ 1:55PM
Adam said...
It s.cks!!! I cant find any information...
Pls help the campaign to give us back to good old layout. Use #imdb tag on twitter
Thanks,
a movie fan
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11-09-2009 @ 12:49PM
Elizabeth said...
I don't like it especially as it has changed at least one credit of mine into something I never worked on, dropping the correct credit. Now I have to go back and fix the mistakes and hope they'll update it.
I also liked how you used to be able to see the network and other details at a glance in the main page. Now you have to drill down for everything.
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2-20-2007 @ 3:47PM
tikirob said...
It always takes some time getting use to a new format. I think it looks fine but I do not like the font choices or size. I like the old format because it was so simple and easy to use. The new format will take some time. I am not a fan how they have handled the picture galleries.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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2-20-2007 @ 6:37PM
TheFrozenPyro said...
It looks horrible. It is a true step back for imdb. When you finally fin the movie you want it takes even longer to find the info you want as it all looks boring and dull. It looks like they hired a 5 year old to design it. Go back the way it way!
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2-20-2007 @ 4:01PM
Harrison Murchison said...
I think it looks obviously incomplete. However I was growing tired of the last format and thought IMDB needed to be spiffed up a bit. They did mention that they are rolling out a series of large changes so I expect things will "fill in" and become more clear with subsequent updates. Here's hoping they seriously revamp the forum formats.
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2-20-2007 @ 4:11PM
William Goss said...
The new design is terribly unwieldy, with too much wasted space. I'm currently using the old format, and will continue to do so as long as possible.
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2-20-2007 @ 4:12PM
Slahhhh said...
The lay-out is fine. Now if they just got rid of all the unconscionable idiots who post in the message boards...
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2-20-2007 @ 4:25PM
Marggy said...
I hate it. I'm really worried that the whole site will end up looking really terrible. It's just so...ugly and somewhat confusing to navigate. I switched my preferences back to the old layout. I can't handle that new one.
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2-20-2007 @ 4:25PM
Scott Weinberg said...
I don't mind the changes, although they will take a little time to get used to.
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2-22-2007 @ 2:50PM
zeicee said...
Of course everyone gets used to changes, but I actually think that the previous layout was as simple and clear enough... Usually for some websites there's a reason to change the layout, but for IMDB NOOOOOT!
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2-20-2007 @ 5:51PM
eklen said...
This kind of reminds me of when comcast cable reformatted their menu and all. Not that big of a change but big enough to make a difference. Im fine with it personally
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2-20-2007 @ 5:46PM
marty said...
I actually thought the page didn't download properly so I refreshed the page. It looks incomplete and its a half-hearted revamp. They should do a complete overhaul like many other web sites have done like Screendaily and move with the times.
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2-20-2007 @ 6:01PM
Clint said...
Can't say that I oppose it. Honestly, it doesn't appear THAT much different than the old version, but then again I don't frequent the site as often as some.
http://framerate.blog.com
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2-21-2007 @ 3:58AM
lotech said...
Won't Wikipedia eventually kill of IDDB?
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2-21-2007 @ 1:44PM
krishna said...
I've got pretty mixed reactions. It feels pretty but unfunctional at the same time. Dont know why though. And the fact that you don't immediately realize whats different is a good thing.
Here's my take - http://krishna-kumar.blogspot.com/2007/02/imdb-redesign.html
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2-21-2007 @ 3:13PM
ThePete said...
Blech--hate it. Don't know why they fixed something that wasn't broken in the first place!
There's this absurd urge to update/upgrade every damn thing despite the fact that many things work just fine. IMDB was one of them. About the only change I could see them making was to change their name to Internet Media DataBase. Which I don't believe they did...
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2-25-2007 @ 1:54AM
Roostabunny said...
Yuck! I read this post but only just today got to check out the new site.
Ok, maybe "yuck" is a bit harsh. It's because a favorite family game is identifying other movies that obscure actors have been in (like a broader version of the Kevin Bacon game), so IMDB is like our scrabble dictionary. If you think the call is wrong (and, of course, you don't know the actor's name) you IMDB the movie, find the actor by their photo on the cast list, and click through to the actor's page.
Now, I'm hard pressed to find the correct actor's photo at all (they're absent from the cast list, anyway) and when I click on an actor, it launches a separate page (or a new tab in Firefox). In summary, I thought I recognized an actor from the Reno 911 trailer (I don't watch the show), and after 5 minutes I still wasn't able to figure out if she was who I thought she was. Call me lazy, but after 5 minutes I didn't care anymore.
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