HOW IT WORKS

A guide to finding
your next favorite

VHSMovies turns "I don't know what to watch" into a list made for you. Here's exactly what each filter does — and how to combine them.

Genres to include

Titles need to match at least one of these genres. Add several to widen the net — a title counts as a match if it hits any single one.

e.g. Include Sci-Fi + Thriller → shows titles that are either sci-fi OR thriller.

Must include

Stricter than Include. A title has to carry every genre listed here, all at once. Use it to pin down a very specific mood.

e.g. Must include Crime + Drama → only titles tagged with BOTH.

Genres to exclude

A hard filter. Any title carrying one of these genres is removed from your results, no matter how well it matches elsewhere.

e.g. Exclude Horror → nothing scary slips through, even a great sci-fi/horror.

Minimum rating & years

Set the lowest score you'll accept (1–10) and a release window. Great for filtering to modern classics or a specific decade.

e.g. Min rating 8.0, years 2010–2024 → recent, well-reviewed titles only.
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Directors, actors & writers

Follow the people, not just the genre. Add names to steer results toward the filmmakers and casts you already love.

e.g. Actor "Ryan Gosling" → surfaces his filmography first.
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Type & amount

Choose Movies, TV Series, or both, and how many titles to return (5–50). A shorter list is punchier; a longer one is for a deep dive.

e.g. Type: Tv Series, amount 10 → a tight shortlist of shows.
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Pro tip: dismiss with one click

Already seen a title, or just not feeling it? Hit the in the corner of any card. It drops out of your results instantly and never comes back in future recommendations — the fastest way to sharpen your list.

Three steps to a perfect list

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STEP 01

Set your taste

Pick genres, a minimum rating, era, cast and crew. The more you tell us, the sharper the fit.

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STEP 02

We match the catalog

Our engine scans a large movie & TV database, weighting every rule you set to score the best titles.

STEP 03

Refine as you go

Exclude anything with one click and regenerate. Every pass gets closer to your next favorite.

✦ Try it now