Letterboxd Explained

Letterboxd
Commercial:Yes
Type:Social cataloging application for films
Language:English
Num Users:12 million (February 2024)
Location:Auckland, New Zealand
Owner:Tiny (60%)
Key People:Gemma Gracewood (editor-in-chief)
Current Status:Active

Letterboxd is a New Zealand online social cataloging service founded by Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow in 2011. It advertises itself as "Goodreads for film." Members can rate and review films, keep track of what films they have seen in the past and when, make lists of films, showcase their favorite films, tag films using text keywords, and interact with other cinephiles.

Letterboxd's popularity spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. It had over 12 million registered users as of February 2024. Although the website is generally limited to films, its leadership intends to add television shows in the future.

History

Development

Seeking to develop a "Goodreads for film," web designers Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow launched a private version of the Letterboxd website at the Brooklyn Beta web conference in October 2011.[1] [2] The name "Letterboxd" is an allusion to letterboxing, the practice of placing black bars on the edges of a screen to preserve a movie's original aspect ratio.[3] Buchanan and von Randow launched an invitation-only beta version on 24 April 2012[4] [5] and opened the site to the general public on 8 February 2013.[6] Until March 2020, Letterboxd did not employ any full-time personnel. In September 2023, the company had 16 full-time and 12 part-time employees.[7]

In September 2023, Canadian investment company Tiny acquired a 60% majority stake in Letterboxd, valuing the company at around $50–60 million. Buchanan and von Randow continue to lead the company.[8]

Upon its acquisition, Letterboxd concurrently announced that it intended to add television shows to the site. (Due to Letterboxd's reliance on outside vendor The Movie Database for its list of extant films, limited-run series and a small number of recurring series have been loggable on the site for years.) Buchanan acknowledged that the decision to add TV shows has been met with some controversy by the Letterboxd community, but assured users that the introduction of television to the platform will not disrupt the current user experience.[9]

Growth

In May 2017 (six years after launch), Letterboxd users collectively logged their 100 millionth film; they reached the 1 billion mark on 19 July 2022.[10] As of 29 March 2024, users have logged over 300 movies at least one million times each, and 18 movies at least three million times each.[11]

Letterboxd's userbase swelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its user count rose from 1.8 million in March 2020 to 3 million in January 2021, 4.1 million in December 2021,[12] 10 million in September 2023,[7] and 12 million in February 2024.[13] In September 2020, film critic Scott Tobias called Letterboxd "the safest space for film discussion we've got."[14] Arthouse and classic film organizations such as the American Cinematheque reported that once movie theaters reopened, Letterboxd helped drive younger filmgoers to visit their programs.[15]

Six films have held the title of highest-rated narrative feature on Letterboxd: The Godfather, Parasite, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Come and See, , and Harakiri.[16] Harakiri is the current title-holder as of August 2024.[17]

Reputation

The site has a reputation (both positive and negative) for attracting cinephiles and members of "Film Twitter."[18] [19] [20] [21] An internal survey conducted in late 2022 showed that Letterboxd users, on average, watched more movies and spent more money on movies than general moviegoers.[22] The New York Times noted that "[w]hat rises to the top of the site’s page for most popular reviews ranges wildly: "There are obscure memes, diaristic essays and sprawling screeds packed with pseudo-academic jargon," but added that "the lack of rules or structure can also lead to some interesting, unconventional criticism, and offers a platform to voices that might otherwise not be heard." The site has been praised for its comparative and competitive pressures, as well as its roles in facilitating genuine connections centered on shared interests; fostering exploration across cinema genres and eras; challenging gatekeeping in the film community; and connecting like-minded individuals within digital communities. The site has been criticized for gamifying the act of watching films and boosting sardonic one-line reviews over more in-depth assessments.[23] [24] [25]

In recent years, Letterboxd has also attracted Hollywood celebrities and notable members of the film industry to the site. When actress Iman Vellani was cast as Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel, fans quickly found her Letterboxd account[26] and some of her reviews went viral, particularly her review of Captain Marvel.[27] Director Martin Scorsese opened a Letterboxd account in October 2023 and quickly became the most-followed user on the site;[28] as of June 2024, he has over 350,000 followers.[29] Other filmmakers and actors on Letterboxd include Mike Flanagan,[30] Rian Johnson,[31] [32] Christopher McQuarrie,[33] Ayo Edebiri,[34] Sean Baker,[35] and Edgar Wright.[36] Letterboxd's marketing team also frequently interviews Hollywood celebrities about their four favorite films, based on the Letterboxd feature that allows users to publicly display their own favorite movies on their user profiles.[37] [38] [39]

In March 2024, Letterboxd disclosed that it had suffered a data breach the previous February via a compromised staff account. The company said that the breaching party had accessed "significantly less than 1% of all accounts."[40] [41]

Features

General features

Anyone can read content on the site. However, users who want to participate must create a Letterboxd account.

All members can rate films on a scale of one to five stars (with half-stars also allowed), review films, and tag them with relevant keywords. Members may also list their four favorite films, maintain lists of films they have watched or want to watch, and interact with other members. A follower model enables members to follow and get updates about the activity of others on the site. Lists could originally only be made public or private to the user. In April 2023, finer controls were added which allowed sharing a list with specific users via a secret link.[42]

In December 2023, Letterboxd partnered with the aggregator Assemble to launch a feature identifying showtimes and links to ticketing websites for movies that were currently in theaters.[43] The feature applies to movie theaters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.[44]

Letterboxd is available as a mobile app for Android and iOS.[45] [46]

Paid membership features

Since opening to the public in February 2013, Letterboxd has offered a tiered membership structure, with both free and paid memberships.[47] Paid subscribers can access a broader range of features, including individual user data (such as hours spent watching films, favorite directors, and types of ratings given) and a tool that identifies whether a film is available on a streaming service to which the user has a subscription.[48]

In September 2020, Letterboxd announced a new "HQ" membership type for film-related organizations, such as movie theaters, studios, festivals, and podcasts.[49] HQ members can post news stories, link to external websites, and access web analytics.[50]

Film data

All film-related metadata used on the website is supplied by The Movie Database, an open source database.[51] In September 2019, the site partnered with JustWatch to display online viewing options for films.[52] In March 2022, the site partnered with Nanocrowd to show "nanogenres" and recommendations for similar films to users.[53] [54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Marsh . Calum . 2021-01-13 . Is Letterboxd Becoming a Blockbuster? . 2024-02-08 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Brooklyn Beta 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110409210829/https://brooklynbeta.org/2011/ . 9 April 2011 . 19 July 2022 . Brooklyn Beta.
  3. Web site: Frequent questions . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  4. Web site: Letterboxd: Social website for film fans launches - latimes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120428224804/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/04/letterboxd-social-website-for-film-fans-launches.html. dead. 28 April 2012. 28 April 2012. 16 October 2018.
  5. News: Chapman . Glen . 14 March 2012 . What on earth is Letterboxd? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017043023/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/18883/what-on-earth-is-letterboxd . 17 October 2018 . 17 October 2018 . Den of Geek.
  6. News: Letterboxd, the social network for movie buffs, goes freemium and finally opens to everyone. 8 February 2013. 19 January 2016. The Next Web. 30 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130192256/http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/02/08/letterboxd-the-social-network-for-movie-buffs-rolls-out-of-beta/. live.
  7. News: Mullin . Benjamin . 2023-09-29 . Letterboxd, Online Haven for Film Nerds, Gets a New Owner . 2024-02-08 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Spangler . Todd . September 29, 2023 . Letterboxd Acquired by Canadian Firm in Deal Valuing It at $50 Million . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929144802/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/letterboxd-acquired-50-million-deal-valuation-1235740185/ . 29 September 2023 . 29 September 2023 . Variety.
  9. Web site: Spangler . Todd . 2023-10-05 . Letterboxd Founders on Selling Their Company, Expanding Into TV: ‘We Need Some Mentorship to Take Us to the Next Level’ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231018184719/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/letterboxd-founders-sell-company-adding-tv-shows-1235746156/ . 18 October 2023 . 2023-10-19 . Variety . en-US.
  10. Web site: There are now one billion films watched on Letterboxd . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220719201543/https://twitter.com/letterboxd/status/1549487895039606785 . 19 July 2022 . 19 July 2022 . Twitter . en.
  11. Web site: 2021-03-27 . Letterboxd One Million Watched Club . 2024-05-30 . Letterboxd . en.
  12. Web site: Goldstein . Jessica M. . 2023-12-18 . Letterboxd feels like vintage internet. Can it stay that way? . 2024-02-08 . Washington Post . en.
  13. Web site: King . Jack . 2024-02-29 . Why everyone you know is suddenly a Letterboxd head . 2024-05-30 . British GQ . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Tobias. Scott. 18 September 2020. The Future of Film Talk Is on Letterboxd. 19 October 2020. The Ringer. 19 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919090820/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/9/18/21444082/letterboxd-film-discussion-site-streaming-movies. live.
  15. Web site: Murphy . J. Kim . 2023-11-22 . How Letterboxd Captured Young Moviegoers — and Martin Scorsese . 2024-02-08 . Variety . en-US.
  16. Web site: Moulton. Jack. Films that have ranked as Letterboxd’s official all-time number one. Letterboxd. June 19, 2023. July 31, 2023. 1 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230801002648/https://letterboxd.com/jack/list/films-that-have-ranked-as-letterboxds-official/. live.
  17. Web site: 2013-11-08 . Official Top 250 Narrative Feature Films . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  18. Web site: Minor . Jordan . 2023-06-06 . Letterboxd Review . 2024-02-08 . PCMAG . en.
  19. Web site: Bunch . Sonny . 2022-01-05 . J.D. Vance Versus Film Twitter . 2024-02-08 . The Bulwark . en-US.
  20. Web site: Hoepfner . Fran . 2023-12-04 . May December May Cause Internet Brain . 2024-02-08 . Vulture . en.
  21. Web site: deBoer . Freddie . 2023-12-21 . Every Annoying Letterboxd Behavior . 2024-02-08 . Freddie deBoer.
  22. News: Lambert . Harper . May 26, 2023 . Letterboxd Unboxed: How a Grassroots Social Network Is Revolutionizing Film Fandom . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606022343/https://www.thewrap.com/letterboxd-social-media-platform-film-fans/ . 6 June 2023 . June 5, 2023 . TheWrap.
  23. Web site: Tran . Lea . 2024-03-06 . Letterboxd: Leaving traditional social media for ‘reel’ this time . 2024-04-15 . The Daily Free Press . en-US.
  24. Web site: Troughton . James . 2024-01-06 . Stop Complaining About Dumb Letterboxd Reviews . 2024-04-15 . TheGamer . en.
  25. Web site: Nast . Condé . 2024-02-29 . Why everyone you know is suddenly a Letterboxd head . 2024-04-15 . British GQ . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Chand . Neeraj . 2020-10-02 . Captain Marvel Got a Bad Review from Ms. Marvel Star Iman Vellani . 2024-04-08 . MovieWeb . en.
  27. Web site: A ★★ review of Captain Marvel (2019) . 2024-04-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  28. Web site: Taylor . Josh . 2023-10-28 . Martin Scorsese joins Letterboxd and instantly becomes most followed account of all time . 2024-02-08 . Dexerto . en.
  29. Web site: Martin Scorsese’s profile . 2024-06-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  30. Web site: 2024-02-26 . Mike Flanagan’s profile . 2024-02-26 . Letterboxd . en.
  31. Web site: Johnson . Rian . 2020-05-23 . Twitter . Twitter.
  32. Web site: rcjohnso’s profile . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  33. Web site: Christopher McQuarrie’s profile . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  34. Web site: 2024-02-07 . Ayo Edebiri’s profile . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  35. Web site: 2024-05-25 . Sean Baker’s profile . 2024-05-27 . Letterboxd . en.
  36. Web site: Wright . Edgar . 2024-03-03 . Twitter . 2024-05-27 . Twitter.
  37. Web site: 2024-01-09 . Emma Stone shares her four favorite films in great detail . 2024-02-08 . letterboxd.com . en.
  38. Web site: 2024-01-26 . Boots Riley shares his four favorite films . 2024-02-08 . letterboxd.com . en.
  39. Web site: 2023-12-21 . Zack Snyder shares his four favorite films . 2024-02-08 . letterboxd.com . en.
  40. Web site: Letterboxd Security Notice: March 2024 - Letterboxd . 2024-03-16 . deal.town . en.
  41. Web site: Rodger . James . 2024-03-15 . Letterboxd issues urgent warning to users and says 'check accounts' now . 2024-03-16 . Birmingham Live . en.
  42. Web site: 2023-04-14 . Between Us: private list sharing comes to Letterboxd • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine . 2023-08-18 . letterboxd.com . en . 18 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230818075727/https://letterboxd.com/journal/between-us-private-lists-sharing/ . live .
  43. Web site: Weprin . Alex . 2023-12-13 . Letterboxd Adds Film Showtimes in Push to Get Users to Movie Theaters (Exclusive) . 2024-02-08 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  44. Web site: Gracewood . Gemma . 2023-12-14 . Now Showing: cinema showtimes come to Patron members, with a wider launch on Christmas Eve • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  45. News: Dillet . Romain . 2016-03-15 . Letterboxd launches its movie social network on the iPhone . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017043048/https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/15/letterboxd-launches-its-movie-social-network-on-the-iphone/ . 17 October 2018 . 16 October 2018 . TechCrunch.
  46. Web site: Buchanan . Matthew . 30 August 2017 . Android. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901201736/http://news.letterboxd.com/post/164747857138/android . 1 September 2017 . 17 October 2018 . Letterboxd.
  47. Web site: 8 February 2013 . Pro. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190726013438/https://news.letterboxd.com/post/42543441137/pro . 26 July 2019 . 26 July 2019 . Letterboxd News.
  48. Web site: Paid subscriptions . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  49. Web site: 17 September 2020 . Office Space. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201006124307/https://news.letterboxd.com/post/629448004285448192/office-space-hq-tier . 6 October 2020 . 5 June 2021 . Letterboxd News.
  50. Web site: HQ membership . 2024-02-08 . Letterboxd . en.
  51. Web site: Letterboxd Welcomes Porn Reviews. Cole. Samantha. Vice.com. 17 August 2021. 21 September 2022. 17 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210817194546/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzama/letterboxd-welcomes-porn-reviews. live.
  52. Web site: How Letterboxd Is Trying to Get an Edge Over Other Movie Apps. Stuart. Gwynedd. 8 November 2019. Los Angeles Magazine. 10 November 2019. 8 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108112752/https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/letterboxd/. live.
  53. Web site: Nanocrowd and Letterboxd Help You Find Movies and Series You'll Love to Watch. March. Roderic. 1 March 2022. Nanocrowd. 28 October 2022. 2 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220302051230/https://nanocrowd.com/nanocrowd-letterboxd/. live.
  54. Web site: Film Feelings: using 'nanogenres' to find similar films. Gracewood. Gemma. 15 March 2022. Letterboxd. 28 October 2022. 16 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220316090808/https://letterboxd.com/journal/film-feelings-nanogenres/. live.

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