How Do You Catalog Your Physical Media Movie Collection?

[Monsters For Sale]

I like to store my DVDs, BLU-Rays, etc. by genre: Drama, Comedy/Romantic/Musical/Animation, Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Crime/Detective/Mystery, Western, Documentary, Educational/How-To, etc. on shelves in cabinets with glass doors.  Makes them visible for casual browsing and eliminates dusting.  Discs are alphabetized within each category.

But my master list of "movies" is a simple alphabetical list I compiled on Word Perfect.  Not an ideal solution, as it depends on me remembering who is in what movies and what category I filed it in.

I'd like to have them in a proper database that gives me cover art, synopsis, director, cast and the category I assigned it to.  All of which was searchable.  With the option to locate any movie that had as many as 3 actors in combination.


Anybody have a program that they would recommend?  One that I could buy outright and did NOT require yearly subscriptions?

What do you guys use?   

[Mike...In 3-D!]

For physical storage, I have two sections of shelving that holds my movies spine out. One section is all my horror/sci-fi/thriller and the other is everything else. Each section is filed alphabetically first, and chronologically second. So, Horror of Dracula would be in the H's, but would immediately be followed by The Brides of Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness, etc.

For my inventory list, I also keep two files, mirroring the sections I specified above. The lists are done the same way, alphabetically then chronologically. Text is black for DVDs and blue for blu-rays. I just use a standard Google Docs file. I was tinkering with the idea of using the "My Movies by Blu-ray.com" app, but I haven't looked much into it.

[Lunkenstein]

Sorry, I'm no help Adam. We just moved and my collection is all over the place in boxes. I've never catalogued what I have with any software.  I used to try and organize similar to you by genre, titles, etc - but even then I'd wind up with stacks everywhere, lol.

[Mike Scott]

Mine are mostly by genre, but chronological. Horror in subsections, like Universal, Hammer, Wm Castle, etc. I also have collections of favorite directors, franchise films (ST, SW, LOTR, JP, etc.), Marvel and DC superheroes, Charles Dickens movies/BBC prod. And a TV series section.

No database. What you see is what you get.

[Sir Masksalot]

Most of my titles are on videotape (VHS and Beta). Fortunately, I still have VCRs and separate rewinder units that actually work.
All movies are arranged by genre on a master list. I even have a category for silent era comedies, the boyhood influence of shows
like "Fractured Flickers". 

[Monsters For Sale]

Most of my titles are on videotape (VHS and Beta). Fortunately, I still have VCRs and separate rewinder units that actually work.
All movies are arranged by genre on a master list. I even have a category for silent era comedies, the boyhood influence of shows
like "Fractured Flickers".   

But no catalog or database?

[Sir Masksalot]

But no catalog or database?

Nope, I used an IBM Selectric 1 typewriter and made a few photocopies. 'Just an old school kinda guy.

[Jim Bertges]

I look for a suitably empty spot on the shelf and stuff any new purchases in there. If I wonder if I have a particular title, I go through my shelf and cabinet until I do or don't find it.

[Mike...In 3-D!]

I look for a suitably empty spot on the shelf and stuff any new purchases in there. If I wonder if I have a particular title, I go through my shelf and cabinet until I do or don't find it.

[Monsters For Sale]

Mine are mostly by genre, but chronological. Horror in subsections, like Universal, Hammer, Wm Castle, etc. I also have collections of favorite directors, franchise films (ST, SW, LOTR, JP, etc.), Marvel and DC superheroes, Charles Dickens movies/BBC prod. And a TV series section.

No database. What you see is what you get. 

I used to do something similar for part of my collection - with the rest in boxes.

I have about 3500 movies now.  That doesn't seem to be practical.

[Mike Scott]

I have about 3500 movies now.

I probably only have half that (and it feels like the place is overflowing with them). It's hard to estimate. Most standard size DVD boxes have one movie in them, but some have up to eight.

[BigShadow]

I like to sort my my horror by category (silent, classic talkie, post-1980s) then alphabetically, same with sci-fi.  Then my serials, comedy, etc.  I also keep my Mexican horror separate and my cartoons separate. Still haven't figured out a good way to catalog them for reference though.

[Mike Scott]

I look for a suitably empty spot on the shelf and stuff any new purchases in there. If I wonder if I have a particular title, I go through my shelf and cabinet until I do or don't find it.

I may not have a fancy database, but I couldn't go that far.   I can find anything I have in just a few seconds.

[bonnieshona]

I have been using Discogs Database and Marketplace for Music on Vinyl, CD, Cassette, MP3 and More for a littlewhile now, and I can honestly say it's a great way to stay organized with records. There is also an app. (Crate Digger) that syncs with your Discogs account.

[Mike Scott]

Welcome to the UMA and Happy Thanksgiving, Bonnie!