TMDB MCP Server

What is TMDB MCP Server?

The TMDB MCP Server integrates with The Movie Database (TMDB) API via the Model Context Protocol to provide movie information, search capabilities, and recommendations. It is designed for users of Claude Desktop who want to query movie data conversationally.

How to use TMDB MCP Server?

Prerequisites include Node.js 18+, npm, a TMDB API key, and Claude Desktop. Clone the repository, install dependencies with npm install, build with npm run build, and set the TMDB_API_KEY environment variable. Then add the server configuration to Claude Desktop’s config.json file using the path to the built index.js.

Key features of TMDB MCP Server

• Search movies by title or keywords
• Get movie recommendations based on a movie ID
• Retrieve trending movies (daily or weekly)
• Access detailed movie information via resource URI
• Returns top 5 recommendations and top 10 trending
• User-friendly error handling through Claude Desktop

Use cases of TMDB MCP Server

• Quickly find movie information during conversation
• Discover new movies based on a favorite film
• Stay updated with trending movies each day or week
• Get comprehensive movie details including cast and reviews
• Integrate movie search into AI assistant workflows

FAQ from TMDB MCP Server

What are the system requirements?

Node.js 18+, npm 8+, minimum 4GB RAM, 1GB free disk space, stable internet, and a compatible operating system (macOS 10.15+, Windows 10/11, Linux).

How do I get a TMDB API key?

Sign up at TMDB, go to your account settings, navigate to the API section, and request a developer API key.

Where is the configuration file for Claude Desktop?

The file is located at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/config.json on macOS (similar paths exist for Windows and Linux).

How do I set the TMDB_API_KEY environment variable?

Export it in your terminal using export TMDB_API_KEY=your_api_key_here before starting the server.

What happens if an invalid movie ID is used?

The server includes error handling and returns a user-friendly error message through Claude Desktop.