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Letterboxd: Cinephiles' Secret Hub for Discovery
10 Dec
Summary
- Letterboxd hit 17 million users, especially growing during Covid lockdown.
- The app launched an in-app video rental store, not a streaming service.
- Users value Letterboxd for film discovery and community, not algorithms.
Letterboxd has emerged as a vital platform for film enthusiasts, attracting over 17 million users with its unique approach to movie discovery and community. The app's popularity surged during the Covid-19 lockdowns, and it continues to resonate with cinephiles seeking curated content beyond algorithmic recommendations. Recently, Letterboxd expanded its offerings by launching an in-app video rental "store," emphasizing a "curated shelves" experience over traditional streaming.
This new feature aims to provide access to festival darlings, reissues, and rediscoveries, catering to users who appreciate a more deliberate mode of film exploration. Unlike many contemporary digital services, Letterboxd deliberately avoids infinite scrolls and algorithm-driven suggestions, positioning itself as a community hub where users share opinions and create personalized watchlists.
The platform's design intentionally limits features common to other social media, such as direct messaging, to maintain a focused environment for film discussion. This deliberate restraint is seen by many as its strength, preserving a space for genuine cinematic discourse against the backdrop of a struggling film industry.
