FlickVue: Movie Discovery & Review Platform
A legal, content-rich movie exploration app where users discover, rate, review, and discuss films — without streaming.
Duration
Jun 2023 - Apr 2024
Technologies
React Native, TypeScript, Node.js, MongoDB, TMDB API, Redis
Project Overview
FlickVue is a community-driven movie discovery platform that helps users find their next watch through ratings, reviews, watchlists, and smart recommendations. It integrates with legal sources (TMDB, JustWatch) to show where movies are available — without hosting or streaming any copyrighted content.
Challenges and Solutions
Content Legality & Copyright
Ensuring no video streaming or hosting while still delivering rich movie data.
Recommendation Accuracy
Cold-start problem for new users and avoiding echo chambers in suggestions.
API Rate Limits
Handling high traffic to third-party APIs (TMDB, JustWatch) without throttling.
Metadata-Only Architecture
Used TMDB API for posters, trailers (embeds), and metadata — no media hosting.
Hybrid Recommendation Engine
Combined collaborative filtering, content-based, and trend signals with fallback to popular lists.
Caching & Request Batching
Implemented Redis caching and batched API calls with fallback queues.
Key Features
Smart Recommendations
AI-powered suggestions based on ratings, watch history, and mood filters.
Where to Watch
Real-time availability on Netflix, Prime, Disney+, theaters, and more via JustWatch.
Community Reviews
Rich text reviews, spoiler tags, and upvote/downvote system with sentiment analysis.
Watchlist Sync
Sync watchlists across devices with cloud backup and calendar reminders.
Critic vs Audience Scores
Side-by-side comparison with Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and user ratings.
Technologies Used
Sneak a Peek
Personalized Movie Home Feed
Results and Impact
- Over 500,000 registered users within 6 months of launch.
- Average user session duration: 18 minutes — 60% above industry benchmark.
- Featured in App Store "New & Noteworthy" for entertainment apps.