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How to Find the Name of a Movie You Can't Remember Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Run a Google search. 2 Use a film search engine. 3 Scour IMDb to find the title. 4 Check an actor's filmography. 5 Post on Filmfind. 6 Ask around on Reddit. 7 Ask a friend. 8 Check your viewing history. 9 Flip through a streaming service’s catalogue. 10 Go through the plot in your head. 11 Picture where you were when you saw it. + Show 8 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Klarissa Beckstead and Eric McClure
Last Updated: November 30, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Klarissa Beckstead and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Klarissa Beckstead is a film studies and analysis expert and content creator. As a lifelong movie lover, Klarissa started sharing on the Instagram account @iveseenthatone in 2024. There she talks all things movies and shares her film analysis and reviews, fun movie facts, and more. Klarissa has a journal debuting in August of 2025 featuring the ultimate watchlist of 100 movie recommendations, and a podcast coming later in 2025 as well. She has also developed a 24-week film studies curriculum in her role at a residential treatment center for teens, combining her passion for education and film. She is currently attending Southern Utah University pursuing a degree in education, with a minor in film studies. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 724,889 times.
Can't think of a movie title? No sweat! We're here to help you find any movie without knowing the title. There are plenty of easy ways to narrow it down and find the movie you’re looking for, especially if you can identify at least one or two key details about the flick. In this article, we’ll show you how to find a movie name you don’t know by using every resource available.
Tips for Finding a Movie You Can’t Remember
Film studies and analysis expert Klarissa Beckstead recommends Googling specific details you remember about the movie. Ask around to see if anyone you know has seen the movie, or post about it on Reddit. Be as detailed as possible when describing the film to increase your chances of finding it.
Steps
1
Run a Google search.
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Include as much detail as you can remember about the movie. Type in the names of any actors, characters, or lines of dialogue from the flick. If you don’t know the year, at least include the decade or general era. Throw in the genre along with some keywords about the plot if you can, then scan through the search results. The film you’re looking for might pop up in a list, forum post, or essay in the search results![1]X Expert Source Lexi AmorielloMovie and Film Content CreatorExpert Interview
For example, you might search “black and white movie Humphrey Bogart detective,” “David Lynch rabbit film,” or, “movie where old man coaches female boxer.”
You can adjust your search by using a “-“ to remove certain keywords from your search to narrow it down. For example, “dinosaur movie -Jurassic -Park” will pull up dinosaur flicks that aren’t Jurassic Park.
Advertisement 2
Use a film search engine.
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There are a few websites designed specifically to help you remember a movie. The most powerful option out there is MovieSearch (https://www.moviesearch.online/). On this site, you can find the name of a movie by description. Enter any details, actors, or keywords you can recall to generate results.[2]XResearch source You may also try All Movie. This website provides filters to help you narrow down your search and identify your movie.
Potential Movie Search searches might include, “romance Brad Pitt,” “two students go adventure in woods,” or, “horror movie 80s with guy in mask.”
3
Scour IMDb to find the title.
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The Internet Movie Database will have tons of lists and results. IMDb has data on every film ever made, so your flick has to be there somewhere. Users publish easy-to-find lists based on genre, critical acclaim, personal interest, or cast. If you have even one bit of info you remember but you just can’t think of the name of a movie, search IMDb to pull a list of relevant results. Imdb also have option to search by plot.[3]XResearch source
For example, if you can’t remember the name of a movie but you know the word “king” was in the title of the film, just search “king” in IMDb’s search bar and start scrolling.
Advertisement 4
Check an actor's filmography.
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If you can remember a single cast member, look through their work. If you know that Jordan Peele had a cameo in a movie, go online and search “Jordan Peele filmography.” Scroll through the results and you’ll find the flick you’re looking for somewhere![4]X Expert Source Lexi AmorielloMovie and Film Content CreatorExpert Interview [5]XResearch source
You can find a full list of an actor’s or actress’s work by checking their personal page on IMDb.
If you don’t remember any cast members but you know what they look like, search for the actor or actress online first. You could run an image search for something like, “white actress tall big nose” to find them.
5
Post on Filmfind.
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Filmfind is a community dedicated to helping people remember movies! Sign up for a free account and then click the “post” button at the top of the page. Then, describe everything you can remember about the film. The dedicated community of film enthusiasts on Film Find won’t stop throwing out suggestions until you can identify the film.
Advertisement 6
Ask around on Reddit.
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There are a few subreddits where users help others remember things. If you’ve never used Reddit, it’s a social media site based around different communities, called subreddits (always labeled as r/NameOfSubreddit). Post on one of the following subreddits to ask for help finding your film. Include as much information as you remember about the flick.[6]XResearch source
r/TipOfMyTongue – This subreddit is dedicated to helping people remember anything they’ve forgotten about!
r/WhatIsThatMovie – Similar to r/TipOfMyTongue, except it’s dedicated exclusively to movies. You may get better results here, but there are more users on r/TipOfMyTongue.
r/Movies – This is a widely-used subreddit, but it’s dedicated more generally to anything film-related. You may get some help here.
7
Ask a friend.
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If you saw the film with someone else, ask them if they recall the title. If it was an especially popular movie, you could just ask around or post on social media to reach out for help. Alternatively, if you’ve got a cinephile friend who knows a ton about movies, you could reach out to them and describe the film to see if they know it.
You might call your friend and say, “Hey, can you help me find my movie? You and I watched it a few years ago—there was a guy stranded on an island. He had a volleyball for a friend. You remember it?”
Advertisement 8
Check your viewing history.
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If you saw the film online recently, go through your history. If you saw it in theatres, search your browsing history—the odds are high you looked up reviews or showtimes for it. If you saw the film on Netflix, click here to pull up a list of the films you watched. For Amazon Prime, click here.[7]XResearch source
On Hulu, your watch history is actually buried in your “Keep Watching” collection on the home screen.[8]XResearch source
Unfortunately, Max (formerly known as HBO Max) and Disney+ do not allow you to access your viewing history.
9
Flip through a streaming service’s catalogue.
Download Article
Even if Netflix or Max don’t have it, this may jog your memory. Peruse whatever streaming service you have and just look at the movies. Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime, and the other platforms have thousands of films, and it’s possible that you’ll stumble on your film if you keep browsing. Even if you don’t though, you may stumble on a similar movie, actor/actress, or keyword that jogs your memory and helps you recall the name of the movie you’re thinking of![9]X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
Even looking at the thumbnails of the movie posters can help you remember.
It’s pretty easy to find a movie if you can identify one actor or actress in it, since you can pull up their filmography. Keep an eye out for actors and actresses on the thumbnails—you may recognize a familiar face.
Advertisement 10
Go through the plot in your head.
Download Article
This is a way of quizzing yourself, which can help jog your memory. Try to picture the opening scene in your head and then keep asking yourself, “What happened next?” Go through the film’s narrative in your mind and you just might uncover the film’s title. If that doesn’t work, try summarizing it out loud or sharing it with a friend. The deeper you go into your description, the higher the odds that you’ll remember.[10]X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
11
Picture where you were when you saw it.
Download Article
If you’re just barely holding on to a scrap of info, this may help you learn more. Try to remember the details. Where were you sitting? How old were you? Who was with you? How did the film make you feel? Close your eyes and try to feel what it was like when you first saw the movie. By revisiting the experience, you may uncover more details that you’d forgotten about.[11]XResearch source
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Tips
It may also help to search the box office history for a certain year, if you know around which year the movie was made. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
I use a site called Moviescraper, which allows you to find the name of a movie with a few lines from a clip or that you remember. It's still in it's beta phase but I works pretty well. Here's the link: https://moviescraper.netlify.app/.
If you remember the name of a song that was in the movie, Google "(name of song) what movie was it in." Or, find the name of the song first, then work form there.
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References
↑ Lexi Amoriello. Movie and Film Content Creator. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Klarissa Beckstead Film Studies and Analysis Expert This article was co-authored by Klarissa Beckstead and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Klarissa Beckstead is a film studies and analysis expert and content creator. As a lifelong movie lover, Klarissa started sharing on the Instagram account @iveseenthatone in 2024. There she talks all things movies and shares her film analysis and reviews, fun movie facts, and more. Klarissa has a journal debuting in August of 2025 featuring the ultimate watchlist of 100 movie recommendations, and a podcast coming later in 2025 as well. She has also developed a 24-week film studies curriculum in her role at a residential treatment center for teens, combining her passion for education and film. She is currently attending Southern Utah University pursuing a degree in education, with a minor in film studies. This article has been viewed 724,889 times. 147 votes - 48% Co-authors: 10Updated: November 30, 2025 Views: 724,889 Categories: Movies In other languages Czech Japanese Italian
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Yes No Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip. $1 $3 $5 Leave a Tip Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything. Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Klarissa Beckstead Film Studies and Analysis Expert 147 votes - 48% Click a star to vote 48% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 10Updated: November 30, 2025 Views: 724,889
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Run a Google search. 2 Use a film search engine. 3 Scour IMDb to find the title. 4 Check an actor's filmography. 5 Post on Filmfind. 6 Ask around on Reddit. 7 Ask a friend. 8 Check your viewing history. 9 Flip through a streaming service’s catalogue. 10 Go through the plot in your head. 11 Picture where you were when you saw it. + Show 8 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Klarissa Beckstead and Eric McClure 
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Co-authored by: Klarissa Beckstead Film Studies and Analysis Expert This article was co-authored by Klarissa Beckstead and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Klarissa Beckstead is a film studies and analysis expert and content creator. As a lifelong movie lover, Klarissa started sharing on the Instagram account @iveseenthatone in 2024. There she talks all things movies and shares her film analysis and reviews, fun movie facts, and more. Klarissa has a journal debuting in August of 2025 featuring the ultimate watchlist of 100 movie recommendations, and a podcast coming later in 2025 as well. She has also developed a 24-week film studies curriculum in her role at a residential treatment center for teens, combining her passion for education and film. She is currently attending Southern Utah University pursuing a degree in education, with a minor in film studies. This article has been viewed 724,889 times. 147 votes - 48% Co-authors: 10 Updated: November 30, 2025 Views: 724,889 Categories: Movies In other languages Czech Japanese Italian 
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Include as much detail as you can remember about the movie. Type in the names of any actors, characters, or lines of dialogue from the flick. If you don’t know the year, at least include the decade or general era. Throw in the genre along with some keywords about the plot if you can, then scan through the search results. The film you’re looking for might pop up in a list, forum post, or essay in the search results![1] 
There are a few websites designed specifically to help you remember a movie. The most powerful option out there is MovieSearch (https://www.moviesearch.online/). On this site, you can find the name of a movie by description. Enter any details, actors, or keywords you can recall to generate results.[2] You may also try All Movie. This website provides filters to help you narrow down your search and identify your movie. 
The Internet Movie Database will have tons of lists and results. IMDb has data on every film ever made, so your flick has to be there somewhere. Users publish easy-to-find lists based on genre, critical acclaim, personal interest, or cast. If you have even one bit of info you remember but you just can’t think of the name of a movie, search IMDb to pull a list of relevant results. Imdb also have option to search by plot.[3] 
If you can remember a single cast member, look through their work. If you know that Jordan Peele had a cameo in a movie, go online and search “Jordan Peele filmography.” Scroll through the results and you’ll find the flick you’re looking for somewhere![4] [5] 
Filmfind is a community dedicated to helping people remember movies! Sign up for a free account and then click the “post” button at the top of the page. Then, describe everything you can remember about the film. The dedicated community of film enthusiasts on Film Find won’t stop throwing out suggestions until you can identify the film. Advertisement 
There are a few subreddits where users help others remember things. If you’ve never used Reddit, it’s a social media site based around different communities, called subreddits (always labeled as r/NameOfSubreddit). Post on one of the following subreddits to ask for help finding your film. Include as much information as you remember about the flick.[6] 
If you saw the film with someone else, ask them if they recall the title. If it was an especially popular movie, you could just ask around or post on social media to reach out for help. Alternatively, if you’ve got a cinephile friend who knows a ton about movies, you could reach out to them and describe the film to see if they know it. 
If you saw the film online recently, go through your history. If you saw it in theatres, search your browsing history—the odds are high you looked up reviews or showtimes for it. If you saw the film on Netflix, click here to pull up a list of the films you watched. For Amazon Prime, click here.[7] 
Even if Netflix or Max don’t have it, this may jog your memory. Peruse whatever streaming service you have and just look at the movies. Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime, and the other platforms have thousands of films, and it’s possible that you’ll stumble on your film if you keep browsing. Even if you don’t though, you may stumble on a similar movie, actor/actress, or keyword that jogs your memory and helps you recall the name of the movie you’re thinking of![9] 
This is a way of quizzing yourself, which can help jog your memory. Try to picture the opening scene in your head and then keep asking yourself, “What happened next?” Go through the film’s narrative in your mind and you just might uncover the film’s title. If that doesn’t work, try summarizing it out loud or sharing it with a friend. The deeper you go into your description, the higher the odds that you’ll remember.[10] 
If you’re just barely holding on to a scrap of info, this may help you learn more. Try to remember the details. Where were you sitting? How old were you? Who was with you? How did the film make you feel? Close your eyes and try to feel what it was like when you first saw the movie. By revisiting the experience, you may uncover more details that you’d forgotten about.[11] Advertisement 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.