Douban (豆瓣) : China's IMDb+Goodreads+Reddit for film, book ratings, and interest groups.

China's version of IMDb, Goodreads, and Reddit interest groups combined into one platform. Douban (founded 2005) is the longest-running cultural review community in China, and its movie and book ratings are widely regarded as the most trusted in the country - a high Douban score can significantly boost a film's box office performance or a book's sales.

Are Douban movie ratings reliable?

That's right. Douban ratings are considered the most reliable indicator of quality in China. Unlike IMDb, Douban has resisted paid review manipulation. A Douban score above 8.0 signals exceptional quality, while below 5.0 is very poor. Ratings are based on registered users' submissions.

Can foreigners use Douban?

Douban can be registered with an international email and phone number. The interface is primarily in Chinese with no official English version. Browsing ratings and reviews is possible without an account. Some features require SMS verification with a Chinese number.

Is Douban like IMDb and Goodreads combined?

Yes indeed. Douban is the closest equivalent to IMDb for movies and Goodreads for books, all in one platform. Users rate films, TV shows, books, and music on a 1-10 scale. Douban ratings are widely considered the most trustworthy in China due to its dedicated user base.