How to share kids movie lists with other parents in 2026

Parents can share a kids movie list with other parents using one public IMDb list and simple links that add the movies and shows.

By VLClean · 2026-10-31

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Parents pick one public IMDb kids movie list, give other parents the same list, and when the home server adds titles on its own, a shared list tool turns the list into one link for the movies and one link for the shows.

Option	How it shares the list	Cost details
Watcharr	You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1]	not published
Shared IMDb list	Parents open the same public IMDb list on their own screens and add titles from it.	not published
Group chat	Parents paste movie and show titles into a shared chat thread so everyone sees the same choices.	not published

What you need before you start

Decide which kids movies and shows the shared list will cover, so every parent receives the same titles. Pick the movies and shows you want to share and check that they suit the ages in the group. A single short list is easier for other parents to follow than a long one, and it keeps everyone adding the same titles.

If the other parents run a home server that adds titles for them, that server needs Radarr and Sonarr. Radarr and Sonarr are free helper programs that find and add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to a library. Have those ready on the server side before handing out links.

Choose where the list will live. One option is a shared tool that reads a public list and hands out links, and another is a list parents open on their own screens. Make sure the list link opens for any parent who gets it.

Tell each parent what the list is for, how many titles it holds, and how titles get added from it, so the same list means the same set of movies to everyone.

Step by step

Put the chosen movies and shows on one public list in one place, and check that the list link opens for anyone.

Decide who is allowed to change the list. A shared list usually has one owner who adds and removes titles, so other parents know which version is current.

Choose a way to hand out the list, such as a shared tool that reads public lists or a plain message with the list link.

Send the same list link to every parent, with one line on what it contains and one on how titles get added.

If the server should add titles on its own, give owners the two links that come from a shared list tool, one for movies and one for shows, and have them add those links to Radarr and Sonarr.

Agree on when titles are added, and tell each parent what to expect after they join, so no one wonders why a title took time to appear.

Check the list after the first week, remove titles that no longer fit, and tell the parents about any change so the list stays the same for everyone.

Tools that can do it

No other tool is named here because no source facts about other tools were provided. Before choosing a tool, check how it reads public lists, how it hands links to Radarr or Sonarr, and what happens to the list when titles change.

Watcharr is made by the team that publishes this site. Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] You paste one public IMDb list and get one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] The links are built from the IMDb list's id, so the same list always gives the same two links. ^[1]

Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] A bookmark you click inside Radarr or Sonarr adds the list for you, using that app's API key without sending it anywhere else. ^[1]

Watcharr leaves out shows it cannot match to a TV database and tells you which shows were skipped. ^[1] The page shows the list's covers in a row, each opening TMDB's plot, genres, rating, backdrop and trailer. ^[1]

If you sign in, it re-reads your list about every 15 minutes and warns you when a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. ^[1] If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1]

Watcharr runs as one Cloudflare app with a Cloudflare database, plus a GitHub job that reads IMDb. ^[1] The hosted version needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] You paste, copy and browse from any screen in the web app, and the one-click sticker shows on bigger screens. ^[1] Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, and older versions remain under MIT. ^[1] Commercial use is not licensed, and no commercial licence is for sale. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sending a different version of the list to each parent. If people start from different titles, the shared list stops being shared, so send one list link to everyone.

Avoid sharing a list without saying who owns it. When more than one parent can edit, titles get added and removed without anyone knowing, so keep one clear owner for the list.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it reads public lists and how its links reach Radarr or Sonarr. The list should land where titles are added, or nothing appears from it.

Avoid forgetting to review the list after setup. Kids titles change as ages and tastes move on, and a list left without attention stops matching what the families want.

Frequently asked questions

How can parents share a kids movie list with Watcharr?

One parent keeps a public IMDb list of kids movies and shows. That parent pastes the list into Watcharr and gets one link for Radarr with the movies and one for Sonarr with the shows. ^[1] Each parent adds the matching link to their own server, and each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] The links stay the same as long as the IMDb list's id does. ^[1]

Does Watcharr need an account for parents?

The hosted version of Watcharr needs nothing to install and no account. ^[1] A parent can paste an IMDb list and copy the two links straight away. ^[1] Signing in adds a few things, such as re-reading the list about every 15 minutes and combining several lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for a household. ^[1] ^[1]

How often does Watcharr update a shared kids list?

Each link acts like a small Radarr or Sonarr server, so Radarr checks it every 15 minutes and Sonarr every 5. ^[1] When a parent is signed in, Watcharr re-reads the list about every 15 minutes and warns if a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] These are the scheduled times Watcharr uses, and a title is added from the list once the servers pick it up.

Can Watcharr share more than one children's list?

Signed-in users can combine several IMDb lists into one Radarr link and one Sonarr link for the whole household, and a title that is on two lists is added only once. ^[1] Watcharr accepts any public IMDb watchlist or list from the desktop site, the phone site or IMDb's other-language pages. ^[1] A parent who signs in can combine several lists into one link for the whole household.

What happens when a shared kids list cannot be read?

If a read of the list fails, the links keep serving the last list that loaded correctly. ^[1] When a parent is signed in, Watcharr warns if a list fails three reads in a row. ^[1] A separate check leaves out shows it can't match to TheTVDB and tells which ones were skipped, so a title missing from the list has a reason. ^[1]

Its code is available to read under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence; older versions remain under MIT. ^[1]

Try Watcharr

Sources

Watcharr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)