A sci-fi thriller nobody had heard of about a month ago suddenly has a release date three weeks out, and unless something reminds you, it will be on your Reelgood queue six months later. A proper movie release tracker turns a scroll-past trailer into a calendar notification the day it hits theatres or streaming. We tested 8 apps for tracking upcoming movie releases on Android to find the ones that actually notify, sync across devices, and let you filter by which streamer you already pay for.
What to look for in a movie release tracker
- Watchlist that sync across devices, not stuck to one phone
- Notifications on release day, on streaming launch, and on trailer drops
- Filters for “just streaming services I already pay for”
- Sensible metadata (director, cast, runtime, MPAA rating) without a paywall
- Integration with Letterboxd or Trakt for community reviews
- No mandatory login just to browse
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMDb | Deep metadata and cast | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Free | 4.4 |
| TV Time | Watchlist that reminds you | Android, iOS | Yes | ~$3/mo VIP | 4.6 |
| Trakt | Sync across every other app | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | ~$3/mo VIP | 4.7 |
| JustWatch | Streaming availability | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Free | 4.6 |
| Letterboxd | Film fan community | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | ~$2/mo Pro | 4.7 |
| Reelgood | US streaming aggregator | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | ~$5/mo Premium | 4.3 |
| Sofa | Personal watchlist with taste | Android, iOS | Yes | ~$2/mo Super | 4.6 |
| TheTVDB | Show and movie database | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | ~$1/mo Supporter | 4.2 |
1. IMDb, best for deep metadata
IMDb is the default movie database, and the Android app has a “Watchlist” that syncs to any browser you log into. Trailers autoplay, cast lists reach every credited role, and upcoming release calendars are searchable by month. Add a title to the watchlist and IMDb notifies on trailer drops and release changes.
Where it falls short: the ads on the home tab have become intrusive; and the app buries the release-date reminder toggle two menus deep.
Pricing: free.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the correct baseline app; almost everything else layers on top of it.
2. TV Time, best watchlist that actually reminds you
TV Time tracks both movies and TV shows and notifies on release. The “Countdown” widget on Android home screens shows the next tracked release, and the calendar view groups everything in your watchlist by week.
Where it falls short: the free tier caps the number of tracked titles; and VIP is required to remove ads.
Pricing: free with ads; VIP around $3 a month.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the most reliable release-day nudge on Android.
3. Trakt, best sync layer
Trakt is the sync backbone that Plex, Letterboxd, TV Time, Kodi add-ons, and dozens of niche apps all read from. Keep the watchlist and history there and every other app you use sees the same data. The Android app is functional and lets you rate on the go.
Where it falls short: the free tier limits collection size; and the app UI has changed less than the ecosystem around it.
Pricing: free with core sync; VIP around $3 a month for unlimited collections and calendars.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the pick if you want one source of truth across every other app in this list.
4. JustWatch, best for streaming availability
JustWatch answers “where can I stream this?” better than anyone. Filter by the services you pay for, watch the availability change as titles rotate on and off, and set alerts for when a specific title lands on Netflix or Max.
Where it falls short: it does not deep-link into every service on Android; and rental prices are sometimes stale by a day.
Pricing: free.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the app to open before you go looking for something to watch tonight.
5. Letterboxd, best for film fans
Letterboxd is a movie diary and community. The upcoming films section, the “coming soon” lists, and the ability to save a “watchlist” film that friends can see all turn discovery social. Native Android app is faster than it has ever been.
Where it falls short: the free tier does not include Streaming Availability data; and there is no built-in release-day notification.
Pricing: free with core features; Pro around $2 a month; Patron around $4 a month for streaming availability.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the pick if half the fun is talking about films with a community.
6. Reelgood, best US streaming aggregator
Reelgood rolls up US streaming catalogues into a single watch queue, launches deep-links into each service, and notifies when a film lands on a service you subscribe to. Best value is in the US where the catalogue coverage is strongest.
Where it falls short: international catalogues are patchy; and Premium is required for cross-device sync.
Pricing: free with core features; Premium around $5 a month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: a serious US-only contender; skip elsewhere.
7. Sofa, best personal watchlist with taste
Sofa is a design-forward watchlist app that treats “things I want to watch” as a proper list you can organise like a Notion database. It syncs across devices, categorises by mood or director, and supports rich notes on why a film is on the list.
Where it falls short: it does not have community features; and the free tier limits the number of custom lists.
Pricing: free with a small number of lists; Super around $2 a month unlocks everything.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the pick for people who overthink their watchlist.
8. TheTVDB, best community-run database
TheTVDB is the open metadata backbone that many Kodi, Plex, and Jellyfin setups use for artwork and episode data. The Android app is aimed at contributors and enthusiasts but works well as a release calendar and a media library companion.
Where it falls short: the UI is aimed at contributors, not casual film fans; and the app is less polished than IMDb or TV Time.
Pricing: free; Supporter tier around $1 a month removes ads.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the pick for Plex and Jellyfin users who already lean on TheTVDB’s metadata.
How to pick the right one
Keep IMDb installed for cast and crew depth. Use Trakt as the sync backbone so watchlists survive app changes. Add TV Time or Sofa for the release notifications and the watchlist you actually enjoy scrolling. Use JustWatch to answer the “where can I stream this?” question and Letterboxd for the community side. Reelgood is the strongest pick if you live in the US and pay for several streaming services.
FAQ
What is the best app for tracking upcoming movies on Android? TV Time delivers the most reliable release-day notifications; IMDb is the strongest general-purpose watchlist.
How do I know when a movie moves from theatres to streaming? JustWatch and Reelgood both send notifications when a tracked title becomes available on a service you subscribe to.
Can I sync my watchlist between apps? Yes, via Trakt. Letterboxd, TV Time, Plex, Jellyfin, and many Kodi add-ons all sync to Trakt.
Is there a free movie release tracker? Yes. IMDb, JustWatch, and Trakt all have generous free tiers. TV Time and Sofa reserve some features for paid.
Which app tells me what to watch tonight? JustWatch and Reelgood filter your watchlist to what is actually streaming today. Letterboxd sorts by community rating and mood.
