Welcome to the LOVEFiLM API

The LOVEFiLM API allows anyone to build their own LOVEFiLM-integrated widget, web or desktop application for access on the web or via any device.  Our aim is to enhance and broaden ways in which our members can interact with their LOVEFiLM accounts, ways they use other LOVEFiLM products and services, and ways they can find the films they want to watch.

We hope that extending innovation beyond our in-house team will unleash the potential of the wider development community – we’re excited to see what you can come up with.

There is also an opportunity to earn bounties from our affiliate programme, details of which are available here.

Getting Started

We are currently in beta, which means that aspects of our API may be subject to change. 

  • access to our API is managed via Mashery.  You may register a developer account here, which is separate from your LOVEFiLM subscriber account (if you have one). 
  • once registered, read our documentation to see what we have made available and to get familiar with our API interface.
  • register your application and apply for an API key. The API key is your application's unique identifier when making API calls. 
  • talk to us and other developers on the Developer Forums to understand more about this offering and to troubleshoot.
  • contact us directly if you would like to discuss access to specific features or data.

There are two kinds of applications.  Our Premium service is aimed at applications looking to reach upwards of 10,000 unique LOVEFILM subscribers.  If you are interested in creating a Premium application, please contact us at api@lovefilm.com. 

  • Premium
    • must use the LOVEFiLM brand, and look & behave like a LOVEFiLM designed and built product
    • may have access to rich metadata / non-public APIs
    • in addition to the Terms of Use, are subject to additional approval from LOVEFiLM
  • Standard
    • must use the LOVEFiLM brand in accordance with our brand guidelines (including the logo) but should make it clear that LOVEFiLM have not designed, built, endorsed or sponsored the application
    • must use content in new and meaningful ways that provides additional benefit to users - 're-purposing' rather than 're-publishing' our data.
    • can make 4 queries per second and 5000 calls per day and may request increased call limits as and when these are exceeded (subject to review)

All applications can be submitted to our forums and may be featured and promoted by LOVEFiLM in our Gallery.

Some Important Guidelines

All developers must read, agree and act at all times in line with the API Terms of Use in order to access our APIs.   Here are some key points:

Respect our members & thrill them too

Please always:

  • be clear about what your application does and how users can contact you if they require support
  • present content and functionality in interesting and useful ways
  • respect our customers’ privacy and personal information

Never:

  • mislead our members about the nature of our relationship, and allow them to proceed due to false pretences or misunderstanding
  • bamboozle users with too many options and complex interfaces
  • request or store LOVEFiLM member credentials (including login, password, any personal data)

 

Respect our brand & delight our partners

Please always:

  • follow our specific set of brand guidelines and use LOVEFiLM generated assets where appropriate
  • link back to lovefilm.com regularly and appropriately
  • use correct and appropriate language when describing the LOVEFiLM service

Never:

  • combine content we make available through the API with other content sources in a way that misleads users or misrepresents the content
  • display content in a way that causes concern to our studio partners, and contains intrusive or obstructive advertising
  • alter content you receive from LOVEFiLM (including images and metadata) or mix it with data from other film information sources

 

Please be aware that…

Some of our content comes from partners, so we may occasionally need to change access permissions to protect their property.  Our partners may also request that access to their data is withdrawn where it is used in isolation with no clear use of LOVEFiLM data, UGC or LOVEFiLM customer benefit and where developers may reasonably be considered as a direct client of the 3rd party.

We are trusting you with our customers, so please use your best judgment to create truthful, honest, high quality applications. You can challenge yourselves and delight our members with new and innovative ways to interact with LOVEFiLM, we’re very much looking forward to the results. Good luck.