Image Guidelines
You can upload images and tag names, movies, series, episodes, languages, and countries.
Image Uploads
Below are the guidelines regarding image uploads. In all cases images may be removed by IMDb without advance notice, per our full terms and conditions, which are available at https://www.imdb.com/conditions. Should you notice any material that contravenes the following guidelines, you may use the 'Report Image' feature to let us know about it.
A user who owns or has the right to use an image may upload that image to IMDb. In general, an image uploaded should be good quality (refer to guidelines below) and should be associated with the title or person(s) to which it is tagged.
The following types of images may be uploaded by users:
- Poster - An official poster created by the studio used to promote or advertise the title
- Still Frame - A single static image ("frame") taken from the actual film or show
- Behind the Scene - A photo taken during filming, containing details such as camera location etc.
- Publicity - A photo taken to publicize a person or production
- Event - A photo taken during an activity, party, or event associated with the title
- Product/Box Art - Official product artwork such as DVD or Blu-ray covers
- Production Art - Additional official artwork such as original storyboards or concept art
The following are not permitted:
- Profane, obscene, or disparaging images. This includes images that promote, incite or glorify hatred or racial, sexual or religious intolerance, or promote organizations with such views.
- Images with nudity, or any images with implied or explicit sexual acts. This includes, but is not limited to, prurient nudity, frontal pelvic nudity, pornography, or images related to pornographic titles, whether they contain nudity or not.
- Images with excessive violence, including excessive gore or bodily functions or fluids
- Sexually suggestive or prurient images containing children
- Paparazzi photos, “selfie” photos, or fan art
- Images that violate another person’s right to privacy. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Leaked images, 'revenge porn,' or any images taken under the agreement/reasonable assumption that they would remain private
- Images containing personal or contact information of any person
- Any personal information (other than in-film photographs or related publicity photographs) concerning children under 13
- Images advertising for products or services
- Book, magazine, or soundtrack covers or pages
- Images for which you do not own the copyright or have the necessary as defined in the IMDb Conditions of Use
- Images displaying third-party ownership or branding, such as watermarks. Watermarks of the title's creators, such as the production company or TV channel, are acceptable
- Poor quality images. Please refer to the guidelines on this below
Images that violate the above guidelines are subject to removal under the IMDb Conditions of Use and, in the case of copyright or trademark violations, IMDb’s intellectual property policies. Violation of these guidelines will, in appropriate circumstances, lead to the user being removed from IMDb.
Image Quality
IMDb permits users to post the following:
- Acceptable quality scans of old physical media with fold marks, dog-eared corners, creases, fading, light stains or poor printing artefacts such as low DPI (dots per inch).
- Acceptable quality copies of poor quality digital source media. For example, if the film was originally mastered in poor digital quality, in a low bitrate or highly compressed, but the copy at hand isn't significantly further degraded.
We do not allow scans or copies with the following:
- Noticeable pixilation or noise
- Bars or framing around the outside of the image
- Stretched aspect ratio
- Observable moiré effect
Name Tags
Tagging Names
If a person's face is clearly seen in an image, you can tag that image with the person's IMDb 'name page'. However please note that if the image was initially uploaded via IMDbPro, then any additional name tags will not display on those additional name pages.
If a person’s face isn't clearly visible, they can still be tagged in the following cases:
- Faces obscured by masks/disguises/heavy makeup/prosthetic makeup
- Stunt actors and body doubles can be tagged with their own names.
- Voice actors for animated titles can be tagged if the character is clearly displayed within the image. For animated titles, we will display the actor tags within title image gallery, but not within the name image gallery.
Names may not be tagged in:
- Back of the headshots or shots with deliberately out-of-focus or heavily obscured faces.
- Archive footage, e.g. stills from talk shows where images or clips of the person are shown to the audience as part of the show.
- Any images that breach our image upload guidelines (above).
Names may be tagged to a poster image if they are visible on the poster or if the name appears in the billing block at the bottom of the poster image. If an individual is not featured on a poster in either of the mentioned ways, then their name should not be tagged to the image.
For more information on name primary images (headshots), please make sure to see our manage your images guide content.
Deleting Name Tags
IMDb does not delete accurate information and this includes tags to names or titles on images (even at the request of a person tagged). If you have an IMDbPro account you can choose and upload images that will appear in your gallery before any other image attached to your page.
Title Tags
If an image is a poster, still frame, publicity, or event photo for a certain movie, series or episode, you can tag the image to the corresponding IMDb 'title page'. Please do not tag series or season posters with individual episodes.
In general, images should be tagged only to the associated movie, series, or episode title. Exceptions may be applied on a case by case basis for official; multi-packs or collections, posters or promotions. Images that are not associated with a title are subject to removal.
For example:
- Award ceremonies/events where the person/s in the image are not attending primarily for the title
- Images of cast/actors that are not directly associated with the title
- Images that include people who were not associated with the title
In addition, any images that breach our image upload guidelines (above) may be removed.
Language Tags
The language(s) present in a poster and/or product image can be applied as a ‘tag’ when adding a new image to a title page. They can also be added or deleted from an existing image using the Edit Tags button when viewing the image.
The example below has both English and Italian text visible in the poster and so, both languages should be ‘tagged.’
Country Tags
You can ‘tag’ a poster and/or product image with any appropriate countries - meaning one poster can be suitable for multiple countries. They can be applied as a ‘tag’ when adding a new image to a title page, and can also be added or deleted from an existing image using the Edit Tags button.
Many studios create different versions of movie posters to be shown in a specific country or region. The following poster for Joker (2019) was created specifically for the release of the movie in Japan and should be only tagged with 'Japan' as the country.
Furthermore, many posters may be appropriate for more than one country - for example, the following poster for Yesterday (2019) has more than one country 'tagged.'
It's possible, though uncommon - that only one poster is made to promote a title in multiple countries.
Title Poster Images
For more information on how to add/update a titles 'primary' poster - please see our "How do I update my poster?" article.
Tracking your contribution
You can now track the status of your Images submission and if it has not been approved, we'll tell you the reason why.
More information on how to do this can be found on our help article.