Who owns IMDb?
IMDb is owned by Amazon (the United States, NASDAQ: AMZN), which has owned the brand since 27 April 1998.[1] IMDb was founded in 1990 in the United Kingdom and was independent until 1998.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Amazon.com, Inc. verified
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1990–1998)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Seattle, Washington
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1990
- Category
- Internet & digital › Digital services › Digital publishing
- Parent ticker
- NASDAQ: AMZN
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About IMDb
IMDb began in 1990 as a list of actresses posted to a Usenet newsgroup by a British film fan, and grew into the definitive film and television database. Amazon acquired it in 1998, one of the company's earliest purchases and long before it sold anything but books.
Ownership timeline of IMDb
Where IMDb sits in Amazon
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Latest news about IMDb
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of IMDb?
The parent company of IMDb is Amazon, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is IMDb British or American?
IMDb originated in the United Kingdom in 1990, but it is owned today by Amazon, which is headquartered in the United States. So IMDb is a British-origin brand under American ownership.
Since when has Amazon owned IMDb?
Amazon has owned IMDb since 27 April 1998.
Who owned IMDb before Amazon?
IMDb was an independent company from its founding in 1990 until Amazon acquired it in 1998.
Is IMDb still owned by Amazon?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, IMDb is still owned by Amazon. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Amazon.com, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2026-02-06 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 6 February 2026; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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