You might be surprised by how much more you can do with Google beyond just running searches (which now include AI enhancements). Google can help you with conversions and calculations, flipping a coin, rolling a die, getting definitions, and looking up locations on maps. But there’s another feature you might not have discovered yet: creating a watchlist for movies and TV shows.
While there are many ways to track your entertainment preferences, having a watchlist integrated with your Google experience offers great convenience. You can easily add films and shows to your list while browsing, and it will sync across all devices connected to Google and Google TV.
Adding Movies and TV Shows
Adding movies and TV shows to your Google watchlist is straightforward. Open a browser, go to Google, and make sure you’re signed in. Search for the movie or show you’re interested in, and Google will recognize it and display a “Want to watch” link in the panel on the right. Click this link to save the title to your watchlist.
Google’s search results also offer additional features. You’ll find ratings from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, along with details about where you can stream the content. To customize your streaming preferences, click “Edit services” and update which platforms (like Netflix or Prime Video) you use.
To remove something from your watchlist, simply click “Want to watch again” to deselect it. Note that there’s also an “Already watched” checkmark, but it doesn’t seem to have much impact—there’s no way to view films or shows you’ve marked as watched within Google. It’s possible to have a title marked as both “Want to watch” and “Already watched” simultaneously.
If you’re searching for something specific like “Empire of the Sun” or “Rounders” and Google isn’t quite getting it, try adding “movie” or “TV show” to your search query. Additionally, watch for a link above the search results that might direct you to the correct page.
Finding Your Watchlist
While Google doesn’t maintain a list of what you’ve watched, you can easily access your watchlist. Simply go to a Google search box—whether on the web, your Android home screen, or elsewhere. As long as you’re signed into your Google account, search for “my watchlist.”
This will display a list of everything you’ve saved from Google search results. However, this list is mainly for viewing purposes; you can’t mark items as watched or leave ratings like you can on platforms such as Letterboxd.
To find more details about a particular title, click or tap on it to return to the Google search results page for that film or TV show, where you’ll find ratings and viewing options. To remove something from your watchlist, click “Want to watch” to deselect it. You can also use the “People also search for” box for additional recommendations.
Your watchlist is especially useful if you have a TV with Google TV, a Chromecast with Google TV, or are considering the Google TV Streamer. Here, your watchlist will sync and appear under the Library section at the top of the interface, linking directly to your installed streaming services.
