A Cinematic Analysis of IMDb Movies Dataset Using Tableau Dashboards

Movies have always been a mirror of culture, technology, and audience preferences. Over the years,
filmmakers and production houses have tried to understand what resonates with viewers, leading to changing
trends in the genres, storytelling techniques, and production volumes. As streaming platforms gain dominance
and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt traditional movie production, the dynamics of the film
industry have shifted.

This report focuses on an in-depth analysis of the IMDb movies dataset using Tableau dashboards to visualize
trends over time. The analysis explores genre popularity, IMDb ratings, movie duration, and year-wise
production to identify shifts in audience preferences and how the industry adapted to these changes from 2015
to 2022. By visualizing these trends, the report aims to help industry professionals, such as filmmakers,
producers, and marketers, better understand the evolving landscape.

Dataset Overview

The dataset used for this analysis was sourced from Kaggle, which contains extensive data on movies released
from 2015 to 2022. The key attributes used for analysis include:

● Genres: The dataset categorizes movies into genres such as Action, Comedy, Drama, Biography,
Documentary, and others. Understanding which genres have performed well or poorly can help guide
future production decisions.
● IMDb Ratings: Ratings on IMDb, scored from 1 to 10, provide insight into audience reception of
movies across different genres and years. This metric allows us to gauge the quality and appeal of
movies from the perspective of viewers.
● Year of Release: Tracking the number of movies released annually sheds light on industry production
trends, revealing how the number of films produced fluctuated, especially in response to global events
such as the pandemic.
● Movie Duration: The runtime of movies is another critical metric, particularly when evaluating its
relationship with audience satisfaction. Do longer movies tend to get better ratings, or is there an ideal
length for maintaining audience engagement?

Each of these attributes provides a unique angle from which to view the movie industry, allowing us to better
understand how filmmakers and studios can adjust their strategies in the future.
Visualization and Key Insights

1. IMDb Ratings by Genre, Movies Released Per Year, and Genre Popularity Over Time
This dashboard combines three important aspects of the dataset to give a broader understanding of how
different movie genres have performed over time, how the movie industry’s production volume has changed,
and which genres have become more or less popular during the period analyzed.

● IMDb Ratings by Genre: The ratings across genres show a fascinating distribution. Documentaries
and Biographies consistently perform well, with high average ratings, suggesting that viewers prefer
content that offers real stories, emotional depth, or educational value. On the other hand, genres like
Horror and War tend to struggle in terms of ratings. This could be due to audience expectations not
being met or the difficulty in executing these genres to a high standard.
For studios and filmmakers, this suggests that investing in documentaries and biographies may be a
safer bet for critical success. Conversely, it highlights the challenge of innovating within genres that
have lower audience ratings, like Horror and Thriller, which require unique storytelling to stand out.
● Movies Released Per Year: This chart provides insight into the number of movies produced each year
between 2015 and 2022. The industry saw steady growth in the number of releases until 2019, which
marked a peak. However, from 2020 onwards, there was a sharp decline in production, a direct result
of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the movie industry. The lockdowns, restrictions, and overall
uncertainty caused many movie productions to be delayed or canceled.
Understanding these trends is crucial for industry stakeholders to navigate future disruptions and
evaluate how production practices can be adapted for resilience.
● Genre Popularity Over Time: The most popular genres in terms of the number of movies produced
were Action, Drama, and Comedy, which maintained their positions as the top three across the years.
Niche genres like Horror, Musical, and War maintained relatively lower numbers, indicating that
studios may focus on these genres only when they have niche audiences or are confident in their
success.
These trends offer an opportunity for smaller studios or independent filmmakers to explore
underserved genres, as they can potentially stand out in a less saturated market.

2. Movie Duration vs. IMDb Rating and Genre vs. Duration Analysis
The second dashboard delves into the relationship between movie duration and its reception, as well as the
average durations of movies across genres.

● Movie Duration vs. IMDb Rating: This scatterplot reveals that movies of varying lengths—whether
90 minutes or 160 minutes—can receive high ratings. While longer movies might give filmmakers
more time to develop characters and plot, this visualization suggests that audience appreciation doesn't
necessarily correlate with a longer runtime. Many successful movies fall within the 100-130 minute
range, indicating a sweet spot for balancing narrative complexity with viewer engagement.
This insight is especially valuable for filmmakers during the editing process, as it helps them avoid
excessive length that might deter viewers while ensuring they deliver a concise, engaging story.
● Genre vs. Duration Analysis: This visualization shows the average duration of movies across
different genres. Fantasy movies tend to be the longest, often requiring extensive world-building and
intricate plotlines that demand more screen time. On the other hand, Mystery, Horror, and Musical
genres have shorter runtimes on average, as they rely on suspense and pacing that can be lost if
stretched too long.
For producers, understanding these trends allows for better budget allocation and resource planning,
ensuring that movies are crafted with an appropriate runtime that maximizes audience engagement
without sacrificing storytelling.

Business Context and Problem

The film industry is inherently tied to audience preferences, technological advancements, and external factors
like global events. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of traditional production methods
and emphasized the need for adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges. Moreover, as streaming
platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video gain dominance, the way movies are produced,
distributed, and consumed has shifted dramatically.

The business problem at hand is how filmmakers, production houses, and streaming platforms can use
data-driven insights to make more informed decisions about the types of movies to produce, their length, and
when to release them. The analysis provided in this report addresses this challenge by offering actionable
insights into which genres perform best, how long movies should be, and how the industry’s production
volume has changed.

By leveraging this data, stakeholders in the film industry can adjust their production strategies to align with
audience preferences and industry trends, ensuring that they not only meet audience expectations but also stay
competitive in an evolving market.

Conclusion

The IMDb movies dataset offers a rich resource for understanding the dynamics of the film industry from
2015 to 2022. Through visualizations created in Tableau, we can see clear trends in genre popularity,
production volumes, and audience reception. Action, Drama, and Comedy continue to dominate in terms of
production, while Documentaries and Biographies receive the highest ratings from viewers. Movie duration is
another key factor, with shorter films not necessarily sacrificing quality or audience satisfaction.

These insights are invaluable for industry professionals as they navigate a post-pandemic world where
streaming platforms are becoming dominant, and production strategies need to adapt to changing audience
behaviors. By focusing on genres that resonate with viewers and optimizing movie lengths, filmmakers can
craft stories that not only entertain but also leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.