MK SYSTEM / DOCUMENTATION
Fetch movie data automatically
Use MovieKit to fetch movie data by TMDB or IMDb ID, then review the preview before saving film details and artwork.
Location: edit a content type with MovieKit meta fields → the 🎬 MovieKit side box → Fetch Data. First save a TMDb v3 or OMDb key in MovieKit Settings and assign the desired fields in Field Manager.
Find and preview a title
- Open a new or existing MovieKit item. In the MovieKit side box, enter an IMDb ID such as
tt1234567, a numeric TMDb ID, or an IMDb title URL containing antt...ID. A numeric TMDb ID needs a saved TMDb key; OMDb looks up IMDb IDs. - Select Fetch Data. MovieKit asks the configured provider, applies each field’s source policy from Field Manager and opens Fetch preview. This preview does not write the movie yet.
- Review the source badge, poster, title, plot, field count, taxonomy count and expandable fetch log. You can edit Post title and Plot / overview before applying. The preview is temporary; if it expires, run Fetch Data again.
Which fields are filled automatically?
Fetch retrieves available film or TV metadata such as title, year, runtime, plot, rating, artwork URLs, cast, crew, genres, countries and trailer values. The exact set depends on the provider’s record, the content type and the assignments in Field Manager. Missing provider data is not invented.
Each field’s Data source policy controls whether it uses Default, TMDB only, OMDB only or Skip, where those choices are available. Default generally prefers TMDb and uses OMDb for missing values; genres can combine terms. The destination mapping determines which editor field or taxonomy receives each value. See Field Manager and the field reference.
Fetch does not generate an editorial review or choose the movie page template. Review text and MK Movie Options are separate steps. Artwork URLs are also separate from downloading a WordPress featured image.
Choose the write action carefully
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Cancel or close preview | Closes the preview without applying the fetched fields. |
| Save as draft on a new item | Creates a new WordPress draft with the reviewed title, mapped fields and taxonomy terms, then opens its editor. |
| Save as draft on an existing item | Despite its button label, this action applies the fetched mapped values to the existing item and returns to its editor. Existing values can change. Review the preview and make a backup before using it on established content. |
| Update Post on an existing item | Fills empty mapped fields and appends missing taxonomy terms. It preserves the existing title and permalink and does not replace already populated fields. An edited preview plot is used only if that field is empty. |
Rich content and images
Fetch rich content starts in the state selected by the global TMDB Rich Data option. When on, a TMDb fetch can store rich cast and crew data for that post. When off, applying the fetch removes rich cast/crew data already stored for that post. The status text below the switch reports whether such data is currently saved; changing the switch alone does not change the post.
Choose Featured Image is a separate image action in the MovieKit side box. It requires a saved post and uses images available from TMDb. The preview also offers Set featured image when a poster URL exists, but save the post first. A poster URL field and a WordPress Featured Image are separate values.
Choose a featured image from TMDb
- Save the movie, then select Choose Featured Image in the MovieKit side box. A TMDb key and a resolvable title are required to load available artwork.
- Use Filter to choose the image type. Backdrops are landscape artwork; posters are portrait artwork. The available images depend on the TMDb record.
- Select an image tile. A checkmark marks the selection; the tile and selection summary show its dimensions. Review the composition, resolution and language labels before choosing.
- Select Set as Featured Image & Close. MovieKit imports the selected image into WordPress and assigns it as the post’s Featured Image. Confirm the result in the editor and on the public page. This action changes the featured image independently of applying Fetch metadata.
- Use Refresh to reload the image choices, or Cancel to close without applying the current selection.
If nothing is filled
- Check that a key is saved for the ID and provider you chose. A Connected badge in Settings only means a value is present.
- Check the identifier format and the error shown by Fetch Data. A provider may have no matching record or may be unavailable.
- Check the chosen post type, enabled fields, source policies and destination mapping in Field Manager. A preview may contain data that is not assigned to an editor field.
- If Update Post appears to do nothing, inspect whether the intended field already has a value: that action fills empty fields only.
For the meaning of every available field, use the fields and taxonomies reference.