Best Movie Recommendation Website Project using Django

Movie Recommendation Website

Introduction

A simple project based on a Movie Recommendation and Subscription Website which is developed using Python and Django framework. This system is designed to give users access to premium movies by handling subscriptions, integrating PayPal payment gateway, and providing a secure login and signup system. It is a beginner-to-intermediate level project that combines web development, payment systems, and dynamic recommendations in a single platform.

In today’s world, streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ have completely changed the way people consume entertainment. This project is a simplified version of such systems, where users can sign up, log in, subscribe to plans, and watch premium movies online. For students, this project serves as a practical introduction to authentication, database handling, payment integration, and personalized recommendations.

The system uses Django’s authentication module for user registration, login, and profile management, ensuring a secure experience. For handling subscriptions, the PayPal payment gateway is integrated to allow users to pay online safely and quickly. Once subscribed, users get access to a list of premium movies, while unsubscribed users are limited to basic features.

Another highlight of this project is the recommendation system, which suggests movies based on categories or popularity. This feature shows how machine learning and content filtering concepts can be applied to improve user experience. Although implemented on a small scale, it gives students a good idea of how modern recommendation systems work in real-world platforms.

From the development point of view, the project covers important aspects of web applications such as:

• Authentication & Authorization (Django built-in system)
• Payment Gateway Integration (PayPal)
• Database Management (SQLite for storing users, subscriptions, and movie data)
• Dynamic Content Handling (displaying movies based on subscriptions)
• Responsive User Interface (HTML, CSS, Bootstrap)

As a student project, it is highly valuable because it not only teaches Django web development but also introduces advanced concepts like secure payments and subscription handling. It gives a mini-clone experience of OTT platforms, making it useful for learning and also an impressive addition to a portfolio.

The Movie Recommendation and Subscription Website is more than just an academic project — it is a step toward understanding how real streaming platforms work at a smaller scale. It is best suited for students who want to combine coding skills with real-world problem solving and explore the intersection of web development and entertainment technology.

Project Overview

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Available Features

The Movie Recommendation and Subscription Website project is designed to closely replicate the working of a real subscription-based streaming platform. Each feature is implemented with a focus on both practical usability and providing students with valuable hands-on learning.

1. User Authentication

The system uses Django’s built-in authentication module to manage user registration, login, and logout securely. Password hashing and session handling ensure data privacy. Only registered users are allowed access to premium content, giving the platform a realistic subscription model.

2. Movie Listing

Movies are displayed in well-defined categories such as Popular, TV Series, and New Releases. The listings are dynamic, allowing admins to easily update or add titles. The responsive frontend ensures smooth browsing across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

3. Movie Details Page

Each movie has a dedicated details page that includes descriptions, embedded trailers, and user reviews. This feature enhances the user experience by providing complete information before watching. It also demonstrates how to manage relational data in Django effectively.

4. Subscription Handling

The system supports multiple subscription plans such as monthly, yearly, or premium. Access to movies is granted based on active subscription status. This module helps students learn how to implement role-based content access in real applications.

5. Payment Integration

PayPal is integrated as a secure payment gateway. Users can process real payments or test transactions using sandbox mode. This feature provides practical experience in third-party API integration, which is essential for modern web applications.

6. User Profiles

Each user has a profile page where they can manage personal details, view payment history, and track active subscriptions. The profile also includes a personalized watchlist, allowing users to save movies for later viewing.

7. Review System

Users can post reviews and ratings for movies. These reviews contribute to a community-driven recommendation system, creating a more interactive platform. From a learning perspective, this section demonstrates the use of CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) within Django.

In summary, this project successfully combines key elements of real-world streaming platforms with a student-friendly implementation. It covers essential aspects of web development such as authentication, subscription handling, payment systems, user interaction, and recommendation features. Students working on this project gain both technical knowledge and insights into how actual OTT platforms operate.

Project Structure

The project is organized into multiple Django apps for clean modular development:

• MovieSubscription/ – Root Django project directory.
• movie/ – Handles movie data, listings, and details.
• user_profile/ – Manages user profiles and watchlists.
• review/ – Adds review functionality for movies.
• subscription/ – Manages subscription plans and PayPal payments.
• static/ – CSS, JS, and image files for styling.

This structure ensures that each functionality is neatly separated, making it easier to maintain and scale the project.

Installation Guide (VS Code)

Follow these steps to set up the project in Visual Studio Code (VS Code):

1. Clone the project and open VS Code
   Open your terminal inside VS Code and navigate to the desired folder: git clone <project-folder> cd Movie Recommendation Website
2. Create a Virtual Environmentpython -m venv env Activate it:
   • For Windows: .\env\Scripts\activate
   • For macOS/Linux: source env/bin/activate
3. Install Dependencies pip install -r requirements.txt
4. Configure Environment Variables
   Create a .env file inside the project root and add details such as: PAYPAL_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id PAYPAL_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret
5. Run Migrations python manage.py migrate
6. Create Superuser python manage.py createsuperuser
7. Run the Development Server python manage.py runserver Open the site in your browser at: http://localhost:8000

Usage

The project supports different user roles with specific functionalities:

General Users

• Can browse movies by categories.
• View movie details, trailers, and reviews.
• Add movies to their watchlist.

Subscribers

• Gain access to premium movies after successful subscription payment.
• Continue using all general user features.

Admins

• Manage movies, reviews, subscriptions, and user accounts through the Django admin panel (/admin).
• Oversee transactions and ensure that subscription plans are functioning correctly.

This role-based approach makes the project feel like a real-world streaming service while giving students valuable insights into role-based access control.

Contributing

Contributions are always welcome. To contribute:

1. Fork the project.
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature-name
3. Commit your changes: git commit -m "Added new feature"
4. Push to the branch: git push origin feature-name
5. Open a pull request for review.

This process helps maintain clean collaboration and version control practices.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.
You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code under the terms of this license. The project is released purely for educational and learning purposes.

Final Thoughts

From a student’s perspective, this project is a perfect example of bridging theory and practice. It introduces important concepts such as:

• Secure authentication systems
• Handling payments in web applications
• Managing subscriptions and access control
• Integrating user-generated content (reviews and watchlists)

These skills are directly transferable to real-world applications. For instance, streaming platforms, e-learning portals, and subscription-based e-commerce sites use similar architectures.

By implementing this project, students not only practice Django development but also gain confidence in building scalable and user-friendly applications. It prepares them for advanced projects and demonstrates a practical understanding of how technology powers entertainment platforms.

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