Running a home media server and want your movie library tidy and complete? Radarr is a free, open-source movie collection manager, a fork of the TV tool Sonarr, that tracks wanted films, hands releases to your download client and renames finished files.
Radarr tracks wanted movies and upcoming releases
Add movies to Radarr’s library or wanted list, then use the calendar to see upcoming titles in one place. Multiple movie views provide different ways to browse the collection. Notifications and quality profiles let you tailor alerts and set the release qualities Radarr should prefer.
You can also follow collections, actors, and directors. These options make it easier to keep track of related movies and people across the library.
Manual Search sends a chosen release to your client
When a movie is available, Manual Search shows matching releases so you can select one yourself. Radarr then passes the selection to a configured download client. For hands-off searches, connect Radarr to indexers and set quality preferences; it can monitor for releases that fit those settings and send a match to the client.
Finished movies are renamed and filed consistently, and Radarr can tell Plex, Jellyfin or Emby to refresh their libraries. This keeps titles easier to browse even when downloaded releases arrive with inconsistent naming.
Failed downloads trigger another release attempt
If a download fails, Radarr can blacklist that release and try a different one. This handling covers problems such as password-protected archives or missing repair data, reducing the need to identify and replace a bad release manually.
Radarr runs as a background service with a web interface reachable from any device on your network. Preferences can be based on a simple word or on several conditions, including regular-expression rules, so matching releases receive priority according to your criteria.
Pros
- Calendar view for upcoming movies
- Manual release search with direct handoff to a download client
- Custom Formats for detailed release preferences
- Automatic blacklisting and retrying of failed downloads
Cons
- Needs separate indexers and a download client
- Setup is technical for beginners
- Downloading copyrighted movies you dont own is illegal in most countries
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 32-bit and 64-bit
Does Radarr download movie files itself?
No. It sends selected releases to a configured download client, which handles the download.
Can Radarr try another release after a download fails?
Yes. It can blacklist the failed release and attempt another one.
What are Custom Formats for?
They let you set release-selection preferences using words or multiple criteria, including regular expressions.