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Search for Films: Overview

Search by Title

SMU Libraries has DVDs, VHS, and streaming film databases. The easiest way to find a specific film is to enter the title in quotation marks in Library Search, and select “Video” as the Resource Type on the left side of your results screen.

If you don't know the exact title, you can also add the year of release, director, actors, or studio names to your search.

screenshot of a search for social media with an arrow pointing to the resource type of videos

To see only what's available streaming, scroll down to "Refine my results" and select the "Available Online" filter under "Availability."

Available Online filter

Browse Our Film Collection

Use Advanced Search to see what films we have on DVD. Our film collection uses IDD or DVD in the Call Number. 

You can start with this search for Call Number contains IDD OR DVD

Library Search for IDD or DVD call numbers

Find Films in Other Libraries

You can discover films held by other libraries in WorldCat. We are part of a sharing program that allows us to borrow materials from other libraries called Interlibrary Loan. To request a film we don’t have, click on “Request SMU Interlibrary Loan” in the record from the WorldCat search results. This will take you to our site and pre-fill the request form with information about the item.

Foreign Language Films 

Search or browse for films in Library Search. Then scroll down, and on the left side of your results, you will see the option to filter your search results by language.

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Streaming Video Databases

Get It

Find the library location and item number in the Library Search record under “Get It.” Hamon Arts Library houses most of our physical film collection.

  • In Hamon Arts Library or Bridwell Library, ask for the title at the desk.
  • In Underwood Law Library, use the call number to locate it on the shelf. Call numbers are arranged alphabetically. Each shelf is marked with the range of call numbers it holds.