🍿 NovaCinema —  Movie Booking System

NovaCinema is a production-ready Movie Ticket Booking Web Application built using the MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js). The platform allows users to browse movies, select showtimes, book seats in real time, and complete secure payments — similar to modern cinema booking platforms.

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🔥 Live Preview

novacinema-booking.vercel.app

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🚀 What This Project Includes

NovaCinema is a complete full-stack system consisting of:

• 🎨 User Frontend (React App)
• ⚙️ Backend API (Node.js + Express)
• 🛠 Admin Dashboard

Each part works together to deliver a seamless booking experience.

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🖥 Frontend (React + Tailwind CSS)

✨ User Features

• Responsive movie listing page
• Detailed movie information pages (cast, trailer, rating, description)
• Theater & showtime selection
• Interactive real-time seat booking UI
• Premium & normal seat pricing logic
• Secure login & signup system
• Protected routes for authenticated users
• Smooth animations & modern UI flows

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⚙️ Backend (Node.js + Express + MongoDB)

🔐 Core Backend Features

• Structured REST API for:

  • Movies
  • Theaters
  • Shows
  • Bookings

• Seat availability & booking validation logic

• Seat locking during checkout

• JWT Authentication

• Role-based access control (User / Admin)

• Payment integration (Stripe demo)

• Cloudinary integration for poster uploads

• Deployment-ready backend architecture

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🛠 Tech Stack

Frontend

• React.js
• Tailwind CSS
• Axios
• React Router

Backend

• Node.js
• Express.js
• MongoDB + Mongoose
• JWT Authentication
• Stripe Payment Integration
• Cloudinary (Image Uploads)

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🎯 Key Features Overview

🎥 Movie Discovery

• Search movies by name, genre, language, or date
• Detailed movie pages with full metadata

🏢 Theater & Showtime Selection

• Theaters grouped by location
• Showtimes grouped by date & time

💺 Real-Time Seat Booking

• Interactive seat selection layout
• Real-time availability checks
• Dynamic pricing logic
• Seat locking during payment process

💳 Secure Payments

• Stripe card payment integration (demo)
• Booking confirmation with transaction ID

🛠 Admin Panel

• Add / Delete movies
• Upload posters
• Manage theaters & screens
• Add / Delete showtimes
• View booking analytics

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⚡ Getting Started (Local Setup)

1️⃣ Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/novacinema.git
cd novacinema

2️⃣ Install Dependencies

Install dependencies in each folder:

cd backend && npm install
cd ../frontend && npm install
cd ../admin && npm install

3️⃣ Create Environment Variables

Each subfolder requires its own .env file.

Example Backend .env

MONGODB_URL=your_mongodb_url
PORT=5000
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=your_stripe_secret
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret
CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME=your_cloud_name
CLOUDINARY_API_KEY=your_api_key
CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET=your_api_secret

4️⃣ Run the Project

npm run dev

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📂 Project Structure

novacinema/
├── backend/
├── frontend/
├── admin/
└── README.md

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💡quick review

• Full MERN stack workflow
• Authentication & authorization systems
• Real-time booking logic implementation
• API development & frontend integration
• Production-ready deployment structure

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a new branch
3. Commit your changes
4. Open a Pull Request

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📜 License

MIT License

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👨‍💻 Author

Emmanuel Gema Kimani (M-tech-cmd) Full Stack Developer • MERN Stack Engineer • Backend Enthusiast