Fix movie recommendations

9 files changed, 475 insertions, 148 deletions

diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/LibraryManager.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/LibraryManager.cs
index f2480679d9..c20a4442eb 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/LibraryManager.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/LibraryManager.cs
@@ -3389,6 +3389,12 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.Library
             return _peopleRepository.GetPeopleNames(query);
         }
 
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNamesByItems(IReadOnlyList<Guid> itemIds, IReadOnlyList<string> personTypes, int limit)
+        {
+            return _peopleRepository.GetPeopleNamesByItems(itemIds, personTypes, limit);
+        }
+
         public void UpdatePeople(BaseItem item, List<PersonInfo> people)
         {
             UpdatePeopleAsync(item, people, CancellationToken.None).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/MovieSimilarItemsProvider.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/MovieSimilarItemsProvider.cs
index 93aa0574c0..5660cf30a8 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/MovieSimilarItemsProvider.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/MovieSimilarItemsProvider.cs
@@ -1,36 +1,65 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Jellyfin.Data.Enums;
-using Jellyfin.Database.Implementations.Enums;
+using Jellyfin.Database.Implementations;
+using Jellyfin.Database.Implementations.Entities;
+using Jellyfin.Extensions;
 using MediaBrowser.Controller.Configuration;
 using MediaBrowser.Controller.Dto;
 using MediaBrowser.Controller.Entities;
 using MediaBrowser.Controller.Entities.Movies;
 using MediaBrowser.Controller.Library;
+using MediaBrowser.Controller.Persistence;
 using MediaBrowser.Model.Configuration;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using BaseItemDto = MediaBrowser.Controller.Entities.BaseItem;
 
 namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.Library.SimilarItems;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Provides similar items for movies and trailers.
+/// Provides similar items for movies and trailers using weighted scoring.
 /// </summary>
-public sealed class MovieSimilarItemsProvider : ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Movie>, ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Trailer>
+public sealed class MovieSimilarItemsProvider : ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Movie>, ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Trailer>, IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider
 {
-    private readonly ILibraryManager _libraryManager;
+    private const int GenreWeight = 10;
+    private const int TagWeight = 5;
+    private const int StudioWeight = 5;
+    private const int DirectorWeight = 50;
+    private const int ActorWeight = 15;
+
+    private static readonly (ItemValueType Type, int Weight)[] _itemValueDimensions =
+    [
+        (ItemValueType.Genre, GenreWeight),
+        (ItemValueType.Tags, TagWeight),
+        (ItemValueType.Studios, StudioWeight)
+    ];
+
+    private static readonly (string[] PersonTypes, int Weight)[] _peopleDimensions =
+    [
+        ([nameof(PersonKind.Director)], DirectorWeight),
+        ([nameof(PersonKind.Actor), nameof(PersonKind.GuestStar)], ActorWeight)
+    ];
+
+    private readonly IDbContextFactory<JellyfinDbContext> _dbProvider;
+    private readonly IItemQueryHelpers _queryHelpers;
     private readonly IServerConfigurationManager _serverConfigurationManager;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MovieSimilarItemsProvider"/> class.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="libraryManager">The library manager.</param>
+    /// <param name="dbProvider">The database context factory.</param>
+    /// <param name="queryHelpers">The shared query helpers.</param>
     /// <param name="serverConfigurationManager">The server configuration manager.</param>
     public MovieSimilarItemsProvider(
-        ILibraryManager libraryManager,
+        IDbContextFactory<JellyfinDbContext> dbProvider,
+        IItemQueryHelpers queryHelpers,
         IServerConfigurationManager serverConfigurationManager)
     {
-        _libraryManager = libraryManager;
+        _dbProvider = dbProvider;
+        _queryHelpers = queryHelpers;
         _serverConfigurationManager = serverConfigurationManager;
     }
 
@@ -41,15 +70,17 @@ public sealed class MovieSimilarItemsProvider : ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Movie
     public MetadataPluginType Type => MetadataPluginType.LocalSimilarityProvider;
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
-    public Task<IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>> GetSimilarItemsAsync(Movie item, SimilarItemsQuery query, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<BaseItemDto>> GetSimilarItemsAsync(Movie item, SimilarItemsQuery query, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        return Task.FromResult(GetSimilarMovieItems(item, query));
+        var results = await GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync([item], query).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        return results.TryGetValue(item.Id, out var items) ? items : [];
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
-    public Task<IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>> GetSimilarItemsAsync(Trailer item, SimilarItemsQuery query, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<BaseItemDto>> GetSimilarItemsAsync(Trailer item, SimilarItemsQuery query, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        return Task.FromResult(GetSimilarMovieItems(item, query));
+        var results = await GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync([item], query).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        return results.TryGetValue(item.Id, out var items) ? items : [];
     }
 
     bool ILocalSimilarItemsProvider.Supports(Type itemType)
@@ -63,29 +94,230 @@ public sealed class MovieSimilarItemsProvider : ILocalSimilarItemsProvider<Movie
             _ => throw new ArgumentException($"Unsupported item type {item.GetType()}", nameof(item))
         };
 
-    private IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> GetSimilarMovieItems(BaseItem item, SimilarItemsQuery query)
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task<Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItemDto>>> GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(
+        IReadOnlyList<BaseItemDto> sourceItems,
+        SimilarItemsQuery query)
     {
         var includeItemTypes = new List<BaseItemKind> { BaseItemKind.Movie };
-
         if (_serverConfigurationManager.Configuration.EnableExternalContentInSuggestions)
         {
             includeItemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.Trailer);
             includeItemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.LiveTvProgram);
         }
 
-        var internalQuery = new InternalItemsQuery(query.User)
+        var limit = query.Limit ?? 50;
+        var dtoOptions = query.DtoOptions ?? new DtoOptions();
+
+        using var context = _dbProvider.CreateDbContext();
+
+        // Phase 1: Score all candidates per source item
+        var sourceIds = sourceItems.Select(i => i.Id).ToList();
+        var perSourceScores = ComputeBatchScores(sourceIds, context);
+
+        var allCandidateIds = new HashSet<Guid>();
+        foreach (var (_, scores) in perSourceScores)
+        {
+            allCandidateIds.UnionWith(
+                scores.OrderByDescending(kvp => kvp.Value)
+                    .Take(limit * 3)
+                    .Select(kvp => kvp.Key));
+        }
+
+        var result = new Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItemDto>>();
+        if (allCandidateIds.Count == 0)
+        {
+            return Task.FromResult(result);
+        }
+
+        // Phase 2: One access filter for all candidates
+        var filter = new InternalItemsQuery(query.User)
         {
-            Genres = item.Genres,
-            Tags = item.Tags,
-            Limit = query.Limit,
-            DtoOptions = query.DtoOptions ?? new DtoOptions(),
-            ExcludeItemIds = [.. query.ExcludeItemIds],
             IncludeItemTypes = [.. includeItemTypes],
+            ExcludeItemIds = [.. query.ExcludeItemIds],
+            DtoOptions = dtoOptions,
             EnableGroupByMetadataKey = true,
             EnableTotalRecordCount = false,
-            OrderBy = [(ItemSortBy.Random, SortOrder.Ascending)]
+            IsMovie = true,
+            IsPlayed = false
         };
 
-        return _libraryManager.GetItemList(internalQuery);
+        _queryHelpers.PrepareFilterQuery(filter);
+        var baseQuery = _queryHelpers.PrepareItemQuery(context, filter);
+        baseQuery = _queryHelpers.TranslateQuery(baseQuery, context, filter);
+
+        var allCandidateIdsList = allCandidateIds.ToList();
+        var accessibleItems = baseQuery
+            .Where(e => allCandidateIdsList.Contains(e.Id))
+            .Select(e => new { e.Id, e.PresentationUniqueKey })
+            .ToList();
+
+        // Phase 3: Pick top IDs per source, dedup by PresentationUniqueKey
+        var allOrderedIds = new HashSet<Guid>();
+        var perSourceOrderedIds = new Dictionary<Guid, List<Guid>>();
+
+        foreach (var item in sourceItems)
+        {
+            if (!perSourceScores.TryGetValue(item.Id, out var scores))
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            var orderedIds = accessibleItems
+                .Where(x => scores.ContainsKey(x.Id))
+                .OrderByDescending(x => scores.GetValueOrDefault(x.Id))
+                .DistinctBy(x => x.PresentationUniqueKey)
+                .Take(limit)
+                .Select(x => x.Id)
+                .ToList();
+
+            if (orderedIds.Count > 0)
+            {
+                perSourceOrderedIds[item.Id] = orderedIds;
+                allOrderedIds.UnionWith(orderedIds);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (allOrderedIds.Count == 0)
+        {
+            return Task.FromResult(result);
+        }
+
+        // Phase 4: One entity load for all results
+        var allOrderedIdsList = allOrderedIds.ToList();
+        var entitiesById = _queryHelpers.ApplyNavigations(
+                context.BaseItems.AsNoTracking().Where(e => allOrderedIdsList.Contains(e.Id)),
+                filter)
+            .AsSplitQuery()
+            .AsEnumerable()
+            .Select(e => _queryHelpers.DeserializeBaseItem(e, filter.SkipDeserialization))
+            .Where(dto => dto is not null)
+            .ToDictionary(i => i!.Id);
+
+        // Phase 5: Split by source, preserving score order
+        foreach (var (sourceId, orderedIds) in perSourceOrderedIds)
+        {
+            var items = orderedIds
+                .Where(entitiesById.ContainsKey)
+                .Select(id => entitiesById[id]!)
+                .ToList();
+
+            if (items.Count > 0)
+            {
+                result[sourceId] = items;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return Task.FromResult(result);
+    }
+
+    private Dictionary<Guid, Dictionary<Guid, int>> ComputeBatchScores(List<Guid> sourceIds, JellyfinDbContext context)
+    {
+        var result = new Dictionary<Guid, Dictionary<Guid, int>>();
+        foreach (var id in sourceIds)
+        {
+            result[id] = [];
+        }
+
+        // Score item-value dimensions (genre, tags, studios)
+        foreach (var (valueType, weight) in _itemValueDimensions)
+        {
+            var sourceMap = context.ItemValuesMap.AsNoTracking()
+                .Where(m => sourceIds.Contains(m.ItemId) && m.ItemValue.Type == valueType)
+                .Select(m => new { m.ItemId, m.ItemValue.CleanValue })
+                .ToList()
+                .GroupBy(m => m.ItemId)
+                .ToDictionary(g => g.Key, g => g.Select(x => x.CleanValue).ToHashSet());
+
+            var allValues = sourceMap.Values.SelectMany(v => v).Distinct().ToList();
+            if (allValues.Count == 0)
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            var valueToCandidates = context.ItemValuesMap.AsNoTracking()
+                .Where(m => m.ItemValue.Type == valueType && allValues.Contains(m.ItemValue.CleanValue))
+                .Select(m => new { m.ItemId, m.ItemValue.CleanValue })
+                .ToList()
+                .GroupBy(m => m.CleanValue)
+                .ToDictionary(g => g.Key, g => g.Select(x => x.ItemId).ToList());
+
+            foreach (var sourceId in sourceIds)
+            {
+                if (!sourceMap.TryGetValue(sourceId, out var sourceValues))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                var scoreMap = result[sourceId];
+                foreach (var value in sourceValues)
+                {
+                    if (valueToCandidates.TryGetValue(value, out var candidates))
+                    {
+                        foreach (var candidateId in candidates)
+                        {
+                            scoreMap[candidateId] = scoreMap.GetValueOrDefault(candidateId) + weight;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Score people dimensions (directors, actors)
+        foreach (var (personTypes, weight) in _peopleDimensions)
+        {
+            var sourceMap = context.PeopleBaseItemMap.AsNoTracking()
+                .Where(m => sourceIds.Contains(m.ItemId) && personTypes.Contains(m.People.PersonType))
+                .Select(m => new { m.ItemId, m.PeopleId })
+                .ToList()
+                .GroupBy(m => m.ItemId)
+                .ToDictionary(g => g.Key, g => g.Select(x => x.PeopleId).ToHashSet());
+
+            var allPeopleIds = sourceMap.Values.SelectMany(v => v).Distinct().ToList();
+            if (allPeopleIds.Count == 0)
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            var personToCandidates = context.PeopleBaseItemMap.AsNoTracking()
+                .Where(m => allPeopleIds.Contains(m.PeopleId))
+                .Select(m => new { m.ItemId, m.PeopleId })
+                .ToList()
+                .GroupBy(m => m.PeopleId)
+                .ToDictionary(g => g.Key, g => g.Select(x => x.ItemId).ToList());
+
+            foreach (var sourceId in sourceIds)
+            {
+                if (!sourceMap.TryGetValue(sourceId, out var sourcePeopleIds))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                var scoreMap = result[sourceId];
+                foreach (var peopleId in sourcePeopleIds)
+                {
+                    if (personToCandidates.TryGetValue(peopleId, out var candidates))
+                    {
+                        foreach (var candidateId in candidates)
+                        {
+                            scoreMap[candidateId] = scoreMap.GetValueOrDefault(candidateId) + weight;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Remove self-references and empty entries
+        foreach (var sourceId in sourceIds)
+        {
+            var scoreMap = result[sourceId];
+            scoreMap.Remove(sourceId);
+            if (scoreMap.Count == 0)
+            {
+                result.Remove(sourceId);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
     }
 }
diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/SimilarItemsManager.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/SimilarItemsManager.cs
index b56779cf3f..d4ee643f95 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/SimilarItemsManager.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/Library/SimilarItems/SimilarItemsManager.cs
@@ -225,6 +225,23 @@ public class SimilarItemsManager : ISimilarItemsManager
             .ToList();
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task<Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>>> GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(
+        IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> sourceItems,
+        SimilarItemsQuery query)
+    {
+        var batchProvider = _similarItemsProviders
+            .OfType<IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider>()
+            .FirstOrDefault();
+
+        if (batchProvider is null)
+        {
+            return Task.FromResult(new Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>>());
+        }
+
+        return batchProvider.GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(sourceItems, query);
+    }
+
     private List<(BaseItem Item, float Score)> ResolveRemoteReferences(
         IReadOnlyList<SimilarItemReference> references,
         int providerOrder,
diff --git a/Jellyfin.Api/Controllers/MoviesController.cs b/Jellyfin.Api/Controllers/MoviesController.cs
index 50d34d0656..9c0e216f12 100644
--- a/Jellyfin.Api/Controllers/MoviesController.cs
+++ b/Jellyfin.Api/Controllers/MoviesController.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Jellyfin.Api.Extensions;
 using Jellyfin.Api.Helpers;
 using Jellyfin.Api.ModelBinders;
 using Jellyfin.Data.Enums;
@@ -33,6 +36,7 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
     private readonly ILibraryManager _libraryManager;
     private readonly IDtoService _dtoService;
     private readonly IServerConfigurationManager _serverConfigurationManager;
+    private readonly ISimilarItemsManager _similarItemsManager;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="MoviesController"/> class.
@@ -41,16 +45,19 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
     /// <param name="libraryManager">Instance of the <see cref="ILibraryManager"/> interface.</param>
     /// <param name="dtoService">Instance of the <see cref="IDtoService"/> interface.</param>
     /// <param name="serverConfigurationManager">Instance of the <see cref="IServerConfigurationManager"/> interface.</param>
+    /// <param name="similarItemsManager">Instance of the <see cref="ISimilarItemsManager"/> interface.</param>
     public MoviesController(
         IUserManager userManager,
         ILibraryManager libraryManager,
         IDtoService dtoService,
-        IServerConfigurationManager serverConfigurationManager)
+        IServerConfigurationManager serverConfigurationManager,
+        ISimilarItemsManager similarItemsManager)
     {
         _userManager = userManager;
         _libraryManager = libraryManager;
         _dtoService = dtoService;
         _serverConfigurationManager = serverConfigurationManager;
+        _similarItemsManager = similarItemsManager;
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -61,15 +68,17 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
     /// <param name="fields">Optional. The fields to return.</param>
     /// <param name="categoryLimit">The max number of categories to return.</param>
     /// <param name="itemLimit">The max number of items to return per category.</param>
+    /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
     /// <response code="200">Movie recommendations returned.</response>
     /// <returns>The list of movie recommendations.</returns>
     [HttpGet("Recommendations")]
-    public ActionResult<IEnumerable<RecommendationDto>> GetMovieRecommendations(
+    public Task<ActionResult<IEnumerable<RecommendationDto>>> GetMovieRecommendations(
         [FromQuery] Guid? userId,
         [FromQuery] Guid? parentId,
         [FromQuery, ModelBinder(typeof(CommaDelimitedCollectionModelBinder))] ItemFields[] fields,
         [FromQuery] int categoryLimit = 5,
-        [FromQuery] int itemLimit = 8)
+        [FromQuery] int itemLimit = 8,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         userId = RequestHelpers.GetUserId(User, userId);
         var user = userId.IsNullOrEmpty()
@@ -86,15 +95,13 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
             IncludeItemTypes = new[]
             {
                 BaseItemKind.Movie,
-                // nameof(Trailer),
-                // nameof(LiveTvProgram)
             },
-            // IsMovie = true
             OrderBy = new[] { (ItemSortBy.DatePlayed, SortOrder.Descending), (ItemSortBy.Random, SortOrder.Descending) },
             Limit = 7,
             ParentId = parentIdGuid,
             Recursive = true,
             IsPlayed = true,
+            EnableGroupByMetadataKey = true,
             DtoOptions = dtoOptions
         };
 
@@ -122,31 +129,52 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
         });
 
         var mostRecentMovies = recentlyPlayedMovies.Take(Math.Min(recentlyPlayedMovies.Count, 6)).ToList();
-        // Get recently played directors
-        var recentDirectors = GetDirectors(mostRecentMovies)
-            .ToList();
+        var recentDirectors = GetDirectors(mostRecentMovies).ToList();
+        var recentActors = GetActors(mostRecentMovies).ToList();
+
+        // Cap baseline items to categoryLimit - the round-robin can't use more categories than that.
+        var recentlyPlayedBaseline = recentlyPlayedMovies.Count > categoryLimit
+            ? recentlyPlayedMovies.Take(categoryLimit).ToList()
+            : recentlyPlayedMovies;
+        var likedBaseline = likedMovies.Count > categoryLimit
+            ? likedMovies.Take(categoryLimit).ToList()
+            : likedMovies;
+
+        var batchQuery = new SimilarItemsQuery
+        {
+            User = user,
+            Limit = itemLimit,
+            DtoOptions = dtoOptions
+        };
+
+        var similarToRecentlyPlayed = BuildPendingFromBatch(
+            _similarItemsManager.GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(recentlyPlayedBaseline, batchQuery),
+            recentlyPlayedBaseline,
+            RecommendationType.SimilarToRecentlyPlayed);
 
-        // Get recently played actors
-        var recentActors = GetActors(mostRecentMovies)
-            .ToList();
+        var similarToLiked = BuildPendingFromBatch(
+            _similarItemsManager.GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(likedBaseline, batchQuery),
+            likedBaseline,
+            RecommendationType.SimilarToLikedItem);
 
-        var similarToRecentlyPlayed = GetSimilarTo(user, recentlyPlayedMovies, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.SimilarToRecentlyPlayed).GetEnumerator();
-        var similarToLiked = GetSimilarTo(user, likedMovies, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.SimilarToLikedItem).GetEnumerator();
+        var hasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed = GetWithPerson(user, recentDirectors, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.HasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed);
+        var hasActorFromRecentlyPlayed = GetWithPerson(user, recentActors, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.HasActorFromRecentlyPlayed);
 
-        var hasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed = GetWithDirector(user, recentDirectors, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.HasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed).GetEnumerator();
-        var hasActorFromRecentlyPlayed = GetWithActor(user, recentActors, itemLimit, dtoOptions, RecommendationType.HasActorFromRecentlyPlayed).GetEnumerator();
+        // Use a single enumerator per list, listed twice so MoveNext advances it
+        // twice per round-robin pass (giving these categories double weight).
+        // IMPORTANT: Declare as IEnumerator<T> to box the List<T>.Enumerator struct once;
+        // using var would box separately per list insertion, creating independent copies.
+        IEnumerator<PendingRecommendation> similarToRecentlyPlayedEnum = similarToRecentlyPlayed.GetEnumerator();
+        IEnumerator<PendingRecommendation> similarToLikedEnum = similarToLiked.GetEnumerator();
 
-        var categoryTypes = new List<IEnumerator<RecommendationDto>>
+        var categoryTypes = new List<IEnumerator<PendingRecommendation>>
             {
-                // Give this extra weight
-                similarToRecentlyPlayed,
-                similarToRecentlyPlayed,
-
-                // Give this extra weight
-                similarToLiked,
-                similarToLiked,
-                hasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed,
-                hasActorFromRecentlyPlayed
+                similarToRecentlyPlayedEnum,
+                similarToRecentlyPlayedEnum,
+                similarToLikedEnum,
+                similarToLikedEnum,
+                hasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed.GetEnumerator(),
+                hasActorFromRecentlyPlayed.GetEnumerator()
             };
 
         while (categories.Count < categoryLimit)
@@ -157,7 +185,17 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
             {
                 if (category.MoveNext())
                 {
-                    categories.Add(category.Current);
+                    var pending = category.Current;
+                    var returnItems = _dtoService.GetBaseItemDtos(pending.Items, dtoOptions, user);
+
+                    categories.Add(new RecommendationDto
+                    {
+                        BaselineItemName = pending.BaselineItemName,
+                        CategoryId = pending.CategoryId,
+                        RecommendationType = pending.RecommendationType,
+                        Items = returnItems
+                    });
+
                     allEmpty = false;
 
                     if (categories.Count >= categoryLimit)
@@ -173,10 +211,36 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
             }
         }
 
-        return Ok(categories.OrderBy(i => i.RecommendationType).AsEnumerable());
+        return Task.FromResult<ActionResult<IEnumerable<RecommendationDto>>>(
+            Ok(categories.OrderBy(i => i.RecommendationType).AsEnumerable()));
+    }
+
+    private static List<PendingRecommendation> BuildPendingFromBatch(
+        Task<Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>>> batchTask,
+        IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> baselineItems,
+        RecommendationType type)
+    {
+        var batchResults = batchTask.GetAwaiter().GetResult();
+        var results = new List<PendingRecommendation>();
+
+        foreach (var item in baselineItems)
+        {
+            if (batchResults.TryGetValue(item.Id, out var similar) && similar.Count > 0)
+            {
+                results.Add(new PendingRecommendation
+                {
+                    BaselineItemName = item.Name,
+                    CategoryId = item.Id,
+                    RecommendationType = type,
+                    Items = similar
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return results;
     }
 
-    private IEnumerable<RecommendationDto> GetWithDirector(
+    private IEnumerable<PendingRecommendation> GetWithPerson(
         User? user,
         IEnumerable<string> names,
         int itemLimit,
@@ -190,17 +254,21 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
             itemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.LiveTvProgram);
         }
 
+        var personTypes = type == RecommendationType.HasDirectorFromRecentlyPlayed
+            ? [PersonType.Director]
+            : Array.Empty<string>();
+
         foreach (var name in names)
         {
             var items = _libraryManager.GetItemList(
                 new InternalItemsQuery(user)
                 {
                     Person = name,
-                    // Account for duplicates by IMDb id, since the database doesn't support this yet
                     Limit = itemLimit + 2,
-                    PersonTypes = new[] { PersonType.Director },
+                    PersonTypes = personTypes,
                     IncludeItemTypes = itemTypes.ToArray(),
                     IsMovie = true,
+                    IsPlayed = false,
                     EnableGroupByMetadataKey = true,
                     DtoOptions = dtoOptions
                 }).DistinctBy(i => i.GetProviderId(MediaBrowser.Model.Entities.MetadataProvider.Imdb) ?? Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
@@ -209,119 +277,47 @@ public class MoviesController : BaseJellyfinApiController
 
             if (items.Count > 0)
             {
-                var returnItems = _dtoService.GetBaseItemDtos(items, dtoOptions, user);
-
-                yield return new RecommendationDto
+                yield return new PendingRecommendation
                 {
                     BaselineItemName = name,
                     CategoryId = name.GetMD5(),
                     RecommendationType = type,
-                    Items = returnItems
+                    Items = items
                 };
             }
         }
     }
 
-    private IEnumerable<RecommendationDto> GetWithActor(User? user, IEnumerable<string> names, int itemLimit, DtoOptions dtoOptions, RecommendationType type)
+    private IReadOnlyList<string> GetActors(IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> items)
     {
-        var itemTypes = new List<BaseItemKind> { BaseItemKind.Movie };
-        if (_serverConfigurationManager.Configuration.EnableExternalContentInSuggestions)
-        {
-            itemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.Trailer);
-            itemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.LiveTvProgram);
-        }
-
-        foreach (var name in names)
-        {
-            var items = _libraryManager.GetItemList(new InternalItemsQuery(user)
-            {
-                Person = name,
-                // Account for duplicates by IMDb id, since the database doesn't support this yet
-                Limit = itemLimit + 2,
-                IncludeItemTypes = itemTypes.ToArray(),
-                IsMovie = true,
-                EnableGroupByMetadataKey = true,
-                DtoOptions = dtoOptions
-            }).DistinctBy(i => i.GetProviderId(MediaBrowser.Model.Entities.MetadataProvider.Imdb) ?? Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
-                .Take(itemLimit)
-                .ToList();
-
-            if (items.Count > 0)
-            {
-                var returnItems = _dtoService.GetBaseItemDtos(items, dtoOptions, user);
-
-                yield return new RecommendationDto
-                {
-                    BaselineItemName = name,
-                    CategoryId = name.GetMD5(),
-                    RecommendationType = type,
-                    Items = returnItems
-                };
-            }
-        }
+        var itemIds = items.Select(i => i.Id).ToArray();
+        return _libraryManager.GetPeopleNamesByItems(
+            itemIds,
+            new[] { PersonType.Actor, PersonType.GuestStar },
+            limit: 0);
     }
 
-    private IEnumerable<RecommendationDto> GetSimilarTo(User? user, IEnumerable<BaseItem> baselineItems, int itemLimit, DtoOptions dtoOptions, RecommendationType type)
+    private IReadOnlyList<string> GetDirectors(IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> items)
     {
-        var itemTypes = new List<BaseItemKind> { BaseItemKind.Movie };
-        if (_serverConfigurationManager.Configuration.EnableExternalContentInSuggestions)
-        {
-            itemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.Trailer);
-            itemTypes.Add(BaseItemKind.LiveTvProgram);
-        }
-
-        foreach (var item in baselineItems)
-        {
-            var similar = _libraryManager.GetItemList(new InternalItemsQuery(user)
-            {
-                Limit = itemLimit,
-                IncludeItemTypes = itemTypes.ToArray(),
-                IsMovie = true,
-                EnableGroupByMetadataKey = true,
-                DtoOptions = dtoOptions
-            });
-
-            if (similar.Count > 0)
-            {
-                var returnItems = _dtoService.GetBaseItemDtos(similar, dtoOptions, user);
-
-                yield return new RecommendationDto
-                {
-                    BaselineItemName = item.Name,
-                    CategoryId = item.Id,
-                    RecommendationType = type,
-                    Items = returnItems
-                };
-            }
-        }
+        var itemIds = items.Select(i => i.Id).ToArray();
+        return _libraryManager.GetPeopleNamesByItems(
+            itemIds,
+            [PersonType.Director],
+            limit: 0);
     }
 
-    private IEnumerable<string> GetActors(IEnumerable<BaseItem> items)
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Holds a recommendation category's BaseItems before DTO conversion.
+    /// DTO conversion is deferred until the round-robin actually selects the category.
+    /// </summary>
+    private sealed class PendingRecommendation
     {
-        var people = _libraryManager.GetPeople(new InternalPeopleQuery(Array.Empty<string>(), new[] { PersonType.Director })
-        {
-            MaxListOrder = 3
-        });
+        public required string BaselineItemName { get; init; }
 
-        var itemIds = items.Select(i => i.Id).ToList();
-
-        return people
-            .Where(i => itemIds.Contains(i.ItemId))
-            .Select(i => i.Name)
-            .DistinctNames();
-    }
-
-    private IEnumerable<string> GetDirectors(IEnumerable<BaseItem> items)
-    {
-        var people = _libraryManager.GetPeople(new InternalPeopleQuery(
-            new[] { PersonType.Director },
-            Array.Empty<string>()));
+        public required Guid CategoryId { get; init; }
 
-        var itemIds = items.Select(i => i.Id).ToList();
+        public required RecommendationType RecommendationType { get; init; }
 
-        return people
-            .Where(i => itemIds.Contains(i.ItemId))
-            .Select(i => i.Name)
-            .DistinctNames();
+        public required IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> Items { get; init; }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Jellyfin.Server.Implementations/Item/PeopleRepository.cs b/Jellyfin.Server.Implementations/Item/PeopleRepository.cs
index 8f8741d00f..88bf6fa1bb 100644
--- a/Jellyfin.Server.Implementations/Item/PeopleRepository.cs
+++ b/Jellyfin.Server.Implementations/Item/PeopleRepository.cs
@@ -165,6 +165,31 @@ public class PeopleRepository(IDbContextFactory<JellyfinDbContext> dbProvider, I
         transaction.Commit();
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNamesByItems(IReadOnlyList<Guid> itemIds, IReadOnlyList<string> personTypes, int limit)
+    {
+        using var context = _dbProvider.CreateDbContext();
+        var query = context.PeopleBaseItemMap
+            .AsNoTracking()
+            .Where(m => itemIds.Contains(m.ItemId));
+
+        if (personTypes.Count > 0)
+        {
+            query = query.Where(m => personTypes.Contains(m.People.PersonType));
+        }
+
+        var names = query
+            .Select(m => m.People.Name)
+            .Distinct();
+
+        if (limit > 0)
+        {
+            names = names.Take(limit);
+        }
+
+        return names.ToArray();
+    }
+
     private PersonInfo Map(People people)
     {
         var mapping = people.BaseItems?.FirstOrDefault();
@@ -239,7 +264,7 @@ public class PeopleRepository(IDbContextFactory<JellyfinDbContext> dbProvider, I
 
         if (filter.MaxListOrder.HasValue && !filter.ItemId.IsEmpty())
         {
-            query = query.Where(e => e.BaseItems!.Where(w => w.ItemId == filter.ItemId).OrderBy(w => w.ListOrder).First().ListOrder <= filter.MaxListOrder.Value);
+            query = query.Where(e => e.BaseItems!.Any(w => w.ItemId == filter.ItemId && w.ListOrder <= filter.MaxListOrder.Value));
         }
 
         if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(filter.NameContains))
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe2ce7d394
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MediaBrowser.Controller.Entities;
+
+namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.Library;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// A local similar items provider that supports batch queries across multiple source items.
+/// Implementations share access filtering and entity loading across all sources for better performance.
+/// </summary>
+public interface IBatchLocalSimilarItemsProvider : ISimilarItemsProvider
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets similar items for multiple source items in a single batch.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="sourceItems">The source items to find similar items for.</param>
+    /// <param name="query">The query options.</param>
+    /// <returns>Per-source-item results keyed by source item ID.</returns>
+    Task<Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>>> GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(
+        IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> sourceItems,
+        SimilarItemsQuery query);
+}
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ILibraryManager.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ILibraryManager.cs
index f5e3d7034e..365f078652 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ILibraryManager.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ILibraryManager.cs
@@ -598,6 +598,15 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.Controller.Library
         IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNames(InternalPeopleQuery query);
 
         /// <summary>
+        /// Gets distinct people names for multiple items.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="itemIds">The item IDs.</param>
+        /// <param name="personTypes">The person types to include.</param>
+        /// <param name="limit">Maximum number of names.</param>
+        /// <returns>The distinct people names.</returns>
+        IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNamesByItems(IReadOnlyList<Guid> itemIds, IReadOnlyList<string> personTypes, int limit);
+
+        /// <summary>
         /// Queries the items.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="query">The query.</param>
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ISimilarItemsManager.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ISimilarItemsManager.cs
index 0ced6f71ee..1c826ea780 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ISimilarItemsManager.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Library/ISimilarItemsManager.cs
@@ -47,4 +47,14 @@ public interface ISimilarItemsManager
         int? limit,
         LibraryOptions? libraryOptions,
         CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets similar items for multiple source items in a single batch.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="sourceItems">The source items to find similar items for.</param>
+    /// <param name="query">The query options.</param>
+    /// <returns>Per-source-item results keyed by source item ID.</returns>
+    Task<Dictionary<Guid, IReadOnlyList<BaseItem>>> GetBatchSimilarItemsAsync(
+        IReadOnlyList<BaseItem> sourceItems,
+        SimilarItemsQuery query);
 }
diff --git a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Persistence/IPeopleRepository.cs b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Persistence/IPeopleRepository.cs
index a89f3ef9ee..7474130ec4 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.Controller/Persistence/IPeopleRepository.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.Controller/Persistence/IPeopleRepository.cs
@@ -32,4 +32,13 @@ public interface IPeopleRepository
     /// <param name="filter">The query.</param>
     /// <returns>The list of people names matching the filter.</returns>
     IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNames(InternalPeopleQuery filter);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets distinct people names for multiple items efficiently by querying from the mapping table.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="itemIds">The item IDs to get people for.</param>
+    /// <param name="personTypes">The person types to include (e.g. "Actor", "Director").</param>
+    /// <param name="limit">Maximum number of names to return.</param>
+    /// <returns>The distinct people names.</returns>
+    IReadOnlyList<string> GetPeopleNamesByItems(IReadOnlyList<Guid> itemIds, IReadOnlyList<string> personTypes, int limit);
 }