diff --git a/src/app/components/home/home.component.spec.ts b/src/app/components/home/home.component.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e59dc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/home/home.component.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import { signal } from '@angular/core';
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { provideRouter } from '@angular/router';
+import { vi } from 'vitest';
+import { Item } from '../../models/item.model';
+import { RoundRobinService } from '../../services/round-robin.service';
+import { WatchListService } from '../../services/watch-list.service';
+import { HomeComponent } from './home.component';
+
+describe('HomeComponent', () => {
+  const items: Item[] = [
+    {
+      id: 'paused-movie',
+      title: 'Paused Movie',
+      type: 'movie',
+      groupId: 'ungrouped',
+      status: 'paused',
+      watchHistory: [],
+      createdAt: '2026-05-02T10:00:00.000Z',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'backlog-item',
+      title: 'Backlog Series',
+      type: 'series',
+      groupId: 'ungrouped',
+      status: 'not-started',
+      watchHistory: [],
+      createdAt: '2026-05-01T10:00:00.000Z',
+    },
+  ];
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      providers: [
+        provideRouter([]),
+        {
+          provide: RoundRobinService,
+          useValue: { nextSeries: signal(null), nextMovie: signal(null) },
+        },
+        {
+          provide: WatchListService,
+          useValue: {
+            items: signal(items),
+            inProgressSeries: signal([]),
+            markStarted: vi.fn(),
+            markDropped: vi.fn(),
+          },
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('shows paused movies separately from backlog', async () => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(HomeComponent);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    await fixture.whenStable();
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const sections = Array.from(
+      fixture.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('h2'),
+    ) as HTMLHeadingElement[];
+    const pausedSection = sections.find((section) => section.textContent?.trim() === 'Paused');
+    const pausedContainer = pausedSection?.parentElement;
+
+    expect(pausedContainer?.textContent).toContain('Paused Movie');
+    expect(pausedContainer?.textContent).not.toContain('Backlog Series');
+  });
+
+  it('resumes and drops paused items', () => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(HomeComponent);
+    const watchListService = TestBed.inject(WatchListService);
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.resumePausedItem('paused-movie');
+    fixture.componentInstance.dropPausedItem('paused-movie');
+
+    expect(watchListService.markStarted).toHaveBeenCalledWith('paused-movie');
+    expect(watchListService.markDropped).toHaveBeenCalledWith('paused-movie');
+  });
+
+  it('shows an empty state when no items are paused', async () => {
+    TestBed.overrideProvider(WatchListService, {
+      useValue: {
+        items: signal([]),
+        inProgressSeries: signal([]),
+        markStarted: vi.fn(),
+        markDropped: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    });
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(HomeComponent);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    await fixture.whenStable();
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain('No items paused');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/components/home/home.component.ts b/src/app/components/home/home.component.ts
index ba8cf5e..f94279f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/home/home.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/home/home.component.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ import { Item, ItemType } from '../../models/item.model';
                   (click)="markItem(nextMovie, 'paused')"
                   class="px-3 py-1.5 border border-light-border dark:border-dark-border rounded bg-light-bg-secondary dark:bg-dark-bg-secondary text-light-font dark:text-dark-font cursor-pointer text-sm hover:bg-light-bg-tertiary dark:hover:bg-dark-bg-tertiary"
                 >
-                  Move to backlog
+                  Pause
                 </button>
                 <button
                   (click)="markItem(nextMovie, 'dropped')"
@@ -161,6 +161,53 @@ import { Item, ItemType } from '../../models/item.model';
           </p>
         }
       </div>
+
+      <div class="border-t border-light-border dark:border-dark-border pt-8 mt-8">
+        <h2 class="text-xl mb-4 text-light-font-secondary dark:text-dark-font-secondary">Paused</h2>
+        @if (pausedItems().length > 0) {
+          <div
+            class="overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-light-border dark:border-dark-border bg-light-bg-secondary dark:bg-dark-bg-secondary shadow-light dark:shadow-dark"
+          >
+            @for (item of pausedItems(); track item.id) {
+              <div
+                class="flex flex-col gap-3 px-4 py-3 sm:flex-row sm:items-center sm:justify-between border-b border-light-border dark:border-dark-border last:border-b-0"
+              >
+                <div class="min-w-0 flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <a
+                    [routerLink]="['/items', item.id]"
+                    class="truncate no-underline text-base font-medium text-light-font dark:text-dark-font hover:text-accent-primary"
+                    >{{ item.title }}</a
+                  >
+                  <span
+                    class="shrink-0 rounded-full bg-light-bg-tertiary dark:bg-dark-bg-tertiary px-2 py-1 text-xs capitalize text-light-font-secondary dark:text-dark-font-secondary"
+                    >{{ item.type }}</span
+                  >
+                </div>
+                <div class="flex shrink-0 gap-2">
+                  <button
+                    (click)="resumePausedItem(item.id)"
+                    class="px-3 py-1.5 border border-light-border dark:border-dark-border rounded bg-light-bg-secondary dark:bg-dark-bg-secondary text-light-font dark:text-dark-font cursor-pointer text-sm hover:bg-light-bg-tertiary dark:hover:bg-dark-bg-tertiary"
+                  >
+                    Resume
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    (click)="dropPausedItem(item.id)"
+                    class="px-3 py-1.5 border border-light-border dark:border-dark-border rounded bg-light-bg-secondary dark:bg-dark-bg-secondary text-light-font dark:text-dark-font cursor-pointer text-sm hover:bg-light-bg-tertiary dark:hover:bg-dark-bg-tertiary"
+                  >
+                    Drop
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            }
+          </div>
+        } @else {
+          <p
+            class="p-8 text-center text-light-font-muted dark:text-dark-font-muted bg-light-bg-primary dark:bg-dark-bg-primary rounded-lg"
+          >
+            No items paused
+          </p>
+        }
+      </div>
     </div>
   `,
 })
@@ -177,6 +224,13 @@ export class HomeComponent {
       .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(a.createdAt).getTime()),
   );
 
+  pausedItems = computed(() =>
+    this.watchListService
+      .items()
+      .filter((item) => item.status === 'paused')
+      .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(a.createdAt).getTime()),
+  );
+
   protected hasSeries = computed(() => this.hasItemType('series'));
   protected hasMovies = computed(() => this.hasItemType('movie'));
   protected hasInProgressSeries = computed(
@@ -203,6 +257,14 @@ export class HomeComponent {
     this.watchListService.markDropped(itemId);
   }
 
+  resumePausedItem(itemId: string): void {
+    this.watchListService.markStarted(itemId);
+  }
+
+  dropPausedItem(itemId: string): void {
+    this.watchListService.markDropped(itemId);
+  }
+
   private hasItemType(type: ItemType): boolean {
     return this.watchListService.items().some((item) => item.type === type);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.spec.ts b/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.spec.ts
index e24023d..d1d0dad 100644
--- a/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.spec.ts
@@ -186,6 +186,34 @@ describe('ItemFormComponent', () => {
     expect(fixture.componentInstance.formValue().seasons[0].firstEpisodeAirDate).toBe('2026-05-01');
   });
 
+  it('allows a movie to remain paused', async () => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ItemFormComponent);
+    fixture.componentRef.setInput('groups', groups);
+    fixture.componentRef.setInput('initialValue', {
+      title: 'Paused Movie',
+      type: 'series',
+      groupId: 'ungrouped',
+      status: 'paused',
+      season: 2,
+      episode: 3,
+      seasons: [{ seasonNumber: 2, totalEpisodes: 10 }],
+      startImmediately: false,
+    });
+
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    await fixture.whenStable();
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.setType('movie');
+    await fixture.whenStable();
+
+    expect(fixture.componentInstance.formValue()).toMatchObject({
+      title: 'Paused Movie',
+      type: 'movie',
+      status: 'paused',
+    });
+    expect(fixture.componentInstance.itemStatuses).toContain('paused');
+  });
+
   it('applies an autofill patch once when the patch id changes', async () => {
     const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ItemFormComponent);
     fixture.componentRef.setInput('groups', groups);
diff --git a/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.ts b/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.ts
index 4cfbfe3..96338dc 100644
--- a/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/item-form/item-form.component.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/core';
 import { FormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
 import { Group } from '../../models/group.model';
-import { SeasonInfo } from '../../models/item.model';
+import { ItemStatus, SeasonInfo } from '../../models/item.model';
 import { TmdbSuggestion } from '../../models/tmdb-suggestion.model';
 import {
   createDefaultItemFormValue,
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export interface ItemFormAutofillPatch {
         <div class="mb-6">
           <span class="block mb-2 font-medium text-light-font dark:text-dark-font">Status:</span>
           <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-3">
-            @for (status of itemStatuses(); track status) {
+            @for (status of itemStatuses; track status) {
               <button
                 type="button"
                 (click)="updateStatus(status)"
@@ -272,13 +272,7 @@ export class ItemFormComponent {
   readonly suggestionSelected = output<TmdbSuggestion>();
 
   readonly itemTypes = ITEM_TYPES;
-  readonly itemStatuses = computed(() => {
-    const type = this.formValue().type;
-    if (type === 'movie') {
-      return ITEM_STATUSES.filter((s) => s !== 'paused');
-    }
-    return ITEM_STATUSES;
-  });
+  readonly itemStatuses: readonly ItemStatus[] = ITEM_STATUSES;
   readonly itemTypeLabels = ITEM_TYPE_LABELS;
   readonly itemStatusLabels = ITEM_STATUS_LABELS;
 
@@ -328,9 +322,6 @@ export class ItemFormComponent {
         ...value,
         type,
       });
-      if (next.type === 'movie' && next.status === 'paused') {
-        return { ...next, status: 'not-started' };
-      }
       return next;
     });
   }
@@ -416,9 +407,6 @@ export class ItemFormComponent {
         ...value,
         ...patch,
       });
-      if (next.type === 'movie' && next.status === 'paused') {
-        return { ...next, status: 'not-started' };
-      }
       return next;
     });
   }
diff --git a/src/app/domain/item-form.spec.ts b/src/app/domain/item-form.spec.ts
index 81146bf..58a8351 100644
--- a/src/app/domain/item-form.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/domain/item-form.spec.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,21 @@ describe('item-form helpers', () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  it('preserves a paused status when building a movie mutation input', () => {
+    const mutationInput = buildItemMutationInput({
+      title: 'Paused Movie',
+      type: 'movie',
+      groupId: 'ungrouped',
+      status: 'paused',
+      season: 1,
+      episode: 1,
+      seasons: [],
+      startImmediately: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(mutationInput.status).toBe('paused');
+  });
+
   it('disables the add-flow override when submitting with a status picker', () => {
     expect(
       prepareSubmittedItemFormValue(
@@ -126,15 +141,26 @@ describe('item-form helpers', () => {
         seasons: [{ seasonNumber: 4, totalEpisodes: 12 }],
         startImmediately: false,
       }),
-    ).toEqual({
-      title: 'Movie Night',
-      type: 'movie',
-      groupId: 'ungrouped',
+    ).toMatchObject({
       status: 'completed',
       season: 1,
       episode: 1,
       seasons: [],
-      startImmediately: false,
     });
   });
+
+  it('preserves paused status when normalizing movies', () => {
+    expect(
+      normalizeFormValueForType({
+        title: 'Paused Movie',
+        type: 'movie',
+        groupId: 'ungrouped',
+        status: 'paused',
+        season: 3,
+        episode: 4,
+        seasons: [{ seasonNumber: 3, totalEpisodes: 8 }],
+        startImmediately: false,
+      }),
+    ).toMatchObject({ status: 'paused', season: 1, episode: 1, seasons: [] });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/domain/item-form.ts b/src/app/domain/item-form.ts
index 649efdb..745b2c4 100644
--- a/src/app/domain/item-form.ts
+++ b/src/app/domain/item-form.ts
@@ -46,13 +46,11 @@ export function createItemFormValue(item: Item): ItemFormValue {
 export function buildItemMutationInput(formValue: ItemFormValue): ItemMutationInput {
   const sortedSeasons = [...formValue.seasons].sort((a, b) => a.seasonNumber - b.seasonNumber);
   const rawStatus: ItemStatus = formValue.startImmediately ? 'in-progress' : formValue.status;
-  const status: ItemStatus =
-    formValue.type === 'movie' && rawStatus === 'paused' ? 'not-started' : rawStatus;
   return {
     title: formValue.title.trim(),
     type: formValue.type,
     groupId: formValue.groupId,
-    status,
+    status: rawStatus,
     progress:
       formValue.type === 'series'
         ? {
@@ -90,8 +88,5 @@ export function normalizeFormValueForType(formValue: ItemFormValue): ItemFormVal
     episode: 1,
     seasons: [],
   };
-  if (normalized.status === 'paused') {
-    normalized.status = 'not-started';
-  }
   return normalized;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/services/watch-list.service.spec.ts b/src/app/services/watch-list.service.spec.ts
index 93777c9..830f2ca 100644
--- a/src/app/services/watch-list.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/services/watch-list.service.spec.ts
@@ -245,14 +245,14 @@ describe('WatchListService', () => {
       expect(storageService.getData().items['i1'].status).toBe('paused');
     });
 
-    it('moves a movie to backlog when paused', () => {
+    it('marks a movie as paused', () => {
       saveData({
         items: { i1: createItem({ id: 'i1', type: 'movie', status: 'in-progress' }) },
       });
 
       service.markPaused('i1');
 
-      expect(storageService.getData().items['i1'].status).toBe('not-started');
+      expect(storageService.getData().items['i1'].status).toBe('paused');
     });
 
     it('does nothing when the item does not exist', () => {
diff --git a/src/app/services/watch-list.service.ts b/src/app/services/watch-list.service.ts
index 5360581..f32bd3d 100644
--- a/src/app/services/watch-list.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/services/watch-list.service.ts
@@ -156,10 +156,9 @@ export class WatchListService {
     const item = this.getItemById(itemId);
     if (!item) return;
 
-    const nextStatus = item.type === 'movie' ? 'not-started' : 'paused';
     this.persistItemUpdate({
       ...item,
-      status: nextStatus,
+      status: 'paused',
     });
   }