When I run this:

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/discover/movie?api_key=###&sort_by=release_date.asc&release_date.gte=2017

I wasn't expecting returned with a release date less than 2017, but the first result I get back is a film with a release date in 1895. In fact, that query just seems to return all films!

{
      "popularity": 4.706,
      "id": 82120,
      "video": false,
      "vote_count": 100,
      "vote_average": 7,
      "title": "Tables Turned on the Gardener",
      "release_date": "1895-12-27",
      "original_language": "fr",
      "original_title": "Arroseur et arrosé",
      "genre_ids": [
        35
      ],
      "backdrop_path": "/A0hONP6cxTthAsw6IvPMX4Aowkr.jpg",
      "adult": false,
      "overview": "A gardener is watering his flowers, when a mischievous boy sneaks up behind his back, and puts a foot on the water hose. The gardener is surprised and looks into the nozzle to find out why the water has stopped coming. The boy then lifts his foot from the hose, whereby the water squirts up in the gardener's face. The gardener chases the boy, grips his ear and slaps him in his buttocks. The boy then runs away and the gardener continues his watering. Three separate versions of this film exist, this is the original, filmed by Louis Lumière.",
      "poster_path": "/5UsXVtEbaL88lxLy9AbfvLlki9T.jpg"
}

I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but it's not obvious what.

Additionally, what should be the format of that release date? "2017-01-31"? Or "2017-31-01"? Or "2017/01/31" Or "2017/31/01" Or "31/01/2017" etc...

Any help, greatly appreciated. Thanks!