
Conceived on August 29, 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph out of protest towards Blockbuster's high rental fees, Netflix is a service that began in 1999 as a subscription DVD rental service where movies were ordered via the Internet and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service in the United States. Starting in 2007, they began to offer movies via streaming video over the Internet as a value-added service for their subscribers. However, over the next 3-4 years, as DVD and Blu-ray sales began to fade and Internet access became faster and cheaper, Netflix quickly evolved and now has become the most prominent entertainment streaming service. Its available content includes both television shows and movies, though some of their material is still limited to physical disc rentals.
The service can be viewed on all major computer operating systems (Windows, Mac, and Linux), as well as nearly all internet-connected game consolesnote , most Blu-ray Disc players, smartphones, tablets, TiVo, smart televisions, and set-top streaming boxes such as Apple TV and Roku. Basically, if it has an Internet connection, you can almost certainly watch Netflix on it.
In late 2015, Netflix started moving away from using the Microsoft plugin "Silverlight" to rely on Video DRM and streaming, instead opting to use HTML5 on the Desktop versions of Netflix for three reasons: 1. So other browsers besides Google Chrome (such as Safari, Chromium, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox) could use Netflix. 2. So it wouldn't need to rely on a third-party plugin,note and 3. To add support for basically every Linux distro that has support for any of the browsers listed above.note
On the television front, Netflix primarily competes with Hulu for reruns. While Netflix's library of reruns is extensive, both services in the past couple of years have made exclusivity deals for certain shows (Friends for Netflix, and Seinfeld for Hulu) to keep them off other services, and Hulu has become a serious competitor when it comes to streaming recently-aired shows (having originally been partially owned by three of the major networks helps). Netflix has begun to lose some of its notable licensing deals to newly emerging rival streaming networks from the owners of the shows in questions (Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Disney+ in 2019, Friends to HBO Max in 2020, The Office (US) to Peacock in 2021), though the streamer has shown a willingness to spend big on new deals to remain competitive (shelling out a rumored $500 million+ to swipe Seinfeld from Hulu in 2021).
Since the early 2010s, Netflix has competed with HBO as a maker of prestige television, making a heavy push towards original, exclusive content, with great success. Several of its originals (including House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Stranger Things, The Crown, Tiger King, The Queen's Gambit, Bridgerton and Squid Game) have been massive hits (at least in the demographics that count), and House of Cards became the first direct-to-streaming show to win Emmy Awards. The network has also become notable for picking up or producing sequels to outside programs to great success, including Arrested Development, You, and Cobra Kai. Netflix's success in this regard has legitimized the idea of online distribution of original TV shows outside of cable or network television, with competitors like Hulu, Amazon, and Yahoo! also now having success with their own programming. All three even went as far as to revive or rescue other shows from cancellation, just as Netflix did for Arrested Development. Netflix brands their original content as "Netflix Originals" though this term can cover a few scenarios: shows commissioned and produced by Netflix, shows produced by other companies which Netflix was the exclusive distributor of, or shows from other companies Netflix has purchased ownership of.
Netflix also developed a reputation for being extremely willing to give shows a chance to build an audience; basically, if you got your show on Netflix, you were guaranteed at least one season renewal. It took four years for one of their shows (Marco Polo) to be cancelled before a third season. As its output of new shows increased drastically in the latter half of The New '10s, however, its reputation in this regard began to sour; in 2019, the streamer drew the ire of passionate fanbases for its shows The OA, One Day at a Time (2017), Santa Clarita Diet, Anne with an E, and Tuca & Bertie by cancelling them early into their runs (the last after just one season) despite general critical and audience acclaim.* This only became more pronounced in 2020, when Netflix also began abruptly cancelling several series that it had initially renewed (e.g. I Am Not Okay With This, GLOW), in part due to costs related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. By the end of the decade, Netflix had acquired nearly the exact opposite reputation with new shows that it had previously enjoyed, which led to some scrutiny of Netflix's advertising practices and internal metrics and whether they harm the longevity of the streamer's more recent series.
Building on their successes with original programming, Netflix inked an exclusive content deal with DreamWorks Animation in 2013 for original animated shows, such as the 2016 Voltron reboot, Legendary Defender. A similar deal was made with Marvel Comics in 2014 for original Super Hero dramas. Set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, these shows — Daredevil (2015), Jessica Jones (2015), Luke Cage (2016), and Iron Fist (2017) — also had its own Avengers-style team up event with The Defenders (2017). Meanwhile, a series starring The Punisher (a major character in the second season of Daredevil) was announced in April 2016. However, by June 2019, all six shows were cancelled by Netflix as Marvel's owner sought to develop rival streaming services. Nonetheless, the development of the six shows greatly helped the streaming service in its formative years. Meanwhile, Netflix had inked a deal with the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2018 for the rights to produce content based on the author's works. This has later led to the wholesale purchase of the company in 2021, meaning Netflix now owns Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and Dahl's other stories.
Finally, due to the increased popularity of anime, where it competes primarily with services like Crunchyroll in the streaming market, Netflix also aims to be an anime producer. In the interim, they licensed, simulcast, and even dubbed the likes of Knights of Sidonia and The Seven Deadly Sins. To that end, they made partnerships with anime heavyweights Production I.G and Studio Bones, as well as lesser-knowns Sublimination, Anima and David Production, to create exclusive content for the platform. In 2018, they began to roll out the first batch of true original anime with content like DEVILMAN crybaby, B: The Beginning, Aggretsuko, and A.I.C.O. Incarnation, to great success. With the looming threat of numerous streaming services all vying for Netflix's spot at the top, they have doubled down on the production of original anime as one of its biggest selling points over the competition.
Netflix is so popular, as much as one-third of all internet traffic in the US during the hours of 7 pm to 1 am is Netflix streaming. And if you want a measure of how important the business has become internationally, take Canada's example. Its telecommunications authority, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the CRTC, the analog to the US' FCC) has a bidecadal conference on the state of television in Canada. In 2009, Netflix was only mentioned twice. By 2014, its burgeoning media presence was first & foremost in nearly all of that year's presentations, and it climaxed with Netflix's representative on the hot seat
arguing with the main regulators.
Also to that point, as Netflix continued to expand to other countries, it announced in 2011 that they wouldn't become available in New Zealand, due to the low speed of an average Internet connection and unrealistic data quotas. After a huge backlash from New Zealanders pointing out that many of the same bandwidth limitations existed in the US, they ate their words and launched in the country shortly after. By 2014, Netflix was available in 40 countries.
In late 2015, Netflix announced a plan to launch in all remaining countries worldwide, rolling out in phases through 2016, culminating in a full worldwide release at the end of 2016. This was then promptly thrown out the window with a surprise announcement during the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show that the service has been simultaneously launched in all remaining countries worldwide, immediately, on January 7th 2016. As of that announcement, only four countries and one territorynote do not have access to the service and despite the move receiving standing ovation from people worldwide, it has received threats of blockages from the Malaysian government (although they've stood down after a rather huge backlash from the people) and one ISP in Indonesia has blocked the service for allegedly carrying family-unfriendly shows.
Additionally, there are criticisms regarding the Region Coding scheme, with some users being dissatisfied that a show isn't being made available in their region despite said show being available in a different region. This intensified when Netflix started actively clamping down on VPN users, with said users crying foul over the limiting of shows in their country while Netflix themselves say that the user should request them to make the show available in their region in the first place.
In January 2019, Netflix made history by joining the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Hollywood's largest lobbying group representing the major studios, becoming the first (and so far only) streaming service to receive membership of the association. The move was due to Netflix's increasing presence within the motion picture industry, as well as 20th Century Fox vacating its seat due to its absorption into fellow major studio and MPAA member Disney.
Netflix is also notable for starting what some refer to as the "streaming wars" that now dictate the film and television industries. Netflix's massive success at delivering high-end entertainment through their originals created a ripple effect to other big name companies, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, AT&T (through WarnerMedia), Comcast, and ViacomCBS all wishing to do the same, with the COVID-19 Pandemic even speeding up the process as it wrecked the film industry. After Netflix already helped to kill video rentals and marginalize cable TV, this paradigm shift in the industry now threatens movie theaters as film studios attempt to cut out the middle-man and distribute content on their own terms. Having enjoyed their spot at the top, it remains to be seen if Netflix can maintain that position in the coming years, with all the big name companies pulling out their content from Netflix and using it, in addition to their own (sometimes huge) libraries and future original content, to bolster their own streaming services.note As such, Netflix has doubled down their already massive efforts to secure original and exclusive content in all areas, to better compete with the pack. Things might turn around for them in 2022, however, due to a massive deal with Sony Pictures that will give Netflix first-run streaming rights to their new films, a first-look deal at Sony streaming projects and access to much of the company's back catalog.
Netflix had at one point been a distributor of films, via its Red Envelope (a play off of Netflix's signature DVD mailers) subsidiary, but then closed the company in 2008 as it didn't want to compete with the same film studios that provided their content. However, in recent years, Netflix has gotten back into the film game, buying the rights for high-profile films like The Square, Beasts of No Nation and Roma. In that arena, they have found a big competitor in Amazon Studios, who have also branched into original programming and films for its streaming service, with both companies becoming serious players in a short time, and even going so far as to be involved in several bidding wars at 2016 Sundance. After Cannes announced in 2018 that it would no longer allow films that cannot be theatrically released in France during a given year to play in competition (French law states that theatrically released films have to wait three years before a streaming release), Netflix announced its decision to deemphasize prestige film commissioning. Netflix has inked deals with numerous studios and content creators, including Happy Madison Productions, Paramount, Nickelodeon, Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, Higher Ground Productions, Amblin Partners and more to create exclusive film and television content for the service. In 2021, they also outright acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company, granting them the rights to adapt the full catalog of the author's work.
Netflix also at one time was going to distribute its own set-top box, after seeing the success Apple was beginning to have with its Apple TV. Again, the company decided they didn't want to compete against companies who would be ultimately creating equipment that Netflix would want to be installed on. So, in 2007, the project nicknamed 'Project Griffin' was spun off into its own company - Roku - which has become successful in America as that market expanded. The move allowed Netflix to be included in more electronics as it hoped, as it is 'baked in' to nearly all new Blu-Ray players and smart televisions.
- April 14, 1998 — United States (DVD rentals)
- January 16, 2007 — United States (streaming services)
- September 22, 2010 — Canada
- September 5, 2011 — Brazil
- September 7, 2011 — Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay
- September 8, 2011 — Chile and Bolivia
- September 9, 2011 — Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador
- September 12, 2011 — Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
- January 4, 2012 — United Kingdom and Ireland
- October 18, 2012 — Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
- September 11, 2013 — The Netherlands
- September 19, 2014 — Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg
- March 24, 2015 — Australia and New Zealand
- September 2, 2015 — Japan
- October 20, 2015 — Italy, Portugal and Spain
- January 6, 2016 — The rest of Asia (except China and North Korea), most of Africa, North Africa and the Middle East (except Syria), the rest of Europe (except Crimea) and India
Netflix's original works include (available worldwide unless noted otherwise):
The following list is for programming that is either specifically produced for Netflix or has Netflix as a distributor in its home country. Bold indicates either upcoming or already-renewed programs.note- Brave Series (2021)
- Kayko & Kokosh (2021)
- Next Gen (2018)note
- 7 Seeds (2019-20)
- Aggretsuko (2018-21)
- A.I.C.O. Incarnation (2018)
- Altered Carbon: Resleeved (2020)
- Baki (2018, 2020-present)
- Bright: Samurai Soul (2021)
- B: The Beginning (2018, 2021)
- Cagaster: Of An Insect Cage (2020)
- Cannon Busters (2019)
- DEVILMAN crybaby (2018)
- Dino Girl Gauko (2019-20)
- The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened (2019; new series)
- Dragon's Dogma (2020)
- Eden (2021)
- Exception (2022)
- Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (2020, 2022)
- Hero Mask (2018-19)
- Japan Sinks (2020)
- Kengan Ashura (2019-present)
- Kotaro Lives Alone (2022)
- Levius (2019)
- Lost Song (2018)
- Pacific Rim: The Black (2021-22)
- Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)
- Rilakkuma and Kaoru (2019)
- Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac (2019-20)
- Spriggan (2022)
- Super Crooks (2021)
- Sword Gai: The Animation (2018)
- Untitled Terminator anime (TBA)
- Thermae Romae Novae (2021)
- Tiger & Bunny 2 (2022)
- Ultraman (2019, 2022-23)
- Vampire in the Garden (2022)
- The Way of the Househusband (2021)
- Yasuke (2021)
- America: The Motion Picture (2021)
- Angela's Christmas (2017)
- Angela's Christmas Wish (2020)
- Animal Crackers (2020)
- Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022)
- Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021)
- Back to the Outback (2021)
- Cat Burglar (2022)
- Extinct (2021)
- Gnome Alone (2018)note
- Hilda and the Mountain King (2021)
- The House (2022)
- If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)
- Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus (2019)
- Klaus (2019)note
- The Loud House Movie (2021)
- The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)note
- Mr. Puzzles Wants You to Be Less Alive (2021)
- My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021)
- My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Legend of Everfree (2016; initially US and Canada only, released worldwide in February 2017)note
- NIMONA (2023)
- Over the Moon (2020)
- Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling (2019)
- Sahara (2017)
- The Sea Beast (2022)
- Seal Team (2021)
- Summit Of The Gods (2021)
- Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021)
- Vivo (2021)note
- Wendell and Wild (2022)
- The Willoughbys (2020)
- Wish Dragon (2021)
- The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
- 13th (2016)
- 1922 (2017)
- 22 July (2018)
- 6 Underground (2019)
- 7 años (2016)
- The Adam Project (2022)
- Advantageous (2015)note
- Afterlife of the Party (2021)
- Aftermath (2021)
- Alex Strangelove (2018)
- Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens (2021)
- All My Friends Are Dead (2020)
- All The Bright Places (2020)
- Along for the Ride (2022)
- Always Be My Maybe (2019)
- American Factory (2019)
- American Son (2019)
- Anastasia: Once Upon a Time (2020)
- Annihilation (2018)note
- Apostle (2018)
- Army of the Dead (2021)
- Army of Thieves (2021)
- ARQ (2016)
- Atlantics (2019)note
- The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch (2018)
- The Babysitter (2017)
- The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
- Bad Trip (2021)
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)note
- Barry (2016)
- Beats (2019)
- Beasts of No Nation (2015)note
- Beckett (2021)
- Before I Wake (2017/2018)note
- Benji (2018)
- Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)
- Becoming (2020)
- Big Bug (2021)
- Bird Box (2018)
- Black Crab (2022)
- Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
- Blood Red Sky (2021)
- The Boys in the Band (2020)
- Brahman Naman (2016)
- Bright (2017)
- The Bubble (2022)
- Burning Sands (2017)
- The Call (2020)
- Cam (2018)
- Candy Jar (2018)
- Cargo (2018)
- Carmen Sandiego (2020)
- Choose Or Die (2022)
- A Christmas Prince (2017)
- The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
- The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
- A Classic Horror Story (2021)
- Clinical (2017)
- The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
- Coin Heist (2017)
- Come Sunday (2018)
- Corazón Loco (2020)
- Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny (2016)
- Da 5 Bloods (2020)
- Dead Kids (2019)
- Deadly Illusions (2021)
- Death Note (2017)
- Deidra and Laney Rob a Train (2017)
- Desperados (2020)
- The Devil All the Time (2020)
- The Dig (2021)
- The Dirt (2019)
- The Division (TBA)
- Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
- The Do Over (2016)
- Don't Look Up (2021)
- Dumplin' (2018)
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)note
- Eli (2019)
- Empress (TBA)
- Enola Holmes (2020)
- Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
- Extinction (2018)
- Extraction (2020)
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (2019)note
- Fear Street (2021)
- Fe De Etarras (2017)
- Finding 'Ohana (2021)
- First They Killed My Father (2017)
- Fistful Of Vengeance (2022)
- The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
- Fyre (2019)
- A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
- Game Over, Man! (2018)
- Gerald's Game (2017)
- Glass Onion (2022)
- The Guilty (2021)
- Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
- The Half of It (2020)
- The Harder They Fall (2021)
- He's All That (2021)
- The Highwaymen (2019)
- Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
- His House (2020)
- Hold the Dark (2018)
- Horse Girl (2020)
- How It Ends (2018)
- Hubie Halloween (2020)
- Huck (TBA)
- Hush (2016)note
- Hustle (2022)
- iBoy (2017)
- I Am Mother (2019)
- I Am Not an Easy Man (2018)
- I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
- I Care a Lot (2021)note
- Icarus (2017)
- IO (2019)
- I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
- I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
- La Influencia (2019)
- Interceptor (2022)
- In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)
- In The Tall Grass (2019)
- The Invisible Thread (2022)
- The Irishman (2019)note
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
- John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)
- Kate (2021)
- Kimmy vs. The Reverend (2020)
- The King (2019)
- The Kissing Booth (2018)
- The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)
- The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)
- The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
- Knock Down the House (2019)
- The Last Days of American Crime (2020)
- The Last Summer (2019)
- The Laundromat (2019)
- Let It Snow (2019)
- Like Father (2018)
- Little Evil (2017)
- Long Shot (2017)
- The Lost Daughter (2021)
- The Lovebirds (2020) note
- Love Hard (2021)
- Malcolm & Marie (2021)
- Malevolent (2018)
- The Man From Toronto (2022)
- Mank (2020)
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
- Mascots (2016)
- Marriage Story (2019)note
- Mercy (2016)
- Metal Lords (2022)
- The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
- Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special (2017)
- The Midnight Sky (2020)
- The Most Assassinated Woman in the World (2018)
- Mowgli (2018)note
- Moxie (2021)
- Mudbound (2017)
- Munich - The Edge of War (2022)
- Murder Mystery (2019)
- Mute (2018)
- My Octopus Teacher (2020)
- A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
- Nick Offerman: American Ham (2014)
- Nightbooks (2021)
- Nobody Sleeps In The Woods Tonight (2020)
- No One Gets Out Alive (2021)
- Okja (2017)note
- The Old Guard (2020)
- Untitled The Old Guard sequel (TBA)
- The Open House (2018)
- The Other Side of the Wind (2018)
- Outlaw King (2018)
- Outside the Wire (2021)
- Oxygen (2021)
- The Package (2018)
- Parallels (2015)
- Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)
- The Perfection (2019)
- Polar (2019)
- The Polka King (2018)
- The Power of the Dog (2021)
- The Princess Switch (2018)
- The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)
- The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021)
- Project Power (2020)
- The Prom (2020)
- Rattlesnake (2019)
- #REALITYHIGH (2017)
- Rebecca (2020)
- Rebirth (2016)
- Red Notice (2021)
- Ride Or Die (2021)
- The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
- Rim of the World (2019)
- Roma (2018)note
- Sandy Wexler (2017)
- See You Yesterday (2019)
- Set It Up (2018)
- Sharkey the Bounty Hunter (TBA)
- Shimmer Lake (2017)
- The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
- Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018)
- Single All the Way (2021)
- The Sleepover (2020)
- The Social Dilemma (2020)
- Someone Great (2019)
- Space Sweepers (2021)
- Special Correspondents (2016)
- Spectral (2016)
- Spenser Confidential (2020)
- Spiderhead (2022)
- The Starling (2021)
- Stowaway (2021)
- Strong Island (2017)
- Sweet Girl (2021)
- Swiped (2018)
- The Takedown (2022)
- Take the 10 (2017)
- Tallulah (2016)
- Tall Girl (2019)
- TAU (2018)
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
- tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)
- The Titan (2018)
- The Trip (2021)
- There's Someone Inside Your House (2021)
- Thriller (2018)
- Thunder Force (2021)
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
- To the Bone (2017)
- The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)note
- Triple Frontier (2019)
- True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016)
- The Two Popes (2019)note
- Unicorn Store (2019)note
- Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
- Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
- Virunga (2014)
- War Machine (2017)
- We Can Be Heroes (2020)
- A Week Away (2021)
- What Did Jack Do? (2020)
- What Happened to Monday (2017)note
- When We First Met (2018)
- Wheelman (2017)
- The White Tiger (2021)
- Win It All (2017)
- Wine Country (2019)
- Winter on Fire (2015)
- The Woman in the Window (2021)
- XOXO (2016)
- 13 Reasons Why (2017-20)
- 3% (2016, 2018-20)
- Abstract: The Art of Design (2017, 2019)
- After Life (2019-20, 2022)
- Age Of Samurai (2021)
- AJ and the Queen (2020)
- Alexa & Katie (2018-20)
- Alias Grace (2017)note
- Alice in Borderland (2020, 2022)
- Alien Worlds (2020)
- The A List (2018, 2021)note
- All of Us Are Dead (2022-present)
- Alta Mar (2019-20)
- Altered Carbon (2018, 2020)
- American Jesus (TBA)
- American Vandal (2017-18)
- Another Life (2019, 2021)
- Archive 81 (2022, based on the podcast of the same name)
- Ares (2020)
- Arrested Development (2013, 2018-19; seasons 4 and 5)note
- Assassins Creed (TBA)
- Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show (2019)
- Atelier (2015)
- Atypical (2017-19, 2021)
- Avatar The Last Airbender (TBA; live-action remake)
- Away (2020)
- Aunty Donna's Big 'Ol House of Fun (2020)
- The Baby-Sitters Club (2020-21)
- Bad Samaritans (2013)
- Barbarians (2020, 2022)
- Behind Her Eyes (2021)
- Between (2015-16)note
- The Big Show Show (2020)
- Bill Nye Saves the World (2017-18)
- #blackAF (2020)
- Black Earth Rising (2019)note
- Black Mirror (2016-17, 2019-present; series 3-)note
- Black Summer (2019, 2021)
- Blood & Water (2020-present)
- Bloodline (2015-17)
- Bloodride (2020)
- Bonding (2019, 2021)
- Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
- Bridgerton (2020, 2022-present)
- Cable Girls (2017-20)
- Captive (2016)
- Car Masters Rust To Riches (2018, 2020-21)
- Chasing Cameron (2016)
- Chef's Table (2015-20)
- Chelsea Does (2016)
- Chief of Staff (2019)
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-20)
- Clickbait (2021)
- Club de cuervos (2015-17, 2019), their first Spanish-language Original; produced in Mexico.
- Cobra Kai (2021-present; season 4-)note
- Collateral (2018)note
- Control Z (2020-22)
- Cooked (2016)
- Country Comfort (2021)
- Cowboy Bebop (2021)
- Crazyhead (2016)note
- The Crew (2021)
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at The Cecil Hotel (2021)
- Criminal (2019-20)
- The Crown (2016-20, 2022-present)
- Curon (2020)
- Cursed (2020)
- Dark (2017, 2019-20)note
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
- Dark Desire (2020, 2022)
- Dash & Lily (2020)
- Daughter From Another Mother (2021-present)
- Daybreak (2019)
- Dead to Me (2019-present)
- Dear White People (2017-19, 2021)
- Degrassi: Next Class (2016-17)note
- Delhi Crime (2019-present)
- Designated Survivor (2019; season 3)note
- Diablero (2018, 2020)
- Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016-17)note
- Dirty Lines (2022)
- Dirty Money (2018, 2020)
- Disjointed (2017-18)
- D.P. (2021-present)
- Dracula (2020)
- The Eddy (2020)
- Elite (2018-present)
- Emily in Paris (2020-present)
- The End of the F***ing World (2018-19)note
- Everything Sucks! (2018)
- Extracurricular (2020)
- Family Reunion (2019-present)
- Fate: The Winx Saga (2021-present)
- Fearless (2016)
- First Kill (2022-present)
- Flaked (2016-17)
- Floor Is Lava (2020-present)
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019-present)
- Free Rein (2017-19)
- Friends from College (2017, 2019)
- Frontier (2017-18)note
- Fuller House (2016-20)note
- Gentefied (2020-21)
- The Get Down (2016-17)
- Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)
- Ginny and Georgia (2021-present)
- Girlboss (2017)
- Girl from Nowhere (2021)
- GLOW (2017-19)
- Godless (2017)
- The Good Cop (2018)
- Good Morning Call (2016-17)note
- Ghoul (2018)
- Giri/Haji (2020; outside the UK)
- Grace and Frankie (2015-22)
- Grand Army (2020)
- Greenhouse Academy (2017-20)
- The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!) (2022)
- Gypsy (2017)
- Haters Back Off (2016-17)
- The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
- The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
- Heartstopper (2022-present)
- The Healing Powers of Dude (2020)
- Hellbound (2021)
- Hemlock Grove (2013-15)
- Hibana Spark (2016)
- High Score (2020)
- Hit & Run (2021)
- Hollywood (2020)
- How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) (2019-21)
- House of Cards (2013-18)note
- The House of Flowers (2018-20)
- Hyperdrive (2019)
- I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
- The I-Land (2019)
- In From the Cold (2022)
- Ingobernable (2017-18)note
- The Innocents (2018)
- Insatiable (2018-19)
- Into the Night (2020-21)
- Inventing Anna (2022)
- The Irregulars (2021)
- I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson (2019, 2021-present)
- The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (2018)
- Julie and the Phantoms (2020)
- Julie's Greenroom (2017)
- Ju-On: Origins (2020)
- Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
- Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman (2017)
- Katla (2021)
- The Killing (2014; season 4)
- Kingdom (2019-20)
- Kiss Me First (2018)
- The Kominsky Method (2018-19, 2021)
- Lady Dynamite (2016-17)
- Last Chance U (2016-20)
- The Last Czars (2019)
- The Last Kingdom (2018, 2020, 2022; season 3-5, picked up from The BBC)
- Last One Standing (2022)
- The Letter For The King (2020)
- Lilyhammer (2012-14)
- Locke & Key (2020-22)
- Longmire (2015-17; season 4-6)note
- Lost & Found Music Studios (2016-17)note
- Lost in Space (2018-19, 2021)
- Love (2016-18)
- Love Alarm (2019, 2021)
- Love & Anarchy (2020-present)
- Love Is Blind (2020-present)
- Lovesick (2016, 2018)
- Lucifer (2019-21; Season 4-6) note
- Luna Nera (2020)
- Lupin (2021-present)
- Maid (2021)
- Making a Murderer (2015, 2018)
- Maniac (2018)
- Manifest (TBA; Season 4) note
- Man vs. Bee (2022)
- Marco Polo (2014, 2016)
- Marseille (2016, 2018)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe:note
- Daredevil (2015-16, 2018)
- Jessica Jones (2015, 2018-19)
- Iron Fist (2017-18)
- Luke Cage (2016, 2018)
- The Defenders (2017)
- The Punisher (2017, 2019)
- Master of None (2015, 2017, 2021)
- Medical Police (2020)
- Messiah (2020)
- Million Yen Women (2017)
- Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (2016, 2019)
- Midnight Mass (2021)
- Mindhunter (2017, 2019)
- The Ministry of Time (2017)note
- Money Heist (2019-21)note
- Most Beautiful Thing (2019-20)
- Mr. Iglesias (2019-20)
- Murderville (2022)
- My First First Love (2019)
- My Name (2021)
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return (2017-18)
- Nailed It! (2018-21)
- The Naked Director (2019, 2021)
- Narcos (2015-18, 2020-21)
- The Neighbor (2019, 2021)
- Netflix Presents: The Characters (2016)
- Never Have I Ever (2020-present)
- The New Legends Of Monkey (2018, 2020)
- Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer (2021)
- The OA (2016, 2019)
- October Faction (2020)
- One Day at a Time (2017-19; seasons 1-3)note
- One Hundred Years of Solitude (TBA)
- One Piece (TBA)
- On My Block (2018-21)
- Orange Is the New Black (2013-19)note
- The Order (2019-20)
- Osmosis (2019)
- Outer Banks (2020-present)
- Ozark (2017-18, 2020, 2022)
- Paquita Salas (2018-19; season 2-)note
- Paranoid (2016)note
- Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018-20)
- The Pentaverate (2022)
- Plan Cur (2018-19, 2022; alternatively known as The Hook-Up Plan)
- The Politician (2019-20)
- Prank Encounters (2019, 2021)
- Project Mc 2 (2015-17)
- The Protector (2018-20)
- The Queen's Gambit (2020)
- Queen Sono (2020)
- Queer Eye (2018-present), a revival of the Bravo series.
- Quicksand (2019), the first original series produced in Sweden.
- Ragnarok (2020-present), a Norwegian-produced series heavily based on Norse Mythology
- The Rain (2018-20), the first original series produced in Denmark
- Raising Dion (2019, 2022)
- The Ranch (2016-20)
- Ratched (2020-present)
- Re:Mind (2018; Outside Japan)
- Resident Evil (2022)
- Rhythm + Flow (2019)
- Richie Rich (2015)
- The Ripper (2020)
- ReBoot: The Guardian Code (2018)
- Roman Empire: Reign of Blood (2016, 2018-19)
- Russell Peters vs. the World (2013)
- Russian Doll (2019, 2022)
- Sacred Games (2018-19)
- Safe (2018)note
- Samurai Gourmet (2017)
- The Sandman (2022)
- Santa Clarita Diet (2017-19)
- Say I Do (2020)
- The School Nurse Files (2020)
- School of Chocolate (2021)
- Selena: The Series (2020-21)
- Sense8 (2015-18)
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017-19)
- Sex Education (2019-present)
- Sexify (2021-present)
- Sex/Life (2021-present)
- Shadow and Bone (2021-present)
- She's Gotta Have It (2017-19)
- Shot In The Dark (2017)
- The Silent Sea (2021)
- Slasher (2017, 2019; seasons 2-3)note
- Snabba Cash (2021-22)
- SMASH Saturday Morning All Star Hits (2021)
- The Society (2019)
- Space Force (2020, 2022)
- Spinning Out (2020)
- The Spy (2019)
- Squid Game (2021-present)
- Stranger Things (2016-17, 2019, 2022-present)
- Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017, 2019-20)
- Sugar Rush (2018-20)
- Surviving Death (2021)
- Sweet Home (2020)
- Sweet Magnolias (2020, 2022-present)
- Sweet Tooth (2021-present)
- Switched (2018)
- Sword Art Online (TBA)
- Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020)
- Terrace House (2015-20)note
- Tidelands (2018)
- Tiger King (2020-21)
- Top Boy (2019-present)
- The Toys That Made Us (2017)
- The Movies That Made Us (2019)
- Trailer Park Boys (2014-18; season 8-)note
- Travelers (2016-18)note
- Troy: Fall of a City (2018)
- Tiny Pretty Things (2020)
- Ultimate Beastmaster (2017-18)
- The Umbrella Academy (2019-20, 2022)
- Unbelievable (2019)
- Unorthodox (2020)
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-19)
- Unsolved Mysteries (2020, 2022)
- The Valhalla Murders (2020), their first Icelandic original series
- Vikings: Valhalla (2022-present)
- Virgin River (2019-present)
- V Wars (2019)
- Warrior Nun (2020-present)
- Wednesday (2022)
- Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015)
- What If (2019)
- When They See Us (2019)
- White Rabbit Project (2016)
- Wild, Wild Country (2018)
- The Witcher (2019, 2021-present)
- With Bob and David (2015), a revival of Mr. Show
- The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
- The Worst Witch (2017-20)
- Wu Assassins (2019)
- You (2019, 2021-present; season 2-)note
- Young Royals (2021-present)
- Young Wallander (2020, 2022)
- Zumbos: Just Deserts (2019)
- Action Pack (2022-present)
- Ada Twist, Scientist (2021-22)
- Angry Birds: Summer Madness (2022)
- Arcane (2021-present)
- Ask the StoryBots (2016, 2018-19)
- Battle Kitty (2022)
- Beat Bugs (2016-18)
- Big Mouth (2017-present)
- Human Resources (2022-present)
- Blood of Zeus (2020-present)
- Bojack Horseman (2014-20; streaming rights onlynote )
- Bottersnikes And Gumbles (2016-17)
- Buddi (2020)
- Buddy Thunderstruck (2017)
- Care Bears & Cousins (2015-16note )
- Carmen Sandiego (2019-21)
- Castlevania (2017-18, 2020-21)
- Centaurworld (2021)
- Charlie's Colorforms City (2019)
- Chicago Party Aunt (2021-present)
- Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt (2020)
- City of Ghosts (2021)
- Cupcake & Dino: General Services (2018-19)
- The Cuphead Show! (2022-present)note
- Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022)
- Diablo (TBA)
- Disenchantment (2018-19, 2021-22)
- Dogs in Space (2021-present)
- DOTA: Dragon's Blood (2021-22)
- The Dragon Prince (2018-present)
- Many shows from the DreamWorks Animation library:
- The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015-18)note
- All Hail King Julien (2014-17)note
- Archibald's Next Big Thing (2019-20)
- The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018, 2020)
- The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (2022)
- Dawn of the Croods (2015-17)
- Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019-20)
- Dragons: Riders of Berk (2015-18; season 3-8, subtitled Race to the Edge)note
- Dino Trux (2015-18)
- The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018-20)
- Farzar (TBA)
- Fast & Furious: Spy Racers (2019-21)
- Gabbys Dollhouse (2021-present)
- Harvey Street Kids (2018-20)
- Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh (2016-18)
- Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-22)
- Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020)
- The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015-17)note
- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-20)
- Spirit: Riding Free (2017-20)
- Tales of Arcadia
- Trollhunters (2016-18)note
- 3Below (2018-19)
- Wizards (2020)
- Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (2018-19)
- Turbo F.A.S.T. (2013-16)note
- VeggieTales in the House (2014-16)note
- Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-18)note
- Ever After High (2015-16; season 3-)
- F is for Family (2015, 2017-18, 2020-21)
- Go Dog Go (2021)
- Green Eggs and Ham (2019, 2022)
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021-22)
- Hilda (2018, 2020-present)note
- The Hollow (2018, 2020)
- Hoops (2020)
- The Idhun Chronicles (2020-21)
- I ♥ Arlo (2021)
- Inside Job (2021-present)
- Johnny Test (2021-22)
- Justin Time GO! (2016)
- Karmas World (2021-22)
- Kazoops (2016)
- Kid Cosmic (2021-22)
- Kong: King of the Apes (2016, 2018)
- Kulipari: An Army of Frogs (2016)
- Kulipari: Dream Walker (2018)
- The Last Kids on Earth (2019-21)
- Legend Quest (2017, 2019)
- LEGO cartoons:
- The Liberator (2020)
- Llama Llama (2018-19; worldwide)
- Love, Death & Robots (2019, 2021-22)
- Luna Petunia (2016-18)
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017-18, 2020)
- Magic: The Gathering (2022)
- Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021)
- Maya and the Three (2021)
- The Midnight Gospel (2020)
- Mighty Express (2020-22)
- Motown Magic (2018-19)
- My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (2022)
- A number of shows originally scheduled for Nickelodeon or produced by Nick for the streaming service:
- Glitch Techs (2020)
- Pinky Malinky (2019)
- Neo Yokio (2017-18)
- Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2021-22)
- Paradise PD (2018, 2020-21)
- Popples (2015-16)
- The Problem Solverz (2013; season 2)
- Q-Force (2021)
- Rhyme Time Town (2020)
- Ridley Jones (2021-22)
- Robozuna (2018-19)
- Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (2022)
- Seis Manos (2019)
- Skylanders Academy (2016-18)
- Sonic Prime (2022)
- Star Beam (2020-21)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2014; season 6)note
- Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (2017-18)
- Super Drags (2018)
- Super Monsters (2017-20)
- A Tale Dark And Grimm (2021)
- Tarzan and Jane (2017-18)
- Tear Along the Dotted Line (2021)
- Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series (2019-20; continues from season 12 of its parent show)
- Transformers: BotBots (2022)
- Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (2020-21)
- Trash Truck (2020)
- Trese (2021)
- True and the Rainbow Kingdom (2017-19)note
- Tuca & Bertie (2019; season 1)note
- Twelve Forever (2019)
- We're Lalaloopsy (2017)
- Word Party (2016-17, 2020-21)
- World of Winx (2016-17), part of the Winx Club franchise.
- YooHoo to the Rescue (2019-20)
Licensed programming on Netflix include:
The following list is for programming Netflix licenses to stream on its service. For series, this means Netflix streaming a program after its original run, while for films, this amounts to Netflix having distribution rights for a film that was released by another company in its home country. Most of them have the label "Netflix Original", despite Netflix not having anything to do with its original release.- The Kirlian Frequency (2019)
- Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf - Flying Island: The Sky Adventure (2018)note
- Scissor Seven (2018-20)
- Ajin (both seasons, Sentai Filmworks has the home video license.)
- Back Street Girls (premiered on December 12, 2018)
- Beastars (Fall 2019 series)
- Blamenote
- Blue Period (2021-22)
- BNA: Brand New Animal
- Carole & Tuesday (Spring 2019 series; new original from Studio Bones and Shinichiro Watanabe)
- Children of the Whales (2017 series; released worldwide on March 13, 2018)
- Cyborg 009: Call of Justice (originally three films edited into 12 episodes. The vs. Devilman OVA is also streaming worldwide and had a dub commissioned for it but it's not labelled as an Original)
- Dorohedoro (2020 series; exclusive worldwide streaming rights)
- Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan (released on September 21, 2018)
- Dragon Quest: Your Story (CG film originally released in 2019)
- Drifting Dragons
- Fate/Apocrypha (2017 series)note
- Fate/Extra Last Encore (2018 series)note
- Flavors of Youth (released on August 4, 2018)
- Forest of Piano (Spring 2018 Anime, released worldwide on September 28, 2018)
- Glitter Force /Glitter Force Doki Dokinote
- Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (premiered on January 17, 2018)
- Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (premiered on July 18, 2018)
- Godzilla: The Planet Eater (premiered on January 9, 2019)
- Great Pretender (episodes 1-14 released worldwide on August 20, 2020)
- High-Rise Invasion
- High Score Girl (released on December 24, 2018)
- ID-0 (2017 series; exclusive worldwide streaming rights)
- Ingress (premiered worldwide on April 30, 2019)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean (2021)
- Juushinki Pandora (Spring 2018 Anime)note
- Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Battle of Unato (sequel filmnote )
- Kakegurui (2017 series; exclusive worldwide streaming rights. Released on February 1, 2018)
- Knights of Sidonianote
- Komi Can't Communicate (2021-)
- Kuromukuro (2016 seriesnote )
- Little Witch Academia (2017 TV Series billed as a Netflix Original outside Japannote )
- Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad (2016 seriesnote )
- Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021 movie; exclusive worldwide streaming rights. Released on July 1, 2021)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (Exclusive worldwide streaming rights for all 26 episodes, alongside the films Death(true)2 and The End of Evangelion; released worldwide on June 21, 2019)
- Ni no Kuni (2019 film, released on January 16, 2020)
- The Orbital Children (2022)
- Pokémon Journeys: The Series (released on June 12, 2020)
- Revisions (Winter 2019 series)
- Saint Seiya (exclusive North American streaming rightsnote )
- Sailor Moon Eternalnote
- Shaman Kingnote
- The Seven Deadly Sinsnote
- Tenrou Sirius the Jaeger
- Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan
- Violet Evergardennote
- A Whisker Awaynote
- Leo the Lion (2013)note
- The Little Prince (original release in 2015; released on Netflix in 2016)note
- A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2020)note
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)note
- Alive (2020)
- Anon (2018)
- Bleach (2018)note
- Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
- Divines (2016)note
- The Forgotten Battle (2021)
- Fullmetal Alchemist (2018)note
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)note
- Hot Gimmick (2019)
- Ilang: The Wolf Brigade (2018)note
- The Last Letter From Your Lover (2021)note
- News of the World (2021)note
- Nothing to Hide (2018)
- Ravenous (2018)note
- The Ritual (2018)
- Seven in Heaven (2018)
- Shaft (2019)note
- Skip Trace (2016)note
- The Square (2014)
- Uncut Gems (2020)note
- Veronica (2017)
- Yes, God, Yes (2020)
- The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)
- 19-2note
- 45 RPMnote
- Amonote
- Babylon Berlinnote
- The Barrier
- Benvinguts a la Família
- Better Call Saulnote
- BG: Personal Bodyguardnote
- Black Spot (outside Benelux)
- Bodyguardnote
- Brothersnote
- The Breaknote
- Charite
- Charité at War
- Chewing Gumnote
- Cocaine Coastnote
- Crash Landing on You
- Crazy Ex-Girlfriendnote
- Crisisnote
- The Defeated
- Derry Girlsnote
- Dirty John
- Dynastynote
- The Expansenote
- The Fall
- Faudanote
- Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Lightnote
- The Frankenstein Chroniclesnote
- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Seriesnote
- The Frozen Dead
- Ghost Wars
- The Good Placenote
- Greenleafnote
- Hotel Beau Séjournote
- Hyena
- Ice Fantasynote
- Immortalsnote
- The InBESTigatorsnote
- The Indian Detectivenote
- Itaewon Classnote
- It's Okay to Not Be Okay
- Japan Sinks People Of Hope (2021)
- The King's Avatarnote
- La Mante
- Legends of Tomorrownote
- Manhunt: Unabomber
- Mech-X4
- Medicinote
- Memories of the Alhambra
- Mr. Sunshine (2018)
- My Country: The New Age
- OCTBnote
- Oktoberfest 1900note
- Once Upon a Timenote
- On Children
- Orphan Blacknote
- Partners For Justice (outside South Korea)
- Peaky Blindersnote
- The Pinkertonsnote
- Posenote
- Pretty Little Liarsnote
- Riverdalenote
- Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryungnote
- Salamander
- Scream (TV Series)note
- Selena: The Series
- Shadowhuntersnote
- Shooternote
- Shtiselnote
- Sorjonennote
- Star Trek: Discoverynote
- Strangers From Hellnote
- Titansnote
- Vagabondnote
- Vincenzo
- Why Are You Like This
- Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse - Sisters' Fun Day
- Chip and Potatonote
- Danger Mouse (revival, billed in the US as an Original; season 3 will instead air on Paramount+ while the first two seasons air on Qubo.)
- Inspector Gadget (billed as an Original in the US. Premiered in Asia in January 2017.)
- LoliRock (in North America, though not billed as an Original)
- Miraculous Ladybug (Seasons 2-3 in the US only, although not billed as an Original)
- Pacific Heat
- Puffin Rocknote
- Rainbow High
- Rick and Mortynote
- Thomas & Friends (Seasons 23-24)note
- Thomas & Friends: All Engines Gonote
- Wakfu (Season 3, co-produced with France 4. French release in October 2017, worldwide release April 2018)
- Watership Down (2018)
Netflix's works provide examples of:
-
Animation Age Ghetto: Averted through most of its existence, allowing a platform for animated works that otherwise wouldn't exist outside of streaming platforms. April 2022 saw Netflix cancel a number of animated shows, particularly adult ones, with reports citing that kid-oriented shows (primarily those geared toward preschoolers) are being used as the future model for their animated series, apparently embracing the ghetto.
- April Fools' Day: Netflix has been doing these since 2013:
- In 2013, Netflix added genres that were overly detailed. These included "Movies Starring Estelle Getty and Some Other Guy", "Movies That Are in English, But Still Require Subtitles" and "TV Shows Where Defiantly Crossed Arms Mean Business!", which had nothing to do with the shows themselves, but rather listed shows whose icons had people with their arms crossed on it.
- In 2014, two Netflix Originals were added, titled Sizzling Bacon and Rotisserie Chicken. They were nothing but long, unedited stock footage of the respective foods being made.
- In 2015, if you binge watched something, instead of the usual "Are you still watching" message, one of thirteen Public Service Announcements would play about the dangers of binge watching, each starring an actor of a Netflix Original.
- In 2016, Netflix once again added overly detailed genres, though this time they were all John Stamos-themed (possibly to advertise Fuller House, which was added earlier that year). A video was also "leaked" of Stamos at the Netflix headquarters upset that the company was not greenlighting his documentary about himself. The next day, Netflix added a video jokingly apologizing about the incident.
- In 2017, a new Original was added titled Netflix Live on March 31, featuring Will Arnett giving commentary about various mundane things. On April 1, they announced that the segment had been cancelled, citing that they had overestimated how many people wanted to binge watch microwaves.
- In 2018, Netflix announced that they were acquiring Seth Rogen. Not any of his projects, him literally.
- The Artifact: Since the company is almost exclusively associated with streaming television nowadays, many people are surprised to learn that Netflix still maintains a DVD rental service
, which is modestly profitable enough to justify its continued existence
(although it has fallen from its heyday in the 2000s, its subscribers dwindling each year). For international viewers, the fact that Netflix started out as a rental service is a legitimate surprise, since it has never been available outside the US.
- Bad Export for You: When Netflix turned on its services worldwide in January 2016, many countries were left with English-only programs and optional audio in a non-native language. On the other hand, Netflix's default to user-language audio as opposed to the content's original language caused many a frustration in the Nordics and Benelux, where subtitles are used to translate everything not aimed at kids. Since 2019 however, Netflix began subtitling and dubbing its originals in at least six different languages; such as Hungarian, Czech, Japanese and Hindi.
- Banned in China:
- Literally. China is currently the only non-sanctioned country that does not have access to the service. Netflix themselves hinted that the Chinese government prohibited them from launching in the country in its current form. This results in the noticeable dearth of Chinese-produced content on the service, despite the PRC's mammoth entertainment industry. Some Netflix original series are available in China on locally owned streamer iQiyi.
- Syria, North Korea and the Crimean Peninsula (part of Ukraine that has been de facto annexed by Russia) are the only other countries in the world who do not have access to Netflix. Not because they banned them, but because it would have risked US sanctions. It is still, however, available in Cuba and Iran, despite both countries being designated state sponsors of terrorism by the US.
- On March 6, 2022, Netflix announced that it would join the Western boycott of Russia by suspending its service in the country, following its invasion of Ukraine.
- Breakthrough Hit:
- House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black established Netflix as a provider of original programming. Both reached huge levels of popularity in their runs on Netflix comparable to some of cable TV's biggest hits, like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.
- When a new season of a Netflix show is released, Netflix traffic, which dominates much of North America's bandwidth already in the evening hours, sees jumps
of up to 35%.
- Channel Hop: Netflix has something of a reputation for saving shows axed by other networks (especially prominent when it was still trying to create buzz for the platform), but they do tend to focus on original content produced for the service more than importing cancelled shows, in part because of the existence of other streaming services releasing over the years Netflix has been around that also offer original content and imports:
- The very first show it rescued was Arrested Development, which was revived in 2013 for two more seasons after it was canceled by Fox back in 2006.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Last aired by Cartoon Network in 2013, revived for one season in 2014.
- The Killing — Last aired by AMC in 2013, revived for a season in 2014.
- Trailer Park Boys — Last aired by Showcase in 2007, revived for five seasons in 2014.
- Longmire — Last aired by A&E in 2014, revived for three seasons in 2015.
- Black Mirror — Last aired by Channel 4 in 2014, revived for three seasons in 2016.
- Lovesick — Last aired by Channel 4 in 2014, revived for two seasons in 2016.
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 — Last aired by Sci-Fi in 1999, revived for two seasons in 2017.
- Slasher — Last aired by Chiller in 2016, revived for two seasons in 2017.
- Paquita Salas — Last aired by Flooxer in 2016, revived for two seasons in 2018.
- Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee — Last aired by Crackle in 2017, revived for two seasons in 2018.
- The Last Kingdom — Last aired by BBC Two in 2017, revived for three seasons in 2018.
- Lucifer — Last aired by Fox in 2018, revived for three seasons in 2019.
- Designated Survivor — Last aired by ABC in 2018, revived for one season in 2019.
- Money Heist — Last aired by Antena 3 in 2017, revived for two seasons in 2019.
- Top Boy — Last aired by Channel 4 in 2013, revived for two seasons in 2019.
- You — Last aired by Lifetime in 2018, revived for three seasons in 2019.
- Unsolved Mysteries — Last aired by Spike in 2010, revived for two seasons in 2020.
- Cobra Kai — Last aired by YouTube Premium in 2019, revived for three seasons in 2021.
- Girl from Nowhere — Last aired by GMM 25 in 2018, revived for one season in 2021.
- The A List — Last aired by BBC iPlayer in 2018, revived for one season in 2021.
- Manifest — Last aired by NBC in 2021, revived for one season.
- Content Warnings: Starting in 2019, some shows such as Stranger Things and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance had warnings about strobe effects that could cause seizures in viewers with photosensitive disorders, which was made service wide not long after. These were likely added to comply with content regulations used around the world that require information of a program to be shown before it starts (like the age rating and anything in it that could cause offense). This was later extended to disclose Product Placement (as per the UK's laws), and other varied content warnings.
- Colbert Bump: Older movies and series added to the service tend to get a boost of interest from the public.
- Creator Killer: Not Netflix itself, but Netflix did kill off video rental stores once the internet became fast enough for streaming to truly be viable. Blockbuster eventually filed for Bankruptcy (not helped by their own business decisions). Becomes Irony when you look at the It Will Never Catch On entry.
- Darker and Edgier: Because the shows don't cater to advertisers, lack the guidelines network TV has to follow, and has almost no Executive Meddling keeping creators from putting in what they want, shows and movies on Netflix are often this compared to what you'll find on basic cable or in theaters. Notable examples include Sense8, GLOW (2017), Narcos, Orange Is the New Black, Ozark, 3%, 13 Reasons Why and the Marvel Cinematic Universe series (them being this to the rest of the franchise) to name a few. That said, there are plenty of shows that are perfectly acceptable for viewers of all ages.
- Digital Destruction:
- Netflix has annoyed film buffs by showing some movies in incorrect aspect ratios.
- Its release of Seinfeld took some heat for using a 16:9 ratio that cut off the top and bottom of the frame. Luckily, the show's strong emphasis on verbal humor means not much is actually lost, with the one episode that's really harmed being "The Pothole" as the titular object isn't visible.
- Dueling Works: As of the early 2020s, Netflix faces competition from other major streaming services with huge back catalogs and heavy incoming original content, Disney's Disney+/Hulu combo, WarnerMedia's HBO Max, and Amazon's Prime Video, while others like NBCUniversal's Peacock are furbishing arms. The "streaming wars" have begun.
- Easter Egg: The Gear VR version has tons of set pieces that reference a few Netflix Originals.
- Above the TV, there's a painting dedicated to BoJack Horseman.
- You can see a vacation magazine advertising Rayburn's Hotel, and a pamphlet for Camp Firewood on the coffee table.
- On the right-hand side are three posters for Sense8, Marco Polo and Daredevil.
- Follow the Leader: With the success of Netflix's original programming, many companies have started to introduce their own streaming services with original programming of their own, whether it be existing ones like Hulu, Amazon Prime and Yahoo View, or brand new ones like Paramount+, Disney+, HBO Max and Apple TV+. This has kickstarted what is colloquially referred to as the "streaming wars", where numerous big-name companies are all vying for subscribers. The results have been mixed; none of the newer services have managed to snatch Netflix's crown (even Disney+/Hulu combined still lag Netflix by 60 million subscribers as of 2021), and Netflix's originals routinely dominate the weekly Nielsen streaming chart.
- Friday Night Death Slot: Averted, as time slots are meaningless when viewers can watch on their own schedules. Netflix has started debuting its major original films and series on Fridays in time for weekend binge watching.
- Friendly Enemy: While both Amazon and Netflix have competing streaming services, and both are becoming heavy-hitters in distributing original content and bidding for films, Netflix recently moved
all data center operations for the streaming service (except for content delivery, which is housed in Netflix-maintained boxes throughout the Internet backbone providers) onto Amazon's cloud services. Only the DVD rental business still uses a physical data center. And to top it off, Amazon Studios actually went worldwide 11 months later, which many see as a in a bid to play catch up with Netflix.
- Gamebooks: Its landmark Branch Manager technology, rolled out for Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, is a video example. Viewers are given a set amount of time to make a choice, and if they don't choose the software chooses for them, all with seamless video editing. Rather than a 'flowchart', the software is dynamic, allowing for story resets and pushes towards certain endings.
- Hotter and Sexier: Not unlike HBO, Netflix's looser content restrictions have allowed their original shows and movies to push nudity and sexual content in ways not allowed on non-premium TV or mainstream Hollywood cinema, such as Altered Carbon, Sense8, Hollywood and Sex Education. Netflix joining the MPAA created fears that their original programming would be taken in a Tamer and Chaster direction in order to adhere to the latter's controversial ratings system, but so far this has failed to come to pass.
- In Name Only: Anything Netflix licenses but otherwise has no part in making/producing will be called a Netflix Original in those markets. This comes to the chagrin of anime fans in particular, as they feel it should only apply to the true originals that are exclusive to the platform everywhere and not on shows that already aired in Japan. A notable exception to this policy can be seen with Neon Genesis Evangelion. While Netflix did obtain the streaming rights and make a new dub for said series, it's not listed as a Netflix original, likely because it was already quite well-known long before Netflix started streaming it.
- Invisible Advertising:
- Netflix often doesn't release trailers or ads for its original shows and films until less than a month before their release dates.
- Since it transitioned into a mainly streaming service, Netflix has done little to promote its DVD rental service, which is not mentioned in their main website. It actually has been a separate service since 2011, with a different website and subscription plan; subscribing one will not let you access the other.
- It Will Never Catch On: Netflix has twice been on the receiving end of this trope, and both times, they proved those who made this prediction of them wrong.
- In 2000, CEO Reed Hastings made a proposal to Blockbuster, which was the video rental store at the time, that he would handle a DVD mailing service for them. He was then laughed out of the room. Less than a decade later, Netflix popularity rapidly increased while Blockbuster's sank, and despite an attempt to create their own mailing service, the store ended up declaring bankruptcy in 2010. As of 2019, there is only one Blockbuster store left in the entire world.
- There were quite a few who scoffed at the idea of Netflix having original programming, given the stigma that was often associated with it for having low budgets and poor direction. Now, after these shows rivaled prime-time TV and brought more than a few franchises from the dead, it seems like everyone is trying to get original programming on a streaming service these days.
- Killer App:
- Netflix was one of the major reasons to own a DVD player when it first started. Many people found being able to watch rented movies at their leisure with no late fees irresistible.
- Its streaming option is also a killer app for set-top boxes like Apple TV and Roku, as well as smart TVs and tablets.
- For a good while, the only non-PC device that supported Netflix streaming was the Xbox 360, which gave it a noticeable popularity bump.
- In 2013, Netflix started to release original programming. While this certainly boosted Netflix's subscription numbers quite a bit, it helped that there are some other killer apps for different genres, such as:
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Orange Is the New Black for comedy.
- Bojack Horseman for animation.
- House of Cards for political drama.
- Stranger Things for sci-fi/horror.
- DEVILMAN crybaby and Aggretsuko for anime.
- The ability to blow through entire seasons at once right upon the shows' release is one of Netflix's selling points. Netflix releases all the episodes to the seasons of its original shows at once for this reason. And that's why "binge-watch" has made it into the public lexicon.
- Netflix is one of the killer apps for broadband internet, especially cord-cutting. A lot of people are finding that with the massive selection of TV shows and movies, they don't need cable or satellite TV. The possibility of cable companies throttling their binge-watching sessions is a catalyst for net neutrality activism.
- Konami Code: Most devices that provide Netflix use this code, though "B A" is replaced with pressing "up" four more times. Most of the time this brings up a diagnostics menu.
- Late Export for You: In 1998, Netflix launched in the United States as a DVD rental service with its streaming service premiering on January 16, 2007... and that was it. The service would eventually launch in Canada in September 2010, with the Latin America countries following suit one year later, European countries in January 2012 and Japan in September 2015. The rest of the world had to wait until January 2016 to get Netflix.
- Lighter and Softer:
- Stranger Things is this compared to most Netflix shows of the horror genre. While still dark, it's TV-14, focuses on Kid Heroes and never goes beyond the PG-13 range of content.
- Raising Dion is this in turn to Stranger Things, right down to being rated TV-G despite some similarly dark themes and imagery (but much less explicit violence).
- The Umbrella Academy in a similar vein, is also TV-14, and is lighter than many of their other originals, especially compared to its predecessor superhero series that make up the Defenders.
- Rilakkuma and Kaoru is a lot more adorable and cute than many of Netflix's true original anime. Whereas many of them hold TV-14 or TV-MA ratings, this is TV-PG.
- Kids mode, which is available on all devices. Basically it blocks out any shows not Y-, G- and PG- rated and presents a chunkier and brighter interface.
- Multiple Demographic Appeal: Netflix aims for this with their diverse assortment of original content, covering all manners of formats from Live-Action TV and Movies, to Western Animation, to Anime, and just about every genre of entertainment.
- No Export for You:
- Historical example. Up until January 2016, more than two thirds of the world did not have access to Netflix. This changed on January 7, 2016, when the service was simultaneously launched almost worldwide in a surprise announcement. Even then, it is still not available in three countries due to US embargoes* , and China (where certain Netflix Originals run on a domestically-owned streaming service).
- Even still, some of the "Netflix Originals" can't be seen in certain countries. For instance, Glitter Force isn't shown in Japan due to them already having the source material Smile Pretty Cure! while certain countries can't watch Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return due to limitations made by the studios that own the featured riffing targets.
- In March 2022, Netflix took part in an economic boycott of Russia due to an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine the previous month, which led to all of the studio's upcoming titles being delayed in Russia indefinitely.
- Pan and Scan: They have been known to do this without warning the user, and often against the director's wishes.
- Quarter Hour Short: While a majority of animated shows are either full 22 minutes or split into the 11-minute Two Shorts format, a handful of shows, usually certain Preschool Shows, run as single increments of 11-16 minutes.
- Port Overdosed: In The New '10s, you'd be hard pressed to find a device with both a screen and Internet connectivity that can't stream Netflix, either through the web or a dedicated app. It's available on pretty much anything with an internet connection, and this is very much intentional, with the Nintendo Switch being a notable exception.
- Production Posse: More than a few examples exist; Mainly releases newer shows from the DreamWorks Animation library since 2013, they've have worked regularly with Polygon Pictures on several anime titles and Cinesite and Framestore on many of their live action efforts. Their deals with Production I.G and Studio Bones and possible purchase of Scanline invoke this as well.
- Recorded and Stand-Up Comedy: The service also streams stand-up comedy specials.
- Role Reprise:
- Almost any given original will feature reprises of the old cast when possible, such as Fuller House.
- Whenever a film or series is released onto Netflix and dubbed into another language, Netflix usually keeps the official voice actors whenever possible.
- Screwed by the Network: Has its own page.
- Shared Universe: Netflix, like many other companies, want in on this.
- Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist are connected and outside of small crossovers individually, saw their big crossover with The Defenders. Furthermore, The Punisher got his own show after being a Breakout Character in Daredevil. All are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they are largely connected by brand name only as they make little references to the film, and the films themselves make little reference to the Netflix TV series.
- Narcos: Mexico has been referred to as such, rather than a sequel to Narcos.
- After getting the complete film and TV rights to The Chronicles of Narnia, Netflix announced that a multitude of films and books will be set within the same world.
- Likewise, upon acquiring the rights to all of Roald Dahl's material, they intend to make a shared universe out of them, even the ones unconnected in the books.
- Castlevania and the upcoming Devil May Cry are set in the same world, which is interesting because neither of the games they're based on are even made by the same company.
- The Stinger: Most Netflix streams end with an extra 1-3 minutes of foreign dubbing credits.
- Sturgeon's Law: They have a somewhat better track record than other studios and production companies, but if you see a movie or series produced by Netflix that hasn't gotten critical or media buzz of some sort, there's usually a good reason for that. Whenever the company raises prices, comment sections are filled with people bemoaning that there's supposedly nothing good to watch on Netflix to justify the fee increases. Others like to paint Netflix originals this way when popular films or TV shows disappear from the service, usually due to licensing rights expiration or the move to a streaming service owned by the property's main rights holder.note
- Trope Codifier:
- For the entire "binge-watching" culture. Netflix champions the policy of releasing all episodes of a season at once and is very persistent about it (Hulu sometimes adopts the policy, but they mostly stick to a weekly schedule). Some showrunners who don't want to have their shows dumped all at once have found a way to work around the issue by dividing a season into several "parts", each being considered a season.
- For streaming television, as well. The streaming wars began in the first place because major Hollywood companies wanted a piece of revenue that Netflix had, up to that point, monopolized.
- Urban Legend of Zelda:
- Allegedly, Reed Hastings receiving a $40 late fee from Blockbuster for losing a copy of Apollo 13, and tired of having to put up with Blockbuster's fees, he formed Netflix, which offered a completely different rental model (mail order DVDs for a subscription fee). However, according to Marc Randolph (the co-founder), said story is a myth, and the service was actually created because the two wanted to be the Amazon of somethingnote .
- It's also commonly said that online streaming was always the company's plan and they only ran the DVD service so they could remain profitable until streaming was more widely adopted. In truth, the company's plan was always to be a DVD service until they recognized the potential of online streaming and prepared themselves for it to avoid the same fate as the video stores they ran out of business.
- What Could Have Been: In 2000, Netflix was offered to Blockbuster for a price of $50 million (which, at the time, they could've easily afforded; hell, they made $800 million a year from late fees alone), but refused the offer - which made sense at the time, but unquestionably came back to haunt Blockbuster, since Netflix ultimately became a Creator Killer for video rental stores such as Blockbuster. However, it's worth noting that the main draw of Blockbuster was because of the demand for renting VHS/DVDs at the time - once streaming shows online became a thing, it was only a matter of time before stores like Blockbuster folded, since if Netflix didn't come up with the idea, someone else would have.
- Vindicated by Cable: Netflix has allowed some shows that were cancelled and some films that were Box Office Bombs to find new audiences.
- The Wiki Rule: Yes, it has a wiki
.