Segment Information (Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011 separate_subscription_plans	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012 segments		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012 segments		Sep. 30, 2011 segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments						3				3		2
Number of Separate Subscription Plans			2
Total unique subscribers at end of period	0	[1]		25,561,000		0	[1]	25,561,000		0	[1]
Revenues	$ 889,163			$ 788,610		$ 1,758,954		$ 1,507,163
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses	761,652			584,961		1,521,485		1,127,371
Contribution profit (loss)	127,511			203,649		237,469		379,792
Other operating expenses	111,357			88,535		223,250		162,438
Operating income	16,154			115,114		14,219		217,354
Other income (expense)	(5,499)			(4,290)		(10,589)		(8,290)
Provision for income taxes	4,491			42,610		2,050		80,617
Net income	6,164			68,214		1,580		128,447
Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total unique subscribers at end of period				24,594,000	[1]			24,594,000	[1]
Revenues				769,714				1,475,988
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses				556,719				1,076,108
Contribution profit (loss)				212,995				399,880
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total unique subscribers at end of period				967,000				967,000
Revenues				18,896				31,175
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses				28,242				51,263
Contribution profit (loss)				(9,346)				(20,088)
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Subscriptions At End Of Period	23,938,000	[1]				23,938,000	[1]			23,938,000	[1]
Revenues	532,705					1,039,370
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses	449,533					889,690
Contribution profit (loss)	83,172					149,680
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Subscriptions At End Of Period	3,624,000	[1]				3,624,000	[1]			3,624,000	[1]
Revenues	64,973					108,398
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses	154,400					300,508
Contribution profit (loss)	(89,427)					(192,110)
Domestic Dvd [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Subscriptions At End Of Period	9,240,000	[1]				9,240,000	[1]			9,240,000	[1]
Revenues	291,485					611,186
Cost of revenues and marketing expenses	157,719					331,287
Contribution profit (loss)	$ 133,766					$ 279,899

[1] A subscription is defined as the right to receive either the Netflix streaming service or Netflix DVD service. In connection with our subscription services, we offer free-trial memberships to new and certain rejoining members. A method of payment is required to be provided even during the free-trial period for the membership to be defined as a subscription and included in the above metrics. Total unique subscribers and total subscriptions include those subscribers who are on a free-trial. Paid unique subscribers and paid subscriptions exclude free trial memberships. A subscription would cease to be reflected in the above metrics as of the effective cancellation date. Voluntary cancellations become effective at the end of the monthly subscription period, while involuntary cancellation of the service, as a result of a failed method of payment, becomes effective immediately.For purposes of determining the number of unique subscribers, domestic subscribers who have elected both a DVD and a streaming subscription plan are considered a single unique subscriber.