Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 112,403	$ 17,152	$ 226,126
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Additions to streaming content library	(3,049,758)	(2,515,506)	(2,320,732)
Change in streaming content liabilities	673,785	762,089	1,463,955
Amortization of streaming content library	2,121,981	1,591,218	699,128
Amortization of DVD content library	71,325	65,396	96,744
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles	48,374	45,469	43,747
Stock-based compensation expense	73,100	73,948	61,582
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(81,663)	(4,543)	(45,784)
Other non-cash items	5,332	(8,392)	(4,050)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	25,129	0	0
Deferred taxes	(22,044)	(30,071)	(18,597)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	62,234	(5,432)	1,436
Accounts payable	18,374	(4,943)	23,968
Accrued expenses	1,941	9,806	65,560
Deferred revenue	46,295	20,676	21,613
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(8,977)	4,719	3,016
Net cash provided by operating activities	97,831	21,586	317,712
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of DVD content library	(65,927)	(48,275)	(85,154)
Purchases of property and equipment	(54,143)	(40,278)	(49,682)
Other assets	5,939	8,816	3,674
Purchases of short-term investments	(550,264)	(477,321)	(223,750)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	347,502	282,953	50,993
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	60,925	29,365	38,105
Net cash used in investing activities	(255,968)	(244,740)	(265,814)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	124,557	4,124	19,614
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	0	(464)	199,947
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs	490,586	(295)	198,060
Repurchases of common stock	0	0	(199,666)
Redemption of debt	(219,362)	0	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	81,663	4,543	45,784
Principal payments of lease financing obligations	(1,180)	(2,319)	(2,083)
Net cash provided by financing activities	476,264	5,589	261,656
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,453)	(197)	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	314,674	(217,762)	313,554
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	290,291	508,053	194,499
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	604,965	290,291	508,053
Supplemental disclosure:
Income taxes paid	7,465	28,853	79,069
Interest paid	$ 19,114	$ 19,009	$ 19,395