Segment Information (Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 subscription		Mar. 31, 2013 subscription		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	$ 1,270,089		$ 1,023,961
Cost of revenues	869,186		736,952
Marketing	137,098		119,086
Contribution profit (loss)	263,805		167,923
Other operating expenses	166,210		136,101
Operating income	97,595		31,822
Other income (expense)	(8,651)		(30,892)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	35,829		(1,759)
Net income	53,115		2,689
Amortization of content library	616,856		503,977
Total content library, net	3,950,884				3,797,492
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	35,674,000	[1]	29,174,000	[1]
Revenues	798,617		638,649
Cost of revenues	517,094		440,334
Marketing	80,258		66,965
Contribution profit (loss)	201,265		131,350
Amortization of content library	386,315		335,748
Total content library, net	3,009,260				2,973,023
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	12,683,000	[1]	7,142,000	[1]
Revenues	267,118		142,019
Cost of revenues	245,267		166,892
Marketing	56,840		52,047
Contribution profit (loss)	(34,989)		(76,920)
Amortization of content library	214,420		149,992
Total content library, net	918,979				804,690
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	6,652,000	[1]	7,983,000	[1]
Revenues	204,354		243,293
Cost of revenues	106,825		129,726
Marketing	0		74
Contribution profit (loss)	97,529		113,493
Amortization of content library	16,121		18,237
Total content library, net	$ 22,645				$ 19,779

[1] A membership (also referred to as a subscription) is defined as the right to receive either the Netflix streaming service or Netflix DVD service. Memberships are assigned to territories based on the geographic location used at time of sign up as determined by the Company's internal systems, which utilize industry standard geo-location technology. The Company offers free-trial memberships to new and certain rejoining members. For inclusion in the definition of a member in the above metrics, a method of payment is required to be provided even during the free-trial period. Total members therefore include those who are on a free-trial and have provided a method of payment. A membership would be canceled and cease to be reflected in the above metrics as of the effective cancellation date. Voluntary cancellations become effective at the end of the monthly membership period, while involuntary cancellation of the service, as a result of a failed method of payment, becomes effective immediately.