Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 subscription		Mar. 31, 2014 subscription		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	$ 1,573,129		$ 1,270,089
Cost of revenues	1,046,401		869,186
Marketing	194,677		137,098
Contribution profit (loss)	332,051		263,805
Other operating expenses	234,595		166,210
Operating income	97,456		97,595
Other income (expense)	(59,030)		(8,651)
Provision for income taxes	14,730		35,829
Net income	23,696		53,115
Amortization of content library	770,703		616,856
Total content library, net	5,682,800				4,899,028
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period	41,397,000	[1]	35,674,000	[1]
Revenues	984,532		798,617
Cost of revenues	582,529		517,094
Marketing	89,551		80,258
Contribution profit (loss)	312,452		201,265
Amortization of content library	431,989		386,315
Total content library, net	3,966,867				3,476,226
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period	20,877,000	[1]	12,683,000	[1]
Revenues	415,397		267,118
Cost of revenues	375,278		245,267
Marketing	105,126		56,840
Contribution profit (loss)	(65,007)		(34,989)
Amortization of content library	317,529		214,420
Total content library, net	1,685,671				1,392,701
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period	5,564,000	[1]	6,652,000	[1]
Revenues	173,200		204,354
Cost of revenues	88,594		106,825
Marketing	0		0
Contribution profit (loss)	84,606		97,529
Amortization of content library	21,185		16,121
Total content library, net	$ 30,262				$ 30,101

[1] A membership (also referred to as a subscription or member) 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 membership in the above metrics, a method of payment is required to be provided even during the free-trial period. Total memberships therefore include those who are on a free-trial and have provided a method of payment. A membership is canceled and ceases to be reflected in the above metrics as of the effective cancellation date. Voluntary cancellations become effective at the end of the prepaid membership period, while involuntary cancellation of the service, as a result of a failed method of payment, becomes effective immediately.