Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) subscription in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0	0	0
Revenues		$ 1,644,694	$ 1,340,407	$ 3,217,823	$ 2,610,496
Cost of revenues		1,121,752	914,848	2,168,153	1,784,034
Marketing		197,140	120,763	391,817	257,861
Contribution profit (loss)		325,802	304,796	657,853	568,601
Other operating expenses		250,967	175,196	485,562	341,406
Operating income		74,835	129,600	172,291	227,195
Other income (expense)		(34,345)	(12,228)	(93,375)	(20,879)
Provision for income taxes		14,155	46,354	28,885	82,183
Net income		26,335	71,018	50,031	124,133
Amortization of content library		843,413	$ 655,960	1,614,116	$ 1,272,816
Total content library, net		$ 6,151,713		$ 6,151,713		$ 4,899,028
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	42,300	36,244	42,300	36,244
Revenues		$ 1,025,913	$ 838,225	$ 2,010,445	$ 1,636,842
Cost of revenues		612,691	546,223	1,195,220	1,063,317
Marketing		73,427	64,727	162,978	144,985
Contribution profit (loss)		339,795	227,275	652,247	428,540
Amortization of content library		462,228	$ 409,896	894,217	$ 796,211
Total content library, net		$ 4,213,101		$ 4,213,101		3,476,226
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	23,251	13,801	23,251	13,801
Revenues		$ 454,763	$ 307,461	$ 870,160	$ 574,579
Cost of revenues		422,966	266,697	798,244	511,964
Marketing		123,713	56,036	228,839	112,876
Contribution profit (loss)		(91,916)	(15,272)	(156,923)	(50,261)
Amortization of content library		360,372	$ 229,141	677,901	$ 443,561
Total content library, net		$ 1,910,847		$ 1,910,847		1,392,701
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	5,314	6,261	5,314	6,261
Revenues		$ 164,018	$ 194,721	$ 337,218	$ 399,075
Cost of revenues		86,095	101,928	174,689	208,753
Marketing		0	0	0	0
Contribution profit (loss)		77,923	92,793	162,529	190,322
Amortization of content library		20,813	$ 16,923	41,998	$ 33,044
Total content library, net		$ 27,765		$ 27,765		$ 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.