Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) subscription in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) subscription	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0	0	0
Revenues		$ 1,738,355	$ 1,409,432	$ 4,956,178	$ 4,019,928
Cost of revenues		1,173,958	954,394	3,342,111	2,738,428
Marketing		208,102	145,654	599,919	403,515
Contribution profit (loss)		356,295	309,384	1,014,148	877,985
Other operating expenses		282,654	198,977	768,216	540,383
Operating income		73,641	110,407	245,932	337,602
Other income (expense)		(31,403)	(12,870)	(124,778)	(33,749)
Provision for income taxes		12,806	38,242	41,691	120,425
Net income		29,432	59,295	79,463	183,428
Amortization of content library		889,992	$ 704,423	2,504,108	$ 1,977,239
Total content library, net		$ 6,586,974		$ 6,586,974		$ 4,899,028
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	43,181	37,219	43,181	37,219
Revenues		$ 1,063,961	$ 877,150	$ 3,074,406	$ 2,513,992
Cost of revenues		644,914	565,251	1,840,134	1,628,568
Marketing		74,835	61,045	237,813	206,030
Contribution profit (loss)		344,212	250,854	996,459	679,394
Amortization of content library		493,025	$ 433,266	1,387,242	$ 1,229,477
Total content library, net		$ 4,367,750		$ 4,367,750		3,476,226
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	25,987	15,843	25,987	15,843
Revenues		$ 516,870	$ 345,685	$ 1,387,030	$ 920,264
Cost of revenues		451,251	291,942	1,249,495	803,906
Marketing		133,267	84,609	362,106	197,485
Contribution profit (loss)		(67,648)	(30,866)	(224,571)	(81,127)
Amortization of content library		378,378	$ 252,888	1,056,279	$ 696,449
Total content library, net		$ 2,193,785		$ 2,193,785		1,392,701
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	5,060	5,986	5,060	5,986
Revenues		$ 157,524	$ 186,597	$ 494,742	$ 585,672
Cost of revenues		77,793	97,201	252,482	305,954
Marketing		0	0	0	0
Contribution profit (loss)		79,731	89,396	242,260	279,718
Amortization of content library		18,589	$ 18,269	60,587	$ 51,313
Total content library, net		$ 25,439		$ 25,439		$ 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.