Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 122,641	$ 266,799	$ 112,403
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Additions to streaming content assets	(5,771,652)	(3,773,019)	(3,030,701)
Change in streaming content liabilities	1,162,413	593,125	673,785
Amortization of streaming content assets	3,405,382	2,656,279	2,121,981
Amortization of DVD content assets	79,380	71,491	71,325
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles	62,283	54,028	48,374
Stock-based compensation expense	124,725	115,239	73,100
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(80,471)	(89,341)	(81,663)
Other non-cash items	31,628	15,282	5,332
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	25,129
Deferred taxes	(58,655)	(30,063)	(22,044)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	18,693	(9,198)	43,177
Accounts payable	51,615	83,812	18,374
Accrued expenses	48,810	55,636	1,941
Deferred revenue	72,135	58,819	46,295
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(18,366)	(52,406)	(8,977)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(749,439)	16,483	97,831
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of DVD content assets	(77,958)	(74,790)	(65,927)
Purchases of property and equipment	(91,248)	(69,726)	(54,143)
Other assets	(1,912)	1,334	5,939
Purchases of short-term investments	(371,915)	(426,934)	(550,264)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	259,079	385,300	347,502
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	104,762	141,950	60,925
Net cash used in investing activities	(179,192)	(42,866)	(255,968)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	77,980	60,544	124,557
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,500,000	400,000	500,000
Issuance costs	(17,629)	(7,080)	(9,414)
Redemption of debt	0	0	(219,362)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	80,471	89,341	81,663
Principal payments of lease financing obligations	(545)	(1,093)	(1,180)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,640,277	541,712	476,264
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15,924)	(6,686)	(3,453)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	695,722	508,643	314,674
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,113,608	604,965	290,291
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,809,330	1,113,608	604,965
Supplemental disclosure:
Income taxes paid	27,658	50,573	7,465
Interest paid	111,761	41,085	19,114
Investing activities included in liabilities	$ 18,824	$ 23,802	$ 11,508