Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) subscription in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) subscription	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0
Revenues		$ 1,957,736	$ 1,573,129
Cost of revenues		1,369,540	1,046,401
Marketing		208,010	194,677
Contribution profit (loss)		380,186	332,051
Other operating expenses		330,733	234,595
Operating income		49,453	97,456
Other income (expense)		(9,574)	(59,030)
Provision for income taxes		12,221	14,730
Net income		27,658	23,696
Amortization of content assets		$ 1,078,962	$ 770,703
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	46,967	41,397
Revenues		$ 1,161,241	$ 984,532
Cost of revenues		666,546	582,529
Marketing		81,942	89,551
Contribution profit (loss)		412,753	312,452
Amortization of content assets		$ 530,739	$ 431,989
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	34,533	20,877
Revenues		$ 651,748	$ 415,397
Cost of revenues		629,899	375,278
Marketing		126,068	105,126
Contribution profit (loss)		(104,219)	(65,007)
Amortization of content assets		$ 527,782	$ 317,529
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	4,741	5,564
Revenues		$ 144,747	$ 173,200
Cost of revenues		73,095	88,594
Marketing		0	0
Contribution profit (loss)		71,652	84,606
Amortization of content assets		$ 20,441	$ 21,185

[1] A membership (also referred to as a subscription or a member) is defined as the right to receive Netflix service following sign-up and a method of payment being provided. 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. Total members include those who are on a free-trial as long as a method of payment has been provided. 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 except in limited circumstances where a short grace period is offered to ensure the streaming service is not interrupted for members who are impacted by payment processing delays by the Company's banks or integrated payment partners. The number of members in a grace period at any given point is not material.