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, 2016 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0	0	0
Revenues		$ 2,105,204	$ 1,644,694	$ 4,062,940	$ 3,217,823
Cost of revenues		1,473,098	1,121,752	2,842,638	2,168,153
Marketing		216,029	197,140	424,039	391,817
Contribution profit (loss)		416,077	325,802	796,263	657,853
Other operating expenses		345,707	250,967	676,440	485,562
Operating income		70,370	74,835	119,823	172,291
Other income (expense)		(19,138)	(34,345)	(28,712)	(93,375)
Provision for income taxes		10,477	14,155	22,698	28,885
Net income		40,755	26,335	68,413	50,031
Amortization of content assets		$ 1,195,382	$ 843,413	$ 2,274,344	$ 1,614,116
Domestic Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	47,129	42,300	47,129	42,300
Revenues		$ 1,208,271	$ 1,025,913	$ 2,369,512	$ 2,010,445
Cost of revenues		707,106	612,691	1,373,652	1,195,220
Marketing		86,806	73,427	168,748	162,978
Contribution profit (loss)		414,359	339,795	827,112	652,247
Amortization of content assets		$ 581,390	$ 462,228	$ 1,112,129	$ 894,217
International Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	36,048	23,251	36,048	23,251
Revenues		$ 758,201	$ 454,763	$ 1,409,949	$ 870,160
Cost of revenues		698,162	422,966	1,328,061	798,244
Marketing		129,223	123,713	255,291	228,839
Contribution profit (loss)		(69,184)	(91,916)	(173,403)	(156,923)
Amortization of content assets		$ 593,971	$ 360,372	$ 1,121,753	$ 677,901
Domestic DVD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	4,530	5,314	4,530	5,314
Revenues		$ 138,732	$ 164,018	$ 283,479	$ 337,218
Cost of revenues		67,830	86,095	140,925	174,689
Marketing		0	0	0	0
Contribution profit (loss)		70,902	77,923	142,554	162,529
Amortization of content assets		$ 20,021	$ 20,813	$ 40,462	$ 41,998

[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.