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, 2016 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) subscription	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0	0	0
Revenues		$ 2,290,188	$ 1,738,355	$ 6,353,128	$ 4,956,178
Cost of revenues		1,532,844	1,173,958	4,375,482	3,342,111
Marketing		282,043	208,102	706,082	599,919
Contribution profit (loss)		475,301	356,295	1,271,564	1,014,148
Other operating expenses		369,265	282,654	1,045,705	768,216
Operating income		106,036	73,641	225,859	245,932
Other income (expense)		(26,909)	(31,403)	(55,621)	(124,778)
Provision for income taxes		27,610	12,806	50,308	41,691
Net income		51,517	29,432	119,930	79,463
Amortization of content assets		$ 1,243,392	$ 889,992	$ 3,517,736	$ 2,504,108
Domestic Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	47,497	43,181	47,497	43,181
Revenues		$ 1,304,333	$ 1,063,961	$ 3,673,845	$ 3,074,406
Cost of revenues		720,658	644,914	2,094,310	1,840,134
Marketing		108,495	74,835	277,243	237,813
Contribution profit (loss)		475,180	344,212	1,302,292	996,459
Amortization of content assets		$ 597,039	$ 493,025	$ 1,709,168	$ 1,387,242
International Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	39,246	25,987	39,246	25,987
Revenues		$ 853,480	$ 516,870	$ 2,263,429	$ 1,387,030
Cost of revenues		748,515	451,251	2,076,576	1,249,495
Marketing		173,548	133,267	428,839	362,106
Contribution profit (loss)		(68,583)	(67,648)	(241,986)	(224,571)
Amortization of content assets		$ 627,069	$ 378,378	$ 1,748,822	$ 1,056,279
Domestic DVD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	4,273	5,060	4,273	5,060
Revenues		$ 132,375	$ 157,524	$ 415,854	$ 494,742
Cost of revenues		63,671	77,793	204,596	252,482
Marketing		0	0	0	0
Contribution profit (loss)		68,704	79,731	211,258	242,260
Amortization of content assets		$ 19,284	$ 18,589	$ 59,746	$ 60,587

[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.