Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) subscription in Thousands, number in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) subscription	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period	0	0	0	0
Revenues	$ 3,907,270	$ 2,785,464	$ 7,608,126	$ 5,422,099
Cost of revenues	2,289,867	1,902,308	4,485,942	3,559,332
Marketing	526,780	274,323	1,006,002	545,593
Contribution profit	1,090,623	608,833	2,116,182	1,317,174
Other operating expenses	628,410	481,026	1,207,391	932,425
Operating income	462,213	127,807	908,791	384,749
Other income (expense)	(33,577)	(113,845)	(180,539)	(146,995)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	44,287	(51,638)	53,779	(6,068)
Net income	384,349	65,600	674,473	243,822
Amortization of content assets	$ 1,828,971	$ 1,567,305	$ 3,588,949	$ 2,891,586
Domestic Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	57,379	51,921	57,379	51,921
Revenues	$ 1,893,222	$ 1,505,499	$ 3,713,241	$ 2,975,541
Cost of revenues	925,703	831,962	1,820,576	1,581,450
Marketing	227,961	113,608	455,983	228,646
Contribution profit	739,558	559,929	1,436,682	1,165,445
Amortization of content assets	$ 751,947	$ 696,688	$ 1,482,219	$ 1,305,436
International Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	72,762	52,031	72,762	52,031
Revenues	$ 1,921,144	$ 1,165,228	$ 3,703,230	$ 2,211,427
Cost of revenues	1,324,240	1,017,612	2,583,049	1,864,929
Marketing	298,819	160,715	550,019	316,947
Contribution profit	298,085	(13,099)	570,162	29,551
Amortization of content assets	$ 1,065,870	$ 854,106	$ 2,084,442	$ 1,551,041
Domestic DVD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	2,999	3,758	2,999	3,758
Revenues	$ 92,904	$ 114,737	$ 191,655	$ 235,131
Cost of revenues	39,924	52,734	82,317	112,953
Marketing	0	0	0	0
Contribution profit	52,980	62,003	109,338	122,178
Amortization of content assets	$ 11,154	$ 16,511	$ 22,288	$ 35,109