Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,211,242	$ 558,929	$ 186,678
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Additions to streaming content assets	(13,043,437)	(9,805,763)	(8,653,286)
Change in streaming content liabilities	999,880	900,006	1,772,650
Amortization of streaming content assets	7,532,088	6,197,817	4,788,498
Amortization of DVD content assets	41,212	60,657	78,952
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles	83,157	71,911	57,528
Stock-based compensation expense	320,657	182,209	173,675
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	0	(65,121)
Other non-cash items	40,428	57,207	40,909
Foreign currency remeasurement loss (gain) on long-term debt	(73,953)	140,790	0
Deferred taxes	(85,520)	(208,688)	(46,847)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	(200,192)	(234,090)	46,970
Accounts payable	199,198	74,559	32,247
Accrued expenses	150,422	114,337	68,706
Deferred revenue	142,277	177,974	96,751
Other non-current assets and liabilities	2,062	(73,803)	(52,294)
Net cash used in operating activities	(2,680,479)	(1,785,948)	(1,473,984)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(173,946)	(173,302)	(107,653)
Acquisition of DVD content assets	(38,586)	(53,720)	(77,177)
Other assets	(126,588)	(6,689)	(941)
Purchases of short-term investments	0	(74,819)	(187,193)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	0	320,154	282,484
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	0	22,705	140,245
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(339,120)	34,329	49,765
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	3,961,852	3,020,510	1,000,000
Issuance costs	(35,871)	(32,153)	(10,700)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	124,502	88,378	36,979
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	0	65,121
Other financing activities	(1,956)	255	230
Net cash provided by financing activities	4,048,527	3,076,990	1,091,630
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(39,682)	29,848	(9,165)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	989,246	1,355,219	(341,754)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	2,822,795	1,467,576	1,809,330
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year	3,812,041	2,822,795	1,467,576
Supplemental disclosure:
Income taxes paid	131,069	113,591	26,806
Interest paid	375,831	213,313	138,566
Increase (decrease) in investing activities included in liabilities	$ 2,560	$ (32,643)	$ 27,504