Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 186,678	$ 122,641	$ 266,799
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Additions to streaming content assets	(8,653,286)	(5,771,652)	(3,773,019)
Change in streaming content liabilities	1,772,650	1,162,413	593,125
Amortization of streaming content assets	4,788,498	3,405,382	2,656,279
Amortization of DVD content assets	78,952	79,380	71,491
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles	57,528	62,283	54,028
Stock-based compensation expense	173,675	124,725	115,239
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(65,121)	(80,471)	(89,341)
Other non-cash items	40,909	31,628	15,282
Deferred taxes	(46,847)	(58,655)	(30,063)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	46,970	18,693	(9,198)
Other current assets	32,247	51,615	83,812
Accrued expenses	68,706	48,810	55,636
Deferred revenue	96,751	72,135	58,819
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(52,294)	(18,366)	(52,406)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(1,473,984)	(749,439)	16,483
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of DVD content assets	(77,177)	(77,958)	(74,790)
Purchases of property and equipment	(107,653)	(91,248)	(69,726)
Other assets	(941)	(1,912)	1,334
Purchases of short-term investments	(187,193)	(371,915)	(426,934)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	282,484	259,079	385,300
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	140,245	104,762	141,950
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	49,765	(179,192)	(42,866)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,000,000	1,500,000	400,000
Issuance costs	(10,700)	(17,629)	(7,080)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	36,979	77,980	60,544
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	65,121	80,471	89,341
Other financing activities	230	(545)	(1,093)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,091,630	1,640,277	541,712
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,165)	(15,924)	(6,686)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(341,754)	695,722	508,643
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,809,330	1,113,608	604,965
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,467,576	1,809,330	1,113,608
Supplemental disclosure:
Income taxes paid	26,806	27,658	50,573
Interest paid	138,566	111,761	41,085
Change in investing activities included in liabilities	$ 27,504	$ (4,978)	$ 12,295