Segment Information - Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income (Details) subscription in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) subscription	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) subscription
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	0	0
Revenues		$ 2,636,635	$ 1,957,736
Cost of revenues		1,657,024	1,369,540
Marketing		271,270	208,010
Contribution profit		708,341	380,186
Other operating expenses		451,399	330,733
Operating income		256,942	49,453
Other income (expense)		(33,150)	(9,574)
Provision for income taxes		45,570	12,221
Net income		178,222	27,658
Amortization of content assets		$ 1,324,281	$ 1,078,962
Domestic Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	50,854	46,967
Revenues		$ 1,470,042	$ 1,161,241
Cost of revenues		749,488	666,546
Marketing		115,038	81,942
Contribution profit		605,516	412,753
Amortization of content assets		$ 608,748	$ 530,739
International Streaming
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	47,894	34,533
Revenues		$ 1,046,199	$ 651,748
Cost of revenues		847,317	629,899
Marketing		156,232	126,068
Contribution profit		42,650	(104,219)
Amortization of content assets		$ 696,935	$ 527,782
Domestic DVD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total memberships at end of period | subscription	[1]	3,944	4,741
Revenues		$ 120,394	$ 144,747
Cost of revenues		60,219	73,095
Marketing		0	0
Contribution profit		60,175	71,652
Amortization of content assets		$ 18,598	$ 20,441

[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.