Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 558,929	$ 186,678	$ 122,641
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Additions to streaming content assets	(9,805,763)	(8,653,286)	(5,771,652)
Change in streaming content liabilities	900,006	1,772,650	1,162,413
Amortization of streaming content assets	6,197,817	4,788,498	3,405,382
Amortization of DVD content assets	60,657	78,952	79,380
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles	71,911	57,528	62,283
Stock-based compensation expense	182,209	173,675	124,725
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	(65,121)	(80,471)
Other non-cash items	57,207	40,909	31,628
Foreign currency remeasurement loss on long-term debt	140,790	0	0
Deferred taxes	(208,688)	(46,847)	(58,655)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	(234,090)	46,970	18,693
Accounts payable	74,559	32,247	51,615
Accrued expenses	114,337	68,706	48,810
Deferred revenue	177,974	96,751	72,135
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(73,803)	(52,294)	(18,366)
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,785,948)	(1,473,984)	(749,439)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of DVD content assets	(53,720)	(77,177)	(77,958)
Purchases of property and equipment	(173,302)	(107,653)	(91,248)
Other assets	(6,689)	(941)	(1,912)
Purchases of short-term investments	(74,819)	(187,193)	(371,915)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	320,154	282,484	259,079
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	22,705	140,245	104,762
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	34,329	49,765	(179,192)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	3,020,510	1,000,000	1,500,000
Issuance costs	(32,153)	(10,700)	(17,629)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	88,378	36,979	77,980
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	65,121	80,471
Other financing activities	255	230	(545)
Net cash provided by financing activities	3,076,990	1,091,630	1,640,277
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	29,848	(9,165)	(15,924)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,355,219	(341,754)	695,722
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,467,576	1,809,330	1,113,608
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	2,822,795	1,467,576	1,809,330
Supplemental disclosure:
Income taxes paid	113,591	26,806	27,658
Interest paid	213,313	138,566	111,761
Increase (decrease) in investing activities included in liabilities	$ (32,643)	$ 27,504	$ (4,978)