What Is on Netflix?

Find out what kinds of shows and movies are available on Netflix

A Netflix membership plan provides immediate access to thousands of movies and TV shows that you can stream on any internet-connected device via the Netflix app. Compatible devices include smart TVs, game consoles, streaming players, mobile phones, tablets, and computers. But if you're wondering what's on Netflix, this list should help.

Netflix Movies and TV Shows

Other studios produce many of the movies and shows on Netflix. After a movie's theatrical release, it makes its way through a period of rental availability on physical DVD and Blu-ray discs or through streaming services. Eventually, it finds a home on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, where subscribers can watch it without an additional rental fee.

In some cases, movies and TV shows are released straight to Netflix and other streaming services or are released for streaming immediately after the theatrical debut.

What's Showing on Netflix

Netflix announces new and upcoming content on its website. The task of keeping up with the content currently accessible on a streaming service like Netflix is also taken up by websites like JustWatch.com and Whats-on-Netflix.com, and even mobile apps.

Each month, these websites and apps list current new content and what's coming the following month and later in the year. If you want to find a movie, search these websites and apps for Netflix content.

Netflix website with content

Even though Netflix announces most of what's coming soon on the site, the announcements are not comprehensive, and there are often surprise releases. Sites and apps help keep up with those, too. Most also have a list of content that's leaving Netflix soon.

What's Disappearing From Netflix

Movies and TV shows often disappear from Netflix after a period of time when the license to stream them expires. Some websites keep up with what content is disappearing from Netflix each month, such as whats-on-netflix.com.

Netflix's Original Content

Netflix has established itself as more than a simple streaming service for third-party content with its quickly growing library of produced movies and TV shows initially. Netflix has studios and creates a wide range of programming, highly regarded by both critics and audiences. Their library includes movies, documentaries, TV series, and Netflix limited series.

The Netflix Original Series Logo

Here are some of the original programs Netflix has produced:

  • Drama Series: Frontier, Ozark, Ironfist, Tiger King, Locke & Key, Virgin River, Lost Girl, Space Force, Stranger Things, Northern Rescue, Travelers, etc.
  • Documentaries: Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Pandemic, Forensics Files, The Trials of Bagriel Fernandez, Making a Murderer, 100Humans, Cooked, Chef's Table, Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer, and others.
  • Anime: Hugely popular in the West, anime came to Netflix in 2016. Anime series include Aggretsuko, Glitter Force, Fundamental Alchemist: Brotherhood, One-Punch Man, Death Note, The Seven Deadly Sins, Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad, Devilman Crybaby, Knights of Sidonia, and Kuromukuro.
  • Comedy Series: Although Netflix offers plenty of comedy shows, it also produces its own. Netflix original comedy shows include Fuller House, Grace and Frankie, The Ranch, Atypical, The Good Cop, On My Block, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and others.
  • Kids Series: Netflix has a dedicated kids area with lots of original programming. The service has partnered with Dreamworks to develop even more original children's series. Current titles include Trolls, Care Bears and Cousins, Boss Baby, Dinotrux, H2O: Mermaid Adventures, Inspector Gadget, Alexa & Katie, Free Rein, Popples, Project Mc2, Richie Rich, and others.
  • Movies: In 2015, Netflix began producing original movies and picking up international streaming rights for movies. The availability of studio films can change, but Netflix Original movies are plentiful and always available, such as Da 5 Bloods, Extraction, 6 Underground, Lost GIrls; The Highwaymen, The Irishman, What/If, When They See Us, and High Seas.
  • Stand-Up Comedy: Netflix produces lots of stand-up comedies. Some of the programs include George Lopez: We'll Do It For Half, John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons, Ron White: If You Quit Listening, I'll Shut Up, Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh, Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster, Joe Rogan: Strange Time, Kevin Hart: Irresponsible, and others.

Start Streaming Netflix

Getting Netflix isn't tricky, but it does require a high-speed internet connection. The minimum required connection speed is 0.5 megabits per second, according to Netflix. Still, you may want a faster connection for better video quality, especially when streaming high-definition (HD) and ultra-high definition (UHD) content.

You also need a computer or mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. There are also streaming media devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, smart TVs, and DVD and Blu-ray players with built-in internet capabilities. Even gaming consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 offer Netflix apps.

Finally, you need a Netflix subscription. The service offers three plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium. All three allow you to stream unlimited movies and TV shows on your laptop, TV, and other devices.

You can use your Netflix account to stream to a limited number of screens simultaneously. With the Basic plan, you can only view content on one screen at a time, but the Standard plan allows two screens, and the Premium plan allows four screens at once.

HD is available only on the Standard and Premium plans. Ultra HD is available only with the Premium plan.

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