Buzz
Netflix has evolved into the global lifeline for on-screen entertainment. Much like any media powerhouse, it boasts its own collection of intriguing tales. Discover some obscure, uninterrupted facts about this streaming behemoth.
1. In its early days, Netflix sent its subscribers a surprising amount of adult content from China.
OcusFocus/iStock via Getty ImagesBack in 1998, Netflix was still involved in both selling and renting DVDs. To provide something unique to customers, co-founder Marc Randolph attempted to distribute footage of President Bill Clinton’s Grand Jury testimony regarding his affair with Monica Lewinsky. However, as recounted in the book Netflixed, a mishap occurred at the duplicating facility: out of 1000 orders for Clinton's testimony, several hundred customers received DVDs filled with explicit Chinese adult content.
2. Netflix was initially named Kibble.
Selecting a name for the company was a lengthy endeavor. Options like Directpix.com, Replay.com, and others were considered, including Luna.com, named after Randolph’s dog. During the incorporation process, Randolph temporarily named it Kibble.com until a permanent decision was made.
3. Netflix executives once visited customers at home.
From its inception, Netflix has been deeply interested in understanding how users interact with its platform to choose content. In the late 1990s, subscribers near the company’s Los Gatos, California headquarters were contacted by phone and asked a series of questions. Staffers then requested permission to visit and observe them using the site. Remarkably, most agreed. Netflix even brought them coffee, a small gesture that yielded invaluable insights into user behavior.
4. Netflix convinced Dennis Quaid to perform live.
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5. Netflix has turned spoilers into a scientific study.
Given that much of Netflix’s popular content is often consumed in a single binge session, the company hired cultural anthropologist Grant McCracken to explore how spoilers influence viewer behavior. McCracken categorized spoiler-prone individuals based on whether they deliberately reveal plot twists or use them to assert dominance. (Some, known as “Coded Spoilers,” are highly self-aware and never let anything slip—these are the people you want as friends.) His conclusion? Some individuals relish the control that comes with knowing spoilers, but if a show is compelling enough, spoilers won’t deter viewers from watching.
6. Netflix employees believe you choose a movie within two minutes.
bmcent1/iStock Editorial via Getty ImagesNetflix invests over $150 million annually to enhance its recommendation algorithm, aiming to curate content tailored to your preferences. This level of customization is essential: the company estimates that users spend just two minutes searching for a title before making a selection or moving on to something else entirely.
7. Netflix employees suspect you might not always be honest.
You can stop pretending to impress Netflix by streaming highbrow content like keeping Ulysses on your coffee table. In a 2013 WIRED interview, Carlos Gomez-Uribe—Netflix's vice president of product innovation from 2010 to 2016—observed that users often claim to watch documentaries or obscure foreign films. “But in reality,” he remarked, “that rarely happens.”
8. The first "Netflix Original" was an experimental abstract short film.
To evaluate frame rates and how their platform manages various types of content, Netflix created 11 minutes of test footage in 2011. This can be accessed by typing “example show” into their search bar. When compiled (as shown above), the clips form a surreal, abstract art film featuring an unnamed man juggling and quoting Shakespeare. (Unfortunately, he doesn’t juggle while reciting Shakespeare.)
9. Binge-watching Netflix might be linked to depression.
A 2015 study conducted by the University of Texas revealed that participants who admitted to binge-watching Netflix were more prone to experiencing depression, low self-control, or feelings of loneliness. However, the study’s sample size was limited—only 316 individuals—and their definition of “binge-watching” was as minimal as two episodes. Novices.
10. Netflix has a hidden menu.
wutwhanfoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images PlusNo, not that kind of secret menu. By pressing Shift + Alt + left mouse click (or Shift + Option + click on a Mac), you can access a troubleshooting menu that lets you adjust the bit rate of a stream to prevent buffering. While the image quality may decrease, it’s a better alternative to dealing with a pixelated Demogorgon.
11. A glitch once disrupted the Netflix matrix.
In 2014, Netflix’s content descriptions briefly merged two unrelated titles, resulting in bizarre and nonsensical listings. Although the summaries were promptly corrected, several screenshots of the errors were captured before they disappeared.
12. Soon, you’ll be able to stream Netflix in a Tesla.
Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesIn July 2019, Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, announced that Tesla owners would soon gain the ability to stream Netflix and YouTube directly in their vehicles—a perfect feature for keeping passengers entertained. However, there’s a limitation: these streaming services will only function when the car is stationary. This functionality is expected to roll out for newer Tesla models at an unspecified future date.
