# How frequently does Netflix streaming have a random movie you want to watch?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 4, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466 "2011-08-04T15:03:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/1 "2011-08-04T15:03:25Z")
I feel like everytime I’m sitting around and think to myself “Hey, there’s an old random movie I haven’t seen in a long time, I’ll just stream it on Netflix and watch it right now” it is NEVER on there for streaming. Just this week I thought to myself “I haven’t seen The Sixth Sense in a while” and went to watch it and it couldn’t stream. Just thought to myself “Hey, I’d like to watch the shuttle rescue at the beginning of Superman Returns. I’ll watch it on Netflix right now!”. Nope. All of the OTHER Superman movies are on there to stream but not the one I want to watch right now.
This happens every time I decide I want to watch some random older movie. In fact, I think there has only been 1 or 2 times in the years I’ve had Netflix streaming where a movie I wanted to watch has been there.
How is your luck?
(This is ONLY for random, off the top of your head movies that you want to watch, not the latest blockbusters or TV series you know are on there.)
---
### Author:  [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/2 "2011-08-04T15:35:00Z")
I have had a lot of trouble finding random stuff on Netflix. I often have the same experience as you describe. It has been a little better with TV shows but the pickings have been mighty slim and has only gotten worse as studios have been pulling thier stuff off in the current negotiations. I have had better luck finding random stuff on netflix tht i would not have thought to watch otherwise, but even those are getting fewer and more far between.
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/3 "2011-08-04T15:43:40Z")
I have almost never found something that I was searching for. But I can usually find something I like.
---
### Author:  [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/4 "2011-08-04T15:58:57Z")
The streaming selection on Netflix is woeful.
It has basically every crappy movie more than 10 years old that I would never want to see, and no actual good movies. That’s why I canceled.
---
### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/5 "2011-08-04T16:05:48Z")
> [@tdn](#):
>
> I have almost never found something that I was searching for. But I can usually find something I like.
This, though I wouldn’t say “almost never.” I’d say I find maybe 25% of the movies I’m looking for.
That said, I don’t think I’ve ever _not_ been able to find something to watch. I sort of like their selection - there’s a lot of good stuff there, but it’s not necessarily well known. I’ve watched a lot of movies that wouldn’t have been my first choice but have turned out to be excellent.
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/6 "2011-08-04T16:17:14Z")
> [@Athena](#):
>
> This, though I wouldn’t say “almost never.” I’d say I find maybe 25% of the movies I’m looking for.
The other night I had a real hankering for a Star Trek movie. It didn’t matter which one, any one would have done. But all I got were the TV series’.
Hey, maybe I can finally watch the last episode of Next Generation!
---
### Author:  [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/7 "2011-08-04T16:29:16Z")
I’m not a movie re-watcher, and don’t care about the popular blockbuster drivel. I’m an indie, horror, and TV fan, and have developed a taste for TV shows that are no longer on. I really like watching multiple episodes and not having to wait another week or until a new season for the next episode. Netflix is perfect for me. I’ve rated over a thousand movies, and the suggestions are spot-on. So for me the “random” selecting isn’t an issue, I guess. I’ve never approached watching Netflix in that way. I’m always preferring to watch stuff I’ve never seen before.
---
### Author:  [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/8 "2011-08-04T18:03:30Z")
I hardly think “I wonder if its on streamming.” because… Well, I wouldn’t expect it to be. Does Netflix claim to have nearly everything available?
I’ll go on and browse and usually find something I want to watch.
---
### Author:  [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/9 "2011-08-04T18:52:25Z")
What gets me is when I have shows or movies I really want to watch and I put them in my streaming queue, but when I finally get the time to sit down and watch, they are no longer available for streaming.
---
### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/10 "2011-08-04T19:03:15Z")
> [@Brandus](#):
>
> The streaming selection on Netflix is woeful.
>
> It has basically every crappy movie more than 10 years old that I would never want to see, and no actual good movies. That’s why I canceled.
Us too. The first six months were a gift, and I think I found maybe ten things I actually watched in all that time, so it got the ax.
---
### Author:  [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/11 "2011-08-04T19:03:26Z")
I’ve never looked for specific movies, i look through their catalog and watch something that looks interesting. I’ve never not been able to find something to watch.
---
### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/12 "2011-08-04T19:16:24Z")
> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> I’ve never looked for specific movies, i look through their catalog and watch something that looks interesting. I’ve never not been able to find something to watch.
That’s the right way to do it. The DVD service is the one for watching _specific_ films. It’s really unfortunate that many people are feeling pressed to drop one or the other when the two parts are really so different and complementary.
---
### Author:  [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/13 "2011-08-05T11:35:51Z")
Here’s how my streaming movie selection process goes. “Let’s see what’s on Netflix!.. no… no … no… WTF I’ve never heard of that movie… or that one… no… no…why did they ‘recommend’ that one?.. no… _10 minutes later_ fuck it _opens the pirate bay_”
---
### Author:  [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/14 "2011-08-05T13:37:31Z")
I have a hard time finding movies I want for streaming. For example, I just finished _A Passage to India_ by E.M. Forster and I really wanted to jump right on and watch the movie but instead I had to order the DVD. I can live with that, at it’s current price, but I’m not sure I can justify paying double for it. That being said, I’ve found some real gems when browsing. Watched some great documentaries (like one about some crazy hippies that gave their kids to random cult members to take to the Phillipines :eek: ) and both the “Let the Right One In” movies. Another, “I’ve Loved You For So Long” was a great flick and I would have never touched it except I was bored and I could watch it instantly.
I will keep the double action as long as it takes me to get through Dexter Season 5 at least.
---
### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/15 "2011-08-05T14:59:50Z")
I agree that it is not good for finding specific movies. I will sometimes browse their selection and load a bunch of things onto the instant cue so that I have a library at hand for a later date. I also like to use it to watch specific bits from movies like the bank robbery in Heat.
---
### Author:  [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/16 "2011-08-05T15:28:30Z")
Maybe 20% of the time, but as others have said you can usually find something worth watching.
Compared to the DVD by mail service it’s woefully incomplete. Compared to a Blockbuster brick & mortar store it’s deep and satisfying – but with way fewer new releases.
---
### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/17 "2011-08-05T16:15:52Z")
It’s not great for on-demand viewing of what you want. But it’s like a huge bargain bin of titles, with some digging you find a lot of neat stuff. And once you find the first title, their recommendations often lead to other interesting titles. I think I have like 498 on my Instant Queue.
---
### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/18 "2011-08-05T16:23:21Z")
I don’t use the streaming service much, so I’m probably going to drop it. I have the three-DVDs-out-at-a-time plan, plus the upgrade to Blu-Ray and the streaming service. This is going to cost $28 per month, but only $20 per month if I drop the streaming service and only $16 if I drop the Blu-Ray upgrade.
---
### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/19 "2011-08-05T16:38:16Z")
I’m working my way through a list of movies I haven’t seen before that have won major Oscar awards. In the beginning there were 321 movies on the list, of which 60 were available from Netflix streaming. So, about 19 percent. Quite a few aren’t available from Netflix on DVD either because they’ve only been released on VHS. A few haven’t even been released on VHS and I despair of ever seeing them.
---
### Author:  [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466/20 "2011-08-05T16:38:41Z")
I’ve only had Netflix for a few months, but I’m ready to drop it for this very reason. Haven’t yet because the SO is still watching various TV series.
I’m not sure I’ve ever found the movie I actually wanted to watch. I will grant that sometimes I found something else entertaining.
The mail service will not work for this. You have to plan ahead to watch movies that come in the mail. That’s not what I do.
If I’m going to get a physical disk, I’ll go down to Hastings and pick one up. Because if I want to watch a particular movie, I want to watch it NOW, not three days from now. Three days from now I won’t want to watch that movie, I’ll want something else.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-frequently-does-netflix-streaming-have-a-random-movie-you-want-to-watch/591466.md?page=2)