# Netflix and Aspect Ratio Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-and-aspect-ratio-question/459306>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-and-aspect-ratio-question/459306 "2008-08-08T17:09:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-and-aspect-ratio-question/459306/1 "2008-08-08T17:09:22Z")

</div>

I’ve been a Netflix subscriber for some time now and have been annoyed at getting 4:3 movies as I have a lovely wide screen HDTV. Also, sometimes the movies are letterboxed AND sidebarred, but still in a 16:9 aspect, so zooming in helps.

Anyway, I recently discovered that some flicks are available both ways, you just have to select “widescreen” or, i think, “full screen”. But Schindler’s List is only available in 1.33:1, at least if I go by the Screen Formats here:  
[http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Schindler\_s\_List/60036359?trkid=226871](http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Schindler_s_List/60036359?trkid=226871)

Why is that? It’s a hugely popular Academy Award winning film by the biggest director to ever live (arguably), and I can’t get this flick in 16:9?

Anyone know what’s up wit’ dat?

Jeff

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-and-aspect-ratio-question/459306/2 "2008-08-08T21:51:52Z")

</div>

If the info on the Netflix site is correct, that’s pretty weird. I’ve had a few discs from Netflix that had the both options of widescreen or full screen on the same disc, but I can’t remember seeing a full screen-only version when there was a widescreen version available. I checked [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), and it looks like there are both full- and widescreen editions out there, but why Netflix would choose the wrong one is beyond me, and makes me wonder if their aspecrt ratio info is correct.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-and-aspect-ratio-question/459306/3 "2008-08-08T21:55:03Z")

</div>

I’ve rented _Schindler’s List_ from Netflix and the copy was a widescreen.

I remember this one in particular since this is a movie I’d only rent. I wouldn’t buy a copy since I can’t imagine wanting to watch this movie more than once every few years.