After it mostly moved on from the whole DVD-delivery thing, Netflix made a name for itself as a place where you could stream any movie you wanted, on-demand. But if you look at its video lineup, it seems to be veering towards being the place for shows like House of Cards and Jessica Jones instead. Time (opens in new tab) reports that the number of movies available on Netflix has dwindled over the last few years.
AllFlicks (opens in new tab), a website that tracks what shows and movies are available to stream on Netflix, crunched the numbers and found that its catalog has shrunk by more than 2,500 titles, or a whopping 31.7%, in less than two and a half years. In January 2014, there were 6,494 movies and 1,609 TV shows available for U.S. users. But as of March 23 of this year, those numbers were 4,335 movies and 1,197 TV shows.
Why the shrink? There are several good reasons for it. First of all, the competition to snag exclusive streaming rights to movies and shows has become much more fierce, with sites like Hulu, HBO Now, and Amazon Prime bidding for the best titles. Plus, Netflix is focusing on creating more original series and movies; they're also getting exclusive first-run rights on movies that have hit the film festival circuit.
Netflix did not immediately respond to MarieClaire.com's request for comment, but one of its top execs made it clear why some titles were going away. Last year, chief content officer Ted Sarandos told investors (opens in new tab) that original programming "has been more efficient dollar for dollar" than licensing other companies' TV shows and movies.
But just because Netflix is streaming fewer movies doesn't mean they're not available anywhere. If you're looking for something specific, check out the site Can I Stream It (opens in new tab), which tells you how exactly you can watch The Breakfast Club (iTunes or Sony Entertainment) or Pulp Fiction (Netflix!) with just a click.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
After Three Days in the U.S., Prince William and Kate Middleton Spend Saturday Night in the Most Relatable WayThe couple flew home Friday night after the Earthshot Prize Awards to get home to their kids as quickly as possible.
-
Prince Harry Dresses Up as Spider-Man to Send Encouraging Christmas Message to Children Who Have Lost a Parent
“Christmas is a time when we miss our loved ones really, really badly. And that’s okay.”
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton Would Welcome Baby No. 4 “With Open Arms” If It Happened
“She has always wanted four children.”
-
29 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
All the nudity of porn, but with the plot and storylines of mainstream film.
-
'Princess Diaries 3' Is Happening, And I Absolutely Won't "Shut Up" About It
What about Anne Hathaway, though?
-
90 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired By Movies and TV Shows
Most of these Halloween costumes double as stylish additions to your closet.
-
The 50 Best Feel-Good Movies of All Time
Get ready to turn that frown upside down.
-
The 30 Best Movies on Hulu Right Now
From 'Fight Club' to '10 Things I Hate About You.'
-
The 13 Best Lesbian Movies on Netflix Right Now
Until recently, a good lesbian movie was hard to find.
-
The 89 Best Movies of All Time: The Ultimate Must-Watch Films
These must-watch films are essentials.
-
The 75 Best Rom-Coms of All Time
Your ultimate guide to the (arguably) best film genre: the romantic comedy.
