Netflix is not just “the people’s streaming platform” but the original one. It draws a wide audience with loyal fans and features many movies and TV shows. Despite the hundreds of millions of people who subscribe to Netflix, it’s constantly trying to improve and attract new viewers. The question is how can the streaming service do this most effectively. What is and isn’t working?
Here’s what’s not working: Netflix needs to stop the low effort, low budget, and quantity over quality “Netflix originals”. However, it’s hard to talk about Netflix originals without mentioning the few gems (Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and The Queen’s Gambit, among others). Trying to find what to watch shouldn’t feel like a chore. With the increasing number of low-quality Netflix originals, finding a good show can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Although Netflix may want to make its own movies and shows to promote its brand and earn more revenue, viewers do not want original after original.
So, what is working for Netflix? What viewers want is familiarity and nostalgia when sitting down to watch TV at the end of a long day. As most know, Netflix is a streaming platform without ads—when paying for the standard or premium plan—which makes it perfect for binge-watching shows, and the best shows to binge-watch are classics and comfort shows. That’s why Netflix needs to continue adding back fan-favorite shows people already know and love. In November alone Netflix added Sixteen Candles, Gossip Girl, Superbad, Whiplash, and the Fast & Furious film series to their platform.
To save you some of that searching in a haystack, here are some of Netflix’s most beloved TV shows and movies, including some classics and some comfort shows.
As Netflix continues to gain viewers a big question is how to keep old subscribers while attracting new ones. With genres including mystery, documentaries, romance, seasonal, kids, comedy, and more, there’s something for everyone. In addition to their variety of genres and return of classics, Netflix is branching out to live streaming. They had tried live streaming in the past and failed before with a Love is Blind Reunion in 2023, which ended in embarrassment for Netflix and wasted time for viewers. Yet they went back to live streaming recently with possibly their highest profile event to date: Paul vs Tyson. This may not have been Netflix’s first live event but it was their first live sports event, and once again, the live stream failed with countless glitches plaguing the show.
Is live streaming the right next step for Netflix or should they stick to what they know? So many companies and platforms offer live streaming on a daily basis, so why is it so difficult for Netflix to have even one live-streaming event? Ultimately, the livestream of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s fight was not well advertised or executed. The significant difficulties that accompanied the stream make it apparent that Netflix needs to take a step back. First, they need to solve the technical issues on their end before they offer live streaming to paying subscribers.
The answer isn’t cut and dry, because companies do need to continue evolving in order to keep up. But, too much too fast can take away from the good qualities of a company. If Netflix dials back the livestreams and keeps moving forward with the classics and the crowd favorites, they will continue to be a favorite of viewers.