It’s no secret that Netflix produces a ton of original content. Now Netflix Originals have reached an important milestone.
According to a report from Kasey Moore of What’s on Netflix, half of the Netflix library in the United States now consists of Netflix Originals such as Bridgerton and Ozark.
A look at the numbers
There are currently 6,206 titles on Netflix and of those, 3,104 are Netflix Originals. That translates to roughly 50% of the content library including TV series, films, documentaries, and interactive specials.
As the years have gone by, Netflix has lost licenses to movies and shows from outside studios as they have produced more Originals. This results in an overall trend where Netflix Originals increase by about 0.88% of the total library each month.
Last year, they consisted of 40% of the library and if this trend continues, they will make up 100% of the library by May 2027
This percentage varies from country to country where Netflix is available.
What has Netflix lost?
It’s fair to say that the so-called “streaming wars” have reached a boiling point. Companies like Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and NBCUniversal have removed their content from Netflix in favor of their own respective streaming services.
Here are some notable examples:
- Friends left Netflix at the end of 2019 before it went to HBO Max. The Office left Netflix (at least in the United States) at the end of 2020 for Peacock.
- Shows that take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, left Netflix for Disney+ earlier this year. J
- ust last month 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, and Parks and Recreation left Netflix to become Peacock exclusives.
Will customers stick around now that Netflix has lost so much legacy content? Time will tell.
Despite these cuts, Netflix is still cranking out a vast amount of their own movies and shows. Netflix spent around $17 billion on content last year and is expected to spend around $18 billion in 2022.
Their strategy going forward may change, however. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix is set to emphasis “event” films that bring in large audiences over smaller, more niche content.
Think more projects like Stranger Things or Knives Out 2 and less adult animation or expensive Oscar-bait like The Irishman.
What’s ahead for Netflix?
For now, expect to see continued changes at Netflix like an increased emphasis on gaming, the addition of a lower-priced plan with ads, and the dreaded crackdown on password sharing in the near future.
That aforementioned ad-supported tier was set to launch in 2023, but now reports indicate that it may launch as soon as November of this year. This change in release is due to the company wanting to get ahead of their rival Disney’s own ad supported tier for Disney+. Disney's new plan is set to launch in December.
Pricing is speculated to be between $7-9 for Netflix’s new plan.
What do you think?
Are you a Netflix subscriber? What do you watch more frequently- Netflix Originals or content from outside studios? Let us know in the comment section below!
