How to Use Secret Netflix Codes to Unlock Hidden Movie Categories

DANIEL FISHEL/Thrillist
DANIEL FISHEL/Thrillist

Netflix may be stocked with fewer movies than it was a few years ago, but there's still more than enough content to feel completely paralyzed by its ever-changing scroll of choices each time you sit down to watch something. The quickest route to finding the best things to watch, of course, is to follow Thrillist Entertainment, which dedicates itself to telling you the best shows and movies you can stream at a given moment, like the best documentaries and the newest stuff each month.

But sometimes you actually feel like browsing Netflix -- and if you want to browse better, you should know about Netflix's secret genre codes, which will take you far beyond the broad and not-so-helpful categories like Comedy or Action. Especially if you're in the mood for a super-specific TV show or movie, these hidden genre codes can be a huge help. 

How to find (and use) the codes

Netflix's hidden master list of content categories is huge -- it's organized into literally thousands of subgenres, and they get as specific as you could imagine, from Deep Sea Horror Movies, to Campy Crime Comedies, to Suspenseful Movies starring Michael Caine. To start exploring, hit either What's On Netflix or NetflixCodes.me to find lists of all the micro-genres and their corresponding codes. Once you've found a genre you're interested in, simply tack on the applicable numerical code to the end of this URL, and you'll see all the shows and movies currently available in that category: http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/###

For example, if I wanted to watch a weird, funny movie, I'd plug in the code for Critically-acclaimed Quirky Comedies (1577), which gives me a lineup of available titles that fit the bill, including Frank, Amelie, Moonrise Kingdom, and Dope. Or, say I wanted to learn something while also crying. I'd drop in the code for Emotional Documentaries (1271), which would retrieve dozens of options. Unfortunately, you have to access Netflix from a browser to use this particular trick, but if you're watching at home on a Roku, Fire Stick, or other streaming device, you can always scroll on your phone or computer to find what you're looking for, then search for it via your device.

Since the categories get incredibly granular, many subgenres may come up with only a few selections -- or they could even be completely empty -- depending on the current Netflix selection, but here are just a few of the unique categories you can select. 


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Joe McGauley is a senior writer for Thrillist who typically defaults to 30 Rock when he can't settle on something to watch.