Your Netflix queue is always stacked with movies and shows to hit play on, but what you might not know is that there’s a hidden way to make that viewing experience even better.
Amongst the films and TV series for your viewing pleasure, there’s a trove of secret category codes — a list that dates back to the earliest days of the company and already tops 36,000 (yes, really!) and is always growing, a treat for fans who either know exactly what they want to watch or want to try something entirely new. To explore these collections — ordering off the secret menu, if you will — all you need to do is fire up your web browser, type in “netflix.com/browse/genre/” and then add your ID code of choice to the end of the URL. So if you’re in the mood for something as specific as, say, Gentle British Reality TV (with the code 81240711) or Witchcraft & the Dark Arts (81552046), or think all movies should be short (90-Minute Movies, aka 81466194), there’s a code and corresponding collection waiting for you.
According to Mary Bertone of Netflix’s evidence team, these codes date back to the days when Netflix was still in its DVDs-only phase. At the time, Netflix.com had a public-facing genre tree that linked out to all the various types of films and TV series, each of which has its own specific ID code. A fan scraped the genre tree for all the codes, shared the list online, and people have been using those codes (along with the thousands more that have been added since) to this day.
New codes are being added whenever inspiration strikes. As Michael Raphan, a curation strategist at Netflix, tells Tudum, a conversation with a colleague about the Noah Centineo-starring series The Recruit — a spy adventure with romantic subplots — prompted him to create a collection, fittingly called Action with a Side of Romance (81647318).
Recent additions include a collection of “Very Demure, Very Mindful” streams (81931239) selected by the queen of the viral trend herself, Jools Lebron. And the Pop Culture Now page (34399) highlights what people are tuned into at any given moment — everything from back to school (Class Is in Session, 81933136) to football season (Touchdowns, Triumphs & Trials, 81719784), and must-see concerts (The Endless Tour, 81719779). The time of year and personal tastes come into play, too. Around Halloween you might find something available like Small Town Scares (81496215), or romance rows will materialize near Valentine’s Day. One of the first rows curation strategist Mary McIlwain created was called Twisted Christmas (2300975): “I love feel-good Christmas movies, but at the same time, I’m on the ‘Die Hard is a Christmas movie’ team,” she says. “So I wanted a row where that could be highlighted.”
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, rows like Human Connections (81271205) were created to try and help people feel better. Other times, inspiration comes from outside the queue: When Pete Davidson rapped about wanting to watch “Short-Ass Movies” on Saturday Night Live in 2022, the team responded with a collection of the same name (81603903). But whether it’s Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (81614959), Spicy Romance (81572628), or Lavish Reality Lifestyles (81418611), these collections are all designed in the hopes of making users’ viewing experiences more enjoyable.
“Why do you choose what to watch? It could be a lot of different things — it could be something about the picture is enticing, there’s an actor that you know, you’ve heard of it somewhere else. And I think one of those things is how it’s framed, what titles are sitting around it,” notes Raphan. “So putting a new thing out there that can capture someone’s attention, that’s kind of cool.”
For a starter pack, scroll through some of the options we’ve linked above and below, which are a combination of codes highlighted by McIlwain and Raphan, options popular with fans, and a few that we just think are fun. You’ll never look at your home page the same way again.
Code 81466194: When you’re here for a good time but not a long time. See also: 30-Minute Laughs (81602050), 90-Minute Comedies (81466224), 90-Minute Family Movies (81466229), 90-Minute Horror (81466239), 90-Minute Rom-Coms (81466228), and 90-Minute Thrillers (81466222).
Code 1192582: Crack the case on gripping dramas set across the pond, including Bodies, Top Boy, and The Gentlemen.
Code 81231348: Sex Education, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, and more stories about friends who are more like family.
Code 1964512: Fight the future with titles like Black Mirror, Spiderhead, and Love, Death + Robots — or look through Dystopian Futures (2299461) for even more sci-fi options.
Code 3272152: The description speaks for itself, but to whet your appetite — you’ll find shows like Somebody Feed Phil, The Great British Baking Show, and Dinner Time Live with David Chang on here.
Code 2013975: Animated and live-action fare for everyone to enjoy together. You’ll find films here like Leo, Nimona, Family Switch, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
Code 1143288: Shows about besties (Never Have I Ever, Girls5eva, Ginny & Georgia, etc.) to watch with your bestie — or to recommend to them after you finish.
Code 3261672: Midnight Mass, The Perfection, and more spooky stories with impeccable vibes.
Code 75480: Dear White People, Big Mouth, Derry Girls, and more offerings sure to make you smile.
Code 2953105: If you’re newer to K-dramas, look no further than this list that includes shows like Crash Landing on You, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and Squid Game.
Code 2974953: The Lost Daughter, Someone Great, and more unmissable films from female filmmakers.
Code 81278963: Behind the curtain with celebrities and sports stars, via the likes of Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana, Beyoncé’s Homecoming, and the Beckham docuseries.
Code 3053870: Crashing, Love, Senior Year, and more remind us that growing up (and acting like a grown-up) isn’t always easy.
Code 81226732: For getting up close and personal with the edge of your seat, try this collection that includes Reptile, Dark, Ozark, and Luther: The Fallen Sun.
Code 81493295: Inventing Anna is right at home in this mix of scripted series and real-life stories.
Code 81615585: Enjoy some cozy time with the likes of My Life With the Walter Boys, Sweet Magnolias, and Gilmore Girls.
Code 81238162: A category for those who like their drama with a dash of the strange. (See: Manifest, Lucifer, The Umbrella Academy.)
Code 81582488: Want reality series (Love Is Blind) and fictional stories (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) about the highs and lows of dating all in one place? Here’s your match made in heaven.
Code 81282911: Emily in Paris, Amazing Vacation Rentals, Down to Earth with Zac Efron, and more for anyone with a passport burning a hole in their pocket.
Code 2752022: Go for the gold with these sports stories, which include films, TV series and documentaries like Last Chance U, Full Swing, and Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team.
Code 2314106: Get a dose of nostalgia via these ’80s-set offerings, or jump ahead a decade and check out Nostalgic ’90s (2691941).
Code 3182735: When you want a start-to-finish project and have the time to commit to it. If you’re on a tighter deadline, pursue Watch in One Night (3178549).
