How to Unlock Movies on Netflix: Secret Codes Get You More Movies

We’ve all been there: You want to watch something on Netflix, so you end up spending 30 minutes searching through the recommended films and shows. Failing to find anything, you end up re-watching a sitcom you’ve already seen a million times. Fear not. Inverse has you covered! With this easy Netflix code hack, monotonous days of re-watching will soon be over.

For cord-cutters, a Netflix subscription is almost a requirement. But for many Netflix viewers, it can be hard to actually find anything you want to watch on the site. That’s because the site’s algorithm predicts what you want to see based on past viewing habits. This system took the place of a more traditional approach: sorting films and TV shows by genres such as drama, comedy, or action. Instead, your Netflix homepage contains categories like “Quirky TV Comedies” or “Teen TV for BFFs.”

Now, there’s nothing wrong with letting the Netflix recommendation engine offer choices if you’re open to suggestions and you generally stick to certain categories of streaming content.

What if you want to branch out from your usual documentary fare, though? Well, then it can be a lot harder to find what you want to watch. That’s where Inverse comes in.

There’s a near-endless list of secret codes you can use to discover a universe of Netflix categories you’ve never seen before.

Here’s How to Use Netflix Codes

After you’ve logged in to your Netflix account, type in this URL:

http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER

Except instead of typing “INSERTNUMBER,” you insert a number. To find the number that corresponds with the type of film or series you want to watch, check this list of genres for codes that can open up a whole new world of Netflix for you.

Here are a few highlights from this list:

10118 = Comic Book and Superhero Movies

2653 = Anime Action

180 = Sports Documentaries

8195 = B-Horror Movies

If you want to go even deeper, down into the spiraling vortex of hyper-specific Netflix genres, check out this list of alternate genres. This list includes all the options listed under, say, “Mind-bending” or “Coming-of-age.” For instance, here’s just a fraction of the “Gritty” categories:

Now, when you’re in the mood for something new, you’ll actually be able to find something new on Netflix.

Even if you’re watching on a smart TV or on the mobile app, you can use this list to browse on your computer, and then search for the films on your TV or app.

Check back regularly for updates to these genre codes, since Netflix changes them regularly.

For those of you who want a little more precision in your curation, check out the unofficial Netflix online Global Search, where in addition to genre, you can filter by IMDb rating, Rotten Tomatoes rating, and release year. They can even point you in the direction of a VPN if a film is unavailable to stream in your locale.

So even though you’ll occasionally want to binge on your old favorites, hopefully now you can open up a new world of movies and TV shows on Netflix. After all, isn’t that why you bought your subscription in the first place?