Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Let’s face it: we rely on Netflix quite a bit for our entertainment needs. (Maybe a little too much?)
And while it’s never been more convenient to access all of our favorite movies and shows via streaming video on demand, we still have our gripes when it comes to certain search functionality, customization, and especially, category specificity. Netflix may be great, but it sure isn’t perfect and this year, we have hopes for some necessary (and realistic!) category updates to make tracking down movies and shows even easier. So pretty please, Netflix? Hear our cries as we surf through your vast sea of titles night after night… after night.
"Movies Directed by Women"
Even after we discovered a fun way to hack Netflix’s hyper-specific genre codes, we’re still unable to track down movies directed by women in a convenient and efficient manner. What the heck, Netflix?! The streaming platform features a ton of fantastic female-directed films, but absolutely no way to search for their shared thread. This is no longer a plea, this is a demand.
"Movies with Kick Ass Soundtracks"
Sometimes the “Musical” genre tag just doesn’t cut it. Maybe you’re in the mood to watch something that’s easy on the ears, but aren’t necessarily up for a full-blown song and dance number. We’re hoping Netflix comes up with an ingenious way to compile a cross-genre category that features movies with unforgettable soundtracks, including everything from Pulp Fiction and Across the Universe to The Graduate and Saturday Night Fever.
"Easy Breezy Bingeing"
Sometimes, at the end of a long day, you’re in the mood for some mindless reality TV. The problem with reality shows, however, is that the drama often demands your attention so you know what kind of shenanigans to expect come next episode. Cue: cooking shows. And I’m not talking about Top Chef or Hell’s Kitchen — they’re too stressful! — I’m talking about easygoing, binge-worthy series like The Great British Baking Show! Because what’s more relaxing than watching a bunch of low-key Brits whip up some of the most delicious looking pastries you’ve ever seen? That’s right, nothing.
"Every Single Award-Winning Movie"
Netflix offers a plethora of award-winning content, including those decorated by Oscars, BAFTAs, and even AFI’s prestigious acknowledgement. The problem? You don’t know what’s won awards until you click on the “More Details” section of a movie title. Occasionally a “Critically Acclaimed Movies” scrolling category makes its way to my ever-changing homepage before disappearing again, but I suggest that this future category should sit in the “Browse” menu so we don’t have to waste time hunting around.
"Stream Your Way Through Film School"
The most amazing part about the streaming video revolution is that, unlike those of us who paid tens of thousands of dollars to go to school to study film, you can watch many of the same movies studied by film students for much cheaper. The only thing left to do? Figure out where to start. Do you begin with a director? A genre? A time period? If Netflix took a page from Hulu’s Criterion Collection notebook, they could pull together all of their cinematic gems — both new and old — and have a film school-friendly curation unlike anything the streaming world has seen before. Because while Hulu’s Criterion Collection is brilliant, it certainly isn’t vast or regularly updated — leaving this kind of (much needed) opportunity to Netflix wide open.
