Introduction to Netflix API Documentation

This guide is for developers who want to integrate Netflix functionality into their applications.

Note: This documentation covers “under-the-hood” details that may go beyond what you need to know. If you want to get started quickly, see the “Resources” page for links to existing Netflix libraries, user-contributed guidelines, and various tools that may make it easier for you to work with the API. For a quick tutorial on how to use OAuth in the Netflix API, please see the Netflix Authentication Walk-Through.

The guide contains the following sections:

  • Introduction to the Netflix API Guide (this page) is an overview of what you can do with the Netflix JavaScript API and REST API.
  • Javascript API Reference describes the Javascript API that helps you emulate aspects of the Netflix experience in your application.
  • Netflix API 1.5 Programmer’s Guide:
    • Netflix REST API Conventions covers the terminology and conventions you should be familiar with in order to understand and use the Netflix API 1.5.
    • Authentication Overview shows you how to sign your Netflix API 1.5 requests so that the API knows you are authorized to have the access you are requesting.
    • Common REST API Tasks provides a task-oriented guide to using the Netflix API 1.5 and covers several specific use cases.
    • REST API Reference provides detailed descriptions of all Netflix API 1.5 resources.
  • Branding Requirements lays out the steps you are required to take to distinguish your application and protect the integrity of the Netflix brand.
  • OData Catalog describes the Netflix OData API for catalog resources, which is currently in preview mode.

API Overview

Netflix supplies three sets of API components:

JavaScript API
The JavaScript API helps you emulate the Netflix experience in your application. It lets you add functional Netflix “Add” and “Play” buttons. See Javascript API Reference for more information.
Netflix REST API
A set of REST (representational state transfer) APIs that give you fine-grained access to such Netflix resources as the title catalog, subscriber queues, and rental activity. See REST API Conventions for more information on Netflix API 1.5.
Atom feeds
The Atom feeds enable people and applications to read Netflix feed data such as subscriber queues. You discover feeds via the Netflix API but can then access them without additional authentication.

To use these APIs, you need to register for a developer account:

  • Please be sure to instruct your email reader to accept all email from both mashery.com and netflix.com before you register your application so your registration confirmation email doesn’t accidentally get lost in your spam filter.
  • Register your application at http://developer.netflix.com/apps/register/. When you register, you will receive a “key” and a “secret” that your application then uses to access Netflix resources.
  • If your new key has a status of “waiting” for an excessive amount of time after you complete the registration process, write to apisupport@netflix.com and ask us to look into the problem.

Different APIs and resource types have different security requirements; for some you may have to supply other identification mechanisms such as signatures and access tokens. See Authentication Overview for more information on how to do this.

The Netflix APIs allow you to integrate Netflix user services into your application, for example:

  • performing searches of movies, TV series, cast members, and directors
  • retrieving catalog titles and details about each title such as box art, director, cast list, etc.
  • determining the subscriber’s relationship to a specific title (e.g, in queue, saved, etc.)
  • managing and displaying subscribers’ queues
  • providing auto-completion of partial search terms typed by a user
  • displaying a subscriber’s ratings
  • including functional Add and Play buttons in your web application

version 50 as of 8 months ago by David Gross

49 Comments

  1. ryanhickman – 3 years ago

    seems pretty simple.

  2. kirihimete – 3 years ago

    lol "seems pretty simple"

    After 4 weeks, does it still seem pretty simple?

  3. Cecilia – 3 years ago

    No for me--first time working with API and in a language that I don't know about. Only if you can see how big my head is right now.

  4. Dipanjan – 2 years ago

    Is there any API available to access trailers?

  5. Mjietucom – 2 years ago

    Hi I have been testing to get token but gets this error any Idea how to solve this?
    <status>
    <status_code>403</status_code>
    <message>Account inactive</message>
    </status>

  6. colleen quinn – 2 years ago

    I'm looking for the standard metadata specification for content providers delivering content to Netflix. Does anyone have that? Or, even just an XML sample?

  7. tvlinkerguy – 2 years ago

    We are looking to implement a dynamic linking system that would take our users directly from our movie page to the corresponding Netflix landing page for that movie. We also want to pass our affiliate id during this process.

    Still investigating :), but any help would be important.

    Mike
    http://www.tv-links.eu

  8. Kirsten Jones – 2 years ago

    Mike,

    The affiliate linking process (including deep linking) is available on the Developer Affiliate page, as is the process for getting set up so that you'll get credit.

    http://developer.netflix.com/docs/Affiliate_Program

    Thanks,
    Kirsten

  9. Cassie Cosgrove – 2 years ago

    Does anyone know how/where to find an 'instant add to queue' for web, such as what they have here: www.cityislandmovie.com?

    Thank You!

  10. JR Conlin – 2 years ago

    Yep, try http://developer.netflix.com/widgets

  11. lovingit – 1 year ago

    Would I be able to make API calls to play the movie directly on my console app rather than opening a link with the WiPlayerCommunityAPI URL? I did a quick skim through the documentation and it seems that what APIs allow me to do is manage the queue but don't seem to find the one that would allow me to stream in video. How do Boxee, Windows Media Center, PlayOn do this then?

    Thanks

  12. Michael Hart – 1 year ago

    Embedded playback is not enabled through the public API at this time.

  13. lovingit – 1 year ago

    Thanks Michael, but how are Boxee and Media Mall's PlayOn using your service then? Is there another protocol available? Or are they partners to whom you make these especially available?

    Thanks

  14. lovingit – 1 year ago

    Hi Michael,

    My company is very interested in building an app/setup box that uses Netflix. If an API is not available, who could we contact to become to initiate a partnership that allows us to use Netflix.

    Thanks

  15. yvo – 1 year ago

    Does anybody know a good PHP Netflix wrapper?

  16. Aziz – 11 months ago

    Check this out Yvo:

    http://azizsaleh.com/index.php/ScriptsAndResources/PHP-Netflix-API-Wrapper

  17. www.iseemovies.com – 10 months ago

    I'm a newbie here looking to put content on Netflix. Would appreciate any help. Thanks.

  18. nicachipal – 10 months ago

    Can we actually make money out of this ? Does anyone knows, if yes please share..... Thank you !!!!!!!

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  22. Jmoney – 6 months ago

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  23. moto – 6 months ago

    Excuse me.I want to ask the same questions if an API is not available, who could we contact to become to initiate a partnership that allows us to use Netflix.Our team are interested in building an app/setup box that uses Netflix.

  24. Traceyann – 5 months ago

    May I ask how do y'all like this site

  25. luong89 – 4 months ago

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  26. De Pham Duc – 4 months ago

    Does anyone have NetFlix dataset? Please send me (email: ducde1606@gmail.com). thanks so much

  27. apitesting – 3 months ago

    What do i need to access netflix api

  28. The Master – 3 months ago

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  38. Brideofrocknroll – 4 weeks ago

    Internet Connection Problem: Error Code N8307

    I have just joined Netflix, but after a few moments of streaming a movie I get the above code. I am running on a MAC OS 10.7.2

    Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

  39. Skyler lantier roxxs12 – 4 weeks ago

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  40. zhade112 – 4 weeks ago

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  47. jouney12 – 3 days ago

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  48. jouney12 – 3 days ago

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  49. bhktops – 6 hours ago

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