If ever you’ve found yourself scrolling endlessly through Netflix in a futile bid to beat the algorithm and explore the platform’s hidden gems, then your plight is over.
The movies and TV shows shown on your Netflix homepage are based on what you’ve previously watched or added to your list. While this can be a handy time-saving tool, it also means you’re unlikely to ever see anything from outside those genres, with literally thousands of hidden gems on the streaming platform waiting to be discovered.
To explore Netflix’s ‘secret menu’, all you need to do is open your web browser and then type in ‘netflix.com/browse/genre/’ before adding the ID code of choice to the end of the URL.
During the early days of global lockdowns amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Netflix took action by adding new categories such as Human Connections (81271205), to try and help people to feel better and less isolated.
When comedian Pete Davidson rapped on Saturday Night Live about wanting to watch ‘short-ass movies’, Netflix immediately created a category of the same name, (81603903).
There are hundreds of different codes covering everything from specific Hollywood stars, niche genres, countries, or a specific Zombie page. The folk over at Ogres Crypt have helpfully compiled a complete list.
Highlights include films under 90-minutes (81396425), zombie horror movies (75405), football movies (12803), LGBT+ dramas (500) and family-friendly christmas films (1474017).
The codes will only work on the Netflix website, and won’t be available on mobile devices or smart TV sets. However, you could still use it just to find loads of new stuff, before watching on your device of choice.
Now, go forth and explore!
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