In 2019, Netflix released 371 series and movies. We can think of two reasons for Netflix to do that- One, they have a lot of time and money. Two, they think their subscribers have a lot of time and money. But is Netflix’s original content directly proportional to it’s growth anymore?
Highlights
- The Theory of Repetition
- Is Netflix running out of original content?
- Netflix in India; failing?
You’re at home, the world has halted and there is absolutely nothing keeping you occupied but the crippling sense of dread and some streaming apps, of course.
Netflix has released yet another 20 odd something series to watch, movies to stream and you’re clueless as to what in that moment might feel like the ideal choice to compliment your mood. But here’s an idea, why don’t we save ourselves the trouble of browsing through hundreds of recommendations and watch a re-run of Friends instead?
Netflix practices the Theory of Repetition
Netflix primarily works on few key points that have more or less proven to be a success recipe for them. The first, Netflix thrives on Nostalgia. The popular sci-fi show Stranger Things had Americans swooning for one reason – the 80’s era.
It was clearly an ingenious move by the creators of the show. They seamlessly incorporated the actor’s clothes (high-waisted jeans anyone?), the music, the diners to appeal to a much wider audience something that would have not been possible had it been set in modern times. The background toys are star war characters for the children and if the kids are out late after school that’s not something to worry about, right?
That is not the only ‘nostalgia’ Netflix has chosen as it’s priority. Netflix made remakes come into fashion with all big streaming apps now jumping on board. With shows like Gossip Girl, Charmed, Lizzie McGuire even the childhood favourite The Jetsons are all getting a reboot, some with a new cast altogether to appeal to the Gen-z and millennials alike!
The policy was pretty simple- generate more original content than they were originally producing. Gilmore Girls, Fuller House, Queer Eye, Arrested Development are some of their biggest reboot/remake revivals with fans yearning for more.
Related:
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With nostalgia and remakes safely underway, Netflix third biggest success weapon has been producing woke shows. A generation fighting and living to see the downfall of patriarchy, fighting for inclusion and acceptance of everyone and everything, Netflix knows to how to capitalise on that.
With a show like Sex Education talking about gender issues, identity, LGBTQ rights, housewife isolation, single parent troubles in a hilarious yet relatable way with some amazing well rounded characters – the show went on to have huge worldwide success.
We don’t care if Netflix is doing that to stay relevant, we care that Netflix is doing it. A whole generation of kids in their bedrooms all over the world will grow up having someone on screen tell them it’s okay to be different. So what if you have to pay someone to tell them that, right? Right?
Even with all these shows and this formula doing wonders, Netflix has not faced the kind of success in 2019 and 2020 that it has hoped for. There is competition to face, investors to please and new shows churning out every second for viewers to confuse.
Netflix in India; failing?
Yes, it’s true. Yes, you heard it right. Yes, Alt Balaji is a competition for Netflix in India. Why, you ask?
First of all, with 1.2 billion in population we have a wide variety of taste. Also, Netflix might be a tad bit expensive for the masses.
Netflix did come up with a cheaper mobile version, produced shows with the likes of Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar but nothing seems to work. Netflix has not faced the kind of Success in India that they had hoped for with the exception Sacred Games (Sacred Games is a religion).
So the question is, Is Netflix running out of original content?
Netflix is churning out original content faster than we can say Netflix. They’re clearly not out of content. But maybe it’s time for them to take a step back and take a hard look at the Theory of Repetition which doesn’t seem to be working for them anymore. And, at any rate slow down the speed at which consumers are being subjected to content. There’s too much and too much of everything. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and not like we don’t have the option of not coming back to Netflix.
What do you think? Is it time to move on from Netflix, just to breathe for a while? Let us what you think in the comments below!
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