Even if we only have a vague idea of what we want to watch, Netflix has incredibly specific ways of giving it to us. They arrange their content by literally thousands of selectable genres and all you need to do to access them is to add each genre’s number code to the end of the link when you’re browsing their site.
For instance, if you want their list of Goofy Courtroom Movies, you’d go here . You’d also, sadly, find that no titles exist in this category.
A full list of these hidden codes are here , but let’s run through some of the weirder genres they unlock.
Absurd Workplace Comedies (77752)
It’s pretty hard to think of a better way to describe The Office , but if you were worried that it was the only game in town, this category should calm those fears really fast.
They’ll have to work pretty hard to top Prison Mike, though.
Fight-The-System TV Shows (26705)
If you can’t wait to get all riled up about the many ways that technology is being misused in our society in the next season of Black Mirror , it might satisfy you to know it’s part of a whole genre of “Fight-The-System” shows.
And if you run out of those shows, there are apparently “Fight-The-System” movies too.
Movies Starring Mario Van Peebles (10922)
Just to give you a hint as to how specific Netflix is willing to get, they’ll even boil certain search categories down to specific actors. And they don’t just stop at the A-list, either.
So if you ever wanted to hold a Mario Van Peebles movie marathon or just find out who he even is, Netflix has you covered.
Critically-Acclaimed Talking Animal Tales (37372)
For those who want to see some animals talk, but also value the input of professional critics as to the nuance with which those animals talk and the profound things they’re saying.
I guess it’s a weird distinction to make, but I can’t really say I’d mind watching Chicken Run again.
Romantic Crime Movies Based On Classic Literature (17042)
If you ever feel the need to make this incredibly specific request, you’re in luck. Netflix has exactly one movie that apparently fits the bill.
I’m not sure how well Brighton Rock balances its gritty crime with its tender romance or how it treats its 1938 source material, but there you go.
Cult Satanic Stories (3527)
Yeah, I’m sure there are a lot of perfectly unnerving movies about Satan on Netflix, but it’s just not the same if they don’t include his fan club.
Apparently, not one, but three Hellraiser movies are found in this category, as well as an adaptation of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn .
Visually-Striking Gory Crime Movies (3428)
I suppose it’s a lot easier to convince people not to worry about your taste in gory crime movies if you can say that you’re only watching them for the exquisite scenery and masterful cinematography.
Plus, it’s good to know that we’ve finally found a genre that fits The Hateful Eight .
Stunts & General Mayhem (3050)
I can’t be the only one who’s tickled to discover that somebody thought to add “General Mayhem,” to Netflix’s wide array of subgenres.
Still, it’s hard to argue that anything fits that bill better than the painful adventures of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and pals.
Goofy Dance Musicals (84259)
To me, the surprising thing isn’t so much that this category exists, but that the only movie found in it is 1965’s Beach Blanket Bingo .
I guess that nobody who films dance musicals ever dared to try and make one goofier than this.
Political Tearjerkers (1291)
Netflix certainly isn’t wrong that Milk counts as a political tearjerker, but we really need to talk about the sheer number of “Tearjerker” categories they have.
There are gritty tearjerkers (276), cerebral tearjerkers(15905), quirky tearjerkers(12068), and even feel-good tearjerkers(11892). That last one doesn’t seem like it should be possible, but OK.
