How to use Netflix’s secret category codes to find what you want to watch

By Parker Hall, Stephanie Topacio Long and Chris Gates Updated September 17, 2021

With an ever-growing library of content, there’s plenty to watch on Netflix — as long as you can find something that interests you. We’ve all experienced the problem of content overload, when you have an idea of what you want to watch but you just can’t quite narrow it down with so many options available. The streaming service conveniently allows users to search by general categories, but if you want to get even more specific, there’s a trick to help you out.

Further reading

Each genre and subgenre has its own assigned code, making navigation a breeze. According to What’s On Netflix, you can manually access a full list of movies or programs for each genre or subgenre. You don’t have to scroll through predefined carousels on your homepage anymore. You can go directly to the genre categories that interest you the most.

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To access the library of codes, type http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER into your preferred browser. You’ll need to substitute your genre code in place of the “INSTANTNUMBER” portion of the URL. At that point, you’ll be directed immediately to the genre you’d like to browse and see all of the options Netflix has available in that category.

There are codes for more general, overarching genres, like anime, drama, and TV series. However, you can also browse through several specific subcategories, for example, movies for ages 5 to 7, teen comedies, or werewolf horror movies. This tool can direct you to the particular kind of content you like to watch, instead of having to wade through Netflix’s sea of content. Once you’re directed to your genre category, you can navigate it just as you would Netflix’s familiar interface.

If you’re a Google Chrome user, you can effortlessly search lesser-known genres after installing the FindFlix extension. With this program, you won’t need to manually log URLs and codes to find what you’re looking for. If you’re not a Chrome user, check out our list below for our favorite “secret” Netflix codes. You can simply click through these hyperlinks for direct browsing.

Action and adventure

Anime

Children and family

Classic movies

Comedy

Horror movies

Documentaries

Dramas

Foreign movies

Musicals

Romance

Sci-fi and fantasy

Sports

Thriller

TV shows

Senior Writer, Home Theater/Music

Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…

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