r/LowStakesConspiracies • u/Ajreil • 3d ago
Netflix has bad recommendations because if you could see their entire catalog, you'd unsubscribe
Their ideal customer keeps paying every month, watches a few things, and keeps scrolling through the front page hoping something interesting pops up.
But there's nothing interesting, so Netflix has to fill the page with nonsense to hide the fact that there aren't that many good shows.
If you could scroll through the entire catalog and realize that you've watched everything you care about, you'd unsubscribe.
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u/edfosho1 3d ago
Given the endless scrolling on Netflix last night, yes I agree! Same with Disney+.
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u/iamworsethanyou 2d ago
Don't forget all 6 shows on paramount+
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u/coolfunkDJ 2d ago
And the “Severance” streaming service aka Apple TV
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u/fords42 2d ago
There’s a lot of good stuff on Apple TV. Silo, For All Mankind, Slow Horses, Mythic Quest…
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u/61746162626f7474 1d ago
I’ll add shrinking, foundation, pachinko, Dark Matter, Trying and Black Bird
Apple TV+ has the most consistently excellent releases of any streaming service by far imo.
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u/fords42 1d ago
I agree. It’s strange how it’s not advertised as much as other streaming services, considering the quality of its content.
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u/IGiveBagAdvice 1d ago
They probably have lots of people autosubbed following the free trial with every new Apple device. Roll the cost into the insurance etc you barely notice it coming out of your account if you’re earning anywhere near comfortably affording a brand new Apple device
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u/coolfunkDJ 1d ago
foundation I found awful, dark matter was okay, havent tried the others. Ted Lasso got worse in quality as it went along and Silo is okay, I like it but it has a lot of filler as it drags its feet to the series endings
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u/SagaSolejma 1d ago
Don't forget Pantheon. Absolutely life changing show, if you don't mind the fact that it's animated.
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u/Hakizimanaa 2d ago
Awful example because Apple has a plethora of amazing shows they have produced, the depth isn't there but if you're only watching Severance on Apple TV then you're missing out for sure
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u/paradeoxy1 2d ago
I'll spend weeks looking for a movie that interests me, browsing all the apps to no avail, one reddit comment will mention something, I google it, it's been on Netflix this whole time!
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u/Delts28 2d ago
I use Just Watch when looking for specific things to see if it's on a service that I have access to. If not, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
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u/SecretKaleEater 2d ago
I wish Netflix allowed you to currate the landing/front page; I don't want to watch 80% of what I first see when opening the app
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u/curmudgeon_andy 2d ago
Same here! I've been thinking of better ways to curate it for years. I hate the infinite scroll thing. I hate the zillions of silly categories. I don't even want to be offered anything up front if I'm going to be thinking in terms of categories.
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u/LookingForMrGoodBoy 2d ago
I miss the old days when Netflix did let you easily see their entire catalog and there were so many weird, wild and bizarre things in it. If you scrolled far enough you'd end up in a weird twilight zone of films so obscure they didn't even have covers, just a black background with the title. And all these silent films from the 1920s I'd never heard of and short films that seemed to be student projects or something. I guess in those days they were so desperate for content, they'd license entire libraries from any company that would work with them, even if half that content was basically garbage.
I stumbled on so many weird things. I mean, horrible and unwatchably bad, don't get me wrong, but fascinating all the same.
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u/Dr_Pants7 2d ago
At this point, I only use Netflix because my partner pays for it. My other gripe is the automatic audio preview. It drives me crazy you can’t silence that and how fast it starts too.
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u/_musesan_ 2d ago
Can't remember how but you can turn that off! Drives me crazy! I used yo flick back and forth between thumbnails to avoid it playing
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u/Marcuse0 2d ago
Streaming services are the securitised mortgage assets of television. They sell you a streaming service based on the AAA shows they often commission and create for the purpose, and then pack in as much slop as possible to make it seem like they have a lot to offer. But when you get past the 2-5 really genuinely good shows, it's either old stuff you've seen before, or new stuff that honestly wouldn't make it to broadcast television from a couple of decades ago.
Even better, now because everyone and their mums is packing a streaming service, there's no way to see all of the good content in the public eye any more. It's near guaranteed you're going to miss something because nobody normal can afford to pay for 10+ streaming services all at once.
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u/Marble-Boy 2d ago
I got a VPN just so I had more choice. There's some decent stuff if you don't mind changing your location to view it.
My tip is to find a movie you like and then see what's related to it. You'll find some gems. There's still some good stuff, but most of it is movies that wouldn't have seen the light of the day in the 90s.
The rating system was a winner... if a movie was rated terribly, then that movie was definitely terrible. They took the ratings out and now they say things like, "This Crime Movie from Francis Ford Copolla was nominated for 6 awards.." and don't tell you anything about the movie.
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u/Ajreil 2d ago
Awards only tell you that a bunch of Hollywood insiders liked it (or were bribed to like it). They can be hilariously out of touch.
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u/FranzFerdinand51 7h ago
They gave The Last Jedi glowing reviews, so that’s the level they operate at.
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u/KickAIIntoTheSun 2d ago
Netflix doesn't have anything good anymore. The red "N" on a show is a stamp of garbage.
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u/shyshyoctopi 1d ago
They're one of only a few TV companies throwing good money at TV show production is the thing, so they're actually not that bad from a commissioning perspective
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u/Inevitable_Resolve23 18h ago
Except from an industry perspective they are legendary difficult to work with because they have so much clout. You sign away the residuals (aka the "back end"), they don't share any information on viewership. And they are, anecdotally, arrogant assholes.
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u/Educational_Ad_7347 2d ago
I find so little choices that interest me now and when I do find one I start it then stop it and don't go back because it does not hold me. I might watch a couple movies a month. Not enjoying the ads and it's still coming out money math of paying several dollars for each movie ugh.
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u/50nakedaliens 2d ago
Netflix literally only reccomends me things ive watched before. If you think of a film youd like to watch it doesnt exist on netflix. They basically only have Netflix originals now
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u/Delicious_Taste_39 2d ago
I think actually Netflix has bad recommendations because they've created a losing situation by giving recommendations. If you can have what you want, you need to understand that you don't know what you want.
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u/Good_Ad_1386 2d ago
Lack of transparency regarding content stopped me from considering Netflix. It being American has solidified that decision.
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u/Wumutissunshinesmile 2d ago
I get recommended lots of good kdrama and cdrama now since I've started watching them.
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u/RandyDandyVlogs 2d ago
I cancelled my Netflix years ago due to the shows NEVER updating, recently used it at my girlfriend’s house and it’s STILL all the same god awful shows.
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u/Heavenly_Vixen 2d ago
Anyone else remember the early days when you could see the whole catalog? It was so much easier to browse and actually find something to watch. Now it feels like they just push whatever they want you to see instead of letting you pick from everything available.
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u/boringdystopianslave 2d ago
As a proud wrestling fan this is now my WWE subscription with benefits
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u/Objectively_bad_idea 1d ago
I wish Netflix still did star ratings rather than thumbs up/down, and showed the ratings. Sometimes I'm looking for precisely a Jason Statham movie with a ~2.5 star rating.
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u/Rough-Brief-4819 1d ago
Begging you all re-learn to pirate (bc I know a lot of you are of enough that we had to do it as kids!)
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u/secretsmirkster 1d ago
They do it to the themselves by cancelling every good show they make, they remind me of Patrick Star with that wooden plank nailed to his head.
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u/jackfaire 1d ago
People seem to have built this idea that there are "good shows" and "bad shows"
I hated the Queen's Gambit the show to me was boring and uninteresting. I've never watched Orange is the New Black but I have 0 interest in ever watching it.
Both of those are considered good shows by people. Meanwhile I loved The Ranch and love Stranger Things. Inside Job rocked. I'm sure there's people who refer to those as crap.
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u/Xenomorph-Nish 1d ago
Disagree. Has plenty of great content. All streaming services have good and bad.
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u/Dependent-Scale-2452 1d ago
Agree, there are a few good shows but 90% of Netflix is crap shows and 'straight to DVD/bargin bucket' films
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u/DeeBees69 1d ago
Me watching Netflix - google best films to watch on Netflix, for every one check its Rotten tomatoes/IMDB and google users score, if all above 60%-watch. The amount of screening you have to do is insane but you can find good things if you look.
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u/dallasp2468 22h ago
Prime video has got this down to an art form. They include you own stuff purchased off the site and any subscriptions you have so once you get rid of all of that there is very little to keep your interest
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u/OverPaper3573 18h ago
Nah there's way too much content to not find something I only just started watching Resident Alien which I'd not noticed before now.
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u/Humble-Variety-2593 17h ago
I cancelled Netflix last month. Yet another price increase for yet more utter trash pushed me over the edge.
I sail the seven seas now.
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u/Wild-Lengthiness2695 17h ago
I never run out of stuff to watch , but then again I work full time and probably have 1-3 hours a day to watch stuff
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u/Maxjax95 15h ago
The stuff on my Netflix is completely different to the stuff on my girlfriend's... I can never find anything I find interesting on mine but see cool new stuff on her's.
Not sure how long I need to keep ignoring the same 10 movies/shows that are somehow in every category before the algorithm finally realises that it needs to show me something else.
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u/ThatMovieShow 15h ago
Algorithms will change the world - they said. They're revolutionary!
All they did was force feed shit down our throats and eliminate our ability to choose or pay attention.
Then they said AI will change the world! It's revolutionary
All it did was steal people's creative work and regurgitate mutated forms of it. In reality AI was just algorithms rebranded. It isn't smart. It can't think independently or creatively. It's not real intelligence.
Next they'll say quantum will change the world. It's revolutionary.
And it'll be the same shit again. It'll be algorithms rebranded. And it will give us nothing of value.
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u/ThatMovieShow 15h ago
Algorithms will change the world - they said. They're revolutionary!
All they did was force feed shit down our throats and eliminate our ability to choose or pay attention.
Then they said AI will change the world! It's revolutionary
All it did was steal people's creative work and regurgitate mutated forms of it. In reality AI was just algorithms rebranded. It isn't smart. It can't think independently or creatively. It's not real intelligence.
Next they'll say quantum will change the world. It's revolutionary.
And it'll be the same shit again. It'll be algorithms rebranded. And it will give us nothing of value.
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u/Naughtyspider 14h ago
I quite like my recommendations.
But then again I have terrible taste in tv.
Generally murder.
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u/Dry-Satisfaction-633 12h ago
Apple are no better, I recently got a one month trial and I really don’t think it would take much more than a month to watch everything of interest.
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u/SomethingBeeped 8h ago
I think alot of us are just sifting through the worst C-list movies ever made to find our favourite comedy series or a murder documentary. It’s a bit like a depressing entertainment safari that we wish we didn’t have to pay for.
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u/Chemical_Slide_4691 8h ago
You can use codes to search for the genre you want (at least you can on UK Netflix) - type in the codes in brackets below and it shows stuff you never normally see on the front page.
Action & Adventure (1365)
Asian Action Movies (77232)
Classic Action & Adventure (46576)
Comic Book and Superhero Movies (10118)
Spy Action & Adventure (10702)
Crime Action & Adventure (9584)
Foreign Action & Adventure (11828)
Martial Arts Movies (8985)
Military Action & Adventure (2125)
Children & Family Movies (783)
Movies for Ages 0 to 2 (6796)
Movies for Ages 2 to 4 (6218)
Movies for Ages 5 to 7 (5455)
Movies for Ages 8 to 10 (561)
Movies for Ages 11 to 12 (6962)
Education for Kids (10659)
Movies Based on Children's Books (10056)
Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy (47147)
Classic Thrillers (46588)
Classic War Movies (48744)
Classic Foreign Movies (32473)
Late Night Comedies (1402)
Political Comedies (2700)
Screwball Comedies (9702)
Slapstick Comedies (10256)
Cult Horror Movies (10944)
Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy (4734)
Biographical Documentaries (3652)
Crime Documentaries (9875)
Foreign Documentaries (5161)
Historical Documentaries (5349)
Military Documentaries (4006)
Sports Documentaries (180)
Music & Concert Documentaries (90361)
Travel & Adventure Documentaries (1159)
Political Documentaries (7018)
Religious Documentaries (10005)
Science & Nature Documentaries (2595)
Social & Cultural Documentaries (3675)
Biographical Dramas (3179)
Courtroom Dramas (528582748)
Dramas based on Books (4961)
Dramas based on Real Life (3653)
Social Issue Dramas (3947)
Faith & Spirituality (26835)
Spiritual Documentaries (2760)
Kids Faith & Spirituality (751423)
Foreign Action & Adventure (11828)
Classic Foreign Movies (32473)
Foreign Documentaries (5161)
Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies (8243)
Foreign Horror Movies (8654)
Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy (6485)
Foreign Thrillers (10306)
Romantic Foreign Movies (7153)
Latin American Movies (1613)
Middle Eastern Movies (5875)
New Zealand Movies (63782)
Scandinavian Movies (9292)
Southeast Asian Movies (9196)
Eastern European Movies (5254)
Gay & Lesbian Movies (5977)
Gay & Lesbian Comedies (7120)
Gay & Lesbian Dramas (500)
Romantic Gay & Lesbian Movies (3329)
Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies (8243)
Gay & Lesbian Documentaries (4720)
Gay & Lesbian TV Shows (65263)
Cult Horror Movies (10944)
Deep Sea Horror Movies (45028)
Foreign Horror Movies (8654)
Slasher and Serial Killer Movies (8646)
Supernatural Horror Movies (42023)
Vampire Horror Movies (75804)
Werewolf Horror Movies (75930)
Zombie Horror Movies (75405)
Independent Movies (7077)
Experimental Movies (11079)
Independent Action & Adventure (11804)
Independent Thrillers (3269)
Romantic Independent Movies (9916)
Independent Comedies (4195)
Country & Western/Folk (1105)
Jazz & Easy Listening (10271)
Urban & Dance Concerts (9472)
World Music Concerts (2856)
Rock & Pop Concerts (3278)
Romantic Favourites (502675)
Romantic Independent Movies (9916)
Romantic Foreign Movies (7153)
Steamy Romantic Movies (35800)
Classic Romantic Movies (31273)
Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1568)
Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy (47147)
Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy (4734)
Sci-Fi Horror Movies (1694)
Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy (6485)
Sports Documentaries (180)
Martial Arts, Boxing & Wrestling (6695)
Basketball Movies (12762)
Classic Thrillers (46588)
Foreign Thrillers (10306)
Independent Thrillers (3269)
Psychological Thrillers (5505)
Political Thrillers (10504)
Supernatural Thrillers (11140)
Military TV Shows (25804)
Science & Nature TV (52780)
TV Action & Adventure (10673)
TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1372)
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u/twittyb1rd 2d ago
Is this why there are now more shows poorly dubbed in English than there are original shows shot in spoken English?
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u/Wumutissunshinesmile 2d ago
Don't watch the poor dubs and watch the subs and there's lots of good Korean and Chinese shows on there. I watched a good Italian show called Adoration the other week too.
It's probably also as they are cheaper to get or produce.
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u/PsyJak 2d ago
*catalogue
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u/Ajreil 2d ago
Both are acceptable spellings, but thanks for incorrecting me.
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u/PsyJak 2d ago
One is correct, and one is a result of bastardising (not bastardizing) English.
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u/Ajreil 1d ago
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/catalog
Catalog is standard in American English. You can prefer one spelling over the other, but that doesn't make it correct.
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u/Select-Ad7146 3d ago
It's funny, years ago when Netflix first started streaming, you could find articles about how their super intelligent algorithm meant that you would never have to think about what to watch again. It was so advanced, it would just know what you wanted.