New Netflix Binge Routine

Frank and Claire. Walt and Jesse. Pinot noir and caviar. Some things are better together, and it turns out TV and movies are one of those pairings. According to research from Netflix, a new trend in watching has emerged with more than 30 million Netflix members around the world weaving film into their binge routines.

After finishing a series, the majority of Netflix members (59%) take a pause, usually lasting three days, before committing to a new show. During that break, more than half (61%) watch a movie to keep the binge feeling alive, like pairing the quirky Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt with the hilarious Bachelorette. 

“It’s interesting that in this golden age of television, movies are consistently in demand on Netflix,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “What we’ve come to figure out is that movies are really an important part of people’s viewing routines and complimentary to the way they watch and enjoy TV.”

Data showed that viewers use movies of the same genre to extend their viewing experience. After watching Stranger Things, members in the UK and Ireland moved on to Dark Skies or X-Men: Days of Future Past, both gripping Sci-Fi stories of aliens and mutants living among us. Orange is the New Black enthusiasts went on to enjoy female led action in Lucy and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Similarly, those who binged Marvel’s Jessica Jones also revelled in the kick ass nature of Katniss’s quest for liberation as well as the pursuit of justice by FBI Agent Kate Macer in Sicario. Fans hooked on royal drama, The Crown went on to enjoy blockbuster hits Gone Girl and The Big Short. Viewers of Narcos, indulged their cartel curiosity with Cartel Land and City of God.

Members in the UK and Ireland continue to be huge fans of documentaries and also turn to factual films to fuel their post-binge craving. Those gripped by Making a Murderer, turned to Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer and Josef Fritzl: Story of a Monster, to delve deeper into the mind of the convicted. Fans of Black Mirror went on to explore the real consequences of the digital age, in Hot Girls Wanted and We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists. 

Interestingly, viewers were looking for a change in entertainment rhythm after watching the twisted and chilling, American Horror Story.  Viewers chose comedies, Clueless and Dirty Grandpa as light relief before moving on to the next nailbiter.

According to the research, here are some popular series-movie pairings for the UK and Ireland: