Do you remember when Netflix first became popular? Since 1997, it has grown and changed immensely. If you ask high school or college students what their favorite form of entertainment is, they will most likely say Netflix.

This program has evolved drastically over the years. It began as a DVD-by-mail service when it was first created in 1997. People loved it because they had unlimited access for one monthly fee.

It became more and more popular, and in 2007 the program started giving people the option to digitally stream movies and TV shows from their homes, which greatly boosted their number of films. When people found they could watch movies instantly, more were added to provide a bigger selection for streaming.

The company was founded by engineers Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings. Before Netflix, both men had worked at Pure Software, a company that created tools to troubleshoot software. Hastings came up with the concept for Netflix when he became aware of this huge opportunity to cancel out absurd movie rental prices and offer much more for the dollar. At his local renting place, Hastings believed prices on movie rentals were unnecessary.

When asked what his first impressions of Hastings were, Randolph said he’s “intense and obviously brilliant.”

Reed Hastings knew there had to be a better, logical way people could watch their favorite movies and shows. He wanted to resolve late fees on films so people could watch them without a time limit.

The two worked together very well. Randolph was the one who sort of translated and figured how to present Reed’s mathematical ideas. Reed most likely would not have been able to get his ideas out without Randolph’s help. Both men, together, created the phenomenon that is Netflix today.

You pay one time per month for unlimited movies with no return dates. With a huge assortment to pick from, there is something for everyone to watch.

“I watch Breaking Bad on Netflix. It puts you on the edge of your seat,” said freshman Aaron Long.
In 2007, Netflix had a little over 7600 subscribers. In 2011 it had over 26,000. As of 2016, Netflix boasts over 75 million members, with service in over 190 countries.