Why is the selection of instant view titles "skimpy"

I have recently joined netflix because of the instant streaming to my xbox. However it is almost a waste of time because the selection is SO bad. Aside from about 20 movies I've actually heard of, the rest of them are titles from 15+ years ago. Most of them are what looks to be straight to video releases, and "classic" films like Mad Max, and Waterworld for god's sake. Can someone tell me if these titles will get better? Because if this is the best there is , I'll cancel now.

UPDATE: I've been set straight, thanks for all the comments.

Tags: horrible, instant, selection, sucks, watching, xbox

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by pihkal020 on November 24, 2008 at 1:21pm: You're a putz.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Morris on November 24, 2008 at 1:22pm: Thanks man. Very helpful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by photo heathen on November 24, 2008 at 1:23pm: Can someone tell me if these titles will get better?

Not until your tastes change (read: improve).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Morris on November 24, 2008 at 1:25pm: Are you serious? Sorry I'm not in the mood for B movie titles and 30 year old bullshit.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by photo heathen on November 24, 2008 at 1:33pm: Sorry I'm not in the mood for B movie titles and 30 year old bullshit.

Precisely my point. Hey, if you really feel like nothing over 15 years old is worthwhile, then head to Red Box. You're only depriving yourself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Microwaved on November 24, 2008 at 1:33pm: Pat, Pat, Pat, May I call you Pat? OK. So here's the deal.

Some of us don't think movies from 15+ years ago suck, in fact some of us think that movies are good from like a hundred years ago and stuff. So saying something like that might get a few barbs thrown your way. Secondly, look around a bit and you'll find many many many, (did I say many?) discussions about said topic you've started. You see this yellow brick road, well like my mom, you're not the first to ride it. So before you start throwing around your heavy water factory gloves, take some time to admire the curtains, I'm pretty sure they match the carpet but I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time I thought they were red and they turned out to be brown.

And in my oh so humble opinion there are some real winners on instant watch, we even have a group here dedicated to it. So go ahead and pull up a stool, change your clothes, you look so generic, and dig in deep. To quote the great Jack Palance "If you want to dine with the devil you're going to need a long spoon!" But you probably haven't seen Cyborg 2.

And then after doing some research on titles and availability and licensing which all can be found here, then by all means cast another stone. I can't promise you'll get a better reaction, but at least you'll know more, and well to quote another great thing from over twenty years ago "And knowing is half the battle."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Morris on November 24, 2008 at 1:45pm: Thanks for the, sort of helpful reply. Better than the last 2. I actually wanted a real answer and that was, close to one. See, all of us arent pseudo-intellectual movie buffs like you, and prefer movies other than say, cyborg 2. I think I missed that one when it came around to the local theater.

However, if what you're trying to say is that the list is limited due to liscensing issues, then thanks. You answered my very simple question. And basically all I wanted to know is if that list will be GROWING at any time. If so I'll stick with it. If it's staying like it is, limited and very confusing to navigate and actually FIND what you want, I might pass.

P.S. Do all commenters on this forum behave like Elitist jerks or just this thread?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Microwaved on November 24, 2008 at 1:47pm: Just this thread. The rest of this place is filled with lollipops and unicorns.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by spiderpig on November 24, 2008 at 1:40pm: Hello Pat, welcome to this community which (and correct me if I'm wrong) you probably just joined to complain about something on Netflix. However, we are not associated with Netflix and we really have no influence on which movies are added to the instant watch list so most of the responses you'll get will either be apathy or snark.

That being said, here is a link you might find helpful. It is a link of IW titles available sorted by year with 2008 at the top of the list. Hopefully you can find more movies from the "golden age of cinema" which you seem to think include only recent releases.

http://www.netflix.com/WiList?sc=7&lnkctr=wnListSort_0&so=1

Again, none of use here will be able to to tell you when "better" titles will be available so I completely agree with you that if you don't find that list to your liking, then definitely please cancel now. Life is way to short to have to deal with a service that does not have the movies you are looking for, right?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Morris on November 24, 2008 at 1:58pm: Excellent response with just the right amount of insult.

I'm not saying movies from this decade are great. All I was getting at is how instant watch worked and why there is such a limited choice.

Also, if this site has no tie to netflix, why is everyone getting in such a uproar over my simple question. Since everyone here is such an intellegent all knowing movie guru, you all might want to look up "Cognitive Dissonance", that might explain your troubling behavior.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by spiderpig on November 24, 2008 at 2:07pm: All I was getting at is how instant watch worked and why there is such a limited choice.

Nowhere on your original post did you ask how IW worked. Again, we don't work for Netflix, but some employees do post here and they've indicated the reason not ALL movies are available are because they don't have licensing permission from the studios. If you did even a peripheral search in the forum before posting you would have seen this question answered LOTS of times.

Also, if this site has no tie to netflix, why is everyone getting in such a uproar over my simple question.

You answered your own question there, Pat. Like Micro said above, there have been many many many many posts with the exact same complaint as yours already.

Since everyone here is such an intellegent all knowing movie guru
I don't know about "movie guru"s, but I can say there are a lot of movie fans here, Pat. As I said previously, WELCOME. There's lots of topics going on in the forum, hope you have more to contribute than complaints.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pat Morris on November 24, 2008 at 2:24pm: Thanks for your bluntness. I guess I should have put my question another way.

Also my computer serfing skills can use a little work. I dont even know what a peripheral search is... so I can see how the same topic over and over gets annoying, however a simple, see: insert link here:: would have sufficed.

However, I do love the documentarys I have found so far. Esecially the PBS frontline stories and stuff about the war, being an Iraq veteran.

Thanks again letting your cooler head prevail.; ▶ Reply to This