Netflix has disclosed that it has invested over US$135 billion in films and television series over the last decade, underscoring the vast scale of its global expansion and the increasing impact of streaming content worldwide.
The company made this announcement alongside the launch of “The Netflix Effect,” a new initiative to highlight the economic, cultural, and social effects of its productions worldwide. According to Netflix, its investment in original and licensed content over the past 10 years has contributed more than US$325 billion to the global economy and has led to the creation of over 425,000 jobs in production.
Reflecting on the company’s extensive international growth, co-CEO Ted Sarandos noted that when Netflix expanded from serving about 60 countries to over 190 in a single day a decade ago, its goal was not just to distribute stories on a global scale, but also to enhance its presence through local storytelling and regional production.
Netflix took a significant step in 2015 with its first original production outside the U.S., Club de Cuervos, set in Mexico. Since then, the company has produced films and series in more than 4,500 cities and towns across over 50 countries, each production serving as a local economic booster through job creation, support for small businesses, and community involvement.
The company provided several instances of its economic impact. For example, in the U.S., four seasons of The Lincoln Lawyer boosted California’s economy by over US$425 million, employing more than 4,300 cast and crew members while filming across over 50 locations in Los Angeles. Similarly, five seasons of Stranger Things generated upwards of 8,000 job opportunities for production professionals and involved numerous vendors nationwide.
In Colombia, the thriller Frontera Verde involved local communities in the Amazon, featuring residents in various production roles both on and off camera. Meanwhile, in Sweden, the city of Strängnäs became a favoured filming site for several European adaptations of Love Is Blind, bolstering local hospitality, transport, and production services year-round.
Netflix also emphasised the cultural ramifications of its content. Its film KPop Demon Hunters emerged as its most-watched original film to date, significantly boosting global interest in Korean culture. The film’s release has reportedly led to an uptick in language learning and increased travel to South Korea, showcasing the potential of entertainment to influence consumer behaviour and tourism.
Additionally, Netflix is heavily investing in the wider entertainment infrastructure. This includes studio facilities, training programs, and the preservation of cultural venues. The company noted that its educational initiatives have reached over 90,000 individuals across more than 75 countries, alongside restoration projects for historic cinemas, including The Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles and Cinema Europa.
As the entertainment sector continues to evolve, Netflix indicated that it remains committed to its long-term investments in content, creators, production communities, and global audiences as it embarks on its next stage of worldwide expansion.
