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Code 8985 belongs to the martial arts genre; 5480, to Bollywood fictions; the 43048, to the unknown thrillers... They are the numbers under which the 'secret file' of Netflix is hidden. A group of geeks (a term used to refer to the person fascinated by technology and computing) and experts in digital platforms has found the key that opens the hidden box of the entertainment giant.

What they have discovered is an alternative catalog to the official one composed of more than 200 subcategories with thousands of titles, which can be accessed from the desktop, performing specific searches. With a simple gesture, typing the code of each category into the platform's search magnifying glass, users can access hidden treasures ranging from films of the genre known as 'horror niche', through 'irreverent TV comedies', to '90-minute movies'.

Tired of what Netflix offers? This hidden library with thousands of movies and series opens the door to look for what the viewer wants, not what the algorithm offers.

According to Netflix, forced to confirm the finding, recommendations for movies or series on the home page are made based on "factors that include viewing history, the time of day the content is viewed and whether a user has rated a particular title." But Netflix also uses a number of codes to classify particular genres and subgenres, which users can access in the form of hidden menus. They're not banned, just Netflix has never officially given the option to access them until geeks have worked their magic.

De-of-print Netflix action movie codes. NETFLIX

Among the movies and TV series is a treasure trove of secret category codes: a list that dates back to the company's early days and exceeds 36,000 titles. A "gift," Netflix claims now that it's been discovered, for fans who know "exactly" what they want to watch or who want to try something completely new.

There are two ways to access this secret collection: the first, from any computer by typing 'netflix.com/browse/genre/' in the browser and adding a unique identification code. The second, through the TV, typing that same code in the search field. On tablets and mobiles neither of the two works at the moment.

According to Mary Bertone of Netflix's editorial team, these codes hark back to the days when the platform was still in its DVD-only phase. At the time, Netflix.com had an audience-facing genre tree that linked to all types of movies and series, each of which had its own specific identification code. Butwhen Netflix was transformed, that catalog vanished.

Those titles never disappeared. The platform removed them from subscribers' view, but not from Netflix's software. A fan searched the genre tree for all the codes, shared the list online, and a small group of privileged people has been using those codes (along with the thousands more that have been added since then) to this day, until it's been shared for everyone.

Really, this 'secret archive' never stops growing. According to Michael Raphan, strategist of the company, when the series The Recruit premiered last January, a new code was automatically generated, the 81647318, dedicated to action and romance. In the early days of the Covid pandemic, codes were also created to house all films and series about human relationships under the heading Human Connections (code 81271205) in order to help people feel better.

The codes of classic movies in the hidden catalog of Netflix.NETFLIX

Due to copyright laws, distribution rights, and licensing, Netflix libraries differ significantly by geographic region. It is another benefit of this 'secret file': if you combine these codes with a VPN to avoid online geographical restrictions, you can access not only that hidden library but also content 'capped' by the geographical position of subscribers.

The secret menu includes a detailed classification of its large catalog with unthinkable labels, but that at some point have generated interest: satanic stories, K-Drama for beginners and more, family movie night, reluctant adults, conspirators and scammers ...

In principle, the discovery of this phantom catalog should not pose any problem for Netflix, since it contains content that the platform already offered. However, uncovering those codes and opening a catalog of such dimensions comes at a time when the company is trying to stop the exchange of accounts. A phenomenon that, according to Netflix, affects more than 100 million viewers.

Under the new rules, people watching Netflix using someone else's account must create their own logins and pay for their own access, but, at least, now the user will choose what they want and not what they offer.

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