How To Write A Movie For Netflix

If you have ever tried to write a screenplay for a general audience you may have noticed that there is a lot more pressure to write a movie that appeals to a wide range of audience.

This can make writing a movie a thankless task as the audience is not invested in the characters and it can be very hard to motivate yourself to finish the script if you feel that you are not writing for the majority of the audience.

However there are ways to create a movie that will appeal to a wider audience and be a success in the box office.

Below are some guidelines on how to write a movie for Netflix that are based on this article:

The market size

One of the biggest things to consider in writing a movie for Netflix is that it is likely that their audience is primarily composed of young adults and younger children.

There is not much point in making a movie for Netflix if they are not exactly the target audience.

However a movie made for Netflix might not be aimed specifically at the teenage audience. They might prefer movies with a wider age range.

For example, movies aimed at the young adult female audience in general but could be a good choice for teenage boys.

The audience

The next thing you need to think about is the audience. What sort of people watch Netflix?

What types of movies will Netflix pick up?

Many people think that Netflix is a site for young people with large families or friends to hang out in their houses on the couch. If this is the case then there might be no point making a movie for Netflix.

However there is no hard and fast rule about what kind of people watch Netflix, just a general rule that they will mainly be a young adult audience.

In the last year for example you can probably count on two hands the number of blockbusters aimed at the older male audience.

Marvel Studios is the exception to this rule as they have a male-heavy audience and so do James Bond films.

If you make a movie for Netflix this is a great way to appeal to this audience but make sure that it has strong appeal to the young adult female and teenage female audience.

In addition to the age demographic I also think that it’s important to make sure that your movie is right for the target audience.

If you make a movie that is too broad you will not appeal to the right audience and so you will fail in the attempt to make a movie for Netflix.

Types of movies Netflix will like

There are many different types of movies that Netflix is likely to like. If you want to create a movie for Netflix you need to focus on the types of movies they will most likely be interested in and work from there.

The types of movies that Netflix will probably like

So with this in mind, what types of movies should you make?

1. Movies that are made for teenagers and young adults

So far we have been looking at movies made for young people. Netflix seems to primarily take its selection from this audience so it might be a good idea to focus on making a film for Netflix in this age group.

It might be wise to avoid anything too serious or poignant and more likely to be rated G.

2. Movies that are made for younger audiences

Many people suggest making a movie that is made for young children. It might be easier to get into a child acting job for this audience.

However this may not be a good idea because Netflix probably wants a movie that will appeal to the young adult male audience as well as the younger audience.

3. Movies that feature young people

Another way to get into the Netflix selection is to feature young people in your movie. It might not be hard to get a young actor or actress into a movie if they already have a fan base.

It may not be difficult to make a film in this category.

4. Movies about teenagers

Teenagers are a big audience on Netflix and many people like to watch movies about them.

It might not be the best idea to make a movie about them as they are likely to be too dramatic and there will probably not be enough action or adventure to interest Netflix.

But if you have a horror movie or a gangster movie or something like that then Netflix might be interested.

5. Movies about brothers or sisters

Netflix is almost as big a family-oriented company as a lot of people think it is. It may be a good idea to make a movie about brothers or sisters to appeal to Netflix.

6. Movies about people who love cats

Or people who like animals in general. This audience is huge on Netflix and I can’t see a reason why they wouldn’t watch this kind of film.

7. Movies about teenagers who have no money or who live in trailers

I can see no reason why Netflix would not be interested in a movie about a teenager who is poor and lives in a trailer park with no money.

8. Movies about teenagers who are in a band

There is no real reason why this wouldn’t be a good idea.

9. Movies about kids who are in trouble

It might be a good idea to make a film about teens who are in trouble but it might not be the best idea to make a film about teens who are in serious trouble.

10. Movies about teenagers who want to lose their virginity

This seems to be the popular subject of choice on Netflix at the moment and I can see no reason why this should not appeal to Netflix.