These days, Netflix is arguably more known for its original content than any of the content it licenses from other companies-- and Netflix executives certainly hope people look it at that way. Especially as Netflix slowly begins to lose old standbys like Friends, The Office, Disney movies, et al to competing streaming services, its original movies and series will eventually become its primary identity.
In the early days of Netflix offering streaming, this wasn't the case. The idea of a "Netflix Original" initially seemed bizarre, and when a new original thing hit the service, it was a big deal. This list is going to look at some of those originals from the first few years of Netflix having originals that have probably since been lost in the shuffle of the new, original content that now floods the service on a weekly basis. Given that Netflix doesn't typically de-list originals, you can still search up and watch any of these.
20 Little Steven Goes To Norway
Though it technically debuted on terrestrial television in Norway, Lilyhammer is still considered the first-ever "Netflix Original" as it marked the first time the service licensed exclusive content and was the only way to see the show in the U.S. and Canada. The series hit Netflix way back in 2012, when many people were still primarily using Netflix to rent DVDs.
19 A Sitcom For The 1%
Netflix quickly realized-- like the rest of the entertainment industry did-- that reboots and revivals were often easier than actually coming up with a brand-new, completely original idea. Among the first of its kind for the service was Richie Rich, the latest adaptation of the character that originally dates back to his 1950s comic book appearances.
18 Just Put Your Little Hand In Mine...
Every so often, someone tries their hand at creating a new variety show in the style of the ones that were at their peak on television in the '60s and '70s. Comedy legend Bill Murray called up a bunch of his famous friends and had them join him for a holiday-theme variety special in the form if A Very Murray Christmas back in 2015.
17 Hot Shots Golf
Netflix Originals aren't only fictional movies and series-- many documentaries and reality programs have also come to the service, with one of the first being The Short Game, a film about real-life child golfers competing in the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, that was produced by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.
16 Pretty Little Lakers
It really isn't open for debate which Sam & Cat alum has been more successful since the end of their Nickelodeon days, as Ariana Grande is a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning pop star. Meanwhile, Jennette McCurdy's biggest adult role has been on the largely-forgotten Netflix sci-fi series Between.
15 Vine, Vine, Everywhere A Vine
Remember Vine? It's almost as if the video hosting service was only around for six seconds. All kidding aside, Vine was huge for a time and made internet celebs out of a few of its content makers, including Cameron Dallas, who was the star of the one-season Netflix reality series Chasing Cameron.
14 A Thin Line Between "Laughing With" And "Laughing At"
For a time, it seemed as if Ricky Gervais had the Midas touch. First was the acclaimed original version of The Office, then the hugely successful American remake of that show of which he was an executive producer, and then the also-acclaimed Extras. Netflix Original Derek marked the first time a show created by and starring Gervais wasn't a universally-praised success.
13 A Pilot Program That Went Nowhere
Netflix was likely hoping for its own Chappelle's Show when it released the series The Characters, a series where eight up-and-coming comedians were each given his or her own 30 minute sketch show. But what was likely meant to be a pilot program for one or more full-fledged sketch shows largely fell flat, and Netflix pulled the plug on the concept after just one season.
12 Former Mythbusters Go It Alone
One of the most beloved and longest-running reality shows in history is Mythbusters, and many were sad to see the show bid farewell in 2018 after an impressive 17 seasons. Hoping to replicate some of that success, Netflix enlisted some of that show's "build team" to lead their own similarly-themed series, White Rabbit Project, but only gave it one season.
11 Picking At AMC's Leftovers
In another move that is fairly common now but was once seen as unusual, Netflix took a series that had been running elsewhere but wasn't going to be renewed and brought it over to live on through streaming. In this case, it was AMC's The Killing, which got the chance to wrap up on Netflix for a six-episode fourth and final season.
