Netflix is not only one of the longest-running streaming services, it's also one of the best. It's bursting with exciting original content, it's available on nearly every device under the sun, and it's competitively priced. Chances are, you've used Netflix before.

However, that doesn't mean that Netflix is perfect. Far from it. There are plenty of areas that Netflix could improve in; especially now it's hotly contested by the likes of Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, et al.

Here all the features we'd like to see on Netflix.

1. Custom Playlists and an Improved My List

netflix my list and continue watching

Netflix has thousands of different TV shows and movies to watch. It can be hard to keep track of them all. That's why Netflix lets you add things to "My List", which functions as a playlist of all the things that you want to watch.

However, My List rapidly becomes unwieldy. You can't sort or filter it. Things aren't automatically removed once you've watched them. Also, it would be much better if you could build custom playlists. For example, you could collate movies that make you feel nostalgic or are safe to play when your parents come over.

2. Mark Something as Already Seen

netflix with watch it again row

Netflix knows when you've watched something; you can see and download your Netflix watch history. In fact, there's even a row called "Watch It Again" that's full of movies and shows you've already seen. So then why does Netflix still show this content intermingled on the other rows?

You might say it's to hide the fact that the Netflix library isn't as deep as it would like you to believe it is. But it's just annoying to scroll past things you're never going to watch again.

Plus, it'd be great if we could mark something as already seen; perhaps something you watched in the theater or on another streaming service. With this functionality, you could customize your Netflix library to only ever show fresh content that you've never watched.

3. Hide Potential Spoilers

netflix squid game episodes

Netflix usually drops all episodes of shows at once, which is great if you love to binge. However, it does mean you're easily exposed to spoilers. When choosing an episode, it's too easy to glance at another episode's thumbnail and see something you wish you hadn't—like the face of a character who clearly survives to a future episode, for example.

Related: The Pros and Cons of Binge-Watching Television

Though it's improved over time, the descriptions can also contain minor spoilers that you wish you hadn't read. This happens not only on the episode summaries, but also the general overview of the show or movie.

It'd be great to have a "temporarily hide thumbnails and descriptions" button so you could browse without fear of spoilers.

4. Native Way to Host a Watch Party

There are plenty of ways to watch Netflix online with friends, but none of those solutions are official; they are all developed by third-parties. While they work fine, the service could shut down or stop receiving updates at any moment. It's also not as convenient as having an in-built watch party solution available directly in Netflix.

Competitors like Disney+ and Hulu are ahead of the game here. On those services, you simply press a button on something you want to watch virtually with others, and you're ready within minutes. It can be hard to convince friends and family to install browser extensions or visit other websites. Netflix should add its own watch party feature.

5. Easier Access to Hidden Categories

netflix action and adventure suspense films

You might not know, but Netflix has loads of hidden categories for organizing its content. These include expected ones like "Comedies" and "Westerns", but also more unusual ones like "Mind-Bending Movies" and "Military Action and Adventure". Sometimes, you might see these appear as rows on the Netflix homepage.

You can access these categories, but it's an unnecessary hassle. You either need to know the name of the category, or the numerical code assigned to it. Wouldn't it be great if you could browse all of these categories from a list?

6. Improved Rating System

netflix match percentage

In the past, Netflix employed a star rating system. Then it changed this to thumbs up and down. Now, if you want to know whether something is worth watching, you have to rely on the "match" percentage. Good luck understanding the difference between a "96% match" and a "97% match", or even how Netflix computes these percentages.

It would be much better if Netflix integrated with third-party rating systems like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb. The former collects reviews from professional critics, while the latter lets everyone score. While no rating system is ever going to account for personal taste, it'd at least let you know at a glance if something is worth your time.

7. Bonus Features and Commentaries

If you like to collect your movies and TV shows on physical media, you'll be no stranger to bonus features. Though they aren't as common as they used to be, many movies and shows have plenty of bonus material that you can't access through Netflix.

These include things like interviews, deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries, and more. It'd be fantastic to see these added to Netflix, since they often prove as valuable and entertaining as the main content itself.

8. X-Ray

amazon prime video x-ray

X-Ray is a feature available on Amazon Prime Video that Netflix should just shamelessly copy. On Prime Video, you can pause at any moment to see a list of all the actors in the scene, the name of any music playing, behind-the-scenes trivia, and more.

It's an impressive and invaluable feature. You don't need to scratch your head and wonder, "where have I seen that actor before?". You don't need to get your phone out to Shazam the soundtrack. It's all available in a few clicks or taps.

Will Netflix Ever Add These Features?

Who knows whether Netflix will ever add any of these features. Some of these have been long requested by the community for years, so don't get your hopes up. But we'd certainly hope that Netflix keeps building and improving its platform. With so many other companies building their own streaming services, Netflix is no longer the crown jewel.