21 years in, there are two very important things worth noting about Netflix:
- People still use DVDs.
- The streaming giant, which kicked off in 1997 as a DVD mail rental service, just bagged its 5 billionth shipment.
"The most heartfelt thank you to our incredible members that have been with us for the past 21 years of DVD Netflix," Netflix said in a statement earlier this week. "Five billion discs delivered is a huge milestone and we owe it all to our amazing members and team members."
PerEntertainment Weekly, this 5 billion mark was made possible thanks to the Elton John biopic Rocketman, which—notably—is not available to stream but is currently available for digital purchase or rental through other services.
As for comments like "People still use DVDs," often expressed in jest as in the opening lines of this article, it's worth pointing out that the most recent stats show that Netflix boasts 2.4 million DVD subscribers.
Still, the bulk of Netflix's billions in revenue stems from its strong library of streaming options. Wednesday, for example, Travis Scott launched his feature-length Look Mom I Can Fly documentary on the platform.
