‘$22.99 is a lot’: Customer says Netflix is now locking up shows, movies

Photo byKaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock @justgourm/TikTok @justgourm/TikTok

A Netflix with ads customer said the streamer started locking specific content. And he has to upgrade to watch it.

@justgourm TikTok, with more than 725,000 views, features him focusing on a selection of Netflix movies: White Chicks.

A tiny lock symbol is located in the upper right-hand corner of the movie's thumbnail. When he tries to watch the film, he receives a notification that because he's subscribed to Netflix's basic plan without ads, this movie is not accessible to him.

To view it, he'll need to shell out extra money. JustGourm later shared his dissatisfaction with his popular video.

“So listen: Netflix is dead. You see that little lock? They started locking shows now. And you can’t watch stuff if you’re not paying for the non-ads standard plan. So like they’re starting to lock content. Like if you’re on the ads plan, for $6.99, there’s certain [expletive] you cannot watch unless you’re paying at least, at least $15.49. Netflix is dead, y’all. Netflix is dead,” he says.

What movies and shows are locked?

What’s on Netflix is one online resource that provides an updated list of content unavailable to Netflix ad accounts. House of Cards, Peaky Blinders, all the Boss Baby TV shows and specials, Dinotrux, and Netflix originals are locked.

However, there are also licensed movies and shows unavailable to ad-supported plans, like Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Madame Web (you know, in case you wanted to see if the Spider-Verse flick is as bad as everyone says it is).

“While the vast majority of TV shows and movies are available on an ad-supported plan, a small number are not due to licensing restrictions. These titles will appear with a lock icon when you search or browse Netflix,” the streaming service notes on its site.

According to Variety, 10% of Netflix content in certain regions is restricted from ad-supported accounts.

Is Netflix donezo?

Shoppers have signaled the end of the line every time the broadcaster introduced a significant alteration. Yet, it remains uncertain when Netflix began securing its content.

When Netflix first implemented more stringent password-sharing measures, folks purportedly canceled their accounts en masse. However, it was reported that the move led to more accounts being created.

When Netflix increased the pricing of its premium plan, again, subscribers said the service was too expensive to keep. Again, following this move, Netflix has since increased profits.

Therefore, the restricted material is probably not going to cause any harm to Netflix.

TikTokers aren’t happy

Still, viewers sounded off in the comments section of JustGourm’s video.

Some viewers tried to revive cable over this.

“Let’s all agree to just go back to cable,” one said.

“Annnndddddd….. we have circled back around to cable/satellite,” another wrote.

Former Netflix customers also shared what their last straws were.

“I canceled them when they did the last price increase. These streaming companies have lost their minds,” one said.

“I cancelled Netflix over a year ago when they cracked down on sharing. Live alone and if not even my parents could use my account, wasn’t worth it. I find other ways to watch stuff… never looked back!” another exclaimed.