COOL STUFF

Check This Out: Netflix Most Popular Rentals Regional Maps

by Alex Billington
January 10, 2010
Source: NY Times

We don't usually talk about Netflix or DVDs on the site, but I'm making an exception today to feature one of the coolest maps I've ever come across (at least for a movie geek like me). The NY Times built a website with a series of maps they call: "A Peek Into Netflix Queues." Essentially they created regional maps for 12 cities with rental patterns for 100 frequently-rented titles in those cities. It was created from data collected in 2009 (so it's not real time, it's historical) that Netflix provided for each zip code. It can also be organized by metascore with the highest ranking films listed (to see what region of cinephiles rented those the most).

Click the big screenshot below to be taken to the map page. Choose between the 12 cities on the right side.

Vulture poses a rather interesting question based off of these Netflix maps. They ask: What Does Netflix Say About Your Neighborhood? It's a simple question but I could see it starting some sort of movie geek wars where residents in various locations battle over who rents the "best" movies from Netflix. As in, are you proud that the people in your zip code rented Paul Blart: Mall Cop more times than Slumdog Millionaire or Doubt (my answer: "hell no!")? That kind of cinematic debate is super geeky, harmlessly entertaining, and totally pointless, but that's why I love it. Another brilliant mash-up of data from the NY Times - bravo guys! And for reference, that's my zip code in the top photo with all the films listed - mostly a great neighborhood!

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