Audio Description on Netflix

Overview

Netflix defines audio description as narration of “physical actions, facial expressions, costumes, settings, and scene changes” (Help Center). Netflix states it is “available for most Netflix original titles,” with an Audio Description badge and searchable catalogs (same source). Quote: “available for most Netflix original titles” (same source). Netflix also publishes production requirements via an Audio Description style guide (Netflix Studios Partner Help). Lesson: access features need content standards plus UI discoverability.

Why it matters

Without audio description, blind and low-vision viewers miss nonverbal plot and character cues, turning “watching” into guesswork or reliance on companions. Netflix’s approach matters because it ties accessibility to both the content pipeline (style guide requirements) and the playback UI (badge, search, and track selection) (Netflix Help; style guide). The call to action for teams shipping media: treat audio description as a first-class deliverable, and ensure users can find and persist preferences without repeated setup.