Netflix celebrates turning 25

Netflix has celebrated 25 years of entertaining audiences.

Before becoming the global streaming service, it is today, the company - founded in August 1997 - started by renting and selling DVDs across the US.

Netflix launched its website in 1998 and shipped its first DVD Beetlejuice. In 2007, the company pivoted to an online model and began streaming content. By 2016, the service had expanded its offering to the world.

The streaming service has brought audiences hit shows such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Games, Orange is the New Black, The Queen's Gambit and Money Heist (La Casa De Papel). These have won slews of awards and recognition, but crucially the attention of audiences across the globe.

Cast of Stranger Things

It has also expanded to a production company making hit films such as Bird Box, Always Be My Maybe, The Irishman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and The Power of the Dog.

In addition to its global expansion, the streaming service caters to more than 37 languages and 190 countries worldwide, with offices in 28 cities worldwide.

Netflix has proven to be a cultural zeitgeist with coining phrases such as 'binge-watch' and 'Netflix and chill'.

Netflix also expanded to live and interactive experiences of its hit shows such as The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience, La Casa de Papel: The Experience and Stranger Things: The Experience.

Sandra Bullock in Bird Box

These experiences have played host to a whopping 42 marriage proposals worldwide (and counting), with the tally currently standing at 35 proposals, according to the streaming service.

Netflix has also gone into gaming, with a library of immersive games such as Stranger Things: 1984, Shooting Hoops and Card Blast.

Netflix is home to over 2,000 TV shows and more than 4,000 movies.

In a video to its audiences, Netflix thanked the fans for their support: "It's thanks to you, the fans, who found something unexpected to love and turned it into something incredible."