Netflix Tries to Set Weird World Record

Netflix wants customers to take their movie-watching to the streets of Times Square.

The company's new promotional campaign should also snag a King of Sloth title.

In this week’s edition of When Marketing Plans Go Bad...

Netflix is trying to drum up some interest by setting a Guinness World Record. It’s not for lost mail or even most paper cuts. Instead, they are looking for people to sit on their lazy butts and watch endless movies. Know anyone like that?

The Netflix Movie Watching World Championship will be held over FIVE days in New York City. The release says the event will feature “some of the world’s most accomplished endurance enthusiasts.” Most accomplished? Most lazy is more like it.

Not that there’s anything wrong with lounging and watching movies. Watching over 120 consecutive hours of movies? Well, that just ain’t right. The current record holder is held by Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, whose movie marathon lasted for a cool 120 hours and 23 minutes. He will be on-hand to defend his title, along with a slew of other “pros,” including Crazy Legs Conti, who also has a few competitive eating championships under his belt.

The company is looking for additional contestants that have their eyes on the prize, er… screen. Submit a “training video” via Facebook (keyword search: Netflix Championship), and your lazy butt could be part of the competition! The deadline for submissions is September 22.

Winners will walk away (assuming their limbs aren’t totally cramped up) with a $10,000 cash prize, a lifetime subscription to Netflix and a trophy to show off your sloth.

The Netflix Movie Watching World Championship: The Quest for the Popcorn Bowl will be held from October 2 to 7 in NYC.