The Netflix Doorbell Takes Care of Trick-or-Treaters and Lets You “Chill”

Don’t you just hate when a trick-or-treater interrupts your binge-watching? You’re not alone. Every Halloween, Netflix pause rates spike as viewers around the country get up to give out candy.

While some enjoy interacting with visitors, if you’d rather just have it handled automatically, Netflix’s custom doorbell is definitely worth checking out. Using an Adafruit Trinket and a sonar sensor, the device plays the theme song of your choosing when guests approach, then points to where the candy is without you having to do anything.

Pressing the doorbell initiates a scream from that show’s characters and reveals a personalized message to your costumed guests on an LCD display screen. The electronics are all housed inside a custom wooden enclosure with acrylic paneling, though it can 3D-printed as well, and features a customizable faceplate inspired by Netflix series.

Although they suggest spooky songs for what’s played when visitors approach, perhaps you could flip things on people and play the Story Bots or Sesame Street theme instead. A design like this, though really cool as-is, is just begging to be modified — perhaps with Internet connectivity or an automatic treat dispenser!

Head over to Netflix’s tutorial here to get started! Speaking of Halloween, don’t forget to enter your ideas in Make:’s latest contest!