Why does Netflix Cause Overheating on My 2010 MBP 13 i7?

Basically the best thing you can do is install SMC Fan Control and turn the fans up to help keep them cool, Netflix is such a CPU/GPU intensive process it tends to create a lot of heat.

Where do I download it from?

As stated before, this isn't "overheating". Overheating would cause the system to shutdown.

If you put the Macbook Pro on your lap and restrict the airflow at the back of the system (and on the side for the MPPr), you will eliminate the ability for the fans to adequately cool the processor and graphics chip. When I watch a movie or TV show with Netflix, the fan speed will cycle low-high-low over time, but not stay high for very long. I have learned to put a hard surface under the Macbook Pro when sitting with it on my lap.

BTW, Netflix uses the discrete graphics, not the embedded one. This also causes more heat.

I have a 2011 mac mini and i was watching netflix for the first time on it and the temp got up over 90 degrees C. Luckly the mac shut it self down before any damage was done. I have never had heat issue before then or since, and i watch hi def video all the time using VLC and Quicktime. I will just watch netflix using my apple tv form now on. What i don't understand though is why netflix plays fine on my ipad 2 and i never feel like that gets very hot.

You don't need to shut it down to prevent damage, it will do that for itself. Just use it.

I put a coldpack under my MBP when watching Netflix, works effectively even though it feels pre-millenia.

Ha. I have a 5-year old Toshiba laptop that I put a coldpack under, didn't think I'd have to do that with a $1.5k new Macbook. 🙂You can turn the HD setting on Netflix off BTW, then the CPU load won't get as bad.

Also I don't know about Macs, but on my laptop TJ Max is set at 100C, when watching Netlix the temperature often gets to 95-96C, at 98C it cuts the CPU performance so that it does not overheat. I'd think on Macs it works the same way, so until your video starts to glitch, no worries about CPU temperature.

Like you say, it's not necessary in order to protect the computer but in this way the fan does not even need to start so there is no distractig sound. Btw, Silverlight seems to be the crook, (if I ain't mistaken) not the HD-mode.

It is because of the Microsoft's Silverlight plugin. This plugin is used to play netflix movies. It is made by microsoft and as most of microsoft softwares made for osx, it is made to run worse on osx. I have a 2011 mbp 15. I run netflix both in windows (bootcamp) and osx (mavericks). It runs way hotter on OSX. The only solution for that is netflix adopt another plugin to play the movies, because I think noone should ever expect a good software for OSX from microsoft. If I could expect any good software from that company at all. Microsoft is a virus. It is not a company focused on making better solutions. It is a company based on dirty tricks and market manipulation. If we are lucky, Valve will crush windows and on a shiny day, Microsoft will be history.

I have a Late 2012 Mac Mini i7 16 GB RAM with two SSD's and I think the problem is Microsoft Silverlight Plug-In which is kind of emulating a Windows environment and thus not performing as good as on Windows. You could try installing Windows in Boot Camp and see if there is any difference in fan speed.

I really hope Netflix, HBO and what else could team up with Apple and develop a REAL OSX-adapted/Cocoa plug-in!

I have never tried Apple TV but since it has support for both Netflix, HBO and HULU - I guess they made a Cocoa or iOS plugin (Perhaps similar to the very good iOS app). The problem is OSX users doesn't have access to it...

Apple wants you to buy their Apple TV. Although I already have Netflix working very quiet and cool on my Bravia TV, I still enjoy watching movies/dramas on my Mac Mini since I get a much better sound from my decent studio monitors (Fostex PM0.4)