Streaming service Netflix sometimes comes up with some random categories, tailored to your viewing experiences. This collects films and shows with similar plots, casts or overall vibes together so you can binge watch Noughties romantic comedies with ease.
Sometimes these collections can be oddly specific as you dive into the subgenres on Netflix with 'political tearjerkers' and 'stunts & general mayhem' discovered through certain search codes.
However, one category stunned TikTok as a man shared his girlfriend's home screen with the bizarre collection of "Shmunguss" films on offer - only none of the films actually exist, nor does the category.
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In @channel.everything's video, a man asked: "Can someone tell me what these categories are?" as he scrolls down from the main page to the "Shmunguss" category.
Films and shows are displayed with names like The Shmunguss King, I Married A Shmunguss, and The Shmonguss Among Us. Each has its own unique artwork, and description, and Shmonguss’ Revenge even begins to play a clip from the trailer as he hovers on the film.
The TikTok, which was captioned: "Does anyone else have this?? Please I'm so confused," has been viewed over 12 million times with millions of likes and thousands of comments.
He questions the collection, to which his girlfriend replies that she is "on a VPN" as a way of explaining the strange categories, to which the man responds asking "a VPN into what, another dimension?"
While many viewers believed the "Shmunguss" category and were keen to watch, the genre isn't real - the video is a very well-executed hoax.
A quick Google reveals that the internet has never heard of a "Shmunguss", despite the tv series I Married A Shmunguss supposedly having three seasons and being listed as number two in Netflix's most popular shows.
Another giveaway was that Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti can be seen in the poster for The Shmunguss King (2012) but the film is not listed in his IMDb page or anywhere else online.
Fans leaned into the joke though with one viewer saying: "The Shmunguss King is mad underrated" and another added: "The Shmunguss King is really good. Paul Giamatti’s best performance imo. The sequel is not as good but it’s still fun."
Others said that the "SCU (Shmunguss Cinematic Universe" was "the funniest thing [they've] ever seen in [their] life". One person joked: "I’m invested now, I need to know why they stole his shmunguss."
Another added: "I married a Shmunguss deserved a 4th season" while a fourth commented: "Can’t wait for the new ep of The Last of Shmunguss on Sunday!"
Most of the comments were baffled at how real the video looked, suggesting it was Netflix's own April Fools joke leaked too early. Some joked that it was an "interdimensional cable" like "something out of Rick and Morty".
The Mirror has reached out to Netflix for comment on the Shmunguss Cinematic Universe.
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