The Netflix Prize was not concerned with the asymptotic complexity of the algorithms. It measured them only by their results.

It’s doubtful that the results would rank well because they bin sort people into types of movies, which is what most algorithms likely did anyhow. In fact, the results are probably awful if it’s not built to be optimal for such a challenge. Deep learning / similar ML would take some CPU but likely outperform all brute-force or even non-ML quantum algorithms because it’s able to elucidate knowledge of likes and whatever else ephemeral metadata or movie semantic analysis can be shoveled in.

Unfortunately, this seems like a “look at this trained mammal can eat out of a plate, wow!” story. Kid probably had to endure those innane 6x6 and up IQ red/white triangle blocks tests over and over. He won’t get much of a high-school life or college dorm/party experience.

I'm pretty sure Netflix can give him another million.