Summary

• Netflix measures popularity uniquely with "starters," "watchers," and "completers" categories.
• Character-driven movies like "Damsel" with big stars, like Millie Bobby Brown, gain huge audiences on Netflix.
• Audiences still flock to Netflix despite mixed reviews, with movies like "Rebel Moon" amassing over 165 million views.

The original streaming giant Netflix has hundreds upon thousands of programs available to stream from the comfort of the couch, and the Netflix most watched movies of all time shows just how popular some of these titles are. While the Top Ten feature on Netflix gives users some idea of what is popular, it only chronicles what's being watched that week, and is not necessarily the most-watched of all time. The streaming service has always kept how it measures viewership close to the chest, forgoing the familiar network TV Nielsen Rating system.

How Netflix measures its viewership is an entirely unique system because its main source of revenue is subscription-based rather than ad-based. Netflix separates its subscriber base into "starters," "watchers," and "completers," to determine how to best move forward. This is how certain movies that may be critically mixed but beloved by audiences can end up in a "most-watched" category, as "watchers," are categorized as people who only watch one full episode of a series or 70% of a film. The Netflix most watched movies are an example of what audiences love, or perhaps what was the best promoted (as per FlixPatrol).

30 Day Shift (2022)

149,810,000 Hours Viewed

Jamie Foxx starred in the Netflix original vampire hunting movie Day Break in 2022. The film sees Foxx starring as a blue-collar father who pretends to be a pool cleaner, but that is just a front for his vampire-hunting gig. However, he was previously blacklisted from the vampire hunting union and a friend (Snoop Dogg) helps him get back in on a probationary status.

The movie received mixed reviews, with Foxx's comedy timing a positive.

The movie received mixed reviews, with Foxx's comedy timing a positive. While there are a lot of darker more violent vampire movies on Netflix, this one provided a more entertaining experience, which likely resulted in its 149 million viewed hours.

29 You People (2023)

150,160,000 Hours Viewed

There was a lot going for You People when it dropped on Netflix. Kenya Barris was the writer and director, following his successful stint on the ABC sitcom black-ish. The story approached a similar racial feel as that show, with a white Jewish man dating a Black NOI woman.

However, the conflict in this movie was not between them as much as it was between their families, which included huge names, including David Duchovny, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nia Long, and Eddie Murphy. It might be Murphy's rare acting appearance that helped push this comedy to over 150 million hours viewed on Netflix.

28 Me Time (2022)

150,590,000 Hours Viewed

Me Time is proof that even movies with lackluster critical reviews can find success on Netflix if the stars are big enough. This was released in 2022 and ended up as one of the most watched movies on Netflix even with a low seven percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg star as childhood friends who meet up every year and have since Sonny (Hart) almost died.

However, this specific year, Sonny realizes that Huck has fallen on hard times and needs help, but this one weekend almost destroys his life. Even if the plot wasn't highly rated, the chemistry between the stars made it fun enough to earn over 150 million views on Netflix.

27 Army Of Thieves (2021)

154,070,000 Hours Viewed

The German heist film Army of Thieves is the second installment to Zack Snyder's shared universe of the Army of the Dead franchise, and the fact it's one the most watched movies on Netflix is a win for their original content. The film sees a bank teller turned safecracker Sebastian recruited by jewel thief Gwendoline and her team to break into three separate banks.

With its intriguing twists and turns, romantic subplot, and tie-ins to the Army of the Dead movies, it's no wonder that the quirky German tale ranked first on Netflix in over 90 countries with just over 154 million hours viewed. The film revels in its heist theme while simultaneously subverting the genre's more annoying tropes and was a clever entry into the budding franchise.

26 Murder Mystery 2 (2023)

155,730,000 Hours Viewed

Adam Sandler's deal with Netflix has turned out to be a lucrative endeavor, as Murder Mystery 2 is one of the Netflix most watched movies despite being far from Adam Sandler's best movie. The sequel kept its two original stars and sent them to a private island. Now full-time private detectives, Nick and Audrey must solve a murder and kidnapping as their friend Vik is abducted at his wedding by a mysterious assailant.

Sandler's sequel made it to the Netflix Top Ten in over 90 countries and the duo of Sandler and Jennifer Aniston proved to be a hit with nearly 156 million hours watched. It's unsurprising since Murder Mystery originally saw the biggest opening weekend for a film in the company's history.

25 Damsel (2024)

158,000,000 Hours Viewed

Millie Bobby Brown has a fruitful partnership with Netflix starting with the actor's breakout role on Stranger Things. Their latest collaboration is the fantasy action movie Damsel which offers a fun twist on the typical fairy tale. Brown stars as the daughter of a lord who is chosen to marry the wealthy prince only to be thrown into a cave where she will serve as a sacrifice to a deadly dragon.

Brown has enough star power to attract viewers on her own but the fantasy element added an extra bit of interest to the new movie. As one of the most recent Netflix debuts, the movie has already earned 158 million hours of viewing from Netflix users. As more people discover it, that number could rise. There is already some talk of a potential Damsel sequel and the success of this movie could mean a franchise has been started.

24 Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

158,030,000 Hours Viewed

Another strong note for Netflix original content is that Enola Holmes 2 found its way into their most-viewed movies in under a year. Netflix darling Millie Bobby Brown reprised her role as Sherlock Holmes' sister Enola, and to a resounding success of over 158 million hours viewed. Enola Holmes 2 decided not to base their story around Nancy Springer's book series this time, finding inspiration in the real-life 1888 matchgirls' strike.

Enola is recruited by match factory worker Bessie to find her missing sister Sarah. Enola Holmes 2 takes a deeper look into the sibling rivalry between Sherlock and Enola, and is noted for its outstanding design, feminist themes, stellar cast, and intriguing story. The film debuted at number one and stayed in that spot for two weeks, receiving highly positive reviews.

23 Rebel Moon Part One: A Child Of Fire (2023)

165,100,000 Hours Viewed

Despite landing on Netflix's most-wated list, it is hard not to see Rebel Moon of something of a disappointment for the streaming service. The movie was the most expensive movie for Netflix to date with Zack Snyder hyping it as his own Star Wars story that would launch a large extended universe which Netflix quickly started to develop. However, the movie, which is an intergalactic take on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, earned negative reviews and a tepid reaction from fans.

Still, over 165 million hours viewed on Netflix have shown there is interest in the story which is set to continue with Rebel Moon Part 2. While not the smashing success many were hoping for, it could be the early seeds planted for a bigger hit down the line. It also shows the strength of Snyder's fanbase, bringing their passion over to his Netflix productions.

22 Senior Year (2022)

167,600,000 Hours Viewed

Rebel Wilson is usually a supporting character, but Senior Year proved that Wilson has the talent to carry a feature film as it's one of Netflix's most-watched movies. The feel-good comedy sees 17-year-old cheerleader and popular girl Stephanie fall into a coma after a cheer stunt gone wrong and wake up 20 years later. Refusing to accept life as an adult, Stephanie returns to high school for her senior year, and a lot has changed since 2002.

With over 167 million viewing hours logged, Senior Year sees Wilson flexing her talent as a comedian, and the film is packed to the brim with millennial nostalgia mixed with a heartwarming message.

21 The Man From Toronto (2022)

170,820,000 Hours Viewed

The Man from Toronto's pandemic-related release delays may have worked to its benefit, as it managed to become one of the most-watched movies on Netflix. Starring Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart, the film sees the recently-fired schmo Teddy walk in on an interrogation and is mistaken for the assassin known as "the man from Toronto." The FBI decides to recruit Teddy to pretend to be the assassin to capture a Venezuelan radical — until the real "man from Toronto" shows up.

Netflix decided to distribute the film instead and to great success with over 170 million hours viewed.

The film faced setbacks in release due to the COVID-19 pandemic being given a slot and then pulled multiple times. Netflix decided to distribute the film instead and to great success with over 170 million hours viewed.

20 The Tinder Swindler (2022)

172,130,000 Hours Viewed

The public's online dating fears are put to the screen with the ultimate true-crime documentary The Tinder Swindler.

The public's online dating fears are put to the screen with the ultimate true-crime documentary The Tinder Swindler. As a British documentary, The Tinder Swindler stands out among the most-viewed Netflix movies. It relays the true story of conman Simon Leviev, who used the famous dating app Tinder to emotionally manipulate women into funding his extravagant lifestyle, then prove his wealthy status to other women using said money.

Due to the topical nature of the subject and the lengths to which Leviev went, The Tinder Swindler logs over 172 million hours viewed and is more than just entertaining viewing, as the documentary may help others from being swindled by online predators in the future.

19 Troll (2022)

175,120,000 Hours Viewed

In 2022, Netflix acquired the Norwegian monster movie Troll, and it paid off, as this niche cult monster-movie classic quickly became one of the Netflix most watched movies. In this film, an ancient troll woke up in a Norwegian mountain and a group of people gathered together to stop it before it destroyed everything in its path.

With astounding special effects and nailbiting action sequences, Roar Uthaug (Tomb Raider) directed the movie based on Norwegian folklore and gave Netflix audiences what they wanted when it comes to a giant monster destroying cities and a fresh mythology that helped it earn over 175 million hours of watch time on the streaming giant.

18 Lift (2024)

176,400,000 Hours Viewed

Lift is another collaboration between Netflix and Kevin Hart that continues to prove it is a successful partnership with the popular comedian. It is another example of how poor reviews do not necessarily mean a movie will not be a hit on Netflix. Lift feels like Netflix's attempt at a Fast & Furious movie with Hart playing the leader of a team of international thieves. Their latest heist is one of their most daring as they are recruited by a government agency to rob a crime lord's plane while it is in the sky.

These kinds of flash heist movies with big stars and an appealing cast seem to be the sure-fire winners for Netflix as Lift has gotten over 176 million hours viewed since its debut in early 2024. Lift does not do anything new or exciting with the genre, but it provides the kind of mindless popcorn fun some audiences crave with these types of movies.

17 All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

176,490,000 Hours Viewed

Based on the 1929 German novel by Erich Maria Remarque and a true story, All Quiet on the Western Front was not only one of the most watched movies on Netflix, at over 176 million hours, but also one of the most critically acclaimed. The third adaptation of this novel, the movie tells the story of German soldiers on the front lines during World War I and the toll it took on them mentally and psychologically.

The movie ended up earning 14 nominations at the BAFTA Awards, winning seven including Best Film, and nine at the Oscars, where it won four, including one for Best International Feature Film.

16 Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

180,390,000 Hours Viewed

The famed British series Luther continued in a feature film with Idris Elba reprising his iconic role. Luther: The Fallen Sun turned out to be one of the Netflix most watched movies, proving that time since the previous installment hadn't impacted audience demand for more Luther. The film sees DCI Luther fired, prosecuted, and imprisoned after wealthy serial killer David Robey digs up dirt to stop Luther from interfering with his plans with Callum Aldrich.

Luther manages to break out of prison, leading to a winding game of cat-and-mouse. The film had a limited theatrical release but found success on Netflix with over 180 million hours logged. It doesn't hurt that the series Luther is internationally acclaimed, giving the movie a pre-sold audience.

15 The Sea Beast (2022)

190,150,000 Hours Viewed

Animated movies get their due on Netflix as well, as the adventure movie The Sea Beast turned out to be one of Netflix's most-watched movies — proving just how important the family-viewing subscriber base is for the streaming giant. The film sees a sea monster hunter Jacob and his crew joined by a young orphan named Maisie who has stowed herself on their ship while they search for the legendary sea monster the Red Bluster.

The Sea Beast found such success on the streaming service, thanks to its spellbinding and unique narrative, stunning visuals, and impressive voice cast, with over 190 million hours. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and currently has a sequel in development.

14 Heart Of Stone (2023)

198,700,000 Hours Viewed

Heart Of Stone

Heart of Stone was one of the Netflix most watched movies thanks to the star power of Gal Gadot.

Heart of Stone was one of the Netflix most watched movies thanks to the star power of Gal Gadot. It didn't reach the level of Red Notice, though that's because that action comedy featured two other major stars alongside her. In Heart of Stone, Gadot took on the role of Rachel Stone, a member of The Charter, an organization meant to save the world from the shadows.

It is easy to see this as a Mission: Impossible-type of movie, but with a strong female lead played by a popular actor, boosting the high viewing numbers overall up to 198 million hours logged.

13 Hustle (2022)

198,310,000 Hours Viewed

Another Adam Sandler project managed to become one of the most watched movies on Netflix by hours viewed, but Hustle isn't his usual fare. Hustle stars Sandler as an international basketball scout named Stanley, who has become cynical in his career. Stanley believes he's caught his big break when he recruits amateur player Bo Cruz after spotting his talents at a pickup game.

Hustle was Netflix's most-viewed film between June 8th and 19th in 2022, and Sandler proves again that he's capable of leading a dramatic role. The sports drama reads like a true story with its various triumphs, however, Hustle is a product of the talents of writers Taylor Materne and Will Fetters.

12 Leo (2023)

198,700,000 Hours Viewed

Adam Sandler continues to prove to be one of Netflix's most successful collaborators with his first animated movie with the platform. Sandler plays a lizard in Leo who has spent his entire life in a tank inside of a children's classroom. When the kids start taking turns in bringing Leo home, he uses it as an opportunity to learn more about the outside world while also becoming a mentor for the young kids.

With comedy and musical elements, Leo was an ideal family-friendly hit for Netflix. With nearly 199 million hours viewed, it became the most successful original animated movie on the platform. From the sports dramas to the comedies to the animated features, Leo was one more example of how Sandler's Netflix movies have continued to show his versatility with great success.

11 The Unforgivable (2021)

219,550,000 Hours Viewed

While Bird Box was Sandra Bullock's Netflix movie with the most viewing hours, that's since changed and The Unforgivable has become one of the Netflix most watched movies with an astounding 219.5 million viewing hours. The drama follows a woman released from prison after serving time for murdering a sheriff who tried to evict her and her five-year-old sister.

She leaves to find the younger sister she abandoned, and the ending of The Unforgivable reveals a shocking twist that has to be seen to be believed. Bullock herself was responsible for bringing in the viewers, as the movie had 160 million viewing hours in its first two weeks on Netflix.