A list of most watched movies on Netflix till date

most watched movies on Netflix

As a global streaming giant, Netflix has become a household name since its inception in 1997. With the world shifting towards remote work, people have more time to catch up on the latest movies and TV shows. This list presents the top 15 most-watched Netflix movies in the past five years, according to What’s on Netflix, featuring star-studded casts, colossal budgets, and a certain Ryan Reynolds obsession.

Note: Hours watched data is sourced from What’s on Netflix via the Netflix Top 10 site, with no definitive source openly available.

  1. Red Notice (2021) – 364,020,000 hours
  2. Don’t Look Up (2021) – 359,790,000 hours
  3. Bird Box (2018) – 282,020,000 hours
  4. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) – 279,740,000 hours
  5. The Gray Man (2022) – 253,870,000 hours
  6. The Adam Project (2022) – 233,160,000 hours
  7. Extraction (2020) – 231,340,000 hours
  8. Purple Hearts (2022) – 228,690,000 hours
  9. The Unforgivable (2021) – 214,700,000 hours
  10. The Irishman (2019) – 214,570,000 hours
  11. The Kissing Booth 2 (2020) – 209,250,000 hours
  12. 6 Underground (2019) – 205,470,000 hours
  13. Spenser Confidential (2020) – 197,320,000 hours
  14. Enola Holmes (2020) – 189,900,000 hours
  15. Army of the Dead (2021) – 186,540,000 hours

1- Red Notice (2021)

364,020,000 hours watched Red Notice, the top-watched Netflix film, stars Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Gal Gadot in a thrilling action-packed adventure. An FBI agent with a personal vendetta reluctantly teams up with one of the world’s greatest art thieves to take down another notorious thief. Filled with pop culture nods, this movie captivates and entertains casual viewers.

2- Don’t Look Up (2021)

359,790,000 hours watched Comedy writer Adam McKay brings us Don’t Look Up, a dark, satirical film addressing contemporary issues. When astronomers Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) discover a planet-destroying asteroid heading for Earth, they embark on a media tour through a society obsessed with social media. The film’s strong performances make it well worth watching.

3- Bird Box (2018)

282,020,000 hours watched As the only horror film on the list, Bird Box features Sandra Bullock in a gripping story where a large portion of humanity mysteriously commits suicide. Malorie (Sandra Bullock) and her two children must rely on one survival tactic against the unseen enemy: not looking. The film, with its peculiar ensemble cast, offers jump scares and haunting visuals, attracting millions of viewers.

4- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

279,740,000 hours watched Following the success of Knives Out, Rian Johnson returns with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Wealthy elites gather on a Mediterranean island where detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) must uncover their secrets and solve a complex mystery. With a new cast and a more vibrant visual style, Glass Onion presents a quirky yet fitting sequel to its predecessor.

5- The Gray Man (2022)

253,870,000 hours watched The Russo Brothers team up with Ryan Gosling for The Gray Man, a darker action film than expected. When ‘Six’ (Gosling) uncovers unsettling internal secrets, the CIA targets him, forcing him to face deadly international assassins to expose the truth. Despite familiar plot elements, Gosling’s charisma carries the movie with energy.

Related: Good Movies to leave Netflix starting May 2023

6- The Adam Project (2022)

233,160,000 hours watched Ryan Reynolds stars in The Adam Project, blending action, comedy, and sci-fi. Time-traveler Adam Reed (Reynolds) accidentally lands in 2022, encounters his younger self, and works to uncover the truth and prevent time travel. While following action-comedy trends, the cast’s chemistry elevates the film.

7- Extraction (2020)

231,340,000 hours watched Directed by stunt coordinator Sam Hargrave, Extraction offers non-stop action. Mercenary Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) risks everything to rescue the son of a ruthless crime lord. With a stunt expert at the helm, the film showcases intense, elaborate action sequences.

8- Purple Hearts (2022)

228,690,000 hours watched Purple Hearts revitalizes the military romance genre with a fresh cast and memorable original songs. Cassie (Sofia Carson), a musician with Type II Diabetes, marries Luke (Nicholas Galitzine) for military benefits, but their bond unexpectedly deepens. The film’s originality and sincerity set it apart from similar stories.

9- The Unforgivable (2021)

214,700,000 hours watched The Unforgivable offers a dark, captivating tale of an outcast anti-hero. After serving time for a violent crime, Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) seeks her younger sister, the only one who hasn’t abandoned her. Bullock’s powerful performance adds depth to the film.

10- The Irishman (2019)

214,570,000 hours watched The Irishman, a unique and high-quality film, chronicles Frank Sheeran’s life as he navigates the world of organized crime. With its 209-minute runtime, this Scorsese classic has earned its place on this list.

11- The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)

209,250,000 hours watched The Kissing Booth 2, a high-school romance, follows Elle (Joey King) as she navigates a long-distance relationship, college decisions, and a new classmate. The film caters to young, romantic Netflix viewers.

12- 6 Underground (2019)

205,470,000 hours watched 6 Underground, a Ryan Reynolds action-comedy, follows six skilled individuals taking down evil world leaders. The Michael Bay film delivers his signature style, complete with lens flares.

13- Spenser Confidential (2020)

197,320,000 hours watched Spenser Confidential, an action-comedy heist film, features ex-cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) and partner Hawk (Winston Duke) taking down corrupt cops. Wahlberg fans will enjoy this familiar yet fun movie choice.

14- Enola Holmes (2020)

189,900,000 hours watched Featuring a remarkable ensemble cast, Enola Holmes presents an engaging and entertaining perspective on the Holmes family’s dynamics and history. Eager to locate her missing mother and establish her own reputation, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) endeavors to sharpen her detective and problem-solving abilities. As Brown’s first significant film role since her breakout performance as Eleven in Stranger Things, it’s a pleasure to see her in a character that allows for more range. However, Enola Holmes 2 didn’t receive as warm a reception as the first installment.

15- Army of the Dead (2021)

186,540,000 hours watched Kicking off the list as the 15th most-watched Netflix movie of all time is Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, the first film on this list to blend unusual sub-genres. With Las Vegas barricaded and overrun by zombies, a group of elite mercenaries unites for a high-stakes, high-risk heist within the quarantine zone. While the movie delivers the expected action and violence, some unexpected choices might surprise fans of Snyder’s classic zombie remake, Dawn of the Dead.

Wrap Up

From action-packed adventures and sci-fi thrillers to heartwarming romances and compelling dramas, these films cater to diverse tastes, showcasing the talents of renowned actors and directors. With more people streaming than ever before, there’s no shortage of cinematic masterpieces to explore on Netflix.

Written by Mickel Clark

Mickel is a streaming aficionado who loves nothing more than to pen down his thoughts about the movies, anime and TV shows he has watched and likes sharing hacks on how to stream them online.