The 15 most watched Netflix movies of all time

One of the world’s most successful and popular streaming services of all time, Netflix has certainly made a name for itself throughout the years.

Since its creation in 1997, Netflix has evolved as a movie and TV service all the way from mail-in rentals to the overtly accessible streaming service we have today.

Due to its popularity, Netflix has been the go-to service when people talk in general about streaming a movie or TV show in conversation.

Because of this, the idea of finding the 15 most watched Netflix movies of all time seems that it could span a great many years, when really the streaming numbers are highest for movies released within the past 5 years, according to What’s on Netflix.

With the world evolving into a more work-from-home-friendly atmosphere, it would seem people have more time before or after work to catch up on the Netflix movies everyone’s been talking about.

This is all good news for movie consumers and movie makers alike, especially if you like movies with star-studded casts, ridiculously large budgets, or simply if you are obsessed with Ryan Reynolds–to be proven post-haste.

Note: The hours watched numbers are based on data collected by What’s on Netflix via the Netflix Top 10 site. There is no definitive source of all Netflix movies openly available.

1. Red Notice (2021)

• 364,020,000 hours watched 

The most-watched Netflix movie that also stars Ryan Reynolds as well as a notable few (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Gal Gadot), Red Noticeis the distracting, popcorn action movie that audiences proved time and time again they wanted. When an FBI agent with a grudge tracks down one of the greatest art thieves of all time, they reluctantly team up to take down the top art thief and exact revenge against her. Littered with direct and indirect references to pop culture phenomena from decades past, this movie does well to entertain and amuse for any casual movie-goer.

2. Don’t Look Up (2021)

• 359,790,000 hours watched 

From comedy writer Adam McKay comes Don’t Look Up: a dismal and bleak satire movie that plays on some very real and contemporary themes. After discovering a ‘planet-killer’ of an asteroid that is headed straight towards Earth, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) are the two unknown astronomers that are forced to embark on a reality-shattering press tour through social-media-affected society. Since the comedy of the movie is quite dark and direct, the performances from a great many in this movie make it worth the watch.

3. Bird Box (2018)

• 282,020,000 hours watched 

The only true horror film featured on this list, Bird Boxstars Sandra Bullock as the main focus and takeaway from the film. As a large portion of the human population eerily commits suicide, Malorie (Sandra Bullock) and her two kids must apply the only bit of survival information they have learned against this spectral foe: don’t look. Featuring an objectively odd cast all trapped within a finite space of each other, Bird Box provides some jump scares and haunting imagery that has enticed millions of viewers.

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

• 279,740,000 hours watched 

In the follow up to the acclaimed murder mystery sensation Knives Out, Rian Johnson digs for gold once more in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. A group of rich elites are gathered together on a private island in the Mediterranean by their eccentric, divisive friend, world-famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) must solve the case of their connections and draw out any suspected dark doings. With a notable change of cast as well as an increase in picture saturation, Glass Onionmakes for a somewhat cartoonish sequel that oddly fits perfectly together as a great mystery movie.

5. The Gray Man (2022)

• 253,870,000 hours watched 

Take the Russo Brothers with another action-adventure-comedy heartthrob named Ryan and you get The Gray Man: a noticeably darker movie than you’d expect. Targeted by the CIA after discovering some disturbing internal secrets, ‘Six’ (Ryan Gosling) must survive brutal and skilled international assassins in order to see the truth come to light. While the recycled plot and tropes are ever-present in a sometimes distracting fashion, the action and likability of Gosling carries the adventure with gusto.

6. The Adam Project (2022)

• 233,160,000 hours watched 

The second but certainly not last movie on this list to star Ryan Reynolds, The Adam Projectbrings the fun of action comedy and sci-fi together at last. Brought to 2022 by accident or happenstance, time-traveler Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) stumbles upon his 12 year old self and goes against the rules to discover the truth and stop time-traveling from ever existing. While it follows the general trend of action comedy, the cast delivers on a surprisingly great film thanks to their noticeable on-screen chemistry.

7. Extraction (2020)

• 231,340,000 hours watched 

Directed by veteran stuntman Sam Hargrave (stunt coordinator for multiple Marvel movies), Extraction is one big, strung-together action sequence that is sure to excite. After a long, death-defying career as a skilled mercenary, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) stretches the odds again when he is tasked to extract the son of an imprisoned and merciless crime lord. As can be imagined with a stunt coordinator at the reins, this movie has some truly incredible and intricate action scenes in which the actors are pushed to their limits over and over again.

8. Purple Hearts (2022)

• 228,690,000 hours watched 

A new-age take on the military romance genre, Purple Heartsboasts a fresh, new cast of characters and some celebrated original songs that make the soul of this movie. Struggling with Type II Diabetes and trying to make it in the music industry, Cassie (Sofia Carson) seeks to manipulate the system by marrying Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), utilizing his military benefits as their bond unexpectedly grows stronger. Though it could be shrugged off by some as yet another copy of Dear John, Purple Hearts is accompanied by a tone of originality and sincerity that makes it stand out. 

9. The Unforgivable (2021) 

• 214,700,000 hours watched 

In a bleak telling of an anti-hero shunned by society, The Unforgivable contributes a darkness to this list that contrasts the norm in a wholly welcome manner. 20 years after her conviction of a violent crime of passion against a beloved person of the community, Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) searches desperately for the only person that hasn’t turned on her: her younger sister. As the first of two movies starring Sandra Bullock to be mentioned here, it’s good to see a once-praised acting talent shining once again in a commanding performance such as this.

10. The Irishman (2019)

• 214,570,000 hours watched 

Turning toward a truly unique, high-quality addition to this list, The Irishmanis a long-winded story based on the life of Frank Sheeran. Known to be associated with the likes of Jimmy Hoffa and the Bufalino crime family, Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) goes through the motions in his colorful life of service to the armed forces as well as his mark on the history of American crime. At a whopping 209-minute runtime, it’s a pleasant surprise that this instant Scorsese classic found its place among the others mentioned here.

11. The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)

• 209,250,000 hours watched 

The first on this list to escape the action genre, The Kissing Booth 2 is pure, unadulterated high-school romance flick. In the follow up to the first of this new-age teen series, Elle (Joey King) is now a high-school senior who has trouble maintaining a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Noah (Jacob Elordi) and pressures of where to go to college, all while processing the arrival of a spicy new addition to her class roster. While this differs greatly from the other movies on this list, it still has something to offer for the young, romantic Netflix viewers. 

12. 6 Underground (2019)

• 205,470,000 hours watched

Another action-comedy explosion and the first on the list starring Ryan Reynolds, 6 Underground is mostly mindless, textbook Michael Bay levels of fun. Brought together by a genius prodigy only known as ‘One’ (Ryan Reynolds), 6 uniquely talented individuals with no record of their existence use their skills to bring some of the worlds most evil and merciless world leaders to justice. As a Michael Bay film, this one delivers everything to be expected from such a reputation, lens flares and all.

13. Spenser Confidential (2020)

• 197,320,000 hours watched 

Following a clear trend for this list, Spenser Confidential is an action comedy that leans toward heist with a bonus of funny Boston accents. Recently released from prison due to his history of violence and disregard for the law, ex-cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) and his newfound partner Hawk (Winston Duke) go on a rampage to serve some long-overdue justice to some dirty cops. Any fan of Wahlberg is sure to enjoy this movie as most Wahlberg movie elements are present, making for a safe, fun choice for a movie night.

14. Enola Holmes (2020)

• 189,900,000 hours watched 

Boasting a star-studded cast of great talent, Enola Holmes is a clever and fun take on the family dynamic and history of the Holmes family in their prime. Determined to find her recently disappeared mother and make a name for herself, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) aims to hone her detecting and problem-solving skills to new heights. As her first, breakout movie role since her splash on the screen as Eleven in Stranger Things, it’s a delight to watch Brown star in a new role that affords her some more range. Although Enola Holmes 2 didn’t have as good of a reception as this first film.

15. Army of the Dead (2021)

• 186,540,000 hours watched 

Starting the list off at the 15th most watched Netflix movie of all time is Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, the first of the star-studded movies on this list that combines some unlikely sub-genres. After Las Vegas is fenced off and declared overrun by zombies, a team of the worlds best mercenaries come together for a high-payoff, high-risk heist within the quarantine zone. While this movie delivers on the action and violence that it so clearly promises, there are a few strange choices that might unpleasantly surprise any fans of Snyder’s classic zombie remake Dawn of the Dead.