Netflix’s 10 Most Popular 2025 Movies, Ranked By How Good They Are

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2025 was a standout year for Netflix movies, with several titles attracting massive viewership. While some films were more critically acclaimed than others, simply being among the most-watched movies on Netflix is a significant accomplishment. It shows a film resonated with audiences, even if it didn’t necessarily become a universally praised hit.

In 2025, Netflix’s most popular movies weren’t necessarily the most critically acclaimed. Some films, while attracting huge audiences, were criticized for being too formulaic, and others gained attention for reasons beyond their quality. Examining the top 10 most-watched movies of 2025 offers an interesting look at this trend.

Back In Action

The upcoming 2025 action movie starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz received mixed reactions. While critics were divided, general audiences enjoyed the story of two former CIA agents who are pulled back into the field after years of living a quiet life raising a family.

The popularity of Back In Action helps explain why it did so well on Netflix, becoming one of the most-watched films of 2025. This success highlights the movie’s strengths – it has an intriguing story and keeps the action going at a good pace, making it naturally enjoyable. However, the film doesn’t take many risks with its action sequences, and some critics have pointed this out as a weakness.

The Secret Life Of Pets

The animated film The Secret Life of Pets came out in 2016 and received generally positive reviews. It recently gained renewed popularity on Netflix in 2025, becoming one of the platform’s ten most-watched movies that year.

The success of The Secret Life of Pets on Netflix isn’t surprising. Its lighthearted humor and fun premise – imagining what pets do when their owners aren’t home – appeal to a very wide audience.

While The Secret Life of Pets likely made it onto Netflix’s top 10 list for 2025, this success might be due to its simplicity. Many viewers have criticized the movie for lacking depth and failing to fully connect with the audience, which ultimately limits its lasting impact.

Despicable Me 3

Despite the challenges of being the third film in a popular series, Despicable Me 3 is a good continuation of the story. It successfully tries to introduce new ideas while still giving fans what they enjoy, avoiding simply repeating familiar plot points.

Honestly, I totally get why everyone loved it! A former bad guy just trying to be a dad while still dealing with supervillain stuff? That’s a story a lot of people could connect with, and it landed at number ten on Netflix’s most-watched list in 2025. But, I also think they tried to cram too much into this installment, and that might have held it back a little.

Although Despicable Me 3 received some criticism for trying to pack too much into its short running time – and it’s generally considered the weakest film in the series – fans of the first two Despicable Me movies will likely still enjoy it. It also sets the stage for the better-received Despicable Me 4.

Happy Gilmore 2

While not a critical smash, Happy Gilmore 2 generally received positive reviews. It has a 62% score from critics and a 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 6.1/10 rating on IMDb, suggesting it’s a slightly above-average movie.

The original Happy Gilmore movie became a fan favorite in 1996, so it wasn’t surprising the 2025 sequel also did well on streaming. The story of Happy’s return to golf after a difficult time resonated with viewers, making the new movie a must-see for those who loved the first one.

Havoc

With Tom Hardy playing a tough detective investigating crime and a political conspiracy to save a politician’s son, the film was practically set up for success. It’s therefore not surprising it’s expected to be among the most-watched movies of 2025.

Interestingly, critics seem to have enjoyed Havoc more than general audiences—which is unusual for Netflix action movies. Director Gareth Evans is known for action films like The Raid: Redemption, and viewers have naturally compared Havoc to those movies, though often to its detriment.

Despite its flaws, Havoc is still a fun action movie, and its popularity on Netflix in 2025 shows that it delivers on that front. It’s also notable for being one of the largest films ever made with principal photography in Wales, adding another layer of interest.

Straw

Straw is a gripping and somber film that became a hit on Netflix in 2025. It tells the story of a woman driven to desperate measures – robbing a bank – after experiencing a string of heartbreaking events. However, the reasons behind her actions are more complicated than they seem.

While some viewers found the film Straw overly depressing due to its heavy portrayal of the main character Janiyah’s hardships, it generally received positive reviews. Its realistic and somber depiction of contemporary struggles makes it a compelling and emotionally resonant story.

Exterritorial

Released in 2025, Exterritorial is a German action thriller that quickly gained attention on Netflix. The film centers around a mother whose child vanishes while they are inside the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, and her desperate attempt to find him and uncover the truth behind his disappearance.

The film topped Netflix’s weekly movie charts for twelve weeks and became the seventh most-watched movie on the platform in 2025. Despite its success, Exterritorial also faced criticism. Some viewers found certain plot points hard to believe, as they stretched the boundaries of what’s plausible even within the conventions of an action movie.

The Life List

The film, The Life List, is emotionally resonant and touching, which perfectly complements its central idea. The story follows Alex as she tries to fulfill a list of goals she created as a teenager, a condition set by her late mother to receive her inheritance.

The movie that follows is a charming and complex romantic comedy-drama that resonated with audiences, earning a 6.8 rating on IMDb and a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, critics were less impressed, giving it a 46% score on Rotten Tomatoes – likely because the film relies on familiar tropes and clichés that didn’t appeal to them as much.

Despicable Me 4

Despite starting from a weaker point than previous films – the third Despicable Me movie didn’t receive great reviews – Despicable Me 4 was actually better received. This likely explains why it became the seventh most-streamed movie on Netflix in 2025, while the third film only reached tenth place.

Despicable Me 4 successfully continues the series’ fun by showing how Gru’s past as a villain still causes problems for him. The movie weaves together different storylines effectively, giving each family member a significant role. This focus on the whole family likely contributed to the film’s popularity on Netflix in 2025.

KPop Demon Hunters

Given the incredible success of KPop Demon Hunters – it quickly became one of Netflix’s most-streamed films ever – it’s no surprise that it’s also expected to be the top movie on Netflix’s 2025 list, both in terms of how many hours people watched and how well-received it was.

The movie’s continued popularity on streaming platforms comes from its richly detailed world and compelling story. It skillfully balances exciting action with heartfelt moments and memorable songs, creating a universally relatable experience for viewers of all backgrounds.

As we head into 2026, it will be fascinating to see if any film can surpass KPop Demon Hunters as Netflix’s most popular movie. It will also be interesting to see if the next big hit can match the demon-hunting band’s story in terms of both viewership and overall quality.

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2026-02-01 20:21