Divisive Tearjerker War Movie With 37% RT Score Becomes International Netflix Success

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Despite receiving mixed reviews – with only a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes – a dramatic war film has unexpectedly become popular worldwide thanks to Netflix. Many war movies successfully connect with audiences by realistically portraying the terrible realities of conflict and its impact on people.

The movie Max offers a unique take on this story. Released in 2015, it centers on a military dog named Max, a Belgian Malinois, who is hurt in an explosion that tragically kills his handler, Kyle Wincott. Kyle’s family then adopts Max and helps him—and themselves—cope with their loss. While critics didn’t love the film, audiences generally enjoyed it.

I was really surprised to see that Max is doing incredibly well on Netflix! According to FlixPatrol, it’s currently number four worldwide as of January 26, 2026. But what’s even more impressive is it’s the number one movie in eight countries: Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and El Salvador. It just goes to show there’s a real international audience enjoying this dog-focused war movie.

Currently, you can’t stream Max in the US. It’s available for free with ads on Tubi, or through a subscription to MGM+. This means the movie’s success is based entirely on how well it’s done in other countries. Considering it ranked highly on Netflix’s global Top 10 list, its popularity is quite remarkable.

Despite mixed reviews from critics who found the story overly sentimental, most viewers enjoyed the movie Max. It currently has a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the performances of Josh Wiggin and Thomas Haden Church, as well as the movie’s touching story.

The film did okay at the box office, bringing in $44 million on a $20 million budget, which led to a sequel, Max 2: White House Hero, released directly to video. Despite being a family movie, the original Max tackles serious topics like grief and the difficulties veterans face after war, using the bond between a dog and its owner to explore loss.

With Max becoming a hit on Netflix around the world, it looks like it will stay popular for a while. It’s hard to say exactly how long the film will be the most-watched title, but its global appeal suggests it can maintain its current success.

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2026-01-26 17:08