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The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with nearly 250 million subscribers. And just what do those people tend to watch? In particular, what is the most popular movie on Netflix?

Each week, the streaming service releases a list of its 10 most-watched movies over the preceding seven days. Below, we’ve listed the top 10 movies in the U.S. from November 20 to November 26, along with general information about each film, such as genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

A turtle and lizard sit next to each other.
Netflix

Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. For Netflix fans, check out the 10 most popular shows on Netflix right now.

10. Trolls (2016)

10. Trolls
55 %
6.4/10
pg 92m
Genre Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Music
Stars Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel
Directed by Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn

Based on the Good Luck Trolls dolls, the film adaptation Trolls depicts the lives of small, lovable creatures. However, this happy lifestyle is interrupted when the Bergens, led by the cruel Chef (Christine Baranski), invade Troll Village and kidnap multiple trolls.

Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick), an extremely happy troll, sets out on a quest to rescue her friends. She enlists the help of Branch (Justin Timberlake), a cautious survival troll who is the complete opposite of Poppy. The two trolls must find a way to work together before they lose their friends forever.

9. See You on Venus (2023)

9. See You on Venus
5.9/10
pg-13 95m
Genre Romance, Drama
Stars Virginia Gardner, Alex Aiono, Rob Estes
Directed by Joaquín Llamas

Head to Spain on an adventure of self-discovery in See You on Venus. Mia (Virginia Gardner) is a teenage orphan who has spent most of her life in the foster system. Wanting to know her biological mother, Mia narrows her search to 10 names, with the list taking her to Spain.

Meanwhile, Kyle (Alex Aiono) is struggling to get over a tragic car accident that left his friend badly injured. Kyle’s parents believe a trip to Spain is exactly what he needs to cope. Mia and Kyle start as strangers, but as they explore some of the most beautiful cities in the world, they fall in love. Yet, the two young lovers learn more about themselves than each other in the long run.

8. Real Steel (2011)

8. Real Steel
56 %
7.1/10
pg-13 127m
Genre Action, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly
Directed by Shawn Levy

Even when he’s not playing Wolverine, Hugh Jackman still manages to find a fight. In Real Steel, Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a former boxer who now competes in robot boxing, where metal robots do battle while being controlled by a human. In this case, Charlie fights with his robot Ambush. However, Charlie is constantly losing fights and, more importantly, bleeding money.

After losing another fight, Charlie learns his ex-girlfriend has died, and he must take care of his estranged son, Max (Dakota Goyo), for the summer. Desperate for robot parts, the father-son duo head to the junkyard, where they find an old robot, Atom, to restore. The plan works as Atom begins to win fights, which brings the father and son closer together.

7. A Walk in the Woods (2015)

7. A Walk in the Woods
51 %
6.4/10
r 104m
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson
Directed by Ken Kwapis

For a small adventure comedy, A Walk in the Woods has a stacked cast of Oscar winners and Emmy-nominated talent, including Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson, Kristen Schaal, Nick Offerman, and Mary Steenburgen. Bill Bryson (Redford) is a retired author who moved back to the U.S. after living in the U.K. for a decade. After attending a funeral, Bill is inspired to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.

Bill’s wife, Catherine (Thompson), allows him to partake in the challenge if he can find a companion to accompany him on the walk. Bill reluctantly settles on his old friend, Stephen Katz (Nolte). The two men quickly discover that they might have bit off more than they can chew. Can they last, or will they turn around and walk home?

6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
86 %
8.7/10
pg 140m
Genre Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers

Not only is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse a fantastic sequel, but it’s one of the best-reviewed movies of 2023. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is trying to live a normal life while acting as Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. He even reunites with his crush, Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld).

Yet, life is never calm as Miles is suddenly transported across the multiverse, where he meets a group of Spider-People known as the Spider-Society. Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) is the leader of the Spider-People, who serve as protectors of the multiverse. When a new threat called the Spot (Jason Schwartzman) emerges, Miles and the Spider-People disagree on how to face this dangerous entity. Miles must do what’s difficult to protect those he loves in this spell-binding adventure.

5. Minions (2015)

5. Minions
56 %
6.4/10
pg 91m
Genre Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Stars Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton
Directed by Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin

The childlike yellow creatures get their own movie in Minions, the spinoff/prequel to Despicable Me. Three Minions – Kevin, Stuart, and Bob – struggle to find a master after failing to work for a T. rex, Count Dracula, and Napoleon. The Minions hitchhike to Orlando in the late 1960s and meet Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock) at a villain convention.

Scarlet, the world’s first female supervillain, and her husband, Herb (Jon Hamm), recruit the Minions to join them in London to steal Queen Elizabeth II’s crown. If the Minions succeed, they will receive a reward, but if they fail, Scarlet will eliminate the Minion race. Expect a lot of hijinks from these lovable creatures.

4. The Killer (2023)

4. The Killer
72 %
6.9/10
r 118m
Genre Crime, Thriller
Stars Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by David Fincher

David Fincher is back doing what he does best: crafting psychological thrillers. His latest entry into the genre is The Killer. Michael Fassbender stars as the Killer, a studious assassin who lives by this motto: “Stick to your plan, anticipate, don’t improvise.”

Despite his attention to detail, the Killer makes a crucial mistake as a planned hit takes a turn for the worst. The error leads the Killer down a global manhunt, going head-to-head with his employer. If you love Zodiac and Se7en, you will enjoy The Killer. More importantly, an entire generation will be introduced to the greatness of The Smiths.

3. Lone Survivor (2013)

3. Lone Survivor
60 %
7.5/10
r 121m
Genre War, Action, Drama
Stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch
Directed by Peter Berg

One of the most stunning acts of courage and bravery is depicted in Lone Survivor, Peter Berg’s 2013 war drama about Operation Red Wings in 2005 during the War in Afghanistan. Four Navy SEALs – Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), and Matthew “Axe” Axelson (Ben Foster) – are deployed in the mountains of the Korangal Valley to find and kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah (Yousuf Azami).

While navigating the mountains, the team comes across local villagers who may be Taliban sympathizers. Instead of killing the villagers, Murphy cuts them loose and aborts the mission. However, one of the villagers races back to the Taliban and informs them of the SEALs’ presence, leading to a deadly firefight in the mountains. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the SEALs never give up as they fight to stay alive under impossible circumstances.

2. Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

2. Best. Christmas. Ever!
36 %
4.4/10
pg 82m
Genre Comedy
Stars Brandy Norwood, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs
Directed by Mary Lambert

It might be November, but it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas. Kick off the season with Best. Christmas. Ever!, a new holiday movie from Netflix. Directed by Mary Lambert, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham as Charlotte Sanders, a woman who still envies her seemingly perfect college friend, Jackie Jennings (Brandy Norwood).

Along with her two children and husband, Rob (Jason Biggs), Charlotte embarks on a holiday road trip to what she thinks is her sister’s house. However, Charlotte’s son plugs Jackie’s address into the GPS. Upon arrival, the Sanders family is snowed in and forced to spend Christmas at the Jennings household. Charlotte makes it her mission to prove that Jackie is not perfect, forcing her to reevaluate her life as she comes to appreciate her situation. 

1. Leo (2023)

1. Leo
65 %
7.0/10
pg 102m
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong
Directed by Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim

Netflix’s top actor remains Adam Sandler, who continues his string of popular movies on the streaming service with his latest venture, Leo. The animated musical comedy stars Sander as Leo, a 74-year-old pet tuatara who has lived in the same Florida elementary school classroom for decades. Leo lives alongside his best friend, Squirtle (Bill Burr).

At a parent-teacher conference, Leo overhears one of the parents mentioning that tuataras only live to 75, giving Leo one more year to live. Leo plans to escape after being taken home by one of the students. However, Leo ends up helping the children with their problems after he reveals he can talk and understand them. You can’t go wrong with a sweet family comedy featuring Sandler, who hilariously sings his heart out.

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Dan Girolamo
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
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