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The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now

A man sits by a car in Rebel Ridge.
Allyson Riggs / Netflix

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with nearly 270 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 a recent seven-day period to keep subscribers in the loop regarding its most popular titles.

Action is back on the top of Netflix. Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge, an action thriller starring Aaron Pierre, is the No. 1 movie on Netflix. Lee Daniels’ The Deliverance moves back to No. 2, while new entries Sonic the Hedgehog and Aloha come in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Below, we’ve listed the top 10 movies in the U.S. from September 2 to September 8, along with general information about each film, such as genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

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 Band Together (2023)

10. Trolls Band Together
53%
6.0/10
pg
91m
Genre
Animation, Family, Music, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Camila Cabello
Directed by
Walt Dohrn
Watch on Netflix

The colorful furry animals return for a third outing in Trolls Band Together. Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are officially a couple. Much to her surprise, Poppy learns that Branch was a member of her favorite boy band, BroZone, with his brothers Floyd (Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric André), Spruce (Daveed Diggs), and Clay (Kid Cudi).

However, the brothers broke up after a bad concert. In the present, John Dory visits Branch to tell him that Floyd has been captured by Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells), two teenagers who will do anything to be pop stars. To save Floyd, Branch must reunite with his other brothers and reassemble the band.

9. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

9. 3:10 to Yuma
76%
7.6/10
r
122m
Genre
Western
Stars
Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda
Directed by
James Mangold
Watch on Netflix

James Mangold adapted Elmore Leonard’s short story Three-Ten to Yuma, and made one of the best Westerns of the 21st century. In Mangold’s adaptation set in 1883, Christian Bale stars as Dan Evans, a veteran-turned-rancher living in Arizona. Evans, who owes money to the town’s local banker, gets a chance to square his debt by escorting Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to prison. Wade is a notorious outlaw who has made his bones robbing stagecoaches.

After Wade is caught, Evans is hired to bring him to the 3:10 afternoon train from Contention to Yuma Territorial Prison. Evans and his crew quickly learn that getting Wade on that train will be no easy task. Wade has several allies and enemies after him, forcing Evans to evade danger at every turn.

8. The Rundown (2003)

8. The Rundown
59%
6.7/10
pg-13
104m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Comedy, Thriller
Stars
Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson
Directed by
Peter Berg
Watch on Netflix

Despite acting in Hollywood for over two decades, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s best role came in the early stages of his career when he played Beck in The Rundown. Beck is a highly skilled bounty hunter who wants to retire to open a restaurant. In need of money, Beck agrees to help his boss, Billy Walker (William Lucking), on one last job. The mission is to find Walker’s son, Travis (Seann William Scott), a treasure hunter looking for a valuable artifact in El Dorado, Brazil.

Beck has no trouble finding Travis in the mining town. However, Hatcher (Christopher Walken), the owner of the town’s mine, refuses to let Travis go after learning he discovered the artifact’s whereabouts. To survive, Beck must team up with a reluctant Travis if they ever want to return to the U.S.

7. Shark Tale (2004)

7. Shark Tale
48%
6.0/10
r
90m
Genre
Animation, Action, Comedy, Family
Stars
Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger
Directed by
Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, Rob Letterman
Watch on Netflix

Imagine The Godfather was an animated film made for kids. No need to imagine anymore because the world of the mafia comes to life in the underwater adventure known as Shark Tale. Will Smith voices Oscar, a small, lowly fish with dreams of being rich and famous. In debt to a local mob boss, Oscar tries to win his money back in a seahorse race, but it backfires when his pick loses and the boss sends henchmen to collect the debt.

When a great white shark named Frankie (Michael Imperioli) attempts to punish the fish, Oscar outsmarts the shark, and Frankie accidentally dies. Oscar takes credit for the death and becomes known as the “Sharkslayer.” He then forms a friendship with Frankie’s vegetarian brother, Lenny (Jack Black). Oscar’s newfound fame comes with a price as Frankie’s father and mob leader (Robert De Niro) seeks revenge for his son’s death.

6. The Union (2024)

6. The Union
44%
5.5/10
pg-13
109m
Genre
Action, Comedy
Stars
Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons
Directed by
Julian Farino
Watch on Netflix

Mike McKenna (Flight Risk‘s Mark Wahlberg) lives a simple life as a construction worker in New Jersey. One day, Mike’s ex-girlfriend from high school, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry), reenters his life. Unfortunately for Mike, Roxanne is not here to rekindle their relationship. Instead, Roxanne is a spy in a secret organization called “The Union.” Since he lives a basic life, Mike is the perfect candidate to join the organization, since no one will expect him to be a spy.

Mike and Roxanne travel to Europe to retrieve a briefcase containing classified government intelligence about certain individuals. Thrust into the world of espionage, Mike goes along for an action-packed ride full of danger and excitement. Who knows? Mike might even get another shot at love if he plays his cards right.

5. Migration (2023)

5. Migration
56%
6.6/10
pg
83m
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Caspar Jennings
Directed by
Benjamin Renner
Watch on Netflix

After The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Illumination released a second animated film in 2023 called Migration. Directed by Benjamin Renner from a script by The White Lotus‘ Mike White, Migration introduces the Mallard family: dad Mack (Kumail Nanjiani), his wife, Pam (Elizabeth Banks), and kids, Dax (Casper Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal).

The Mallard family resides in New England. Mack is very hesitant to fly south and migrate. After hearing about a group of ducks migrating to Jamacia, Mack has a change of heart and plans a family trip south. Shortly after the Mallards’ journey begins, things go haywire as their plan for a safe trip goes up in smoke. Now, Mack and his family must rely on their instincts and trust themselves to reach their destination.

4. Aloha (2015)

4. Aloha
40%
5.4/10
pg-13
105m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams
Directed by
Cameron Crowe
Watch on Netflix

Cameron Crowe returned to the rom-com genre in 2015 with Aloha. Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) is a military contractor sent to Hawaii to broker a deal with the locals on behalf of billionaire entrepreneur Carson Welch (Bill Murray). Carson wants to develop a space center to launch a privately funded satellite. While in Hawaii, Gilcrest runs into his former girlfriend, Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams), who has two kids and is married to an Air Force pilot (John Krasinski).

Gilcrest also meets Captain Allison Ng (Emma Stone), an Air Force pilot who acts as his liaison in the area. Gilcrest is in Hawaii to do a job, but he winds up falling for Ng and discovering a shocking revelation about Tracy. To complicate matters, Gilcrest uncovers Carson’s real reasons for the satellite, jeopardizing the entire mission.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

3. Sonic the Hedgehog
47%
6.5/10
pg
99m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Comedy, Family
Stars
Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter
Directed by
Jeff Fowler
Watch on Netflix

The anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with lightning speed finally received a live-action movie in 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog. After being attacked by a destructive tribe, Sonic is sent to Earth and finds shelter in a secret cavern under the town of Green Hills, Montana. One night, Sonic’s speed triggers a power outage in the Pacific Northwest, drawing the attention of the peculiar scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).

Robotnik wants to harness Sonic’s speed for his evil plan to power machines that dominate the world. In need of an ally, Sonic teams with local sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to stop Robotnik from achieving his goal.

2. The Deliverance (2024)

2. The Deliverance
38%
5.0/10
r
112m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B. Jenkins
Directed by
Lee Daniels
Watch on Netflix

Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels helms The Deliverance, his first directorial effort since 2021’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Inspired by the Ammons family haunting, The Deliverance stars Andra Day as Ebony Jackson, an alcoholic single mother of three who moved her family into a new home for a fresh start.

Child Protective Services must keep an eye on Ebony at all times because of her prior run-ins with the law. Shortly after arriving in the new house, the family experiences a series of supernatural events, leading them to believe the home is haunted. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse after the demonic possession of the children. With her back against the wall, Ebony must conquer her own demons to save her kids.

1. Rebel Ridge (2024)

1. Rebel Ridge
77%
7.0/10
r
132m
Genre
Crime, Action, Thriller
Stars
Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb
Directed by
Jeremy Saulnier
Watch on Netflix

In his first film since 2018’s Hold the Dark, Jeremy Saulnier writes and directs Rebel Ridge, an excellent action tale that resembles a thriller from the 1980s and 1990s. Ex-Marine Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) heads to Shelby Springs on a bicycle to post bail for his cousin. Unruly cops knock Terry off his bike and seize his money.

When Terry tries to recover his money at the police station, he’s turned away by the town’s corrupt police chief, Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson). At first, Terry tries to retrieve his money legally with the help of courthouse employee Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb). Unfortunately, Terry’s efforts are thwarted by the police. With no other options, Terry becomes a one-man-wrecking crew and takes the law into his own hands.

Movie images and data from:
Dan Girolamo

Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout his career, Dan has been a writer, broadcaster, podcaster, editor, and social media manager. At Digital Trends, Dan covers film and television, from reviewing upcoming projects to interviewing actors and directors. Outside of Digital Trends, he has been an Oscar prognosticator since 2016 as well as a sportswriter with a special concentration in New York professional sports. Dan is still waiting for the New York Knicks to win a championship, but unfortunately, he will have to wait a lot longer for this dream to become a reality.

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