The 5 biggest movies on Netflix right now as The Crash is watched 39,300,000 times in 2 weeks

What do you get when you cross an octopus, a goat, a tropical bird and Sacha Baron-Cohen? Well, sorry to disappoint anyone expecting a rib-tickling punchline – the answer’s the latest top 5 Netflix movie chart.

As ever, the most-watched rankings are something of an eclectic bunch, albeit there’s a little crossover here. There are a couple of animations, a decent number of animals and plenty of star names.

At the top of the pile for the past seven days? Well, we won’t spoil the surprise quite yet.

But in at number one is a film that’s quite different to the rest in style and seriousness. So buckle up for something of a tone shift for the top spot…

5. Remarkably Bright Creatures – 8,200,000 views last week

As all film buffs are aware, there’s nothing more cinematic than the age-old plot of a grieving cleaner making friends with a sarcastic octopus.

Remarkably Bright Creatures has become one of the streamer’s biggest word-of-mouth hits so far this year following its release earlier this month, helped by strong reviews and a warmly received lead performance from Sally Field.

Directed by Olivia Newman and based on Shelby Van Pelt’s bestselling novel, the film follows Field’s aquarium worker Tova as she develops an unlikely bond with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus voiced by Alfred Molina. Lewis Pullman co-stars as Cameron, a drifter trying to uncover the truth about his family history.

Critics have been into it, with reviewers praising the film’s emotional warmth and gentle humour, though some felt it occasionally drifted too far into schmaltz and sentimentality. Which is probably true. Still, an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score isn’t to be scoffed at.

4. GOAT – 10,100,000 views

Animated sports comedy GOAT has become a surprise Netflix hit following its arrival on the streamer, with viewers flocking to the fast-paced family film despite critics sounding far less convinced.

The movie features voices from Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre and Stephen Curry, who also produced the project.

The film follows Will Harris, an undersized goat dreaming of making it in ‘roarball’, a chaotic animal version of basketball played by towering rhinos, horses and panthers.

McLaughlin voices Will, while Union plays legendary player Jett Fillmore and Aaron Pierre voices Mane Attraction, the league’s star rival. Basketball icon Steph Curry also appears as a basketball-playing giraffe called Lenny (now there’s a sentence).

Critical reaction has been mixed. Some reviewers praised the film’s energetic animation and colourful world-building, while others argued that the underdog story felt a little too familiar. The Guardian called it ‘loud, chaotic and unlovable’, while Variety was far more positive, describing it as ‘a vibrant surprise’.

Whatever critics thought, though, GOAT has quickly become one of Netflix’s most watched family features. Even if it does have a faint zoo-y whiff of a knock-off Space Jam about it.

3. Ladies First – 11,900,000 views

Netflix viewers are watching Sacha Baron Cohen comedy Ladies First despite critics giving the film a pretty rough reception (it currently holds a score of just 27% on Rotten Tomatoes). The Netflix ‘comedy’, directed by Thea Sharrock, has climbed the platform’s charts quite impressively this week following its release on May 22.

The film stars Baron Cohen as Damien Sachs, a wealthy advertising executive who wakes up in a parallel world where women hold the power in society and the workplace.

Rosamund Pike co-stars as Alex Fox, a senior executive who suddenly becomes Damien’s rival in the reversed reality. The ensemble also includes the likes of Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance and Fiona Shaw. Quite the supporting cast, you’ll agree.

Critical reaction has been harsh overall, with several reviews arguing the gender-swap satire feels dated and overly reliant on a single joke.

The Guardian described it as a ‘one-joke Netflix comedy’, while Decider called the film a ‘simplistic gender satire’. Despite that, the movie has still become one of Netflix’s most watched titles this week.

2. Swapped – 16,100,000 views

Netflix viewers are flocking to animated fantasy film Swapped despite reviewers being a little less convinced about its quality.

The Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple-led body-swap adventure has become one of the streamer’s biggest animation hits of the year, with audiences praising its colourful visuals and emotional story, helping it earn an 87% audience score over on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics have been a bit more reluctant to heap praise on the thing however, with reviews ranging from calling it ‘derivative yet appealing’ to dismissing it as an ‘off-brand Pixar’ imitation.

Still, Netflix will be over them Moon with the success of this Freaky Friday-style affair about two hybrid animals that swap bodies and have to work together to survive and thrive.

1. The Crash – 27,600,000 views

True crime documentary The Crash, the new film from director Gareth Johnson, examines the controversial case of Mackenzie Shirilla, an Ohio teenager convicted over a fatal 2022 car crash that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan.

The documentary has quickly climbed Netflix’s charts thanks to its fascinating story told via a mixture of police footage, courtroom material and prison interviews with Shirilla herself.

The film explores prosecutors’ claims that the crash was intentional, while also examining the relationship between Shirilla and Russo in the months before the incident.

Johnson keeps the approach relatively restrained compared to some of Netflix’s more overblown true crime releases, relying heavily on real footage and testimony rather than dramatic reconstructions and hyperbole.

Critical reaction has been a little mixed. Some reviewers praised the documentary as gripping and emotionally devastating, while others are arguing it feels a little exploitative or slightly too eager to steer viewers toward a particular conclusion. Overall, though? Reception’s been pretty positive, with 91% of reviews being positive, as per Rotten Tomatoes.

Audience responses have been similarly divided online, but whatever people are saying about The Crash, it’s making folk want to watch it. Only it’s racked up 39,300,000 views in just two weeks. And that’s some going for a documentary.