What To Watch
Here Are the 10 Most-Watched Movies of 2026 So Far
Have you watched them all yet?
By Ashley Lee
July 16, 2026
10 Most-Watched Netflix Movies in the First Half of 2026 - Netflix Tudum
It’s only July, but already 2026 has proven itself to be a standout year for must-see movies. The year’s most-watched original films are chock-full of unforgettable characters, thrilling sequences, surprising twists, and heartfelt takeaways. And in some cases, featuring a wild noise or an onscreen reunion doesn’t seem to hurt either.
According to Netflix’s What We Watched Report, audiences are hitting play on the latest action flicks, gangster dramas, romantic comedies, and animated adventures. (Plus one “golden” 2025 release, of course.) This report measures all viewing in the first half of 2026, representing 97 billion hours watched on Netflix.
If you haven’t streamed these films yet, catch up with the rest of the world and add them to your watchlist. And check out this list of the 10 most-watched shows of the year so far.
Office Romance
No. 10
This romantic comedy stars Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz, a perfectionist CEO of an airline with a new hire: ambitious lawyer Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein, who also co-wrote the script). These workaholics try to deny their obvious chemistry, but soon give in to raunchy island romps — and the consequences of their romance. Betty Gilpin, Amy Sedaris, Tony Hale, and Bradley Whitford are also in the movie, which reunites Lopez with her Selena co-star Edward James Olmos, again playing her onscreen father. It collected 58.4 million views.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
No. 9
Everyone’s favorite Birmingham mobsters are back in this gangster flick, released four years after the finale of the six-season series. Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Tommy Shelby, whose estranged son, Duke (Barry Keoghan), is the new leader of the Peaky Blinders and gets embroiled in a Nazi scheme. Tommy ends his self-imposed exile as the Shelby clan faces their most terrible reckoning yet. Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Stephen Graham are among the cast of the follow-up film, which amassed 63.9 million views.
The Crash
No. 8
On July 31, 2022, the community of Strongsville, Ohio, awoke to horrifying news: A car traveling 100 miles per hour had crashed into the side of a brick building, killing two of its passengers. As detectives combed through the wreckage, what first appeared to be a tragic accident began to look like the scene of a calculated crime. This true-crime documentary explores the volatile relationship between the ill-fated trio: the surviving driver, her boyfriend, and their friend. It earned 65.2 million views.
People We Meet on Vacation
No. 7
Grab your passports and cue up this globe-trotting romance, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as Poppy and Alex. For a decade and counting, the long-distance friends have made a tradition of taking a summer trip together. But the nature of their relationship is called into question when they wonder if romance is finally on their vacation itinerary. Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, and Lukas Gage are also in this Emmy-nominated adaptation of Emily Henry’s novel, which racked up 77.7 million views.
Thrash
No. 6
It’s just a little bit of weather, right? When a Category 5 hurricane decimates a coastal town, its residents — played by Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Hounsou, and Whitney Peak — get cut off from any rescue attempts and must grapple with the aftermath of devastation and chaos themselves. As if that weren’t enough, the storm surge is packed with ruthless and ravenous sharks. Produced by Adam McKay and Kevin Messick (Don’t Look Up), the survival flick accumulated 100 million views.
Apex
No. 5
“Go” watch this intense thriller starring Charlize Theron as Sasha, a grieving woman who travels to Australia to find solace in the wilderness. She crosses paths with Ben (Taron Egerton), a ruthless psychopath who initiates a deadly game of cat and mouse. He offers her a head start: She must get as far away from him as possible before his pump-up music ends. It’s hunt or be hunted in the action-packed film, which garnered 129 million views.
KPop Demon Hunters
No. 4
This animated musical adventure from co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans centers on a K-pop girl group that uses its fans’ devotion to fight against demons. The band, HUNTR/X, is composed of choreographer Mira (May Hong), rapper Zoey (Ji-Young Yoo), and lead singer Rumi (Arden Cho). Enter Saja Boys, a rival boy band of demons trying to beat HUNTR/X at their own game. The hit movie is filled with chart-smashing K-pop music written by some of the genre’s biggest names. It rang up 130.4 million views.
Swapped
No. 3
Head deep inside this lush animal kingdom, where a tiny woodland creature named Ollie (voiced by Michael B. Jordan) and a regal bird named Ivy (voiced by Juno Temple) both accidentally touch a magical pod that causes them to magically swap species. The two sworn enemies are forced to walk in each other’s feathers and fur as they embark on a wild journey together to save the wilderness they share. The animated family adventure soared to 130.8 million views.
The Rip
No. 2
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up to play the leaders of Miami’s Tactical Narcotics Team. They happen upon $24 million stashed away in a safe house and are required by law to stay on location and count every last dollar. As outside forces begin to learn about the size of the seizure, the team must survive the night — and each other. Kyle Chandler, Steven Yeun, and Teyana Taylor are among the cast of the high-stakes crime thriller, which chased down 136.1 million views.
War Machine
No. 1
Some dreams never die. In this military thriller, Alan Ritchson plays a combat engineer who enters the elite US Army Ranger selection process, pursuing a long-abandoned goal he once shared with his brother. During the last round of the relentless training program, the candidates find themselves fighting to evade the sights of a massive and mysterious killing machine. Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, and Esai Morales also star in the sci-fi spectacle, which fired up 146.9 million views. A sequel is on the way.
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