22-07-2025
Netflix movie hits 164 million views as top films of 2025 so far are revealed
Chloe Johnson Published July 18, 2025 3:51pm Link is copied Comments It isn't just the weather that's heating up - Netflix has released its report on what exactly we've loved in 2025 so far. Yep, it has actually been half of the year already. It turns out we're no longer seeking comfort in our film habits. While there are a few happy watches, genres like horror, thriller and action are proving hugely popular. If you're looking for a film to switch on, read on to find out which 10 films you should be giving a whirl this weekend… (Picture:) Is Despicable Me 4 a horror? Some parents might say yes. At number 10 on our list with just under 70 million views is the fourth film in the iconic, minion-mania-inspiring franchise. If you haven't kept up: Gru now has a new baby (Gru Jnr.) who is intent on tormenting him, while a criminal mastermind intent on revenge is released from prison. There are, of course, plenty of yellow creatures - don't say we didn't warn you (Picture: Illumination Universal Pictures/REX/Shutterstock) For those that want something a bit grittier to sink your teeth into, Ad Vitam - Latin meaning: 'for life' - might be the one to watch this weekend. This film is a French thriller following Franck Lazareff who, after escaping a murder attempt, must find his wife Leo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men (Picture: Christophe Brachet/Netflix) This Mexican action film with over 71 million views follows a team of officers battling a dangerous cartel. Bonus: it has a short run-time at only 85 minutes, so if you're always the one falling asleep at long, meandering movies, this might be for you (Picture: Counterattack - Netflix) If you absolutely can't wait to see our favourite Eggo-loving Eleven in Stranger Things 5 out in November, look no further. Millie Bobby Brown teams up with Chris Pratt in this dystopian action film to star as Michelle, who is embarking on a perilous adventure navigating a crumbling society in search of her missing brother. There's also robots (Picture: Paul Abell/Netflix) Take a breather from the thrillers and action with the sixth film on our list, coming in with a whopping 74 million views. Who doesn't love our favourite fluffy best friends? In this sequel, Max meets a sheepdog named Rooster on a farm and tries to help him overcome his fears. Cute! (Picture: Universal Studios) Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell and Quelin Sepulveda are just a few of the stars we see in Havoc, a film about a drug deal gone wrong and a bruised detective who must uncover corruption and fight his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son. Sound enticing? 87 million people thought so (Picture: Netflix) Netflix's new bilingual action thriller follows a former special forces soldier who has PTSD and is trying to find her missing son, with conspiracies unravelling underfoot. However, despite almost 88 million views, on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 49% rating - so maybe the charm is in its hit or miss quality (Picture: Sasha Ostrov) Would you rather watch a rom-com? Sofia Carson stars in The Life List as a young woman tasked by her mother to complete her teenage bucket list who finds herself (and love) in the process. This film, with just shy of 100 million views, is about grief, love and heartbreak - so prepare the tissues... (Picture: Nicole Rivelli/Netflix ©2025) Have you ever had a really, really bad day? Well, maybe this film will make it feel a little less awful. Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson) is a single mother who has a truly dreadful day as she ends up embroiled in a shocking turn of events. We can't spoil it - but there's a reason this film is classified as a psychological crime drama, and why it has 103 million views... (Picture: Chip Bergmann/Perry Well Films 2) Told you action movies are hot right now. Finally, we have Back in Action, with a star studded cast; think Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott… can you see why it's been viewed 165 million times since its release in mid January? This film follows elite spies Matt (Jamie Foxx) and Emily (Cameron Diaz) fifteen years after they vanished from the CIA to start a family. The pair are forced to jump back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown (Picture: AP)
