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Tom's Guide
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix has racked up 23 No. 1 movies in 2025 so far — here are the 5 worth watching
The Netflix top 10 lists are always shifting, and as of this week, 23 movies have claimed the No. 1 spot (per Netflix's tracking data). For those out of the loop, the rotating list gives subscribers a snapshot look at what's trending on the world's biggest streaming service. Being crowned Netflix No. 1 is an honor that only a few dozen movies achieve each year. That achievement means that millions of people are watching that movie at once. So, you might think a No. 1 rank equals a quality watch. Sadly, that's not always the case. I've seen plenty of subpar films claim the Netflix No. 1 spot in the past eight months, including 'The Electric State,' 'iHostage' and 'The Old Guard 2.' Frankly, so far in 2025, I'd argue that more should-skip movies have ranked No. 1 than must-watch ones. That's why I'm picking out the five movies that reached the top of the Netflix top 10 this year, which deserve a spot in your watchlist. These are the best Netflix No. 1 movies of 2025 so far. Stick with me here, but 'To Catch a Killer' is an oddly comforting movie. I know that's a bizarre descriptor for a mystery thriller about a troubled cop tracking down a serial killer, but this 2023 crime drama with Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn doesn't want to reinvent the wheel, and instead is a movie that hits all the required beats in a way that just works. It's anything but original, but it's well-crafted and knows exactly what its target viewer wants. In 'To Catch a Killer, a ruthless killer is stalking the streets of Baltimore, and FBI agent Geoffrey Lammark (Mendelsohn) is tasked with assembling a team to catch the criminal. His wildcard appointment is young beat cop Eleanor Falco (Woodley), who is dealing with past trauma, but has a keen eye for detail and might be the key to solving the mystery. Watch on Netflix now Let's just say my enjoyment of 'Havoc' proved to be something of a 'hot take' when it dropped on Netflix back in April. The movie's terrible 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is proof that its thin plot and dark aesthetic turned many viewers away. However, the stunning action choreography was enough to win me over, and 'Havoc' contains some of my favourite fight sequences of the entire year. I'm more than happy to carry on championing this movie. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Directed by 'The Raid' filmmaker Gareth Evans, 'Havoc' is a hardboiled action-thriller that sees Tom Hardy play a bruised detective fighting his way through the city's criminal underbelly, exposing deep corruption and conspiracy along the way. Yes, I won't deny that the narrative is flimsy, but the high-octane action is so fantastic that it's enough to keep your attention. It also packs some of the most powerful shotgun blasts ever caught on camera. Watch on Netflix now 'The Wild Robot' sees DreamWorks meet the high bar set by Disney's animated crowd jewel, Pixar. It's a family-friendly flick capable of reducing even the most cold-hearted adults to tears. Younger watchers will enjoy the vibrant art style and the whimsical characters, but grown-ups will be captivated by the compelling story of unexpected friendship and finding family in the most unlikely places. The movie opens with a robot washing up on the shores of a mysterious remote island, and stranded with no means of returning to their home base, they are forced to adapt to survive in the harsh conditions. Initially feared by the island's animal inhabitants, the robot, nicknamed Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o), eventually becomes a mother to an orphaned gosling with some help from a wily fox (Pedro Pascal). It's an emotionally rich tale with an important, even slightly predictable, message. Watch on Netflix now I have never been on a cruise trip, and after watching 'Trainwreck: Poop Cruise,' I don't think I ever want to. Part of Netflix's 'Trainwreck' anthology series, which has been dropping new installments weekly this summer, 'Poop Cruise' takes viewers inside a nautical disaster that really stinks (literally). It won't just put you off cruises, but your streaming snacks as well. The documentary follows an infamous cruise trip in 2013 that saw a fire damage the engines onboard and leave the ship drifting in the middle of the ocean just off the coast of Mexico. But the ship didn't just lose sailing capabilities; the power and sanitation systems also failed. This left more than 4,000 passengers stuck onboard with food running out, no air conditioning and sewage leaking into the hallways. Not quite the dream vacation they signed up for. Watch on Netflix now 'Plane' is a big, dumb action movie, and I'm very much okay with that. This 2016 movie starring Gerard Butler is another one that completely understands its target audience and plays to them quite expertly. It's full of ridiculously cheesy dialogue, and some narrative logic that is woolly at best, but it's hard not to have a complete blast with a movie like this. Brodie Torrance (Butler) is a commercial pilot and former Royal Air Force officer who manages to avert disaster by performing an emergency landing when his plane is struck by lightning. But that's not the end of the ordeal, as the craft has landed in a warzone, and the surviving passengers are taken hostage. Torrance must now team up with Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), a man accused of murder who was only on the plane as he was in FBI custody, to save the day. Watch on Netflix now
Tom's Guide
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix has racked up 15 No. 1 movies in 2025 so far — here's the 3 worth watching
Being ranked as the No. 1 movie on Netflix might not be as prestigious as winning Best Picture at the Oscars, but it's still a sign that a film has managed to draw the attention (and viewing hours) of millions of subscribers to the world's biggest streaming service. To date in 2025, 15 movies have managed to ascend to the top of the Netflix top 10 list (per Netflix's tracking data). While it's perhaps not a vintage collection, with several skippable efforts like 'Kinda Pregnant' and 'iHostage' wearing the crown for a period, there has been a handful of flicks worthy of the top spot. Below, I'm picking out the trio I think are most deserving of a place in your Netflix watchlist. If you missed any of these movies when they were ranked No. 1 on the platform, now is the time to circle back and give them a stream. I'm starting my picks with 'To Catch a Killer,' a 2023 thriller that enjoyed a surprise renaissance on Netflix this year. While it follows a cookie-cutter detective thriller blueprint, the mystery at its core is engaging enough, and the violent opening sequence, which sees a sniper begin shooting innocent targets from a rooftop, is pretty startling. The movie stars Shailene Woodley as a Baltimore beat cop named Eleanor. Grappling with a troubled past, Eleanor has an uncanny knack for spotting hidden clues others often miss, but her personal demons threaten to bubble to the surface and could put the hunt for the bloodthirsty killer in jeopardy. Ben Mendelsohn plays the head of the FBI task force in charge of the manhunt, and enjoys some strong (and heated) exchanges with Woodley. While the narrative conventions are pretty predictable, 'To Catch a Killer' is a well-produced take on a formula that never goes out of fashion. Watch on Netflix now I'm bracing myself for the angry comments to this selection already. I wrote about how much I enjoyed Gareth Evans' 'Havoc" last month, and let's just say the reader response was … fierce. While this grimdark action-thriller has endured a pretty torrid reception from many viewers (It holds a poor 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), its frantic and extremely brutal fight scenes really worked for me. Evans, director of the 'The Raid' movies, is one of the best in the business when it comes to cinematic carnage, and I loved his latest slice of ultra-action. I also enjoyed seeing Tom Hardy in a very watchable movie again, as I've been largely unimpressed with his recent roles. However, I can't deny that his character of Walker, a bruised and hardboiled detective, doesn't exactly stand out as all that memorable. If you're looking for narrative depth, you won't find it in 'Havoc.' The movie's plot is overstuffed with far too many criminal players involved and it's all told in a needlessly convoluted way. But if you want to see stunning action choreography and plenty of intense shoot-outs that will get your adrenaline pumping, 'Havoc' is a Netflix original movie that few can measure up to. Watch on Netflix now Switching gear quite dramatically from nightclub brawls to the joys of a home-cooked meal, 'Nonnas' is a Netflix movie that is simply nice. There's no better word for it. Yes, 'nice' is not perhaps the most gushing of compliments, but 'Nonnas' is a simple movie, and it achieves its modest objective without any unnecessary fuss. It's the perfect lazy Sunday watch, and will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It may have unambitious aims, but it succeeds all the same. The comedy-drama centers on Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn), a Brooklyn native who decides to open a restaurant on Staten Island. So far, so normal. The culinary twist is that his eatery is staffed by grandmothers (or nonnas), cooking recipes passed down across generations. Inspired by a heartwarming true story, 'Nonnas' is a celebration of family bonds and the people and heritage that make us who we are. Plus, with Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Linda Cardellini and Joe Manganiello in supporting roles, it packs an extremely likeable cast of characters. Watch on Netflix now
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Intense New Thriller Series Soars to #2 on Netflix (& the Trailer Alone Gave Me Chills)
Netflix has released so many binge-worthy thrillers this year that I've lost count. We've yet to reach the halfway mark in 2025, but the streaming service has already brought us nail-biting thrillers like iHostage, Havoc and Exterritorial, all of which dominated Netflix's top ten chart. And now, another must-see thriller series is making waves. If you've yet to glance at this week's top trending shows on Netflix, Secrets We Keep—which was released less than a week ago—currently sits at number two, surpassing titles like Forever, The Four Seasons, Bad Thoughts and Love, Death + Robots. In the Danish limited series, a young au pair suddenly disappears in a wealthy Copenhagen neighborhood, and Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen), one of the residents, is determined to find out what happened when she suspects foul play. The premise was enough to make me look up the trailer and, all I can say is, I'll be watching this one tonight. The intense two-minute teaser shows Ruby (Donna Levkovski), the Filipino au pair, looking worried as she does the dishes. Just a few moments later, when she tells Cecilie that she needs help, Cecilie quickly declines and seemingly defends Ruby's boss. Not long after, Cecilie learns that Ruby has gone missing and decides to investigate, bringing some disturbing truths to light. Several critics are already raving about the crime thriller, which boasts a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to its deep themes and mystery elements. For instance, Joel Keller writes in Decider that it "doesn't try to distract viewers by sending them down too many dead ends, and tells a story about class, race and wealth in the process." Meanwhile, Collider's Samuel R. Murrian says it "explores similar thematic territory to this year's most zeitgeisty hits Adolescence and The White Lotus, and in some ways handles its dark material even better." Courtesy of Netflix Created by Ingeborg Topsøe, the cast includes Simon Sears, Lars Ranthe, Danica Curcic, Excel Busano and Frode Bilde Rønsholt. The six-part series was also directed by Per Fly and written by Ina Bruhn and Mads Tafdrup. You can now stream Secrets We Keep on Netflix. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here. An Action-Packed Thriller Just Hit #1 on Netflix & I'm Definitely Watching Tonight
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
An Action-Packed Thriller Just Hit #1 on Netflix & I'm Definitely Watching Tonight
I can always count on Netflix to put the best thriller movies on my radar. First, it was the Dutch thriller, iHostage, which peaked at number two on the streaming service. Then, it was Tom Hardy's gritty action thriller, Havoc, which soared to number one in less than three days. Now, I've got my eye on Exterritorial, a high-stakes German thriller that's currently dominating Netflix's top ten list, outranking titles like Twilight, Home and Denzel Washington's The Equalizer 2. Curious to see the reason for the hype, I watched the brief trailer. In less than two minutes, my jaw dropped as I watched a distraught mom embark on a search for her son after he suddenly vanished inside the U.S. consulate. It's every parent's worst nightmare come to life, but it's gripping, action-packed and features a fierce heroine who will stop at nothing to reunite with her child. To offer a bit more context, the film centers on Sara (Jeanne Goursaud), a former Special Forces soldier who served in Afghanistan. She heads to the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt to apply for her work visa, and during her visit, she leaves her son in the playroom. But when she returns to pick him up, he's not there. When she asks the staff for help, everyone claims that he was never checked in. Here, we see the panic set in, but despite everyone's lack of cooperation, Sara doubles down and takes matters into her own hands. Per Netflix's Tudum, the overwhelmed mom must navigate "a labyrinth of deception" as she "battles against consulate officials" to uncover a major conspiracy. Courtesy of Netflix If you've seen Flightplan or Searching, then you'll find familiarity in this captivating thriller, which also explores the theme of a parent being gaslit into questioning themselves after their child suddenly goes missing. And if you're leaning more towards the action elements, then you'll be happy to know that the intense combat sequences will remind you of action flicks like Atomic Blonde. Directed by Christian Zübert, the movie also stars Dougray Scott, Lera Abova, Emanuel Fellmer, Annabelle Mandeng and Nina Liu. Exterritorial is now available to stream on Netflix. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here. This Morgan Freeman Psychological Thriller Is a Netflix Hidden Gem—and the Trailer Alone Is Giving Me Serious Goosebumps
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Terrifying Thriller Hits #2 on Netflix, and the Trailer Alone Is Giving Me Goosebumps
When I read that iHostage was #2 on Netflix, I immediately watched the trailer to see what the hype is all about, and guys, from the preview alone, it's no wonder everyone's tuning in for this Dutch thriller, because if the film is even half as suspenseful as the trailer, it will most definitely be a nail biter. And what's based on real events. Directed by Bobby Boermans and starring Soufiane Moussouli, Admir Sehovic and Emmanuel Ohene Boafo, iHostage is an edge-of-your-seat dramatization of areal-life 2022 hostage crisis at an Apple Store in Amsterdam (hence the cute "i" film title). According to Time, "On Feb. 22, 2022, a 27-year-old armed man entered the Apple Store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, and held a customer at gunpoint for nearly five hours. He demanded €200 million in cryptocurrency and a safe exit from the building—but nothing went according to plan." The real-life event led to a heated national discussion on mental health services and public health systems. Netflix/Elmer van der Marel While the true story is its own harrowing tale, the film apparently unfolds from multiple perspectives—the hostage's, the assailant's, the hidden employees' and the police negotiators'—allowing viewers a 360-degree experience of the thrilling narrative. And, like I mentioned, if the trailer is any indication, make sure you're comfortable sitting on the edge of your you'll be glued there. Beyond the gripping plot, just as the real incident sparked a much-needed national debate, the film raises similar questions about societal pressures and mental health. I should also note that, since I watched the trailer in the U.S., Netflix automatically played it with English dubbing—a great feature, for sure, but I think watching with the actors' own voices is the way to go and makes it feel all the more suspenseful. My vote? Opt for subtitles. That said, I know what I'm watching this weekend, and I suggest you do too. You can stream iHostage on Netflix now. Intense Morgan Freeman Thriller Hits #6 on Netflix and the Trailer Alone Has My Adrenaline Pumping PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women's walking shoes that won't hurt your feet, we've got you covered.
