The streamer’s most-watched list is an excellent place to start your search if you’re looking for something new to watch on Netflix this week. The best indication of the content that Netflix users in your area are interested in observing is this frequently updated list of the most popular films and TV series.
Still, a high spot in Netflix’s top 5 does not imply superior quality. Even occasionally, a show or movie that is better as a skip than a stream will take the top spot (the movie that is currently at number one has an RT score of just 28%, for instance).
Therefore, we’ve chosen the top 5 Netflix films as of the time of writing based on their Rotten Tomatoes reviews, to make it easier for you to find the gems. (Note: as of Monday, January 15 at 1 p.m. ET, the Netflix most-watched list served as the basis for this story.)
TOP 5 SHOWS ON NETFLIX
1. Boy Swallows Universe
Boy Swallows Universe is an oddball coming-of-age Australian television series that revolves around a precious young boy named Eli (Felix Cameron) and his silent brother Lee Tiger Halley. Eli answers a ringing red telephone, signalling the beginning of an odd journey filled with drug dealers, break-ins, and the possibility of finding both love and redemption. Yes, Boy Swallows Universe is a little difficult to describe, but if you give it a shot, you might end up hooked.
- Netflix rank: 2
- RT score: 86%
2. The Brothers Sun
The Brothers Sun, an action-comedy starring Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, follows the normal life of Bruce Sun (Sam Song Li), a youngster from California, when it is discovered that his family is the leader of Taiwan’s most infamous criminal gang. Bruce needs to get familiar with the family company as soon as possible since his brother Charles (Justin Chien), who is being pursued by rival mobsters, has come to the USA to protect the family. His mother Yeoh is keeping a close check on him.
- Netflix rank: 4
- RT score: 85%
3. Fool Me Once
Fool Me Once is an eight-part mystery series from Netflix and American crime writer Harlan Coben that will have you clicking “play next episode” quickly after every suspenseful cliffhanger. It centres on Michelle Keegan’s character Maya Stern, who is horrified to see her husband Joe (Richard Armitage) on a recently installed nanny cam. Why is there such a shock when Joe appears? Because Maya had witnessed his horrible murder only a few months prior.
- Netflix rank: 1
- RT score: 60%
4. Dreamer Dave Chappelle
Unsurprisingly Dave Chappelle’s new standup special has courted controversy from its launch on New Year’s Eve. A few weeks later, it’s still attracting attention from viewers and is among the top 5 series on the streaming site. This comedy show, which Netflix refers to as “freewheeling and unfiltered,” features the comic taking on a wide range of topics.
- Netflix rating: five
- RT rating: 20%
5. Detective Forst
Netflix has long been a popular place for crime dramas, so it’s hardly surprising that Detective Forst is becoming rather popular there. This Polish television series centres on a regular investigator who enjoys breaking the law. However, after being fired for his unconventional approaches, he is forced to work alone with a quick-witted journalist to investigate a succession of horrific murders.
- Netflix rank: 3
- RT score: N/A
TOP 5 MOVIES ON NETFLIX
1. The Snow Society
While it’s not the first film adaptation of the 1972 Andes flight accident, Society of the Snow is undoubtedly the most compelling portrayal of his terrifying story to date. Following an aircraft disaster, a group of rugby players from Uruguay try to survive in the frozen Andes mountain range, one of the most hostile places on Earth. Out of utter desperation, the survivors are forced to take drastic steps as their food supplies are running low and the awful cold is hitting.
- Netflix rank: 3
- RT score: 90%
2. The Equalizer 3
In the third and apparently last installment of The Equaliser series, Denzel Washington returns to his role as super-assassin Robert McCall, a former U.S. soldier. Whenever injustice arises, McCall continues to fight it, even after hanging up his holster. Now residing in Southern Italy, the tough vigilante steps in to defend his buddies when he finds out they are in threat from local mob.
- Netflix rank: 2
- RT score: 76%
3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which brought the Mushroom Kingdom to the big screen last year thanks to a partnership between Nintendo and Minion company Illumination, is now streaming on Netflix. This animated film features amazing cartoon graphics and an easy but powerful story about Mario (Chris Pratt) rescuing his brother Luigi (Charlie Day) from the evil Bowser (Jack Black). However, he has Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to assist him. This one is ideal for both fans of gaming and those who are not.
- Netflix rank: 4
- RT score: 59%
4. Lift
Kevin Hart plays Cyrus in the movie Lift. Cyrus is a master thief who gets blackmailed into carrying out a bold theft by his ex-girlfriend, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, an Interpol agent. Gold bullion valued at $500 million is at stake, and the cargo must be snatched from a passenger jet while it is in midair. Cyrus needs to put together a strong crew to pull off this impossible job, but once the theft gets underway, things go very wrong very soon.
- Netflix rank: 1
- RT score: 28%
5. After Everything
In the most recent After series entry, After Everything (based on the novels of Anna Todd), Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and Tessa Langford (Josephine Langford) are no longer together, as the latter used their love story as the basis for his first book. Hardin is still smitten with Tessa, though. He travels to Portugal in the hopes of mending his ways with a former flame in an attempt to at last move on and get over his crippling writer’s block.
- Netflix rank: 5
- RT score: N/A
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