{"id":619059,"date":"2026-05-02T10:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T10:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/619059\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T10:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T10:36:14","slug":"netflix-has-racked-up-10-no-1-movies-in-2026-so-far-but-only-these-3-are-worth-watching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/619059\/","title":{"rendered":"Netflix has racked up 10 No. 1 movies in 2026 (so far) \u2014 but only these 3 are worth watching"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the first third of 2026 behind us (yes, it’s gone fast), now is a good time to take stock of all the Netflix\u2019s No. 1 movie of the year so far.<\/p>\n

As of May 1, exactly 10 movies have risen to the top of the Netflix top 10 most-watched movies list and claimed the No. 1 crown. In fact, a couple of them held onto the title for several weeks before being dethroned. However, don\u2019t mistakenly believe that a Netflix No. 1 is a guarantee of quality. In fact, there\u2019s been more duds than winners to reach the summit.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s why I\u2019ve collected together every Netflix No. 1 movie of 2026 to date, and then picked out the three that genuinely deserved the honor. Here are the No. 1 movies worth watching. Get these in your watchlist right now.<\/p>\n

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You may like<\/p>\n

Best Netflix No. 1 movies in 2025 (so far)\u2018The Rip\u2019<\/p>\n

The Rip | Official Trailer | Netflix – YouTube
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Netflix kicked off the year with \u201cThe Rip\u201d in January, and three months later, it remains my favorite Netflix movie of 2026 so far. The latest collaboration between longtime professional partners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck is a crime thriller that keeps you engaged throughout. The opening act sets the high stakes and starts to ramp up the tension, and eventually \u201cThe Rip\u201d builds into an action-packed finale. Not to mention there’s a neat twist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Rip\u201d centers on a group of Miami cops who stumble upon a stash of ill-gotten cash in a derelict suburban house. This forces the squad into a tricky position as they attempt to figure out whose money they\u2019ve just found, and more importantly, who can be trusted when there\u2019s eye watering sums of money on the table. Damon and Affleck work great as a pair, and the thriller takes place over a single night, which adds to the drama and keeps the pacing strong.<\/p>\n

Watch “The Rip” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n

\u2018Anaconda\u2019<\/p>\n

ANACONDA \u2013 Official Trailer (HD) – YouTube
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My colleague Malcolm McMillan labeled \u201cAnaconda\u201d the funniest movie of 2025<\/a>, and while I can\u2019t quite go that far (for me, that honor went to \u201cFriendship\u201d), it\u2019s an easy-going, enjoyable adventure-comedy that manages to swerve the pitfalls that so many Hollywood reboots fall into. Rather than just remaking 1997\u2019s B-movie cult classic \u201cAnaconda,\u201d this new spin on the franchise opts for a meta approach. This works particularly well and is charmingly novel.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

Anchored by strong comedic talent in Jack Black and Paul Rudd, the pair play lifelong friends who are fed up with their unsatisfying lives. To break out of the ruts they find themselves in, they head into the Amazon Rainforest to film a low-budget remake of their favorite movie, \u201cAnaconda.\u201d But once on location, they are stalked for real by a gigantic reptile. Watch out for a hilarious recurring joke about movies having themes.<\/p>\n

Watch “Anaconda” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n

\u2018Apex\u2019<\/p>\n

Apex | Official Trailer | Netflix – YouTube
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Netflix\u2019s current No. 1 (as of writing) is the survival thriller \u201cApex,\u201d which plays out like a collection of genre tropes. There\u2019s nothing original about this Netflix effort, which doesn\u2019t make it bad per se, but it\u2019s certainly not the most memorable movie you\u2019ll watch this year. Still, its brisk 95-minute runtime makes it an appealing pick if you need a digestible Netflix movie after a busy working day, and it stars Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.<\/p>\n

Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this one before: Theron plays a grieving widow, traveling to the Australian outback for a spot of adventurous risk-taking. There she stumbles upon Egerton\u2019s unhinged hunter, who forces her into a cat-and-mouse game with life-or-death stakes. Egerton fully embraces his psychopathic character, while Theron handles the protagonist’s emotional arc with ease. \u201cApex\u201d is fine, but its inclusion on this list speaks more to the subpar nature of Netflix\u2019s No. 1 movies this year, rather than its quality.<\/p>\n

Watch “Apex” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n

Every Netflix No. 1 movie in 2025 (so far)”People We Meet on Vacation””The Rip””The Investigation of Lucy Letby””Joe\u2019s College Trip Road””Jurassic World Rebirth””War Machine””Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story””Anaconda””Thrash””Apex”<\/p>\n

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