The most popular movies to stream right now
The most popular movies to stream right now
There's no better time to be an entertainment aficionado than today. According to Nielsen's 2023 State of Play report, audiences nowadays are spoiled for choice, with more than 2.7 million video titles available across various platforms—almost a million more than just two years ago. In addition, streamers can ping pong between 167 unique streaming sources too—think Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, just to name a few. With so much to choose from, it's not a surprise that audiences typically spend as much as 10 minutes (probably even more) looking for something to watch. With so many options, it can be hard to know where to start when picking what to stream for your next movie night.
To help narrow your options, Stacker compiled a list of the 20 most popular movies across all streaming platforms. Using data from Reelgood, with IMDb ratings and additional data points added for extra insights, the list is a far better way to select your next watch than scrolling through Netflix, Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime, etc. looking for that perfect, buzzy feature. The selection (which updates bi-monthly to keep you apprised of what's hot right now) includes a wide selection of picks, from recent Oscar nominees to the season's biggest blockbusters to genre-specific hits of the past several decades. So whether you enjoy a tense drama, a sci-fi epic, or a sweet rom-com, there's almost certainly something here that will strike your interest.
If you're more interested in what's coming soon than what's already available to stream, the list can help you there too. As existing franchises tease new installments and actors and directors announce their newest projects, the respective backlists typically see a huge resurgence in popularity. Meaning all you need to do is keep an eye on what folks are watching now and you'll have a fairly good idea of what's to come in the next several months. So without further ado, read on to see what movies audiences across the country are streaming!
#20. It's a Wonderful Life
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Romance
- Director: Frank Capra
- Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore
- Release date: Dec. 20, 1946
#19. Deadpool & Wolverine
- Streaming on: Disney+ (subscription)
- Runtime: 128 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Comedy
- Director: Shawn Levy
- Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Emma Corrin
- Release date: July 26, 2024
#18. A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Streaming on: Apple TV+ (subscription)
- Runtime: 25 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Children
- Director: Bill Melendez
- Cast: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, and Tracy Stratford
- Release date: Dec. 5, 1965
#17. Challengers
- Runtime: 131 minutes
- Genres: Romance and Drama
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Cast: Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor
- Release date: April 18, 2024
#16. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Comedy
- Director: John Hughes
- Cast: Steve Martin, John Candy, and Laila Robins
- Release date: Nov. 25, 1987
#15. White Christmas
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Genres: Romance and Comedy
- Director: Michael Curtiz
- Cast: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney
- Release date: Nov. 5, 1954
#14. Violent Night
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Comedy
- Director: Tommy Wirkola
- Cast: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, and Beverly D'Angelo
- Release date: Nov. 30, 2022
#13. The Holiday
- Streaming on: Prime Video (subscription)
- Runtime: 136 minutes
- Genres: Romance and Comedy
- Director: Nancy Meyers
- Cast: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law
- Release date: Dec. 5, 2006
#12. Love Actually
- Streaming on: Prime Video (subscription)
- Runtime: 135 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Romance
- Director: Richard Curtis
- Cast: Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson
- Release date: Nov. 7, 2003
#11. Elf
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Genres: Romance and Action & Adventure
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Cast: Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Bob Newhart
- Release date: Nov. 7, 2003
#10. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Genres: Comedy and Fantasy
- Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
- Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Juliette Lewis
- Release date: Dec. 1, 1989
#9. 28 Days Later
- Streaming on: Vudu (rent/buy)
- Runtime: 113 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Horror
- Director: Danny Boyle
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Brendan Gleeson
- Release date: Nov. 15, 2002
#8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Streaming on: Peacock Premium (subscription)
- Runtime: 26 minutes
- Genres: Animation and Comedy
- Director: Chuck Jones
- Cast: Boris Karloff, Chuck Jones, and Dr. Seuss
- Release date: Dec. 18, 1966
#7. Die Hard
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- Genres: Thriller and Action & Adventure
- Director: John McTiernan
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Alexander Godunov
- Release date: July 15, 1988
#6. Home Alone
- Streaming on: Disney+ (subscription)
- Runtime: 103 minutes
- Genres: Family and Comedy
- Director: Chris Columbus
- Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern
- Release date: Nov. 16, 1990
#5. Gladiator
- Runtime: 155 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen
- Release date: May 4, 2000
#4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Streaming on: Prime Video (rent/buy)
- Runtime: 47 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: Larry Roemer
- Cast: Burl Ives, Billie Mae Richards, and Larry D. Mann
- Release date: Dec. 6, 1964
#3. The Grinch
- Streaming on: Peacock Premium (subscription)
- Runtime: 85 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Children
- Director: Scott Mosier
- Cast: Yarrow Cheney, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rashida Jones
- Release date: Nov. 7, 2018
#2. Red One
- Streaming on: Prime Video (subscription)
- Runtime: 123 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Comedy
- Director: Jake Kasdan
- Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, and J.K. Simmons
- Release date: Nov. 6, 2024
#1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Streaming on: Peacock Premium (subscription)
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Genres: Comedy and Family
- Director: Ron Howard
- Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and Jeffrey Tambor
- Release date: Nov. 17, 2000
