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. Sonic the Hedgehog
- Runtime: 99 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Animation
- Director: Jeff Fowler
- Cast: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter
- Release date: Feb. 12, 2020
#19. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- Streaming on: Hulu (subscription)
- 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
#18. John Wick: Chapter 4
- Runtime: 169 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Crime
- Director: Chad Stahelski
- Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, and Bill Skarsgård
- Release date: March 22, 2023
#17. Borderlands
- Runtime: 101 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Comedy
- Director: Eli Roth
- Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black
- Release date: Aug. 7, 2024
#16. The Grinch
- Streaming on: Prime Video (rent/buy)
- Runtime: 85 minutes
- Genres: Animation and Children
- Director: Scott Mosier
- Cast: Yarrow Cheney, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rashida Jones
- Release date: Nov. 7, 2018
#15. 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
#14. Kraven the Hunter
- Streaming on: Prime Video (rent/buy)
- Runtime: 127 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Thriller
- Director: J.C. Chandor
- Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, and Fred Hechinger
- Release date: Dec. 11, 2024
#13. Interstellar
- Runtime: 169 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Michael Caine
- Release date: Nov. 5, 2014
#12. 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
#11. Dune: Part Two
- Runtime: 166 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson
- Release date: Feb. 15, 2024
#10. 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
#9. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Runtime: 122 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Animation
- Director: Jeff Fowler
- Cast: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter
- Release date: March 30, 2022
#8. 28 Days Later
- Streaming on: Prime Video (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
#7. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- Genres: Fantasy and Horror
- Director: F.W. Murnau
- Cast: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, and Greta Schröder
- Release date: May 18, 1922
#6. 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
#5. Die Hard
- Streaming on: Prime Video (subscription)
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- Genres: Thriller and Action & Adventure
- Director: John McTiernan
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia
- Release date: July 15, 1988
#4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Streaming on: Prime Video (rent/buy)
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Genres: Comedy and Family
- Director: Ron Howard
- Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and Jeffrey Tambor
- Release date: Nov. 17, 2000
#3. Challengers
- Runtime: 131 minutes
- Genres: Romance and Drama
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Cast: Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor
- Release date: April 18, 2024
#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 Lucy Liu
- Release date: Nov. 6, 2024
#1. Den of Thieves
- Runtime: 140 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: Christian Gudegast
- Cast: Gerard Butler, Dawn Olivieri, and O'Shea Jackson Jr.
- Release date: Jan. 18, 2018
