Netflix viewers spent a combined 97 billion hours on films and series in the first half of 2026. The list of most viewed films clearly shows where the preference was: exciting thrillers, spectacular action films, romance and animation. These are the ten films that attracted the most viewers worldwide in the first six months of this year.
Office Romance
Jennifer Lopez has been one of the regular faces of romantic comedy for years. With films like The Wedding Planner (2001), Maid in Manhattan (2002) in Marry Me (2022), she proved time and time again that the genre suits her. In Office Romance (2026), she plays a perfectionist CEO who unexpectedly develops feelings for an ambitious new employee, with all the romantic consequences that entails.
5.8 Watch on Netflix • Jackie Cruz, an ambitious CEO of the airline Air Cruz, has strict policies in her company.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Lovers of Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) had not wanted to say goodbye to their favorite characters after six seasons and had therefore been looking forward to the sequel for years. In Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026), Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby, who ends his self-imposed exile when his family is once again drawn into a deadly conflict with Nazis and organized crime.
The Crash
Time and again, Netflix subscribers appear to love true crime and The Crash (2026) responds perfectly to this. The true-life documentary also gained a striking extra dimension when Kim Kardashian unexpectedly played a role in the aftermath of the case, something she was anything but happy about. The documentary investigates a fatal car accident that soon turns out to be much more than a tragic accident.
6.5 Watch on Netflix • A car carrying three young adults crashes into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, at 100 miles per hour. Two people lose their lives and one person survives.
People We Meet on Vacation
If you’re looking for the perfect movie for a warm summer evening, you’re in for a treat People We Meet on Vacation (2026) good. The romantic film follows Poppy and Alex, two friends who have been traveling together every summer for ten years. During their most recent vacation, they wonder whether their special friendship has always been a basis for true love.
Thrash
Thrash (2026) quickly became a ratings hit and quickly attracted more than 30 million viewers on Netflix. The survival thriller with Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Hounsou and Whitney Peak follows residents of a coastal town who not only have to survive among the ravages after a devastating hurricane, but are also hunted by bloodthirsty sharks.
5.0 Watch on Netflix • In the midst of a catastrophic hurricane, a coastal town battles nature’s wrath and an attack from sharks.
Apex
Apex (2026) proved as Thrash how popular Netflix thrillers are and also managed to convince tens of millions of viewers within a short time. The film follows Sasha who seeks out the Australian wilderness after a personal loss. There she becomes the target of a ruthless psychopath who drags her into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
6.1 Watch on Netflix • Sasha has lost a lot recently. Her adrenaline addiction drives her to the rugged wilderness of Australia, where she rock climbs and knots for solace.
KPop Demon Hunters
That KPop Demon Hunters (2025) is still in the Netflix top 10 is special. The animated film appeared on Netflix last year, but has not disappeared from the top for a moment since. In fact, around the one-year anniversary, viewing figures rose again. The film follows K-pop group HUNTR/X who, in addition to a successful music career, secretly protects the world from dangerous demons.
7.4
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
Watch on Netflix • K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey keep selling out stadiums. In addition to their busy music careers, they have secret identities as demon hunters.
Swapped
It is striking that there are no fewer than two animated films in the Netflix top 10. Swapped (2026) tells the story of forest animal Ollie and bird Ivy who switch bodies due to a magical event and have to go on an adventure together to save their habitat.
7.3 Watch on Netflix • ‘Swapped’ tells the humorous adventure of a small forest animal and an impressive bird. In ‘The Valley’ they are arch enemies by nature, but when they unexpectedly switch bodies, they suddenly have to work together.
The Rip
The Rip (2026) is structured according to a classic thriller concept and proves once again that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are not only a strong (friendly) duo in private, but also on the silver screen. The film exudes the atmosphere of the action films and thrillers from the 90s. The story follows a group of agents who become entangled in distrust and betrayal after the discovery of a huge sum of money.
6.8 Watch on Netflix • In Miami, a team of agents finds millions in cash in an abandoned warehouse. This discovery causes trust within the team to shake.
War Machine
Also War Machine (2026) managed to attract tens of millions of viewers to Netflix in a short time. The spectacular action film starring Alan Ritchson is set in a near future in which a group of recruits during military training suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives when a deadly alien threat strikes.
6.3 Watch on Netflix • During the final part of the tough Ranger Selection Program, elite soldier 81 reaches his breaking point. Not only is he physically pushed to the limit, but also the unresolved loss of his brother, who died in a Taliban attack, continues to haunt him.
Beeld: Still ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ via Daniel Escale/Netflix © 2026
Tekst: Netflix
