Netflix‘s biggest movie of 2025 just got even bigger, gaining the status of officially becoming the most popular movie on the entire platform.
What Netflix movie is now the most popular ever on the streaming platform?
According to a new announcement from Netflix, 2025’s KPop Demon Hunters has not only become the platform’s most-watched animated film, but is now the most popular film on Netflix of all time. In a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, the staggering popularity of the movie is put into context.
According to THR, the view total for KPop Demon Hunters from July-December 2025 beats the entire combined view count of the past three movies that was at the top of Netflix’s semiannual charts, including Back in Action (164.7 million views) for the first half of 2025, Carry-On (137.3 million) for the second half of 2024, and Damsel (143.8 million) for the first half of 2024.
The total of those three films, 445.8 million views, would still come up about 35 million views short of what KPop Demon Hunters did in the back half of 2025 alone. THR’s report notes that, dating back to its premiere in June, the movie has been watched more than 540 million times, and has spent 31 weeks on Netflix’s top 10 movie charts.
Alongside the popularity of the film on Netflix, KPop Demon Hunters has also been extremely popular in theaters. Last year, Netflix released a special sing-along version of the film in theaters, which also topped the North American weekend box office for its days.
Originally released in 2025, KPop Demon Hunters was directed by Kang and Appelhans, and starred Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. The film followed the story of a K-pop girl group, Huntr/x, that double as demon hunters who use their music to face off against their foes.
The film was a massive success upon its release. Since its release in June, KPop Demon Hunters has become the most-watched original title in Netflix history, and its soundtrack has also received Platinum certification from the RIAA. To date, the soundtrack continues to be massively successful, and is the first soundtrack with four simultaneous Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
The movie has also garnered tons of awards, with the film winning Best Motion Picture – Animated at the Golden Globes, and the song “Golden” also winning Best Original Song at the Golden Globes.
By now, you’ve probably recovered from Netflix‘s deliciously plot twisty-turny limited series His & Herswhich continues to reign at the top of the popular steamer’s competitive TV charts.
According to Variety, the smash hit series tightened its chokehold on the #1 spot with 29.5 million views after debuting with 19.9 million views.
With a shocking string of twists and sharp left turns, His & Hers is the latest social media obsession to trend for weeks while stirring up all sorts of hilarious shenanigans across the internet.
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So, of course, we had to interview Crystal Fox who, in a truly wig-snatching moment, is revealed as the killer despite being the last (and we mean last) person you’d suspect.
Source: Netflix
In what will be remembered as a perfectly executed twist, Fox admits she’s the one behind the murders of everyone who terrorized her daughter decades earlier, paving the way for Anna to get her dream ending. Whew!
Check out our interview below:
For those tardy to the messy party, the series centers around Anna (Tessa Thompson) who lives in a reclusive haze, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor.
But when she overhears about a murder in the sleepy town where she grew up, Anna is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers.
Source: Netflix
Meanwhile, Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal) is suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation in one of the murders.
Check out the trailer below:
Directed by co-showrunner William Oldroyd and Anja Marquardt, the six-episode limited series also stars Pablo Schreiber, Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Marin Ireland, and Poppy Liu.
“I was drawn to the murder mystery genre and deeply admire writer-director Will[iam] Oldroyd,” said Thompson.
“The concept of setting a mystery in a small town like Dahlonega and exploring its intricate community relationships truly captivated me. While I’ve spent a lot of time in Atlanta, I hadn’t explored Dahlonega, the small town where our show takes place.
Having grown up in big cities, I’ve always been fascinated by the interconnectedness of small-town life. Setting a mystery in such a location felt like the perfect opportunity to delve into the fascinating and sometimes complex relationships found in these American communities.”
Netflix is adding several big shows to its streaming catalog, including a hit Taylor Sheridan TV shows set to arrive on the platform.
What Taylor Sheridan TV show is coming to Netflix?
According to the streamer in a recent fourth-quarter letter to shareholders (via Deadline), Netflix is getting ready to add around 20 new Paramount shows to its platform this year. These include some big shows, including SEAL Team, the Sherlock-inspired procedural Watson, and Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown.
The series, which recently got renewed for a fifth and final season, currently has released four seasons. The show stars Jeremy Renner as Michael “Mike” McLusky, the right-hand man for his older brother, Mitch, who takes over as “Mayor” of Kingstown, Michigan, with his family acting as a mediator of sorts between the various groups found in the town.
Mayor of Kingstown is created and executive-produced by Academy Award nominee Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, who previously collaborated on the Yellowstone series. Alongside Renner, the series also stars Dianne Wiest (Seasons 1-2), Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird (Seasons 1-3), Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Pha’rez Lass, and more.
The series is executive produced by Sheridan, Dillon, Renner, Antoine Fuqua, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Michael Friedman, Dave Erickson, Christoph Schrewe, Wendy Riss, Evan Perazzo, and Keith Cox, with Erickson set as the showrunner.
“In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town,” reads the logline for the show’s fourth season. “Meanwhile, with those he loves in more danger than ever before, Mike must contend with a headstrong new Warden to protect his own while grappling with demons from his past.”
The show, adapted from May Cobb’s best-selling novel, kicked off its first season after filming around Charlotte, with locations near Lake Norman standing in for the fictional Texas town of Maple Brook.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese will play a character known as “Trainer Barbie,” according to Netflix.
Reese is the latest addition to the star-studded cast that features John Stamos, who was spotted filming a scene in the Lake Norman area north of Charlotte last week, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Here’s what you need to know.
Angel Reese Dimitrios Kambouris Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
What is ‘The Hunting Wives’ about?
The first season’s mix of Southern charm, scandal and murder mystery kept viewers hooked — and showcased plenty of local scenery.
Charlotte landmarks including Coyote Joe’s, Dilworth Tasting Room, The Park Church and Lake Norman all doubled as the fictional Maple Brook, Texas, giving Charlotte residents a front-row seat on screen. Downtown Mooresville also played a starring role throughout much of the series.
Brittany Snow in “Hunting Wives” on Netflix. Steve Dietl Courtesy of Lionsgate
Showrunner, writer and executive producer Rebecca Cutter said she’s thrilled to dive back in.
“I’m so excited to write these amazing characters again, and I can’t wait to take the audience on another sexy, twisted, bat**** crazy ride through Maple Brook,” she said in a news release.
‘The Hunting Wives’ Season 2 release date
There’s no release date yet, but estimates predict the new season could arrive as early as this summer, Glamour reported.
According to a post from the page Tuesday, the show is currently looking for bike riders and males in their 20s and 30s to throw a football.
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Netflix has sweetened its $83bn (£62bn) takeover bid for Warner Bros after tabling a new cash-only offer to fend off rival Hollywood bidder Paramount. The streaming giant on Tuesday said it would offer $27.75 per share in cash. Shareholders had previously been offered $23.25 in cash and $4.50 of Netflix shares, a deal Paramount had labelled too “complex”. Netflix and Paramount, run by David Ellison, son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, have been going head-to-head for control of Warner Bros for months. Telegraph
A pioneering investigation into the impact of restricting social media access for children in the UK has been announced as politicians around the world consider action on the issue. In December, Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from social media, with governments in other countries – including the UK – under pressure to do the same. However, while experts say there is evidence that aspects of social media are harmful to most children, there has been no large-scale experimental study exploring the effect of limiting time spent on social media in healthy children as a population. The Guardian
Apple iPhone users have been urged to restart their devices (and do so at least once a week) in the wake of a new virus scare affecting the devices. Two recently uncovered vulnerabilities in iPhones are being targeted by criminals – and despite the malware attacks being ‘highly targeted’ (diplomats, journalists or executives for example), experts at MalwareBytes have warned that they may soon be more widespread. The vulnerabilities affect Apple’s Webkit software, which powers the Safari browser and other iOS applications. Yahoo!
GTA 6 is scheduled to launch this November… assuming it isn’t delayed again (Rockstar Games)
A list of the most anticipated games of 2026 from Sony has garnered attention for not including GTA 6. Even if you’re not personally excited for GTA 6, there’s no denying that it’s the most important game release of the year, if not decade. After all, no other game has other publishers scrambling to avoid launching their titles within the same time frame. As such, GTA 6 is guaranteed a slot, if not the top one, in any ‘most anticipated video games of 2026’ lists from gaming websites and blogs. Metro
Elon Musk has suggested he could buy budget airlineRyanair after demanding CEO Michael O’Leary be fired in his latest online war of words. The world’s richest man claimed the Ryanair boss “needs to be fired” in a series of posts on X replying to an official airline post. Musk asked the airline, “How much would it cost to buy you?” as he relayed his fantasy about putting someone called Ryan in charge of Ryanair. Independent
The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) has today published their first biannual UK Customer Satisfaction Index for 2026 (January), which reveals that Tesco Mobile was – for the second consecutive report – the only mobile and broadband (telecoms) provider to make it into their table of the country’s top 50 organisations. But both Virgin Mobile and Three UK were still named among the most improved. The research typically reflects the results from a large online survey of over 15,000 customers – balanced to be representative of the UK adult population. ISPreview
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, as spotted at this month’s Golden Globes. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Netflix is taking its Warner Bros. Discovery fight to Paramount. On the heels of a splashy Times interview last week meant to reassure skeptics of its theatrical intentions, the streaming giant has amended its bid for Warner Bros.’s streaming and studios business into an all-cash offer — one meant to counter Paramount’s hostile push to take over the company. Netflix’s ticket price that won the original bidding war for WBD still stands unchanged at $82.7 billion (or $27.75 per share), but the tweaked offer “provides enhanced certainty around the value WBD stockholders will receive at closing, eliminating market-based variability,” Netflix and WBD said in a joint statement.
One of the risks of Netflix’s earlier cash-and-stock offer was that a remainder of the final payout to shareholders could fluctuate when WBD was ultimately sold. Netflix’s change eliminates that concern and brings its bid more in line with Paramount’s $108.4 billion bid (or $30 per share), which seeks to buy not just Warner’s streaming and studios business but its declining cable assets known as Discovery Global. Netflix tweaked its offer in one other way, according to a proxy statement filed to the SEC this morning by WBD: It will reduce the debt load on Discovery Global by about $260 million, “in light of the stronger than previously anticipated 2025 cash flow performance of Discovery Global.”
Netflix is putting its money where its mouth is, in other words. The adjustment was expected after Paramount CEO David Ellison launched a hostile-takeover bid and proxy fight, suing WBD for info about how it valued the cable assets. Netflix’s amended bid landed in inboxes the morning ahead of its latest quarterly earnings report, covering the tail end of 2025, and its timing feels strategic in another way: Though any victor in this war will have to pass regulatory hurdles, WBD and Netflix’s joint statement touts a “faster path to a stockholder vote” expected by April 2026. Is it an acknowledgment that everyone’s tired of talking about this?
Netflix is revising its $72 billion offer for Warner Bros. Discovery to make it an all-cash transaction, sweetening the bid as rival Paramount Skydance continues with its hostile takeover attempt for the Hollywood studio.
Netflix initially offered a cash and stock deal valued at $27.75 per Warner Bros. share, giving it a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion, including debt.
On Tuesday, Netflix said the revised offer simplifies the transaction structure, providing more clarity on its value for Warner Bros. stockholders and speeding up the path to a Warner Bros. shareholder vote.
The companies said the all-cash transaction is still valued at $27.75 per share. Stockholders will also receive shares of Discovery Global following its separation from Warner Bros.
The revised offer comes amid Netflix’s tussle with Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News, for ownership of Warner Bros. Earlier this month, Warner Bros. Discovery’s board of directors rejected Paramount Skydance’s revised hostile bid, saying that its terms are inferior to Warner’s $82.7 billion merger agreement with Netflix.
Last week, Paramount took another step in pursuing its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros., saying that it would name its own slate of directors before the next shareholder meeting of the Hollywood studio.
The boards of both Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery have approved the amended all-cash deal.
Netflix’s stock rose 61 cents, or 0.7%, to $88.62 in early trading. Warner Bros. Discovery shares slipped 0.7%.
Ever since Disney got the green light to acquire Fox, every corporation’s decided it’d like to do the same thing. What was once a thing that frankly shouldn’t have happened and hasn’t tangibly benefitted anyone beyond letting folks say “[x IP] is awesome again!” and “Wolverine can fight the Hulk!” is now just an average part of our day as corps keep trying to out-acquire one another and turn themselves into empires.
Warner Bros. is the latest company under threat of acquisition, with Netflix and Paramount both trying to be the next owner of Batman and Game of Thrones. At first, it seemed Netflix would easily bring another addition to its (mostly) anti-theatrical stable, but Paramount (which merged with Skydance just last year) just won’t have it. Current CEO David Ellison has complained, cried foul, and more recently filed a lawsuit as a means of blocking the deal WB’s shareholders already approved. At time of writing, a judge ruled that the Transformers studio hasn’t “identified [or suffered] any cognizable, irreparable harm” from the deal to come and therefore can’t fast track said suit as WB continues finalizing its deal with Netflix. He’s not giving up, though, as he’s now looking to rally European support to continue his efforts.
For those not keeping track at home, Ellison’s tried at least a dozen times now (again, at the time of writing) to convince Warner Bros.’ shareholders to let Paramount be the one to acquire it. And each time, those shareholders have told him in no uncertain terms their eyes are on Netflix and his offers are no good. Whether that’s the actual reason or there’s some lingering beef from last year’s war over South Park streaming rights, getting WB has become Ellison’s white whale, his hill to die on in the hopes of gaining near-total control over middle America on the entertainment and news level.
Ellison is clearly not above using his family connections and ameliorating federal interest to get the deals he wants—that’s already been cause for concern in how Paramount’s been going; it’s understandable there are corners of Hollywood that fear the same is happening with his desperation for WB. More than the unrestricted access to hundreds of IPs, new and old, he wants CNN as a means of making himself look worthwhile to U.S. president Trump and twisting another legacy news outlet into a vessel for ego stroking and appeasement.
In a just, better world, Warner Bros. would look at its successful run of films in 2025 and declare itself not for sale at all, actually. After five years of being jerked around by different parent companies and rebranding itself 80 times, it certainly could’ve used the back half of the 2020s using that momentum to get back to what it does best. There is no legitimate reason for either Paramount or Netflix to own it; monopolies are bad, corporate interference is worse, and like many studios, WB has been at its best when it gets out of its own way.
Instead, we’re all forced to watch a man with more money than he needs and who owns one of Hollywood’s biggest studios fail to repeat his “success.” This is all so many things at once: it’s predictable (and scary) that Ellison’s looking to make his mark on the world just by buying as much of the entertainment industry as possible, just as it’s darkly hilarious that he’s managed to torch CBS News and 60 Minutes but can’t seal the deal here. Were this a recurring gag on a season of TV like The Studio or 30 Rock, it might be an entertaining one to watch him get slapped down each time he goes to WB’s shareholders.
But this isn’t a TV show; it’s real life, and it’s just dumb that this is all happening. Corporate acquisitions have always been bad, and since the Disney-Fox merger, they’ve become a spectacle unto themselves, from announcing that discussions have been had to the eye-rollingly cringe celebratory video when the deal is completed. By now, we know there’s no real “magic” to come out of these, just layoffs and exhaustion. Whoever ultimately gets Warner Bros., Paramount’s dogged pursuit of the studio makes all this more exhausting than usual—and unfortunately, it’s likely to inspire other corps to not take multiple “no’s” for an answer.
Social media is STILL buzzing over Netflix’s deliciously plot twisty limited series His & Hers which trended #1 on the popular streamer while stirring up Sherlock Holmes-level sleuthery, mind-blowing theories, and endless debates across the internet and beyond.
With a shocking string of twists and sharp left turns, the hit series continues to dominate social media discourse as Netflix’s latest buzzy series in a growing lineup of must-binge watches.
Set between Atlanta and its well-to-do suburb of Dahlonega, Anna (Tessa Thompson) lives in a reclusive haze, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor.
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But when she overhears about a murder in the sleepy town where she grew up, Anna is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers.
Source: Netflix
Meanwhile, Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal) is suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation in one of the murders.
Check out the trailer below:
Directed by co-showrunner William Oldroyd and Anja Marquardt, the six-episode limited series also stars Pablo Schreiber, Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Marin Ireland, and Poppy Liu.
“I was really drawn in by William Oldroyd,” said Thompson in an interview with TUDUM.
“I’ve been such a big fan of his work. I think he’s really tremendous, and I love the idea of working with directors in new spaces for them. He had never worked in television. He wanted to make something sexy or pulpier than what he typically does, and something serialized.”
Who did you suspect before the big reveal? Were you genuinely shocked by the finale? Where does this rank on Netflix’s impressive imited series lineup? Tell us down below and peep the funniest (and most relatable) reactions to His & Hers on the flip. (*SPOILERS AHEAD*)
During a Friday appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience to promote their new Netflix film The Rip, which they star in and produce, the duo discussed the differences between watching a movie in theaters versus at home and how phone-distracted viewers are influencing how films are made.
“I went to see One Battle After Another on IMAX — there’s nothing like that feeling,” Damon said, recalling a trip he took with his family. “You’re in with you know a bunch of strangers, but people in your community and you’re having this experience together. I always say it’s more like going to church — you show up at an appointed time. It doesn’t wait for you.”
Watching at home is a very different experience, Damon said. “You’re watching in a room, the lights are on, other shit’s going on, the kids are running around, the dogs are running around, whatever it is. It’s just a very different level of attention that you’re willing, or that you’re able to give to it.”
Damon then explained how that shift is now affecting how movies are made.
“For instance, Netflix — the standard way to make an action movie, that we learned, was you usually have three set pieces. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third — and the big one with all the explosions and you spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your kind of finale.”
The Departed actor added, “Now, [Netflix is] like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes?’ We want people to stay tuned in. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”
After laughing with Rogan, Damon added, “It’s going to really start to infringe on how we’re telling these stories.”
Affleck then chimed in, “But then you look at Adolescenceand it didn’t do any of that shit and it was fucking great.”
Damon agreed but said, “It feels more like the exception,” adding, “I hope it’s not.”
“My feeling is just that it demonstrates that you don’t need to do any of that shit to get people [to watch],” Affleck said.
He also noted that streaming doesn’t pose an “existential threat” and that “things shift. As television came along, there was less theater-going and that’s still going to happen. And people are still going to go to the movies because of what you said. It feels like a cool thing to do. ‘I’m going to go see The Odyssey. I guarantee you in a theater, no matter what.”
For The Rip, which the filmmakers produced through their company Artists Equity, Affleck and Damon pushed Netflix to strike a deal that would reward their crew with bonuses if the film performs well — a departure from the streaming service’s business model of only paying fees up front.
Netflix’s TV and movie release schedule for January 19 to January 25, 2026, includesSandokan Season 1, Rizzoli & Isles Seasons 1-7, Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, and Finding Her Edge.
On January 19, Sandokan Season 1 drops on Netflix. The Italian series follows a pirate hero, Sandokan, and his team’s struggles to protect the Dayak people from the British Empire. Watch how the simple Sandokan goes on to overcome endless hurdles.
Further, the crime drama series Rizzoli & Isles Seasons 1-7, arrives on the streaming platform. It chronicles the adventures of Jane Rizzoli, a police detective, and Maura Isles, a medical examiner. Together, they solve different cases using their experiences, thus forming a strong bond of friendship.
Also coming to Netflix is Cosmic Princess Kaguya!. The animated fantasy film follows high school student Iroha Sakayori, whose life takes an interesting turn when she meets Kaguya, an enthusiastic girl from the moon. The duo decides to make music together and become close friends. Meanwhile, ominous forces want Kaguya to return to the moon.
Additionally, Finding Her Edge premieres on the streaming platform this week. The series focuses on a former ice dancer who makes a comeback to the rink with a new partner. However, she still has feelings for her ex-partner.
New Netflix releases for January 19-25, 2026
Below are all the new TV shows and movies being added to Netflix from January 19 to January 25, 2026.
The past few years have seen Netflix get Sony movies after their theatrical runs—and exclusive access to some of the studio’s movies, like Fixed and KPop Demon Hunters. Even with the latter film’s ongoing (and now award-winning) success, Sony’s going to be keeping chummy with the streamer through the remaining 2020s and beyond.
The companies recently re-upped their partnership with a multi-year deal that’ll again put Sony movies on Netflix after they’ve ended their theatrical runs and left VOD. So when it’s time for, say, Spider-Man: Brand New Day,Beyond the Spider-Verse, or The Legend of Zeldato hit streaming, you’ll be able to find them on Netflix.
Netflix also has licensing rights to “select SPE feature film and television library titles,” meaning we could potentially end up with another KPop situation where something really takes off and it’s locked to streaming forever, aside from any special-event screening engagements.
According to Variety, this new deal doesn’t actually go into full effect until 2029, but Netflix and Sony got ahead on this before individual territory rights open up later in 2026. It might also be a pretty expensive deal: sources alleged to the outlet it’s above $7 billion in worth, over double the $2.5 billion deal they struck for domestic rights in 2021. Executives from both Sony and Netflix said the deal’s been a boon, with Sony’s executive VP Paul Littmann highlighting the attention films like Uncharted and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse get when they hit the streaming service.
Between its ongoing Sony deal and potentially owning Warner Bros., everything’s currently coming up Netflix. It may have hit studios and the licenses to media from studios it doesn’t own, but can it have any greatness of its own making?
Well, that’s all I’ve got for this week’s edition of Screen Time. Come back every week to get more TV and movie recommendations, find out which celebs we’re working with, and so much more!
Have a question for me, or want to tell me what you’re watching right now, or have a suggestion of what I should watch next? Send it to me now at screentime@buzzfeed.com, in this Google form, or in the comments below!
Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment are furthering their relationship with a new, global Pay-1 deal. On Thursday (January 15), they announced that the multi-year agreement will allow Sony feature films to stream worldwide on Netflix. In an announcement from Netflix, this will be a first of its kind exclusice Pay-1 deal.
The new arrangement will roll out gradually, starting later this year. Officials expect full global availability on Netflix by early 2029. Netflix will also be licensing rights to select SPE feature films and television titles.
“Our members all over the world love movies, and giving them exclusive access to Sony’s much-loved films adds incredible value to their subscriptions,” said Lauren Smith, Vice President of Licensing and Programming Strategy at Netflix, in a press release. “Sony’s impressive slate of iconic film franchises like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and originals like Anyone But You have been popular with our U.S. audience, and now we’re excited to expand that offering to our members all around the world.”
The deal is an expansion of their 2021 deal, under which Sony films began on the streaming service. That deal was worth over $2 billion and set to expire at the end of 2026. In which, the new deal will kick into play starting in 2027 for the U.S.
“Our partnership with Netflix has always been incredibly valuable,” said Paul Littmann, EVP of Global Distribution, Sony Pictures Television. “This new Pay-1 deal takes that partnership to the next level and reinforces the enduring appeal of our theatrical releases to Netflix’s global audience. It also further underscores the strength of our independence and unique ability to create meaningful opportunities that benefit our creative stakeholders, consumers, and world-class partners.”
This new deal comes during a crazy time for Netflix. The streaming service is in the middle of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery in another billion-dollar deal.
Read more about the official deal from Netflix here.
An underrated Paul Thomas Anderson movie is officially out on Netflix today, bringing one of the One Battle After Another director’s movies to the platform.
What Paul Thomas Anderson movie is out on Netflix?
2021’s Licorice Pizza, the coming-of-age comedy drama, is officially on Netflix beginning today. The movie follows the story of a relationship between a teen actor and a young woman. The movie was critically acclaimed upon its release and earned three Oscar nominations, including ones for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
Licorice Pizza stars Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim in the lead roles, and also stars Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie. The film also features a number of high-profile appearances, including Bradley Cooper, Skyler Gisondo, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, John Michael Higgins, Christine Ebersole, Harriet Sansom Harris, and more.
“San Fernando Valley, 1973. Disarmed by his fearless confidence and surprising maturity, bored 25-year-old photographer’s assistant Alana Kane reluctantly accepts to go out for a drink with sunny 15-year-old child actor Gary Valentine, her unexpected admirer,” reads the film’s official synopsis. “As one thing leads to another, the platonic soulmates embark on ambitious business ventures, trying to find their feet and purpose in a crazy world. But can Gary and Alana remain friends against the backdrop of life’s ups and downs?”
What makes TV shows that don’t suck? Personal opinions… lots of them, usually. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. These are my treasures. TV shows to help you get through a cold Michigan January. Personally, I am a fan of sci-fi, comedy, drama, and reality shows. These are all shows I have watched. I’m also including a couple that I want to check out based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
This show left me guessing right up until the end. It’s 6 episodes, but it felt like less because the show moved along so fast while still being suspenseful. Streaming on Netflix
Jimmy is back, and another 5 million dollars is up for grabs. Season 2 has brains against strength… sort of. The two also need to work together… and this season has a crossover element with Survivor. I loved season one, and I’m loving this season as well. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
A gritty, darkly funny sci-fi drama set in a post-apocalyptic world. You don’t need to know the video game to get pulled in. This show is a beautiful, messed-up sci-fi dark comedy. The season gets a little slow in the middle, but hang in there… okey dokey? Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The show follows the book series about a kid who finds out he’s the son of a mythology god. I love this show, and so does my son. There was a significant amount of time between season one and two (two years), which is standard on big production shows, but the kids are growing up! Sources say there will be a much shorter gap between seasons two and three. Streaming on Disney+
Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) of It’s Always Sunny plays a brilliant mind hiding in plain sight. It’s clever, fast-paced, and built for viewers who like crime shows with personality and humor. This is an ABC show – Streaming on Hulu
Tim Allen and Kat Dennings form a workplace-meets-family comedy about change, second chances, and learning how to adapt. It’s a cute show! Tim Allen plays the curmudgeon father to Kat Dennings’ rebellious adult daughter when she and her two kids move in with him. The fridge in this show is the coolest fridge (pardon the pun) I have ever seen. This is an ABC show – Streaming on Hulu
Billy Bob Thornton is a landman with decades in the business, and it’s a risky job. John Hamm and Demi Moore are a part of this show, too. It’s a power-packed cast with juicy characters and some strong plot twists. Streaming on Paramount+
I’m three episodes in on season one, and I’m digging this show too. The second season is airing now. The first season follows the night manager at a hotel (Tom Hiddleston) as he finds himself in the role of an undercover agent. Season one aired on the BBC back in 2016… the new season (and the first season) are streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Rotten Tomatoes Picks
I haven’t seen these shows yet, but they have super high ratings.
The Pitt has a 97% rating. It’s an E.R. drama set in Pittsburgh.
Ponies has a 95% rating. Set in the ’70s in Moscow, it follows two Ponies (person of no interest) working at the American Embassy.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has an 85% rating. The series focuses on a young bunch of Starfleet cadets pursuing their dreams.
Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.
Writer-director Joe Carnahan bows at the altar of Michael Mann in The Rip, from the foreboding Miami nightscapes to a pulsing synth score by Clinton Shorter that echoes the tense atmosphere of classics like Thief and Heat. That’s not to say this gripping Netflix cop thriller is derivative, especially given that Carnahan has his own foundations in the genre, starting with his neo-noir breakthrough, Narc. While his new film doesn’t reshape the mold, an ace cast led by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck — who produced under their Artists Equity banner — and twisty plotting that bristles with paranoia and mistrust make it an entertaining watch.
Inspired by true events, the film kicks off with a prologue in which Miami-Dade narcotics division captain Jackie Velez (Lina Esco) speeds through a rainy night while trying to keep a woman on the other end of the phone calm. She promises to protect her and get her out of a dangerous situation, but before she can reach the distressed woman, Jackie is shot and killed by two men in ski masks. She manages to send one quick text before disposing of her burner phone.
The Rip
The Bottom Line
Brawny and efficient.
Release date: Friday, Jan. 16 Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler, Néstor Carbonell, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Lina Esco Director-screenwriter: Joe Carnahan
Rated R,
1 hour 52 minutes
The action shifts to police headquarters, where a series of interrogations is underway. Lt. Dane Dumars (Damon), who has been promoted to fill Jackie’s spot, urges his chief, Major Thom Vallejo (Nestor Carbonell), to let his team take charge of the case. But Vallejo, struggling with budget cuts and allegations of corruption in the force, defers to the Feds.
Dane is suspicious that a cop killing has yielded such a low-key internal investigation, with no task force. This comes as the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team has been shut down, with further job cuts threatened.
Dane’s old friend and second in command, Det. Sgt. J.D. Byrne (Affleck), shares his suspicions, snarling defensively at insinuations from the Feds that a dirty cop might have been behind Jackie’s murder. J.D.’s involvement is complicated by the badly kept secret of his relationship with Jackie and by heightened friction with one especially aggressive FBI agent, Del (Scott Adkins), who turns out to be his brother.
Carnahan and editor Kevin Hale keep the audience on its toes piecing together fragments of background information as they intercut among various interrogations. The Feds also question the rest of the Tactical Narcotics Team: detectives Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor) and Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno).
Later, while the team is unwinding at the end of a shift, Dane shares news of a crime-stopper tip about a cartel stash house in neighboring Hialeah, and despite disgruntlement about a freeze on overtime pay, he musters his colleagues to go investigate.
The sniffer dog handled by Lolo starts barking up a storm even before they knock on the door. He then bolts up the stairs as soon as they enter, heading for an attic, which unlike the rest of the cluttered house, is pristine and empty. The sole occupant is a young woman named Desi (Sasha Calle), who claims the house belonged to her recently deceased grandmother and says she has never even been in the attic. But once the TNT officers smash through a false wall and find $20 million in cash, her innocence seems a stretch.
That elaborate setup is about as far as a reviewer can go without wading into spoiler territory. But one key factor worth knowing is that Miami-Dade police procedure requires a full count of cash seized from stash houses before the officers leave the scene. That allows time for suspicions to fester and loyalties to be tested, as the amount mentioned on the alleged crime-stopper tip keeps changing, and Dane remains reluctant to phone in their findings to the major.
Threatening anonymous calls give them a half-hour to take a cut of the millions and get out of there before people start dying. Desi, handcuffed to a chair, is the most nervous as she slowly reveals what she knows about the other people who make intermittent use of the house. Two shady-looking cops in a Hialeah patrol car asking questions raises the temperature, as does what appears to be a widening rift between Dane and J.D. Tensions escalate among the team, even before a hailstorm of bullets rains down on them, wounding Lolo; a cartel member is spotted signaling from a nearby house; and former cop turned DEA officer Matty Nix (Kyle Chandler) turns up in an armored truck and starts meddling.
Carnahan shows skill at bouncing suspicion from one character to another as the destination of the $20 million remains up for debate and the time until the forewarned siege is meant to happen continues shrinking. The plotting gets a bit muddy at times, but the movie keeps sneaky surprises up its sleeve — including the connection of the case to Jackie’s murder — while also illuminating unexpected complicity between law enforcement and drug traffickers that blurs the lines as to what qualifies as corruption. The notion of who exactly are the good guys is questioned, perhaps a little too pointedly, in the acronyms tattooed across Dane’s knuckles.
The muscular direction, moody visuals and Shorter’s glowering score keep the action humming, but the real key is the sharply drawn characters of a highly capable cast.
The long friendship and creative collaboration between Damon and Affleck adds history to their onscreen rapport. Dane appears calm and methodical, albeit broken by the end of his marriage and the loss of his 10-year-old son to cancer. J.D. is more of a hothead, his volatile energy constantly threatening to explode. Yeun’s air of gentleness and honesty is put to good, perhaps misdirecting use, as is Chandler’s relaxed manner and mildly folksy affability.
The women disappear from the testosterone-heavy film for a significant stretch, creating an absence. But there’s an understated edge to Taylor and Moreno’s interplay that makes their characters intriguing.
Calle — who made an impression as Supergirl in Andy Muschietti’s unfairly mistreated The Flash and appeared in the poetic coming-of-age drama In the Summers, which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize in 2024 — walks a shrewd line with her character. Desi has the sullen guardedness of someone who knows not to trust cops and the vulnerability of a woman steadily realizing she’s in over her head.
The Rip doesn’t reinvent the cops-in-a-pressure-cooker genre, but its mix of closed-quarters tension, car chases and gunfire gets the job done. Thanks to Carnahan and his accomplished cast, it’s both more convincing and more watchable than the average original streaming movie.
There was a time when most blockbuster movies and popular television series found their way onto Netflix. Yet as the market for streaming grew, the amount of superhero movies on the service decreased. However, Netflix still hosts some of the best superhero movies ever made.
What are the best Superhero movies on Netflix as of January 2026?
Today, Netflix is more frequently associated with superhero streaming series than movies. They produced a number of mature series based on the world of Marvel Comics, like Daredevil. They also stream most of the Arrowverse shows based on DC Comics, thanks to a long-running licensing deal with The CW. Despite that, and most of these properties slowly making their way to Disney+ and HBO Max, there are still some fine superhero movies to be found on Netflix.
Hellboy (2004)
In 1944, a group of Nazi sorcerers led by the infamous Rasputin tried to summon several demons into their service. Thanks to the efforts of an Allied strike force and scholar Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm, they failed. However, an infant demon was discovered in the aftermath. Broom adopted this Hellboy as his own son, and trained him to become a force for good.
Six decades later, Broom and Hellboy are employed by the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. With their aid, the BPRD have become humanity’s first line of defense against various monsters and magicians. Unfortunately, Rasputin’s allies have resurrected him, and they are determined to finish what they have started.
There have been four films to date based upon Dark Horse Comics‘ superhero Hellboy and two cinematic reboots. Despite this, many feel that the first effort remains the best. This is largely due to the efforts of Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who scripted and directed the film. It is also thanks to Ron Perlman‘s masterful performance as the noble demon. It is also notable as the only Hellboy film adaptation to date to merit a sequel.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Peter Parker is a brilliant but socially awkward teenager with dreams of becoming a scientist. This leads him to seek out a former colleague of his father, Dr. Curt Connors, who is studying cross-species genetics. A lab accident leads to Peter being bitten by a genetically-altered spider and becoming something new… The Amazing Spider-Man.
When Connors is similarly transformed into a monstrous lizard man, Spider-Man must step up to save the city. This is made more difficult thanks to the efforts of NYPD Captain George Stacy, who thinks Spider-Man is more menace than superhero. This, in turn, endangers Peter’s romance with classmate Gwen Stacy, who just happens to be Captain Stacy’s daughter.
Marc Webb faced a serious challenge following after Sam Raimi in developing a new Spider-Man film franchise. It is debatable how well he succeeded. However, The Amazing Spider-Man does have a devout fandom for several reasons.
Many fans prefer Andrew Garfield‘s more wise-cracking take on Peter Parker than the more brooding variant played by Tobey Maguire. Another selling point for the movie is Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and her chemistry with Andrew Garfield. Such is her popularity that many hope she may still find her way into the MCU as Spider-Gwen.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Miles Morales was a smart student, struggling to fit in and live up to the standards of his NYPD officer father. Chance leads to his being bitten by a radioactive spider and gaining powers similar to those of the city’s greatest hero, Spider-Man. It also leads to Miles being entrusted with the only way to stop New York’s worst crime-boss from traveling between dimensions and wrecking reality after Spider-Man dies.
In over his head and untrained in his new powers, Miles doesn’t think it is in him to be a hero. Fate intervenes again, giving him an unlikely teacher in the form of another Peter Parker from another world. Unfortunately, this Spider-Man is not the superhero he once was. However, with more and more Spiders showing up, Peter will have to remember what comes with great power. And Miles will learn that anyone can wear the mask.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a revelation upon its release. Beyond being a blockbuster success, it was a critical smash. Even those critics who normally turn up their noses at superhero movies praised the film for its innovative concept and revolutionary animation. It ultimately earned 52 industry awards, including the Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Best Animated Feature Film.
The film opens with the standard origin of four baby turtles and a rat being mutated into humanoid creatures by mutagenic ooze. However, this group of turtle boys hide themselves from the world because of their foster father Splinter’s fear of humanity. Not because of some need to maintain a superhero secret identity. Despite this, his sons long to be a part of the world above their home in the sewer.
The existence of the Ninja Turtles is uncovered by aspiring teen journalist April O’Neil, after they recover her stolen moped. This leads to a partnership, as the TMNT help April investigate a series of crimes tied to the sinister TCRI. It also leads to the discovery of another found family of mutants, pressured into a life of crime by their charismatic leader, Superfly.
Mutant Mayhem was notable for being one of the few times the Ninja Turtles actually seemed to act like real teenagers. It was also marked by a unique visual aesthetic, and for how well it merged ideas taken from a wide scope of earlier adaptations. The end result was a reboot that won over a new generation of fans while satisfying the old guard.
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
Long ago, demons preyed on humanity. Hither came three young women, warrior poets who mixed song and sorcery to fight the demons. They created the Honmoon; a mystic barrier that limited the power of demons on Earth. Through the centuries that followed, three women in a generation would be chosen as the new guardians of the Honmoon. Today, those guardians are Huntrix – a K-pop idol group consisting of rebellious Mira, innocent Zoey, and confident Rumi.
Huntrix are challenged in popularity by a demon-backed idol group called the Saja Boys. This leads to a battle of the bands for the souls of the world. However, Rumi has a secret; a half-demon heritage that threatens to break up the band and her friendships with Zoey and Mira.
Some may question the inclusion of KPop Demon Hunters on a list of superhero movies. Certainly it is more heavily influenced by Korean culture and mythology than traditional comic book heroics. Yet at its core, the movie is a magical girl story, with summoned weapons, colorful costumes, and secret identities. That makes it a superhero movie by most metrics, in terms of story if nothing else.
How we picked the best Superhero Movies on Netflix in 2026
As noted earlier, there is little in the way of superhero movies on Netflix in 2026. However, there were still enough titles to make narrowing the list down to a top-five difficult. To that end, these movies were assessed based upon their influence, awards won, and success in establishing an on-going franchise.
Oscar’s Place, a donkey sanctuary in California, now has 210 donkeys and it has successfully resettled 189 others. Ron King, the co-founder and CEO of the sanctuary, helped to create the new docuseries “Donkey King,” which follows the work he and volunteers do to rescue, rehabilitate and resettle the animals to protect them. He speaks to “CBS Mornings” about his mission and why he says donkeys are misunderstood.
