Netflix’s January 2026 viewership was led by the crime thriller The Rip. It became the most-watched movie on the platform with roughly 80 million global views across its first two reporting weeks. Starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the film debuted at the top of Netflix’s Global Top 10 Movies and quickly emerged as the month’s clear breakout hit.
The company's weekly data shows how decisively The Rip dominated. During the week of January 12–18, the film recorded 41.6 million views, far ahead of People We Meet on Vacation with 23.3 million. It held onto the #1 spot the following week, January 19–25, with another 40.4 million views. Combined, those two weeks put The Rip at approximately 82 million views for January, cementing its position as the platform’s biggest movie of the month.
Beyond The Rip, Netflix’s Top 10 for late January reflected a wide mix of viewer preferences. True-crime titles such as Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, romantic comedies like People We Meet on Vacation, and franchise films including No Time to Die all performed strongly. Older catalog titles, including KPop Demon Hunters and The Magnificent Seven, also continued to attract millions of views, highlighting the ongoing value of Netflix’s back catalog alongside new releases.
The performance of The Rip reinforces the continued power of star-driven action and crime films on streaming. At the same time, Netflix’s January rankings show that sustained engagement depends on variety, with audiences split across true crime, romance, and established franchises.
While blockbuster debuts may dominate headlines, the broader data suggests that Netflix’s monthly performance is increasingly shaped by a deep mix of new hits and enduring catalog favorites.
Emmanuel Umahi
