Although we don’t have box office numbers to look at as we do with theatrical releases, most people still know what the biggest hits on Netflix are. The streaming service has millions of subscribers around the world and the platform’s biggest hits shoot to the top of the charts, where Netflix heavily advertises them. For example, pretty much everyone knows that in 2025, KPop Demon Hunters broke the record as Netflix’s most-watched film in history.
They are also very likely aware of the streaming service’s other biggest cinematic hits, from Don’t Look Up to Red Notice to Bird Box to Carry-On. Whether critical darlings or not, these were the movies that viewers spent billions of minutes watching over and over. However, there are some films that were among the most-watched in the streamer’s history that a lot of people likely never realized. Movies that didn’t garner a ton of buzz for their popularity despite receiving billions of viewing minutes themselves.
Some are films that the entire family enjoyed, some are romances that get audiences hooked up, and some are filled with action. Most of them also feature notable stars who can bring in viewers just by having their names attached to the project. Regardless, they all put up impressive viewership numbers for Netflix.
Purple Hearts (2022)
There’s something about romance films based on novels that people tend to gravitate toward. It’s part of why People We Meet on Vacation was a success for Netflix in 2026 and back in 2022, Purple Hearts, based on Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum’s book, pulled off the same feat.
The story centers on a pacifist and a Marine who enter into a marriage of convenience (she needs health insurance benefits and he needs the money soldiers get for marriage), only for the relationship to turn into something more. Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine have electric chemistry in this film that racked up over 228 million hours watched in just about a month.
The Unforgivable (2021)
When it comes to Netflix’s biggest hits, most people remember that Bird Box was one of the first to stand out. What they likely don’t know is that another original film starring Sandra Bullock became a success on Netflix three years later, known as The Unforgivable.
The Unforgivable amassed over 186 million views in just its first month and it sits among Netflix’s top 25 most-watched original movies ever. The film follows Bullock’s Ruth, a woman who served 20 years in prison for murder and looks to reunite with her estranged younger sister.
Troll (2022)
Netflix acquired the rights to the Norwegian monster film Troll, though they likely didn’t envision it would become the hit that it did. The project from Roar Uthaug follows a ragtag group who comes together to stop a giant troll from wreaking havoc.
Troll defied the odds to become a surprisingly big hit for Netflix, racking up over 175 million viewing hours. The special effects grabbed people and its success ultimately led to a sequel in 2025, though that one didn’t receive the same kind of viewership numbers.
Heart Of Stone (2023)
Gal Gadot might be a polarizing actor, yet she is part of some of Netflix’s biggest successes. In fact, she’s one of the three stars (along with Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds) in Netflix’s second most-watched film ever, Red Notice. A couple of years later, she led a hit for the platform.
Heart of Stone sees Gadot play Rachel, an intelligence operative who goes on a mission to protect a mysterious AI system from falling into enemy hands. The plot and action are similar to some blockbusters in the genre, which is why over 191 million viewing hours have been amassed for the film.
The Man From Toronto (2022)
Like Gal Gadot, Kevin Hart is an actor who has starred in some of Netflix’s biggest movies. The Man From Toronto is one of them, even though a lot of people likely didn’t realize it. The film sees Hart star alongside Woody Harrelson in an action comedy.
This subgenre is popular because it’s just a blast, which is why The Man From Toronto secured over 171 million viewing hours. The story centers on an unlucky guy who got fired and is then mistaken for an assassin, which leads him to be recruited by the FBI to go undercover.
The Mother (2023)
Jennifer Lopez stars in a handful of movies each year and The Mother is one that scored way more viewing hours than most people realize. It surpassed 243 million, putting it firmly in the top 15 for Netflix all time, even though not many people talk about the project.
The Mother is an action flick that sees Lopez play a former deadly assassin who sends her daughter into hiding for protection, but must reach out to her when a contract killer tracks her down. It doesn’t feature a lot of originality, yet it’s the kind of story that attracts plenty of viewers.
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
Although some of his best works are gritty films like Planet Terror, Desperado, and Sin City, Robert Rodriguez is also one of the best directors when it comes to movies aimed at kids. That’s evidenced by Spy Kids and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Rodriguez returned to that avenue for We Can Be Heroes, which is a sequel to the latter.
We Can Be Heroes centers on a group of superhero children who all have different powers and sees a young girl and her father work together to save their friends. With names like Pedro Pascal and Priyanka Chopra, it makes sense that the film scored more than 231 million viewing hours.
The Sea Beast (2022)
The Sea Beast is one of Netflix’s best original animated movies, even securing a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Academy Awards. Still, plenty of great animated films on Netflix have come and gone without making much of an impact.
However, The Sea Beast performed better than most, with more than 190 million viewing hours. The movie sees an orphan girl team up with a monster hunter to search for an elusive beast from the sea. The film features great voice acting and stunning visuals.
Under Paris (2024)
The most recent film on this list is Under Paris, which is a French disaster horror movie. The premise sees a grieving marine biologist stand up to her tragic past to save the city from a giant shark that wreaks havoc and goes on a killing spree.
Under Paris received mixed reviews and stands out as a solid entry in the realm of shark films. It was viewed more than 40 million times in its first week and reached 100 million viewing hours soon after. It ranks among the most-watched non-English movies in Netflix history.
Spenser Confidential (2020)
Spenser Confidential is one of those movies that likely found its success due to its leading actors. Mark Wahlberg has been a major star for a long time, and this film sees him team up with Winston Duke, who was fresh off a key role in the MCU and the horror movie Us.
The story sees an ex-cop team up with an amateur boxer to leave his peaceful life behind and look for revenge following the mysterious deaths of his former colleagues. Spenser Confidential is a forgotten Netflix original, yet it has more than 238 million viewing hours.