As of this writing, we are 30 weeks away from 2024, and in that time, exactly 20 Netflix films have claimed the title of #1 worldwide (by Netflix Weekly Tracker). You might think that any movie that wears the crown is worth watching, but that’s not necessarily true.
As much as I hate to say it, there were more disappointing, if not downright bad, movies named Netflix’s #1 this year than there were movies that were actually worth watching. Movies like “Mea Culpa,” “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver,” “Atlas,” “Mother of the Bride,” and “Trigger Warning” all took the top spot on the chart, but have a combined Rotten Tomatoes score of just 86% out of a possible 500%. Wow!
Luckily, among the list of 20 movies, there are a handful of movies that deserve your attention and are worth streaming right now if you missed them the first time around. So here are the 5 #1 ranked movies on Netflix in 2024 that you need to watch first…
Best #1 Netflix Movies in 2024 (So Far)
“The Equalizer 3”
Denzel Washington is arguably the coolest person on the planet, and “The Equalizer 3” is another way for the legendary actor to show off his skills. Billed as the latest installment in the action-thriller franchise, you might want to rewatch the others before watching this one (“The Equalizer” is also available on Netflix, but “The Equalizer 2” is not; it’s available on Hulu instead).
In “The Equalizer 3,” Washington reprises his role as Robert McCall, a former U.S. Marine turned super-vigilante on a mission to defend society’s weak and mistreated. Now living in southern Italy, McCall is supposed to have hung up his holster for good, but he continues to fight injustice wherever he finds it. Learning that his friends are being threatened by local gangsters, the action hero steps in to enforce his own brand of justice.
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‘Lady’
To watch
Millie Bobby Brown has been one of the faces of Netflix for most of her career. After breaking out as Eleven in the hit sci-fi series “Stranger Things,” she’s also the lead in the streaming service’s “Enola Holmes” film franchise. In “Damsel,” she’s once again enchanted subscribers with a big-budget original film. And this time, she’s getting up close and personal with a fire-breathing dragon.
This action-packed fantasy film follows a reluctant Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) who is about to marry the handsome Prince Henry (Nick Robinson) for the sake of her kingdom. However, the proposed marriage turns out to be a sham, as Henry’s family plans to sacrifice the princess to a dragon to repay an old debt. Refusing to become the dragon’s food without a fight, Elodie musters up her courage to prove she is more than a damsel in distress.
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“What Jennifer Did”
To watch
True crime documentaries continue to be popular with Netflix subscribers and that’s proven to be the case again in 2024 with “What Jennifer Did” leading a well-stocked batch of true crime content. If you’re looking for documentaries that tell gripping and harrowing true stories, you’ll need a Netflix account, and “What Jennifer Did” should be at the top of your watch list. This feature-length documentary is almost guaranteed to keep you hooked with its many twists and turns and shocking revelations.
Directed by Jenny Popplewell (who also helmed 2020’s “American Murder: The Family Next Door”), this crime drama centers on Jennifer Pan, a young woman who experiences an unimaginable nightmare when intruders break into her home, tie her up, and murder her parents. The local community is shocked, and investigators are baffled by the seemingly random nature of the crime. However, as more evidence is uncovered, it becomes worrisome that Jennifer knows something she’s not telling.
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‘Hitman’
To watch
Hit Man isn’t just the #1 best Netflix movie of 2024 so far, it’s one of the best Netflix movies of all time. This ultra-enjoyable and delightfully smart crime comedy stars man of the moment Glen Powell, and while he plays pretty much the same character he’s played in every movie, he’s still charismatic and compelling as Gary, a fake hitman working as part of a police sting operation. The game is simple: Gary poses as a hitman, and then the cops swoop in and arrest the person trying to hire the assassin.
But things get complicated when a desperate housewife (Adria Arjona) comes to Gary for help, and the two begin a forbidden romance. Directed by Richard Linklater (who also co-wrote with Powell), “Hit Man” is a rousing comedy that blends humor, romance and a surprisingly dark narrative to create a Netflix film of rare quality.
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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
To watch
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” marks the first installment in the ’80s comedy franchise in over 20 years, and it’s a project that’s been in development since the ’90s. With so much time having passed and several different versions of the film in the works over the years, it would have been understandable if “Axel F” were a bit of a mess. Thankfully, it’s anything but. Yes, it’s a very safe sequel, but it’s still a nostalgic treat.
As the name suggests, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” sees Eddie Murphy reprise his iconic role as Axel Foley (no reaction here!), and the action takes place in modern times. In this fourth installment of the franchise, Axel returns to his old stomping grounds when his daughter’s life is threatened. To investigate the case, he must team up with his daughter’s ex-boyfriend (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and also enlist the help of some old friends. Along the way, the ragtag team finds themselves in over their heads when they stumble upon a major conspiracy.
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All of Netflix’s #1 Movies in 2024 (So Far)
- “The Equalizer 3”
- “Elevator”
- “The biggest night in pop”
- “Despicable Me 3”
- “Players”
- “Mea culpa”
- “Code 8 Part II”
- “Lady”
- “The Irish Wish”
- “The Hunter’s Heart”
- “What Jennifer Did”
- “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver”
- “Unfrosted”
- “The mother of the bride”
- “Atlas”
- “Hitman”
- “Trigger Warning”
- “A family matter”
- “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”
- “Find me falling”