The Most Watched Movie On Netflix In 2025 Revealed
The most-watched movie on Netflix in 2025 has been revealed, and it’s probably not what many people expected. According to the latest numbers from Nielsen, the film that grabbed the attention of Netflix viewers this year wasn’t a new original movie or a serious drama. Instead, it was a family-friendly animated sequel: Despicable Me 4.
Despite the many popular films released this year, including the return of Wallace & Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl and the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2, it’s the fourth film in the Despicable Me series that topped the streaming charts. Released in 2024, Despicable Me 4 continues the adventures of Gru and his chaotic Minions.
| Rank | Title | Outlet / Network | Minutes (billions) |
| 1 | Moana 2 | Disney+ | 7.227 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Despicable Me 4 | Netflix | 6.274 |
| 3 | Back in Action* | Netflix | 5.264 |
| 4 | Moana | Disney+ | 3.846 |
| 5 | The Wild Robot | Netflix/Peacock | 3.817 |
| 6 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Netflix/Paramount+ | 3.732 |
| 7 | The Electric State* | Netflix | 3.254 |
| 8 | Wicked | Peacock | 3.233 |
| 9 | Frozen | Disney+ | 3.056 |
| 10 | The Accountant 2 | Prime Video | 3.031 |
| 11 | Kraven the Hunter | Netflix | 2.968 |
| 12 | Gladiator II | Paramount+ | 2.799 |
| 13 | Twisters | Peacock | 2.781 |
| 14 | Nonnas* | Netflix | 2.734 |
| 15 | Mufasa: The Lion King | Disney+ | 2.730 |
| 16 | The Life List* | Netflix | 2.691 |
| 17 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Netflix | 2.666 |
| 18 | Straw* | Netflix | 2.656 |
| 19 | Encanto | Disney+ | 2.620 |
| 20 | Lilo & Stitch (2002) | Disney+ | 2.619 |
Despicable Me 4 comes from Universal Pictures and Illumination and is directed by Chris Renaud, with Patrick Delage working as co-director.
The film was written by Mike White and Ken Daurio, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman. Steve Carell returns once again as the voice of Gru, joined by Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, Joey King, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, and Will Ferrell. The plot sees Gru and his family moving into a safe house after his old rival Maxime Le Mal shows up looking for revenge.
There are also side stories, like Gru’s daughter trying to adjust to their new life, and a teenager named Poppy Prescott who wants to become a villain herself. And of course, the Minions end up becoming superheroes in a subplot that some critics felt was unnecessary.
Critics haven’t exactly loved the film, though audiences seem to be enjoying it a lot more. Rotten Tomatoes reports that only 56% of critics gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 5.6 out of 10. Metacritic gives it a score of 52 out of 100, suggesting mixed opinions from reviewers.
But CinemaScore shows that regular moviegoers gave the film an A grade, while PostTrak reports 82% of viewers felt positive about the movie, with 63% saying they would recommend it.
Still, despite what the critics think, it’s clear that families and fans of the franchise can’t get enough of Gru and his Minions. Despicable Me 4 has proven to be the biggest hit on Netflix in 2025 so far.
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