Netflix’s Biggest Movie Debut of 2025 Was Almost Twice as Big as Its Biggest Movie Ever

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Netflix’s most-watched film of all time didn’t actually debut at the top of the charts. Data from its first week of release in 2025 shows it received 24.2 million views, which was only half the views—46.8 million—of the most popular movie that week.

The movie KPop Demon Hunters has become the most popular film ever released directly through a streaming service, breaking numerous records and changing expectations for streaming films. However, when it was first released, it wasn’t actually the most-watched movie on Netflix. That title went to Back in Action, an action-comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Glenn Close, and Jamie Foxx. While critics didn’t like the film, it follows two former CIA agents, Emily and Matt, who are forced out of retirement after their cover is blown.

It’s A Spy Thriller That Doesn’t Particularly Thrill

The film Back in Action received largely negative reviews, scoring only 31% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. Critics found it uninspired and a weak imitation of other action comedies, failing to create a cohesive story. Ayeen Forootan of In Review Online described the film as painfully abandoning its initial charm and wit in favor of generic action and clichés. Natasha Alvar of The Fiction Department gave it a very low 1.5 out of 5 stars, expressing disappointment that despite featuring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, the movie couldn’t overcome its January release on Netflix and ultimately failed to deliver.

Although some casual viewers found it mildly enjoyable, Back in Action isn’t winning over many fans. One viewer strongly disliked it, saying they created a Rotten Tomatoes account specifically to express how terrible the movie was and were surprised by the poor performances of the actors. Another viewer admitted it was more entertaining than expected, praising the action scenes and the chemistry between Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. They acknowledged the plot was simple, which they anticipated for a Netflix action-comedy, but felt the movie could have been about 20 minutes shorter.

Given everything, it’s easy to understand how it was overshadowed by the huge success of KPop Demon Hunters.

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2026-01-11 00:10