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Metro
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix show watched over 46,000,000 times in a week to top global chart
Steve Charnock Published July 9, 2025 3:35pm Updated July 10, 2025 10:13am Link is copied Comments Okay, so we're about to spin you through the top ten most-watched TV shows on Netflix. As ever, we'll present it as a countdown. And we'll give the first nine some space and talk you through them. But we'll be honest - there's only one winner here. Over the past week, Netflix has only been about one thing... Their most successful ever show. Before we get to the jewel in their streaming crown, we'll run through some sports entertainment, a few family dramas, a gritty documentary and a fantasy show straight from the realm of dreams... (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix) Last Monday's Raw featured all the usual backstage mind games and promos designed to build hype around several rising WWE stars. There were a few standout matches - one competitor returned and made something of an impact, while others mostly teased big upcoming feuds. Plus there was a surprise appearance setting the stage for a major showdown. It's wrestling - you ever love it or hate it. And 2.5m folk loved it last week (Picture: WWE) A gripping new Spanish thriller has stormed into Netflix's global top ten. It's a six-part series that follows a woman who's trapped in a seemingly perfect marriage that hides a dark secret. When an old friend reappears, long-buried truths unravel, spiraling into a rather tense psychological drama filled that's packed full of twists, turns, manipulation and all sorts of suspense. It's an unflinching look at domestic abuse, power dynamics and what it takes to reclaim control of a life. Sound familiar? It's a remake of the British drama series Angela Black, which starred Joanne Froggatt (Picture: Netflix) Season three of Ginny & Georgia leans harder into the drama without losing the chaotic comedic charm that made it a hit. Georgia's past keeps creeping in, Ginny's trying to define herself beyond her mom's shadow and everyone's making messy choices in Wellsbury. It's a little darker, bolder and more emotionally charged than before, with sharper writing and a few genuinely shocking turns. It's hardly surprising that fans have been binging on it (Picture: Netflix) Another Spanish show now. This time think Black Swan meets Elite, but set in a high‑pressure sports academy. Olympo follows Amaia, a driven synchronized swimmer and her fellow athletes at the Pirineos High Performance Center as they chase Olympic dreams - as well as sponsorship - all by any means necessary. The tension ramps up after a teammate collapses, revealing possible doping, secret romances and identity struggles. It's aimed at a mature teen audience, but more than watchable for adults look for something sporty and soapy (Picture: Netflix) You've probably worked out what's number one already, haven't you? It's pretty hard to have ignored the Squid Game talk online and at watercoolers. A third season of the Netflix juggernaut is making quite the impact, so it stands to reason that the first two runs would be popular again. And that's very much the case (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix) As 2025 sees the 20th anniversary of the still-shocking '7/7' bombings which shook London, Netflix joins the world in paying tribute to those that died and had their lives irreparably altered by the terrorist attack. This sobering four-part documentary series explores the aftermath of the attacks and how UK police embarked on the biggest manhunt in the country's history (Picture: PA/BBC/The Slate Works Ltd) Well, we've all got a pretty good idea what's sitting pretty at the top of this chart. And we've already seen the debut season of Squid Game in this top 10. So it's no giant surprise to see the sophomore season feature too. It's in at number four in the chart, having been watched almost 5 million times last week alone (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix) It's testament to just how good The Sandman is and how popular it is amongst its fanbase that the recent negative news stories surrounding its writer Neil Gaiman haven't affected its viewing figures. Tom Sturridge returns as Dream. Watch out too for Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, Narcos' Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, Patton Oswalt as Matthew the Raven and Star Wars' Mark Hamill as Merv Pumpkinhead (Picture: Netflix) Scream writer Kevin Williamson's latest project is proving a hit on the streaming platform. It stars Mindhunter's Holt McCallany as the head of a crumbling North Carolina fishing empire who veers the family into drug-running to save their business. Serious shades of Ozark have nudged people to watch this. And it seems they're glad of it. It's the second-most watched TV show on Netflix of the past week (Picture: Netflix) Well, then. The fact that the first two seasons of this South Korean phenomenon are in the top ten should have been a bit of a giveaway as to what would be topping the charts at the moment. The third outing of Squid Game isn't just the most-watched TV show of the moment, it's smashing records for how many people across the world are tuning in. Over 46 million people watched it last week. More than 100m caught in over the past two weeks too. That equates to a staggering sum total of more than 650 million hours of this season alone being watched worldwide in just shy of a fortnight. These are incredible numbers for an incredible show (Picture: No Ju-han/Netflix)


Metro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hit Netflix movie watched 33 million times to top global chart
Steve Charnock Published July 3, 2025 2:06pm Updated July 3, 2025 2:06pm Link is copied Comments From action-packed thrillers to offbeat comedies and post-apocalyptic horror, Netflix's most-watched movies from the past week reflect, as ever, a wild mix of genres. Whether it's a high-stakes military rescue, a stinky cruise disaster, or demon-slaying pop stars, the world's biggest streaming platform's top flicks at the moment are nothing if not varied. There's also room for sequels, daft comedies starring screen legends and even a couple of surprise breakout hits. Without further ado, here are the 10 most-streamed movies across the world over the past week… (Picture: Getty) In this breezy South African rom-com, marketing power couple Jaci and JP are forced to fake being doting parents to land a lucrative pitch for a baby product brand. As they dive into the hectic world of nappies, bottle warmers and picture-perfect parenting roles, their polished lives start to unravel. With strong chemistry between the two leads (Anel Alexander and Nico Panagio), Semi-Soeter pokes fun at influencer culture and modern work-life facades (Picture: Netflix) This high-concept and mildly confusing sci-fi action flick stars Mark Wahlberg as Evan McCauley, a man haunted by visions that turn out to be memories from past lives. He's soon recruited by a secret group of 'Infinites' - souls who reincarnate with full memory of their pasts - to help stop a doomsday weapon. Directed by Training Day's Antoine Fuqua, Infinite matches up slick visuals with a premise that (sort of) mixes The Matrix and Highlander. Although the plot and performances don't always keep up with the movie's ambition (Picture: AP) This adrenaline-fueled Fast & Furious chapter throws Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto headfirst into yet more chaos when cyberterrorist Cipher (played with icy menace by Charlize Theron) coerces him by holding his family hostage. The result? Full-throttle betrayals, globe-trotting set‑pieces from Havana to the Arctic, and all the epic races - complete with explosive consequences - that we've come to expect from the franchise. It's not the best Fast and Furious movie, but it's watchable and fun to see Theron channelling classic Bond villain vibes (Picture: AP) A chilling sequel to 28 Days Later, this 2007 horror shows post‑apocalypse UK a few months after the initial Rage virus outbreak. Under US military protection, survivors - including Don (Robert Carlyle) and medical officer Scarlet (Rose Byrne) - seek sanctuary in London. Only to have their safety shattered when their children breach quarantine with horrific consequences. With Jeremy Renner, Imogen Poots and Idris Elba rounding out the cast, this gritty, emotionally driven horror‑action hybrid still packs a punch. And it's worth a quick watch before you go see the incredible third film in the series - 28 Years Later - in the theater (Picture: 20th Century Fox) Tense and tactical, Land of Bad follows a downed Special Forces team that get stranded in the dense jungles of the Philippines. The team are forced to rely on a drone-controlled extraction plan, led by Russell Crowe's gruff pilot, Captain Eddie 'Reaper' Grimm (geddit?), guiding rookie Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) Sergeant JJ Kinney (Liam Hemsworth) out. Director William Eubank does an above average job mixing explosive firefights with character-driven storylines, smartly drawing inspiration from real-life JTAC protocols (Picture: Netflix) This is a lively sequel to the 2018 hit Raid starring Ajay Devgn, who reprises his role as IRS officer Amay Patnaik. In Raid 2, set years after the events of the first movie, and in the fictional town of Bhoj, Patnaik investigates an influential politician played by Riteish Deshmukh. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, this smash hit Hindi crime thriller co-stars Vaani Kappor, Saurabh Shukla, Rajat Kapoor and Amit Sial (Picture: Netflix) Robert De Niro, the screen legend known for his gritty, intense roles, delivers a surprising turn in this light-hearted Nancy Meyers comedy. Playing a 70 year-old widower who becomes a senior intern at a bustling e-commerce start-up, De Niro brings a calm, steady presence to an otherwise fast-paced, youthful workplace. Opposite Anne Hathaway's driven CEO, De Niro's casting occasionally feels a little like a gentle mismatch. But that is kind of the point. It's charming, but ever-so-slightly out of sync. Still, it's a feel-good movie that struck a chord with audiences on its release, grossing an impressive $196 million worldwide on a $35 million budget (Picture: Warner Bros./Francois Duhamel) Tyler Perry's psychological drama explores a harrowing day in the life of single mom Janiyah (Taraji P. Henson), who spirals into a violent hostage situation amid mounting pressures - caring for her ill daughter, facing eviction and job loss. Alongside Sherri Shepherd and Teyana Taylor, Henson delivers a powerful performance that some critics are saying carries the whole thing. Despite mixed reviews, the movie surged to number one globally on release and has been a seriously giant success for the streamer (Picture: Chip Bergmann/Perry Well Films 2) This mildly shocking, slightly disgusting yet strangely entertaining Netflix documentary revisits the 2013 Carnival Triumph cruise disaster - infamously dubbed 'The Poop Cruise'. An engine-room fire disabled the ship's systems, leaving 4,000 passengers adrift, all without plumbing, air-conditioning, or power for five tense - and increasingly quite horrible - days. Featuring passenger footage, re-enactments, and dark humor, Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is part of Netflix's rather popular Trainwreck anthology. It's a fun watch. Just not while you're eating, eh? (Picture: Netflix) Fusing K-pop stylings with supernatural action, the animated musical-fantasy KPop Demon Hunters follows HUNTR/X - a fierce girl group who moonlight as demon slayers (using their voices as weapons, of course). Led by Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), they face off against the rival Saja Boys, who are fronted by the sinister Jinu (Ahn Hyo‑seop). It's all vibrant animation and earworm songs that appeal to a younger demographic who have been only too pleased to help the movie ascend to the top of Netflix's global charts (Picture: Netflix)


Metro
19-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Putin dismisses talk of Russian NATO attack as ‘nonsense'
Steve Charnock Published June 19, 2025 10:50am Link is copied Comments Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims that Russia intends to attack NATO. Putin called the idea 'nonsense', suggesting that the idea was fabricated by Western leaders aimed at convincing taxpayers to boost their own defence spending. He insisted that Russia does not see NATO as any kind of threat, nor does it consider the alliance's rearmament efforts to be a danger to Russia. Although he did characterize those efforts as 'completely irrational and pointless' (Picture: Sputnik/AP) At a late-night press conference on Wednesday, the Russian chief vowed that his forces would continue their advance in Ukraine. But he was adamant that Russia had no plans to advance militarily in the direction of NATO, something which would no doubt result in a massive global escalation of the conflict (Picture: Sputnik/AP) NATO is set to hold a pivotal summit in The Hague next week, where leaders will discuss whether or not to agree to raise their defence spending to 5% of GDP. It's a move being pushed by US President Donald Trump and is something now being echoed by others in the alliance. It's thought likely that the organisation will agree to the spending increase (Picture: Pool/ABACA/Shutterstock) Putin attempted to explain why - to his mind - it made 'no sense for NATO to extend their arms budget'. 'We do not consider any NATO rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security' (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) Putin then spoke on why it may look, to NATO, as if Russia is stepping up its efforts with increased military spend and developments. 'We are constantly improving our armed forces and our defensive capabilities,' he said. 'Whatever NATO does, of course, it creates certain threats, but we will stop all these threats that will arise. There is no doubt about it. In this sense, any rearmament and budget increase to 5% of the GDP of NATO countries makes no sense' (Picture: AP) 'Secondly. over the centuries, unfortunately, in the West, from time to time, for decades, the question of the threat from Russia has always arisen. It was so convenient for the Western elites to build their internal policy, because on the basis of an imaginary threat from the east, they could extort money from taxpayers and all the time explain their own mistakes in the field of economics by the threat from the east' (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) 'If the NATO countries want to further increase their budget, well, that's their business. But it won't do anyone any good. Of course, they will create additional risks. Well, yes, they will. But it's not our decision. I think this is completely irrational and pointless. And, of course, there are no threats from Russia. It's just nonsense' (Picture: Sputnik/Reuters)


Metro
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
New 'dark' Netflix comedy rules the charts with 16,700,000 views in just four days
Steve Charnock Published May 28, 2025 12:28pm Updated May 29, 2025 5:03pm Link is copied Comments The weather may well be improving for most of us, as summer edges ever closer. But that doesn't stop us all from indulging in our great shared love of kicking back inside with a few televisual treats, does it? Last week, as ever, saw millions of us reclining on our sofas, putting our feet up and enjoying the latest Netflix action. Across the world, subscribers to the streaming service watched and dug comedy, drama, sci-fi, romance and some rather unsettling crime documentaries. But dominating the chart? A dark comedy starring Milly Alcock, Glenn Howerton, Bill Camp and screen legend Julianne Moore... (Picture: Netflix) We kick off our rundown of the 10 most popular TV shows on Netflix in the past week with FOREVER. We're not shouting, by the way - that's how the show brands itself, in all caps. It can do what it likes, though. It's earned it. With an impressive rating of 97% critic approval over on Rotten Tomatoes, this adaptation of Judy Blume's classic teen novel is winning plenty of fans. In it, two childhood friends reunite as teenagers and fall in love. Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. star in this romantic hit that's as sweet as it is enjoyable (Picture: Netflix) Tina Fey is usually a rather reliable stamp of quality when it comes to comedy television and her big budget, star-studded new show The Four Seasons doesn't buck that trend. Starring Fey and Steve Carrell, it's a funny, poignant and insightful comedy-drama all about what relationships are really like once The Honeymoon Phase comes to an end. Colman Domingo, Will Forte and Alan Alda co-star (Picture: Netflix) Fans rejoiced once again when Netflix debuted their excellent adult anthology animation series Love, Death & Robots two weeks ago. This time out there are 10 episodes, all of a different genre and animation style. This is now the fourth installment of the ground-breaking series from the mind of Deadpool director Tim Miller. Expect tiny aliens, Red Hot Chili Peppers, cats, toilets and even an appearance from Mr. Beast (Picture: Netflix) This historical South Korean mystery drama goes by the name Tangeum back home. It's based on Tangeum: Swallowing Gold, Jang Da-hye's 2021 novel. It's a K-drama that follows the story of a young woman who is reunited with her stepbrother after 12 years apart. But is the man really her stepbrother? Or is he someone else...? It stars Lee Jae-wook, Cho Bo-ah, and Jung Ga-ram, has 11 episodes and clocked up 3.5 million views last week (Picture: Netflix) In at number six in the most-watched TV charts over on Netflix the past week is another touching K-drama. Tastefully Yours shows what might happen when a slick city restauranteur obsessed with success meets and clashes with a rural chef whose only passion is taste. Hardly a plot spoiler, but guess what? They fall in love! In its homeland the show's known as 'Your Taste'. There are 10 hour-long episodes, although only half a dozen are available to stream right now (Picture: Netflix) This Canadian teen drama thriller is loosely based on the manga Kakegurui and set in an elite school ruled by high-stakes gambling. It follows Yumeko (Miku Martineau), a daring transfer student out to shake up the system. And seek a fair bit of revenge. All 10 episodes dropped on May 15. Last week alone, some five million Netflix subscribers watched it (Picture: Netflix) In the UK, Fred and Rose West are beyond infamous. An evil couple that kidnapped, tortured and killed young runaway women - as well as some of their own relatives - this twisted West Country couple left behind a chilling legacy of chaos and murder. Plenty of documentaries have been made about the Wests before. So, arguably, another one wasn't exactly needed, as such. That said, there's possibly enough in the way of unheard interviews that make this a worthy addition to the catalogue of tales told about this deadly and deranged duo (Picture: Netflix) He was the world's most wanted man when the US intelligence services and military finally tracked him down and killed him back in 2011. This is the story of how Osama bin Laden - the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks - was found and taken out. Featuring lots of exclusive interviews with CIA insiders and behind-the-scenes material (Picture: Netflix) A young au pair disappears in a wealthy Copenhagen suburb, setting off a tense mystery that exposes all manner of dark secrets among high society in this disturbing Danish thriller. Secrets We Keep follows a woman determined to uncover the truth, even if it means turning on those closest to her. It stars Marie Bach Hansen, Simon Sears and Lars Ranthe, and comes from creators Ingeborg Topsøe (Wildland), Ina Bruhn (Darkness: Those Who Kill), and Mads Tafdrup (Speak No Evil), and is directed by Borgen's Per Fly. Last week it was Netflix's second most-watched television show. And it's good, too - it has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Picture: Netflix) In at number one? A satirical dark comedy that's not only a fun and wicked watch, but is also a searing attack on the wealthy elite. That's a common theme for TV shows these past couple of years (White Lotus, Succession, Big Little Lies, Billions, The Perfect Couple, etc.). But Sirens here does it very well. It's been created by Molly Smith Metzler and is based on her 2011 play Elemeno Pea. And it's got some cast. Milly Alcock, Glenn Howerton, Kevin Bacon, Bill Camps and Oscar winner Julianne Moore all star. Critics love it. Viewers love it. It's the most-watched TV show on Netflix right now (Picture: Netflix)


Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
New Netflix movie dominates charts with 35 million views
Steve Charnock Published May 22, 2025 2:14pm Updated May 23, 2025 1:32pm Link is copied Comments Streaming kingpins Netflix have a new movie dominating their most watched chart. One which has amassed a seriously impressive 35,300,000 watches in its first 10 days. It's not alone in racking up eyebrow-raising viewing figures in the past week, though. The chart has all sorts. Although, curiously, it's the first time in a long while that there's been no kids' movies in the top 10. What there is, however, is a couple of fascinating documentaries, some action flicks, foreign dramas and a touching, if slightly cliched, Spanish romance. Here is a countdown of the latest global top 10 Netflix movie chart... (Picture: Getty Images) 'Karol G' might not be a household name to many English-speaking folk, but in Latin America the 34 year-old Colombian singer is an icon. This documentary on her meteoric rise to pop superstardom takes viewers from her humble beginnings back in Medellín, right through to her current life as a hugely famous and well-loved Grammy award-winning artist (Picture: Netflix) Spike Lee's 2006 film Inside Man starred Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen and is one of the finest, most tense bank heist movies ever made. This rather low-budget 2019 sequel stars no one of the same standing (unless you count Better Call Saul's Rhea Seehorn) and is nowhere near as fine or tense as its predecessor. Still, plenty of Netflix subscribers have seen it over the past week, largely due - you have to assume - because they enjoyed the far superior first movie. It's another bank heist and another hostage situation (Picture: Netflix) Brian Johnson is an unusual man. A hugely successful social media influencer, he strongly advocates living like a caveman. His main advice? Eat raw meat - specially uncooked liver. For years he's pushed an extreme lifestyle which appears quite unhealthy, even dangerous. All while looking like a Greek god. So he must be onto something, right? Well, maybe not. This Netflix documentary successfully exposes many of The Liver King's dangerous lies (Picture: Netflix) Inspired by the real-life story of Uzma Ahmed, this gripping Hindi drama follows an Indian diplomat's tense mission to bring home a young Indian woman trapped in Pakistan after being allegedly deceived into a forced marriage. Starring John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb, the film blends a fair amount political intrigue with some real emotional depth, all set against the complex backdrop of India-Pakistan relations. It's a pretty powerful look at diplomacy, personal sacrifice and the human cost behind international headlines. Something that often gets forgotten about (Picture: Netflix) The sixth most-watched movie globally this week is one that plenty of action film fans were looking forward to for some years. Gareth Evans' Havoc was something of a disappointment to big fans of Evans' previous work like The Raid. And even a fair amount of Tom Hardyphiles. But, while it's no classic (in fact, it's actually very messy), there's enough raucous gunfights to keep casual viewers pleased enough here. It's still doing well on Netflix, considering it's now been available to stream for a month (Picture: Netflix) Known as 'Balle Perdue' in its native France, Lost Bullet is a 2020 action thriller directed by Guillaume Pierret. The plot follows Lino (Alban Lenoir), a skilled mechanic with a criminal past, who is recruited by the police to modify vehicles for high-speed pursuits. When he's framed for murder, Lino is forced to find a missing car containing the only evidence - a single bullet - in order to prove his innocence. The car chases and action scenes are ace and the film proved a hit. So some sequels were made. The third in the trilogy - the cleverly-titled 'Last Bullet' - has everything the previous movies had. And more. This is a lot of fun, as almost eight million people found out last week (Picture: Netflix) This gripping but flawed German action thriller stars Jeanne Goursaud as Sara Wulf, an ex-Special Forces soldier whose son vanishes inside the US Consulate in Frankfurt. As officials deny his presence, Sara uncovers a conspiracy involving a corrupt official, played by Dougray Scott. It's received pretty mixed write-ups, though some reviewers praised Goursaud's performance. While other critics found the story a little too familiar. Despite this, it topped Netflix charts globally the other week and remains popular with fans of high-stakes thrillers (Picture: Netflix) This disturbing documentary delves into the tragic 2015 murder of Irish widower Jason Corbett by his American wife, Molly Martens (and her father, Tom Martens). The film explores the complexities of their relationship, the subsequent legal battles and the emotional toll taken on Jason's children, Jack and Sarah, who were caught in the crossfire of conflicting narratives. Through honest, intimate interviews, the documentary presents a multifaceted view of a quite bizarre murder case. As almost 13 million Netflix subscribers discovered last week (Picture: Netflix) Bad Influence (or 'Mala influencia' if you speak Spanish) is a rom-dram released this year and the first film directed by Chloé Wallace. Based on a popular Wattpad story, it follows the unlikely duo of wealthy school girl and socialite, Reese, and the troubled orphaned ex-con, Eros. When Reese experiences a stalker, her father, Bruce, hires Eros to be her bodyguard - much to the teen's initial dismay. The film stars Alberto Olmo and Eléa Rochera, both of who bring some pretty big emotions to the screen. Critics weren't exactly kind to it, but that doesn't stop a movie from being a hit with people looking for a bit of casual entertainment (Picture: Netflix) If you've never heard the word 'Nonnas' before, we'll fill you in - it's an affectionate term for Italian or Italian-American grandmothers or grandmother-like figures. This new Netflix Original stars Vince Vaughn as a guy with a good few nonnas of his own. There's Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro. All of whom pitch in to help Vince's Joe character save his failing restaurant business. It's a sweet movie and it's really found its audience. Can it hold onto its top spot next week? We'll find out soon... (Picture: Netflix)