The results for the most-watched movie onNetflixin 2025 are in, and the result may surprise you. While there have been plenty of great original movies, underappreciated hidden gems, and mainstream megahits that have captured viewers' attention this year, the film that stands supreme for Netflix viewers is actually part of a $5.6 billion franchise.
There have been lots ofgreat Netflix movies to stream this year, as January started strong with the stop-motion triumph that wasWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and soon comedy fans will enjoy an exciting sequel asAdam Sandler returns forHappy Gilmore 2. However,the most-watched movie on Netflix wasn’t an original and was actually the fourth in its franchise.
Despicable Me 4 Is The Most Watched Movie On Netflix In 2025
Children’s Movies Often Dominate The Streaming Charts
The latest Nielsen figures have revealed thatDespicable Me 4was the most popular movie on Netflix so far in 2025. As a family-friendly comedy that features the recognizable voice of Steve Carell as the former supervillain Gru, it seems audiences can’t get enough of Anti-Villain League agents and his hilarious Minion accomplices.
Despicable Me 4boasts an impressive voice cast including Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Sofía Vergara, and Steve Coogan. These notable stars, along with some stellar animation, ensured the frantic slapstick and fast-paced humor of this acclaimed sequel could be enjoyed by the entire family.
Family-friendly films often race up the charts due to kids’ tendency to repeatedly watch their favorite movies
It’s not surprising that an animated comedy aimed at a young audience rules supreme on Netflix, as family-friendly films often race up the charts due to kids’ tendency to repeatedly watch their favorite movies. As a film that grossed over $971 million at the box office, itdoesn’t take a genius supervillain to predictDespicable Me 4’s success on Netflix.
What The Top 10 Nielsen Figures Tell Us About Our Viewing Habits
There Are Some Notable Patterns Within The Nielsen Figures
WhileDespicable Me 4was the number one movie on Netflix in 2025, with 6.274 billion minutes viewed, it actually only ranks number two when looking at the overall charts.The number one Nielsen-ranked movie of the year so far isMoana 2on Disney Plus, which boasts an impressive 7.227 billion minutes watched.
7.227
6.274
5.264
3.846
3.817
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
3.732
3.254
3.233
3.056
Prime Video
3.031
These aren’t the only family-friendly films to crack the top ten, asMoanastands at number four,The Wild Robotis number five,Sonic the Hedgehog 2is number six, andFrozenhas maintained its enduring popularity at number nine. Even after years since their release, these titles continue to draw audiences thanks to their rewatchability and cross-generational appeal.
While movies aimed at older audiences, such asBack in Action,The Electric State,Wicked, andThe Accountant 2, have also gained significant viewers, it’s kid-oriented content that gets the most views. Considering this, as well as theDespicable Mefranchise grossing over $5 billion at the box office, don’t expect this series to go away anytime soon.
