Michele Morrone at Rome Film Fest 2019. Rome (Italy), October 18th, 2019 (photo by Rocco ... [+]
The summer of 2020 looked different than any other summer has looked in recent memory. COVID-19 forced virtually all theaters to close and pushed everyone indoors for their entertainment. And because of that, we’ve needed a new way of determining which film should be crowned the “movie of the summer.”
Luckily, we have a brand new tracking system we’ve based on Netflix’s Top 10 feature. Each day, we record where movies place on the daily rotating list. This allows us to see which movies have performed well on the world’s most popular streaming platform over a longer period of time. And for this article, we’re counting down the most popular movies of the summer of 2020.
So far in September, it’s been a wild month for movies on Netflix
But which of those movies went more viral than any other?
Let’s find out. These were Netflix’s ten most popular movies this past summer.
Note: here’s the Summer Top 10 list for shows as well.
10. Animal Crackers - 109 points
Animal Crackers might have had the most understated summer of any movie on this list. At no point did the John Krasinski/Emily Blunt cartoon capture the #1 spot on the Daily Top 10. Yet, the animated feature achieved second place enough times to make the Summer Top 10. In fact, Animal Crackers found itself in the #2 position for eight consecutive weeks.
On the 2020 rankings, Animal Crackers currently sits in 21st place.
9. Desperados - 114 points
For several weeks this past July, it seemed as though the surprise comedy hit Desperados would capture the #1 spot on the July Top 10. Alas, the movie eventually fell to third place for the month—but not before spending four non-consecutive days atop the Daily Top 10. In total, Desperados made the daily list 17 different times in the month of July.
On the 2020 rankings, Desperados currently sits in 19th place.
8. The Lost Husband - 135 points
Similar to Desperados, there was a moment in time where it seemed as though The Lost Husband would come out on top of the August Top 10 rankings. After all, the romance spent ten consecutive days in one of the top three positions on the Daily Top 10. That performance was enough to accrue 135 points in August, allowing The Lost Husband to finish in third place that month.
On the 2020 rankings, The Lost Husband currently sits in 14th place.
7. The Kissing Booth 2 - 139 points
Because The Kissing Booth 2 premiered at the end of July, the romantic comedy didn’t rank highly on either the July or August Top 10. But, at the time of its release, The Kissing Booth 2 became just the third movie ever on Netflix to capture the #1 position on the Daily Top 10 on nine consecutive days.
On the 2020 rankings, The Kissing Booth 2 currently sits in 13th place.
6. Mr. Peabody & Sherman - 141 points
There’s no real surprise here, as animated features like Mr. Peabody & Sherman typically perform well and rank highly on the Top 10. In the month of August, the film would make the daily list 20 different times—a stretch that never saw a first place showing on the Daily Top 10—and finish in second place for the entire month.
On the 2020 rankings, Mr. Peabody & Sherman currently sits in 12th place.
5. Despicable Me - 166 points
Despicable Me hasn’t made the Daily Top 10 once in the month of September—but that doesn’t really matter much, because the animated classic made 51 appearances on the list between June, July and August. Easily Netflix’s most successful movie of the year, Despicable Me made enough showings to warrant a fifth place finish for the entire summer.
On the 2020 rankings, Despicable Me currently sits in first place.
3. (tie) Project Power - 179 points
For a bit there, it really seemed as though Project Power would not only become the top movie of the summer, but might even become the top movie of the year. But after 14 non-consecutive days in the #1 position on the Daily Top 10—a feat only one other movie on Netflix, Spenser Confidential, has matched—the Jamie Foxx action flick quickly fell down the charts. Still, Project Power came out on top of the August Top 10 rankings.
On the 2020 rankings, Project Power is currently tied for ninth place.
3. (tie) The - 179 points
For the second half of July, there was an exciting race happening between The Old Guard and The Lorax. Eventually the animated film would come out on top—but that didn’t diminish what The Old Guard accomplished. The Charlize Theron vehicle saw six consecutive days atop the Daily Top 10 rankings and made 24 total appearances on the list between July and August.
On the 2020 rankings, The Old Guard is currently tied for ninth place.
2. The Lorax - 184 points
The most popular movie on the July Top 10 charts was certainly a surprise. The Lorax quickly captured the #1 position on the Daily Top 10 after its Netflix premiere—which was then followed up by seven showings in second place. Between July and August, The Lorax would make 28 total appearances on the rotating list.
On the 2020 rankings, The Lorax currently sits in sixth place.
1. 365 Days - 188 points
At the beginning of summer, I wouldn’t have placed money on 365 Days becoming the most popular movie of the summer on the world’s most viral streaming platform—yet, here we are. In total, 365 Days made 45 appearances on the Daily Top 10 during its run—which included 34 days during the summer season. That run included four of its 12 days spent in the #1 slot and a first place finish on the June Top 10.
On the 2020 rankings, 365 Days currently sits in third place.
