Weekend Binge (7/7) | Which Netflix Top 10 Movie Should You Watch this Weekend?

While it’s not quite scientific, Netflix’s list of Top 10 Movies in the U.S. gives us an idea of what sort of movies Americans are watching. And with four weeks of Weekend Binge under our belts, we now have a reasonable sample size to look back upon and find some patterns.

Perhaps most interesting, when looking at the 23 movies that have been in the Top 10 over the past four weeks, the genre breakdown is:

4 Action
4 Romance
4 Comedy
4 Drama
4 Children’s
1 Anime
1 Documentary
1 Horror

Of course movies can take on more than one genre, but when categorizing them generally we end up with an equal amount of action, romance, comedy, drama, and children’s movies.

So, what does this tell us about the average American? Well, I’m not quite sure but at least we can say we’re pretty evenly split in what we want to watch. Unless you like anime, documentaries, or horror. If that’s the case it seems like you’re on your own.

An action movie has held the top spot three out of four weeks. Although this perhaps has more to do with the release of “Extraction 2” than anything else. The only other type of movie to hold the top spot in this timeframe was a children’s movie – “Boss Baby.” Which also is the only film that has remained in the Top 10 the entire four weeks.

The average Rotten Tomatoes rating for movies in the Top 10 has been 57% – with the highest being (at the time) 97% for “Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King” and the lowest 0% for “Through My Window: Across the Sea.” Meaning that while the average rating is decent, Americans generally don’t seem to care too much about a movie being rated really low.

Four weeks isn’t a lot of time, so it’ll be interesting to see how some of these patterns develop over time, but for now let’s get into this week’s Top 10.

“Extraction 2” is in the top spot for the second consecutive week, but is followed up by a new arrival, and Pick of the Week, “Run Rabbit Run.” The physiological thriller is the first horror movie to make the Top 10 since I’ve started keeping track and is a great option if you want to skip ahead to fall. Spots 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 are all rearrangements of movies that were on the list last week.

“Minions: The Rise of Gru” makes a return to the Top 10 this week – marking its 10th week on the list. If you’re a fan of any of the Minion movies or “Despicable Me,” this can make a great watch. It’s overall an enjoyable movie, although I do wonder how many more Minion movies they can crank out.

“Sing 2” joins the list again this week which marks its 32nd week in the Top 10, which is by far the most I’ve seen. Children’s movies seem to have a lot of staying power on the Top 10; this is another pattern I’ll follow.

The 10 spot is held by “Make Me Believe,” a Turkish romance/comedy film and my Skip of the Week. You might be able to enjoy it if you just want to watch a mindless romance movie, but there are better options out there, even on the Top 10.

As always, let me know in the comments what you end up watching this week. Until next Friday!

1. Extraction 2 (2023)
Run Time: 2:02
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 74%
Weeks In Top 10: 2

Summary: Following the events of “Extraction,” the second Extraction follows Tyler Rake as he embarks on a dangerous mission to save a ruthless gangster’s family.

In a Few Words: Action-packed, Antihero, Explosions, New

You’ll Like it if You Like: “Mission Impossible,” “Taken,” “John Wick”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a fun action movie that is a bit over the top but filled to the brim with exciting sequences or if you want to make a marathon of it and watch Extraction 1 and 2 this weekend.

2. Run Rabbit Run (2023) – Pick of the Week
Run Time: 1:40
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 37%
Weeks In Top 10: 1

Summary: A fertility doctor notices strange behavior in her young daughter after she claims to have memories of another life and must confront a ghost from her past, challenging her own values.

In a Few Words: Psychological Thriller, Spooky, Scary Kid

You’ll Like it if You Like: “The Babadook”, “Hereditary”, “Rosemary’s Baby”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for an entertaining, albeit a bit generic, psychological thriller which will scratch your spooky-season itch.

3. The Perfect Find (2023)
Run Time: 1:39
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76%
Weeks In Top 10: 1

Summary: Everything is at stake for a 40-year-old woman: her career, her ticking biological clock, and her bank account. She risks it all for an intense, secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback—her boss’ son.

In a Few Words: Romcom, Fun, Forbidden Love

You’ll Like it if You Like: “The Photograph,” “Love & Basketball,” “Poetic Justice”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a romcom that doesn’t necessarily do anything new but is enjoyable nonetheless.

4. Take Care of Maya (2023)
Run Time: 1:43
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Weeks In Top 10: 1

Summary: When nine-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2016, nothing could have prepared her or her family for what they were about to go through. As the medical team tried to understand her rare illness, they began to question the basic truths that bound the Kowalskis together. Suddenly, Maya was in state custody—despite two parents who were desperate to bring their daughter home.

In a Few Words: Documentary, Healthcare System, Heartbreaking, True Story

You’ll Like it if You Like: “The Bleeding Edge,” “Death of a Child,” “Girl in the Picture”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a documentary that will break your heart, make you angry, and have you crying the entire time.

5. Boss Baby (2017)
Run Time: 1:37
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 53%
Weeks In Top 10: 5

Summary: “Boss Baby” is an animated comedy that tells the story of Tim, an only child whose world is turned upside down with the arrival of a suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying talking baby named Theodore. Tim quickly realizes that Theodore is not a normal baby but instead a secret agent on a mission to uncover a plot that threatens the balance between babies and puppies.

In a Few Words: Family-friendly, Funny, Heartwarming, Animated

You’ll Like it if You Like: “Despicable Me,” “Megamind,” “The Incredibles”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a kids’ movie that is enjoyable for adults who don’t want to think too much.

6. The Mule (2018)
Run Time: 1:57
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
Weeks In Top 10: 2

Summary: Broke, alone, and facing foreclosure on his business, 90-year-old horticulturist Earl Stone takes a job as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. His immediate success leads to easy money and a larger shipment that soon draws the attention of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates. When Earl’s past mistakes start to weigh heavily on his conscience, he must decide whether to right those wrongs before law enforcement and cartel thugs catch up to him.

In a Few Words: Drama, Crime, Aging, Clint Eastwood

You’ll Like it if You Like: “Gran Torino,” “No Country for Old Men,” “The Irishman”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for an engaging, emotionally impactful crime drama that spotlights the importance of your decisions and their consequences.

7. Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Run Time: 1:28
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
Weeks In Top 10: 10

Summary: In the 1970s, young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader — the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles. When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance and soon discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

In a Few Words: Family-friendly, Funny, Minions, Animated

You’ll Like it if You Like: “Despicable Me” or any Minion movie, “The Secret Life of Pets”, “Boss Baby”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a movie to watch with children, or if you enjoy any of the previous Despicable Me or Minion movies.

8. Extraction (2020)
Run Time: 1:56
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
Weeks In Top 10: 2

Summary: A black-market mercenary who has nothing to lose is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible.

In a Few Words: Action, Violence, Fun

You’ll Like it if You Like: “The Raid: Redemption,” “The Bourne Identity,” “Man On Fire”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a nonstop action movie or want to watch “Extraction 2” this weekend as well.

9. Sing 2 (2021)
Run Time: 1:50
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 72%
Weeks In Top 10: 32

Summary: Can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch a dazzling stage extravaganza in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch — he has to find and persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star to join them. What begins as Buster’s dream of big-time success soon becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.

In a Few Words: Family-Friendly, Lots of Singing and Dancing, Endearing

You’ll Like it if You Like: “Sing”, “Pitch Perfect”, “Trolls World Tour”

You Should Watch it if: You’re looking for a family-friendly movie that involves LOTS of singing and dancing animals with a somewhat endearing plot.