There may be hope for quality Netflix originals beyond the awards contenders. Rebel Ridge, a topical thriller about an ex-Marine who takes on a corrupt small-town sheriff, is No. 1 on Netflix. It stars Aaron Pierre, who took over the role after John Boyega left the production in June 2021. A respected actor and rising star, Pierre isn’t a household name like Mark Wahlberg, Adam Sandler, or Eddie Murphy, who have recently brought Netflix originals to the top spot.
And this isn’t a flashy drama or a big-budget production. Its director, Jeremy Saulnier, last made “Hold the Dark” for Netflix in 2018 (along with a couple episodes of “True Detective”). IndieWire has been tracking his career for years, but directors like him have also ended up at Netflix, making movies that lacked bite or creativity. This seems like a happy exception. Its success suggests that well-crafted stories driven by substantial characters can be popular, especially when few are making movies for theaters.
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There were no new major VOD releases this week, other than Focus’s “Didi,” a current niche success. (It debuted at No. 31 on iTunes.) “Twisters” (Warner Bros.) leads iTunes (which ranks based on transactions), while “Inside Out 2” (Disney) leads Fandango, which takes revenue into account. The Pixar film can be rented for $24.99, while “Twisters” is a standard $19.99.
The No. 2 spot on iTunes is taken by 1988's Beetlejuice (WB), which coincided with the sequel's huge opening weekend. The $3.99 rental was at a disadvantage on Fandango, but still finished No. 8 there. M. Night Shyamalan's Trap (WB) is No. 2 on Fandango.
Previous #1 title Bad Boys for Life (Sony) is finding new customers at $5.99, landing at #3 on iTunes, #6 on Fandango. The Will Smith film has outperformed its strong theatrical showings in initial home viewings; it even spent last Saturday at #1.
Netflix’s other recent No. 1 originals remain in its top 10. Lee Daniels’ Deliverance, last week’s No. 1, is now No. 3. Union, starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, is now No. 9. Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise, just joined their list, is the best of the older theatrical titles at No. 2.
Top 10
iTunes ranks movies daily by transaction volume, while Fandango at Home ranks them by revenue. Below are the lists for Monday, September 9 (iTunes) and the week of September 2-8 (Fandango).
The distributors listed are the current rights holders. All titles are priced at their lowest for both rental and download.
iTunes
1. Twisters (Universal) – $19.99
2. Beetlejuice(WB) – $3.99
3. Bad Boys for Life (Sony) – $5.99
4. Backside 2 (Disney) – $24.99
5. Trap (WB) – $19.99
6. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) – $19.99
7. Long-legged (Neon) – $19.99
8. Civil War (A24) – $5.99
9. Garfield Movie (Sony) – $5.99
10. Scapegoat (Universal) – $5.99
Fandango at home
1. Backside 2 (Disney) – $24.99
2. Trap (WB) – $19.99
3. Twisters (Universal) – $19.99
4. Borderlands (Lionsgate) – $19.99
5. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) – $19.99
6. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Sony) – $5.99
7. Long-legged (Neon) – $19.99
8. Beetlejuice (WB) – $3.99
9. Horizon – An American Saga: Part One (WB) – $5.99
10. Garfield Movie (Sony) – $5.99
Netflix Movies
These are the most-watched current rankings on Netflix's daily chart as of Monday, September 9. Originals include both Netflix-produced and Netflix-acquired films that originally debuted in the U.S. Netflix releases its own weekly ranking of the top 10 movies worldwide on Tuesdays, based on viewing time., and typically includes films to which it does not have domestic rights.
1. Rebel Ridge (Netflix original)
2. Edge of Tomorrow (2014 theatrical release)
3. The Deliverance (Netflix original)
4. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020 theatrical release)
5. The story of the shark (2004 theatrical release)
6. Summary (2003 theatrical release)
7. Migration (coming to theaters in 2023)
8. Aloha (2015 theatrical release)
9. Union (Netflix original)
10. Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005 theatrical release)