Despite scathing reviews, two of Netflix’s original films—Atlas, starring Jennifer Lopez, and Mother of the Bride, featuring Brooke Shields and Miranda Cosgrove—have emerged as some of the most popular titles on the platform in early 2024. According to Netflix’s latest report, Atlas amassed 77.1 million views, while Mother of the Bride garnered 77.7 million, placing them both in the top 10 of the platform’s most-watched movies for the first half of the year.
These figures are particularly striking considering that the report only accounts for viewing within a short period: Mother of the Bride was released on May 9, followed by Atlas on May 24.
In stark contrast to their popularity, both films have received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Atlas holds a dismal 19% score from critics based on 110 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, while Mother of the Bride fares even worse at just 13% from 48 reviews. Variety described Atlas as a “shrug-worthy sci-fi vehicle” and criticized it as an underwhelming return for Lopez. In reference to Mother of the Bride, the same publication offered only mild praise, calling it an “aggressively inoffensive rom-com.”
For context, Netflix’s top film for the first half of 2024, Damsel, which stars Millie Bobby Brown as a princess fighting for survival, has a better, albeit still lackluster, 56% critics score. The second most-watched film, Lift, featuring Kevin Hart, holds a 29% rating.
The apparent disconnect between critical reception and viewer engagement raises questions about audience preferences. Netflix’s data suggests that unfavorable reviews do not deter viewers; in fact, many may be drawn to these films out of curiosity, potentially to witness their perceived shortcomings.
The top 10 films on Netflix from January to June 2024, ranked by views, are as follows:
Damsel: 143.8 million views
Lift: 129.4 million views
Society of the Snow: 103.8 million views
Under Paris: 84.7 million views
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: 80.3 million views
Mother of the Bride: 77.7 million views
Atlas: 77.1 million views
Minions: 72.7 million views
Irish Wish: 72.1 million views
The Boss Baby: 63.6 million views
As streaming habits evolve, it seems that hate-watching may be becoming an unexpected driver of viewership on Netflix, challenging traditional notions of cinematic success.
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