Netflix’s ‘Atlas’ and ‘Mother of the Bride’ Were Widely Panned — and They’re Also Two of the Streamer’s Biggest Movies of 2024 So Far

As a seasoned movie buff with over three decades of watching films under my belt, I can confidently say that I have seen it all – from critically acclaimed masterpieces to those that make you wonder how they even got made. The recent phenomenon on Netflix, where millions seem to be engrossed in what I would call the art of hate-watching, is quite intriguing.

Are there millions of people hate-watching movies on Netflix?

Two original movies from the streaming giant, “Atlas” starring Jennifer Lopez and “Mother of the Bride” featuring Brooke Shields and Miranda Cosgrove, received generally unfavorable critical reviews and ratings from audiences. However, these films were surprisingly popular on Netflix in the first half of 2024, as indicated by the company’s most recent data report. Globally, “Atlas” was watched 77.1 million times, while “Mother of the Bride” attracted 77.7 million viewers.

The films “Mother of the Bride” and “Atlas” were ranked among the top ten most-watched Netflix movies during the first half of the year, even more impressive considering they only had less than two months of viewership data: their premiere dates were May 9 for “Mother of the Bride” and May 24 for “Atlas”.

In simpler terms, the movie “Atlas” has a 19% approval rating from critics (based on 110 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes, and the movie “Mother of the Bride” fairs even worse at 13% (48 reviews). EbMaster‘s review for “Atlas” described it as a forgettable sci-fi film that was a lackluster comeback to the type of projects Jennifer Lopez is known for in Hollywood. Regarding “Mother of the Bride,” EbMaster gave it only mild praise, labeling it a bland and uncontroversial romantic comedy.

Compared to each other, the top two most-viewed Netflix films during the first half of 2024 show varying critical reception. “Damsel,” featuring Millie Bobby Brown as a resilient princess, has received a mediocre 56% rating from critics, while “Lift,” an action film starring Kevin Hart, stands at 29%.

It’s quite common for there to be a gap between the films praised by film critics and those that people actually choose to watch. Data from Netflix indicates that poor reviews don’t always prevent viewers from choosing a movie; in fact, they might select it just to find out how bad it’s supposed to be.

Netflix’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, frequently emphasizes that Netflix offers a diverse buffet of content, catering to numerous tastes and preferences.

Frequently, I’m asked if there are too many movies and series on Netflix. My response is always a confident affirmative. With such diverse and idiosyncratic preferences among viewers, it’s crucial not to cater to only one sensibility. You must embrace everything – from high-end dramas to independent films, true crime stories, romantic comedies, stand-up specials, documentaries, and reality TV shows.

In the first half of 2024, ‘Fool Me Once,’ ‘Bridgerton,’ and ‘Baby Reindeer’ were the most popular television series on Netflix.

For the record, here are the top 10 films on Netflix, ranked by views, from January-June 2024:

“Damsel”: 143.8 million views
“Lift”: 129.4 million views
“Society of the Snow” (“La sociedad de la nieve): 103.8 million views
“Under Paris” (“Sous la Seine”): 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

2024-09-20 00:46

Netflix’s ‘Atlas’ and ‘Mother of the Bride’ Were Widely Panned — and They’re Also Two of the Streamer’s Biggest Movies of 2024 So Far

Read More

Minority Mindset