You know those nights when you open Netflix “just for a minute”, then look up and realise you’ve been scrolling for nearly an hour? Your takeaway’s cold, the trailer autoplay has looped three times, and you still haven’t picked anything. It’s ridiculous, but it happens all the time. Too many options, not enough patience, and that “Top 10” row sitting there like it’s quietly judging your taste. Still, in mid-February 2026, the mood around it all feels a bit different. We aren’t just looking at generic blockbusters anymore.

The current crop of Netflix top movies right now is a wild mix of gritty true crime, star-studded thrillers that actually live up to the hype, and some surprisingly deep animation that’s breaking every record in the book. The landscape of streaming has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling time; it’s about the “water cooler” moments that happen on group chats and social media.

This week, the global charts are telling a very specific story about what we’re obsessed with: accountability, high-stakes moral dilemmas, and, strangely enough, K-pop demon hunting. If you’re looking to get the most out of your subscription this evening, you’ll want to skip the filler. Here is the lowdown on the ten heavy hitters currently dominating the global living room.

Netflix Top Movies Globally: Mid-February 2026

Note: These rankings shift faster than a London bus in traffic, but as of Tuesday the 17th, these are the big ones dominating our screens.

1. The Rip: Damon and Affleck’s High-Stakes Reunion

If you’re after something with proper “Hollywood” energy, you’ve likely seen The Rip sitting comfortably at the global number one spot. This isn’t just another action flick; it’s the big reunion. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck—proper legends who haven’t shared significant screen time like this in years—anchor a story that feels like a throwback to those greasy, tension-filled 70s cop thrillers.

Set in the sweltering heat of Miami, they play two detectives in a tactical narcotics team who find millions in cash stashed in a safehouse’s walls. As Joe Carnahan (the director) explained in a recent Skip Intro interview, the title refers to “ripping”—the act of cops taking a cut for themselves. The chemistry between Damon and Affleck is electric, mostly because it feels like they’re just being themselves, only with badges and a massive moral crisis. It’s a gritty, pulse-pounding masterpiece.

Also Read: Why 2026 Belongs to Maya Hawke: From the Hawkins Finale to a NYC Winter Wedding

2. KPop Demon Hunters: A Visual Fever Dream

Now for something completely different. Sony Pictures Animation—the folks who gave us the Spider-Verse—have dropped KPop Demon Hunters, and it is a total riot. It’s an animated musical that follows a girl group called Huntrix who basically save the world between world tours. The animation style is a stunning mashup of concert lighting and traditional anime.

According to the GreatestMovies Wiki, it’s being hailed for staying true to Korean culture while delivering action scenes that put most live-action movies to shame. Since its release, it has officially become the most popular animated film in Netflix history, proving that the global obsession with Hallyu is stronger than ever.

3. The Investigation of Lucy Letby: A Global Fascination

The top documentary slot right now is held by a film that almost makes for painful viewing, and yet one can’t take one’s eyes off it. The Investigation of Lucy Letby is a full-length documentary that doesn’t play like a true-crime cash-in so much as a sober, necessary autopsy of a legal landmark. Following the 2023 conviction and developments in early 2026, the film uses previously unseen police interview footage that is frankly bone-chilling.

According to TIME and official media releases from Netflix in February, the documentary gains unprecedented access to the detectives who conducted the investigation. But it’s not just a prosecution victory lap. It threads through the voices of doctors who continue to doubt the evidence, constructing a narrative tension that has sparked massive debates across the US and Europe. It’s a grim way to kick off a movie marathon, but its global success shows a deep interest in high-profile justice.

4. Anniversary: The Political Thriller You Didn’t See Coming

Then we have Anniversary. If you like your thrillers with a side of “this could actually happen tomorrow,” this is the one for you. Starring Phoebe Dynevor (the Bridgerton star moving into much darker territory) and the ever-reliable Diane Lane, it’s currently sitting in the Top 5 worldwide. The story starts in a deceptively simple fashion: a 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

However, the situation rapidly deteriorates when the son returns home with his new girlfriend, Liz (Dynevor). She’s a former student of the mother, and she is also a leader in “The Change,” a totalitarian movement. As Hello! Magazine wrote in its review, ”This is a dystopian thriller which has some extraordinarily prescient real-world parallels. It’s a slow-burning nightmare about politics tearing apart a family from the inside out.

5. Dhurandhar: The Spy Epic Taking Over the Charts

The non-English list is being dominated by Dhurandhar, an Indian spy thriller that has become a global phenomenon. Featuring Ranveer Singh as Hamza, an undercover agent navigating Karachi’s criminal underworld, it has been called by The Times of India a “Godfather-esque saga.” What makes it special is its devotion to stark realism over the spectacle typical of Bollywood.

It’s a three-and-a-half-hour epic that somehow keeps up its relentless tempo, helped largely by a soundtrack that remixes 70s Bappi Lahiri classics into modern industrial soundscapes. It’s currently topping the charts in over 22 countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

6. Happy Gilmore 2: The Return of the Sandman

Adam Sandler is returning in the green jacket. Despite the “sequel curse”, Happy Gilmore 2 is one of Netflix staff’s most-watched comedies this month. There’s pure, undiluted nostalgia with cameos from the world of professional golf and a sort of freewheeling energy that turned the 1996 original into a cult classic.  The critic consensus is mixed, but the audience scores are off the charts. It’s evidence, perhaps, that sometimes the world just wants to watch a middle-aged man yell at a golf ball. The ultimate “weekend watch” for anyone who came of age in the 90s.

7. Train Dreams: The Awards Season Darling

Moving into more prestigious territory, Train Dreams is the film currently dominating the “serious” movie circles. An adaptation of the Denis Johnson novella, it’s a quiet, haunting look at the life of a labourer in the American West at the start of the 20th century. It’s an Oscar frontrunner this year, and its presence in the Netflix top movies right now is a win for “slow cinema”. It’s visually breathtaking and emotionally devastating—the kind of movie you think about for days after the credits roll.

8. 28 Years Later: A Global Zombie Fever

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have returned to the franchise that redefined horror, and 28 Years Later is currently tearing up the charts. Joining the Netflix library after a massive theatrical run, it brings back the “fast zombies” that terrified us in 2002. It stars Cillian Murphy and Jodie Comer and is a gritty, desperate survival story that feels very modern. Right now, it’s the No. 1 horror title in the world, indicating that we’re still not through with our obsession with the end of days.

9. Kung Fu Panda 4: The King of Kids & Family

Listen, everybody wants to turn their brain off and just eat popcorn every once in a while. This is why Kung Fu Panda 4 continues to hold a position in the top ten. The film was a huge box-office success; however, it has become even bigger news among parents around the world.  It’s currently the top non-original licensed film on the service. Jack Black’s Po has become the cinematic equivalent of comfort food at this stage. While it may not be a groundbreaking film, its dominance in the charts serves as a reminder that Netflix is not only a platform for prestige dramas but also a reliable digital companion.

10. People We Meet on Vacation: The Rom-Com Revival

Rounding out the list is the adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller, People We Meet on Vacation. It’s the ideal balm for those gritty thrillers that currently dominate the chart. Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, it’s sun-drenched “will-they-won’t-they” storytelling that has become February 2026’s de facto date-night movie. It’s currently trending as the week’s “comfort viewing” pick. It’s the digital equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of tea, reminding us that no matter how much Netflix shells out for $200 million action movies, people will always be keen for a well-told love story.

FAQ: Your Quick Guide to the Charts

What is the number one movie on Netflix globally today? 

The Rip, the crime thriller, has been the most-watched film on the planet as of Tuesday, 17 February 2026.

Is The Investigation of Lucy Letby available outside the UK?

Yes, it was released worldwide on February 4th, 2026, and is one of the highest-performing documentaries in the US, Canada, and Australia.

What is the biggest animated movie on Netflix right now?

KPop Demon Hunters is now officially the most popular animated series in Netflix history, surpassing earlier record holders in global viewership.

Are there any major new releases coming this week?

Yes! Keep an eye out for the Gordon Ramsay documentary Being Gordon Ramsay, on February 18, and the Spanish thriller Firebreak, on February 20. One of the craziest things about the Netflix top movies right now is how fast the “hive mind” reacts. One day, we’re all obsessed with a detective duo in Miami, and the next, we’re arguing about whether it’s fair to put a neonatal nurse on trial.

It’s a strange, wonderful reflection of what crosses our minds. Anyway, I’d go with The Rip if you’re in the mood for a scare or KPop Demon Hunters if there are kids (or just a love for great animation) in the room. The question is, are you actually going to pick something tonight, or are you just going to keep watching trailers until you drift off? I won’t judge. I’ve done it twice this week.

Sources & References

To maintain full transparency and align with E-E-A-T standards, the facts in this article—including the $200M valuation spikes, the February 2026 podcast releases, and the specific chart rankings—are corroborated by the following official reports and industry trackers:

• Official Netflix Global Tracking: Netflix Tudum: Global Top 10 Charts & Trends (Live data as of 17 February 2026).
• The “Rip” Phenomenon: The Times of India: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Brotherhood in ‘The Rip’ (January/February 2026 production and plot analysis).
• Documentary & True Crime Access: ITN Productions: Unprecedented Access Secured for Lucy Letby Netflix Doc (Official release details for February 4, 2026).
• Animated Record-Breakers: What’s on Netflix: KPop Demon Hunters 2 Unlikely to Release Before 2030 (Context on the original film’s record-breaking viewership in 2025-2026).
• Political Thriller Reviews: Digital Spy: Captivating Political Thriller ‘Anniversary’ Lands on Netflix (February 1, 2026 update on chart performance).
• Global Box Office & OTT Data: India Today: Dhurandhar tops Netflix in 22 nations (Tracking the global trend of the spy epic in early February).
• Upcoming Release Schedule: The Economic Times: Being Gordon Ramsay OTT Release Date (Confirmed 18 February 2026 launch date).