So, what's everyone been watching this week?
Each week, the most popular streamed movies come down to a few things — sheer buzz, smart marketing and PR campaigns, star power, critical acclaim, or a slow burn, word-of-mouth phenomenon that leads uninterested people to finally watch it out of spite. Just to get a sense of what everyone's streaming, we've used data from streaming aggregator Reelgood, which gathers those coveted viewership numbers from hundreds of streaming services in the U.S. and UK.
This week, The Batman just started streaming on HBO Max, so you know where we're starting. But with The Secrets of Dumbledore now in cinemas, folks are heading back to the start of the Fantastic Beasts series, too.
But just because a lot of people are watching something doesn't make it...good. Here they are, the 10 most streamed films of the week, where to watch them, and what Mashable critics thought.
1. The Batman
Taking the caped crusader back to his early days, Matt Reeves' The Batman sees Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) on the trail of a serial killer known as The Riddler (Paul Dano), tapping into the darkness that made Nolan's Dark Knight series a success. The cast is pretty stacked with this one, featuring Zoë Kravitz as Cat Woman, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone and Jeffrey Wright as Lt. Gordon. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
What we thought: So, today it is my grim task to tell you The Batman is studded with stars, action, comic book characters, real-world parallels, gorgeous cinematography, and grit-teeth seriousness. But it falls short of exciting or entertaining or fun. It wasn't a ride, but a chore. Considering all the stories that might be told with these characters, the truly daring possibilities it scratches at dwarf the film it actually is. — Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch: The Batman is streaming now on HBO Max.
2. Death on the Nile
Kenneth Branagh has been busy hoovering up Belfast acclaim recently, but before that he both directed and starred in this adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel of the same name. The story is centred on — you guessed it! — a death on the Nile, with detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) sent in to work out who exactly did what to who. This one comes with a big cast — Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, and Rose Leslie are among them — and plenty of twists. — S.H.
What we thought: When Death on the Nile is not making amusingly bad choices, it's swimming in bloated sequences or reiterating the same point enough to make you seasick. Consequently you may find, as I did, that this whodunnit isn't all that hard to figure out. Humblebrag, but: I had it solved before the end of act one — which left me regrettably little to do the rest of the movie. – Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Death on the Nile is now streaming on HBO Max.
3. All the Old Knives
No, it's not something we'd advise against selling at a garage sale, it's the new spy movie with Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton. Pine plays Henry, who's investigating his ex, Celia (Newton), for possibly being a double agent. They worked as CIA intelligence officers back in the day, and were unable to stop a terrorist attack, and the real truth of this will be revealed in the most classic of forms: flashbacks. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: All the Old Knives is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
4. Sonic the Hedgehog
If you're watching the Sonic the Hedgehog film for any other reason than Jim Carrey's completely kickass performance, chances are you might find it...fine. Luckily, Carrey's outlandish run as Doctor Robotnik — it's equal parts Riddler and Ace Ventura — keeps this movie from using up all its lives, and with the sequel hitting theatres now with added Idris Elba as Knuckles, it's no surprise this one's in the list this week. — S.C.
What we thought: If you’re a Sonic fan of the '90s or '00s hoping for some deep cut references or something that appeals to your developed tastes and critical thinking, you’ll probably walk away disappointed. And if you're looking for a fun movie full of heart and great characters, you'll probably walk away disappointed too, because this movie feels empty, even if it is pretty. — Kellen Beck
How to watch: Sonic the Hedgehog is now streaming on Paramount+.
5. Choose or Die
Netflix's latest horror outing sees Iola Evans and Sex Education's Isa Butterfield going up against a cursed video game that torments its players with some Saw-style scenarios that they have to complete in order to stay alive. Looks like a fun weekend watch, although probably one to avoid if you're of a squeamish disposition. — S.H.
How to watch: Choose or Die is streaming now on Netflix.
6. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
With The Secrets of Dumbledore recently released in theatres, fans of this five-part Harry Potter spinoff have clearly been going back to remind themselves what happened in the previous movies. Following on from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them (more on that one in a moment), The Crimes of Grindelwald features the same group of characters (played by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, and Dan Fogler), this time in Europe on the trail of the dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp, recast in the new movie with Mads Mikkelsen). Be warned, though: the reviews of this one really aren't great. — S.H.
What we thought: Crimes of Grindelwald feels half-assed on every level, from the character motivations to the world-building. There's nothing specific or special about this version of Paris; you'll find a more magical portrayal of the city on any 99-cent postcard. Our returning heroes feel less familiar than they did when they were introduced in the last film, thanks to a rash of baffling decisions. — Angie Han
How to watch: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is streaming now on HBO Max.
7. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The first (and easily best reviewed) instalment in the Fantastic Beasts saga introduces us to magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) in 1926 New York, bumbling around the city attempting to recapture some magical animals he's accidentally let loose while the shadow of dark wizard Grindelwald looms in the background. Expect twists aplenty. — S.H.
What we thought: To be fair, the film pulls off a truly thrilling surprise in the final moments, one that suggests future instalments could be fairly exciting. As a standalone movie, however, it can't quite figure out what it wants to be. For many superhero fans, hitting the beats of the battles and intrigue may be enough for a moderately fun night out. For Potter fans who are used to expecting a little more depth with their thrills, Fantastic Beasts could have used a bit more magic. — Erin Strecker
How to watch: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is now streaming on HBO Max.
8. The Adam Project
Ryan Reynolds is on top deprecating form in Shawn Levy's The Adam Project, a time-travelling family adventure about a man who is forced to journey back in time, joining forces with his dad and his younger self in a chaotic attempt to avert future catastrophe. Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo, and Jennifer Garner all put in strong supporting performances but the real star of the show is 12-year-old Walker Scobell, who plays young Adam with a perfectly dry sarcasm that makes him an easy sparring partner for his older self. — S.H.
What we thought: Plot holes and worldbuilding take a backseat to charming performances and entertaining visuals that make this neat 100-movie worth a watch. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Adam Project is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The Passion of the Christ
A slightly unexpected entry in some ways (the film's nearly two decades old, after all), but then again it has been Easter weekend so it's not a total surprise. Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ follows Jesus (Jim Caviezel) in the hours before his crucifixion and features Monica Belluci as Magdalen, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, and Luca Lionello as Judas. The film is pretty much what you'd expect. — S.H.
How to watch: The Passion of the Christ is available to stream on Prime Video.
10. CODA
It's the film that both took home Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars, and took a significant step forward for deaf representation in Hollywood. Written and directed by Siân Heder, CODA stars Best Supporting Actor winner Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, and Daniel Durant, who are themselves deaf — casting that doesn't always happen — alongside Emilia Jones.
Mashable's Belen Edwards describes the plot: "Adapted from the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier, CODA — which stands for "Child of Deaf Adults" — centers on Ruby Rossi (Jones), a high school senior who is the only hearing member of a Deaf family. CODA trades La Famille Bélier's setting of rural France for Gloucester, Massachusetts, where Ruby helps her father Frank (Kotsur) and brother Leo (Durant) on their fishing boat. She also acts as the family's interpreter — much of the film's dialogue is in American Sign Language." — S.C.
What we thought: Thanks to excellent performances and Heder's sharp writing and direction, CODA rises above any possibility of triteness to become a moving, heartwarming, and deeply satisfying film. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: CODA is now streaming on Apple TV+.
