‘Night at the Museum’ and ‘Independence Day’ Make a Triumphant Return to Netflix’s Top 10
Netflix’s top 10 is looking very nostalgic.
Two fan-favorite movies recently added to the streamer’s movie library have stormed their way into the top 10. The 1996 blockbuster Independence Day currently sits at No. 5 in the most-watched list, followed by 2006’s Night at the Museum in the No. 6 spot.
Netflix viewers love older movies
Both movies, which were added to Netflix on February 1, appeal to subscribers’ desire for familiar comfort viewing. While the streaming service is constantly adding new original movies, such as People We Meet on Vacation, The Rip, and Kpop Demon Hunters, some of its top performers are beloved classics that people enjoy watching time and again.
In the second half of 2025, some of the most popular movies on Netflix were older titles, particularly those aimed at kids. Hotel Transylvania 3, Despicable Me 3 and Despicable Me 4, Sing, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Shrek and Shrek 2 were all among the top 50 most-watched titles.
Last year, Netflix subscribers also revisited Happy Gilmore (41.9 million views from July to December), The Hangover (25.4 million views), White Chicks (23.5 million views), The Mask (16.9 million views), Man on Fire (15.7 million views), and The Equalizer (14.2 million views).
Why younger viewers love familiar classics
Night at the Museum and Independence Day each appeal to viewers searching for familiar, family-friendly flicks. But it’s not just older generations who are clicking play on these titles. Younger audiences are drawn to older shows and movies on streaming platforms, experts say.
“The younger audience is drawn to the perceived simplicity of the old times and humor,” Kavita Vazirani, executive vice president of research, insights and analytics, ABC News Group & Disney Entertainment Networks, told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s programming that just makes them feel good, and it’s something that they can watch with their friends, their families.”
When it comes to TV, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are binging old favorites like Dawson’s Creek and The Golden Girls, with 60% of all their TV consumption coming from library content over new releases, the LA Times reports. While Netflix’s most-watched shows tend to be originals like Wednesday and Stranger Things, older series such as Young Sheldon, Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Suits rack up of millions of views, proving that sometimes, nothing beats familiarity.
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