Netflix February 2026 Movies Spark Streaming Frenzy

Netflix has once again captured the attention of movie lovers everywhere, rolling out a fresh slate of films that has both critics and audiences buzzing. As February 2026 unfolds, the streaming giant’s library is not just expanding in size, but in diversity and quality, offering everything from adrenaline-fueled thrillers and heartfelt dramas to quirky documentaries and animated adventures. If you’ve found yourself lost in endless scrolling, you’re not alone—but this month, standout films are making the choice a little bit easier.

According to Decider’s February 3, 2026 report, Netflix’s top 10 most popular movies right now are a blend of brand-new originals and beloved classics. Dominating the charts is The Rip, a Netflix original thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami cops whose discovery of millions in cash leads them—and their entire tactical narcotics team—down a morally treacherous path. The film, which also features Teyana Taylor and Steven Yeun, has proven irresistible to viewers, blending high-stakes action with the kind of ethical quandaries that keep audiences talking long after the credits roll.

But it’s not just new releases making waves. Nostalgia is alive and well on Netflix, with perennial favorites like Night at the Museum (2006) and Independence Day (1996) holding strong in the top 10. Night at the Museum brings Ben Stiller and Robin Williams to life—quite literally—as an Egyptian curse turns museum exhibits into nighttime chaos, while Independence Day sees Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman band together to save humanity from an alien invasion. These classics, decades after their original debuts, continue to draw in both old fans and new generations.

Other notable entries on Decider’s list include Copshop (2021), a witty action flick featuring Gerard Butler as a con artist hiding from a deadly hitman in a police station, and Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story, a Lifetime drama starring Chrissy Metz as an EMT risking everything during a devastating town fire. There’s also Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, a rambunctious comedy with Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick, and Terry McMillan Presents: Forever, where Taye Diggs and Meagan Good navigate love and family in a heartfelt romance.

For fans of horror and sci-fi, M3GAN 2.0 (2025) offers a chilling sequel to the original campy hit, with Gemma (Alison Williams) and her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) facing off against a rogue AI soldier—only to find that the menacing M3GAN might be the only one who can save them. Meanwhile, KPop Demon Hunters (2025) delivers animated musical fun as a K-pop girl group secretly fights demonic forces, promising humor, catchy tunes, and a showdown with a rival boyband that’s not quite what they seem.

Documentary fans have plenty to celebrate as well. Miracle: The Boys of ’80 (2026) revisits the legendary “Miracle on Ice,” chronicling the U.S. hockey team’s improbable victory over the USSR during the Cold War. The film features firsthand accounts from the players themselves, offering a stirring look at one of sports’ most iconic moments.

Yet, one of the most surprising and talked-about hits this month isn’t a big-budget thriller or nostalgic blockbuster—it’s a documentary with a title that says it all: Secret Mall Apartment. As reported by AOL on February 3, 2026, this unconventional documentary has soared as high as No. 4 on Netflix’s most popular movies chart and boasts a near-perfect 98 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film tells the true story of a group of young Rhode Island artists who, from 2003 to 2007, secretly constructed and lived in a 750-square-foot apartment inside the Providence Place mall. Their hidden home was more than a quirky stunt; it was a form of protest against the gentrification brought by the mall’s development, which had displaced local residents.

Director Jeremy Workman’s approach is both playful and profound, peeling back the layers of what began as a dare to reveal a story about art, activism, and the search for community in a capitalist landscape. The documentary “draws you in with a funny situation but blossoms into more meditative explorations,” as AOL notes, highlighting the tension between commercial development and the need for spaces where art and human connection can flourish. For over four years, the group’s secret apartment went undetected, only coming to light in 2007 when the leader, Michael Townsend, was caught and charged with trespassing.

The success of Secret Mall Apartment has sparked a broader conversation about the types of documentaries audiences crave. As AOL points out, Netflix’s documentary library has long leaned on sensational true crime stories—quick, shocking, and easily consumed. But the warm reception for this thoughtful, offbeat film suggests that viewers are hungry for something more: “It’s clear from the way that Secret Mall Apartment has instantly found favor with audiences that the people who use Netflix don’t only want shocking, horrifying true crime stories that expose the worst that humanity has to offer; in fact, it looks like audiences enjoy documentaries about the very best that humanity has to offer.”

Amid this surge of new and trending titles, Tom’s Guide published its own roundup on February 4, 2026, spotlighting the highest-rated movies just added to Netflix for the month, based on Rotten Tomatoes scores. Their top five picks cross genres and generations: The American President (1995), a romantic drama starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening; Zero Dark Thirty (2012), the gripping account of the hunt for Osama bin Laden led by Jessica Chastain’s determined CIA analyst; Ex Machina (2014), Alex Garland’s cerebral sci-fi thriller about artificial intelligence; How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), a family-friendly animated adventure; and Hell or High Water (2016), a modern western crime drama with Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges. These selections, with Rotten Tomatoes scores ranging from 90 to 97 percent, offer something for every taste and serve as a handy guide for those overwhelmed by choice.

With so many quality films now available, Netflix is making it easier than ever for subscribers to find something worth watching—whether it’s a blockbuster, a hidden gem, or a documentary that challenges the status quo. As February 2026 continues, one thing’s for sure: the streaming landscape is richer, more varied, and more exciting than ever before.