Most Watched Movies & TV Shows Worldwide (2025)
Discover the films and series that have captivated global audiences across generations. Our curated list combines box office records, streaming data, and cultural impact to bring you the definitive guide to the world's most watched entertainment - with current streaming availability on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and more.
Selection Criteria:
- Box Office Performance (adjusted for inflation)
- Streaming Viewership Data (global platforms)
- IMDb Ratings & Popularity (minimum 100,000 votes)
- Cultural Impact (awards, references, longevity)
- Current Streaming Availability (as of May 2025)
Top 20 Most Watched Movies of All Time
The Shawshank Redemption
Drama Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO MaxTwo imprisoned men bond over several years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency. Frequently ranked as the greatest film of all time by audiences.
- IMDb's #1 rated movie for 25+ years
- Powerful story of hope and friendship
- Masterful performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman
Titanic
Romance Drama Disney+, Amazon PrimeA seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic. Highest grossing film of all time for 12 years.
- Won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture
- Iconic performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
- Groundbreaking visual effects for its time
Gone with the Wind
Drama Romance HBO Max, Amazon PrimeA manipulative Southern belle carries on a turbulent affair with a blockade runner during the American Civil War. Highest grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation.
- Estimated 3.4 billion tickets sold worldwide
- Won 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture
- Definitive epic of Hollywood's Golden Age
The Sound of Music
Musical Drama Disney+, Amazon PrimeA young novice is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer to serve as governess to his seven children. One of the most successful musicals in history.
- Won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture
- Iconic soundtrack including "My Favorite Things"
- Enduring family classic since 1965
Avengers: Endgame
Action Adventure Disney+After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins. The remaining Avengers assemble to reverse Thanos' actions.
- Highest grossing film of all time (2019-2025)
- Climax of 22-film Marvel storyline
- Satisfying conclusion to character arcs
Avatar: The Way of Water
Sci-Fi Adventure Disney+, MaxJake Sully lives with his newfound family on Pandora but must prepare to face a familiar threat returning to finish what was previously started.
- Revolutionary underwater motion capture
- Third highest grossing film ever
- Stunning visual effects and world-building
The Lion King
Animation Musical Disney+Lion prince Simba must accept his royal destiny after his father's murder by his uncle Scar. Highest grossing animated film of all time (adjusted for inflation).
- Iconic soundtrack by Elton John
- Beloved story inspired by Hamlet
- Cultural phenomenon since 1994
Spirited Away
Animation Fantasy HBO Max, NetflixDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, where humans are changed into beasts.
- First non-English film to win Best Animated Feature Oscar
- Masterpiece from Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki
- Richly imaginative fantasy world
Frozen
Animation Musical Disney+When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man to lift the curse.
- Highest grossing animated film before inflation adjustment
- Oscar-winning song "Let It Go" became global phenomenon
- Powerful story of sisterly love
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Action Drama Netflix, Amazon PrimeA young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.
- Most successful foreign-language film in U.S. history
- Breathtaking martial arts choreography
- Won 4 Academy Awards including Best Foreign Film
Amélie
Romance Comedy Netflix, Amazon PrimeAmélie is an innocent and naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.
- Quintessential French cinema with worldwide appeal
- Whimsical visual style and storytelling
- Audrey Tautou's iconic performance
City of God
Crime Drama Netflix, Criterion ChannelTwo boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
- One of Brazil's most internationally successful films
- Gritty, realistic portrayal of life in favelas
- Nominated for 4 Academy Awards
Life Is Beautiful
Comedy Drama Amazon Prime, HuluWhen an open-minded Jewish librarian and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.
- Won 3 Academy Awards including Best Actor
- Heartbreaking yet uplifting Holocaust story
- Roberto Benigni's legendary performance
The Intouchables
Comedy Drama Netflix, Amazon PrimeAfter he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.
- Highest grossing non-English language film worldwide (2011-2025)
- Heartwarming odd-couple friendship
- Perfect blend of humor and emotion
The Pianist
Drama War Netflix, Amazon PrimeA Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.
- Won 3 Academy Awards including Best Director
- Adrien Brody's Oscar-winning performance
- Powerful true story of survival
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sci-Fi Adventure Disney+Three decades after the Empire's defeat, a new threat arises in the militant First Order. Defected stormtrooper Finn and the scavenger Rey are caught up in the Resistance's search for the missing Luke Skywalker.
- Highest grossing Star Wars film
- Successful revival of the franchise
- Introduction of beloved new characters
Furious 7
Action Crime Peacock, Amazon PrimeDeckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother.
- Emotional tribute to Paul Walker
- Groundbreaking action sequences
- Global box office phenomenon
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Action Drama Netflix, Amazon PrimeWhen Shiva, the son of Bahubali, learns about his heritage, he begins to look for answers. His story is juxtaposed with past events that unfolded in the Mahishmati Kingdom.
- Highest grossing Indian film of all time
- Epic scale and visual effects
- Cultural phenomenon in South Asia
Dangal
Biography Drama Netflix, Disney+ HotstarFormer wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat trains his daughters Geeta and Babita to become India's first world-class female wrestlers.
- Highest grossing Indian sport film
- Inspiring true story of female athletes
- Aamir Khan's transformative performance
Parasite
Thriller Drama Dark Comedy Hulu, Amazon PrimeGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan in this genre-bending masterpiece.
- First non-English language film to win Best Picture Oscar
- Palme d'Or winner at Cannes Film Festival
- Brilliant social commentary on wealth inequality
- Director Bong Joon-ho's most accessible work
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a movie "most watched"?
We consider multiple factors including box office performance (adjusted for inflation), streaming viewership data, DVD/Blu-ray sales, television ratings, and cultural impact over time. Historical classics are weighted differently than modern releases to account for changes in media consumption.
How often is this list updated?
Our team updates all streaming availability data monthly, with full list revisions every 6 months to account for new releases and shifting viewership patterns. Last update: May 2025.
Why aren't more recent movies higher on the list?
While modern blockbusters perform well initially, longevity matters. Classics like The Shawshank Redemption and Gone with the Wind have accumulated viewers through decades of re-releases, TV broadcasts, and streaming. Newer films need time to prove their lasting appeal.