Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic is soaring up the Netflix charts

Entering 2025, the future of the box office looks as uncertain as ever, but if there's one thing we know for sure, it's that we're all destined (or we're all destined, take your pick) to scroll through Netflix for years to come. . Over the past few weeks, the streamer has offered up its usual cavalcade of “content” of sorts, exiting our collective crust as quickly as it entered, in the usual holiday fare. Netflixers sent Megan Fox's sci-fi thriller “Subservience” to the top of the streaming charts. during the holidays, while Keira Knightley's spy thriller series “Black Doves” similarly triumphed in the Netflix ratings.

But Netflix's 2024 wasn't entirely defined by slickly produced but somehow instantly forgettable movies and TV shows. Amid The 10 Best Netflix Movies of 2024we had some real standouts, including what turned out to be Aaron Pierre in the excellent Rebel Ridge and the affecting family drama His Three Daughters.

However, in 2025, the media onslaught will undoubtedly continue. But as we prepare for the cavalcade of streaming scum that's about to start all over again, at least the year is off to a good enough start. The streaming audience has even given us hope, sending a modern sci-fi classic to the top of the Netflix charts as Christopher Nolan's best film, “Interstellar.”

In 2024, Christopher Nolan continued 2023, which was already successful for him. Directed by first blockbuster to win best picture Oscar in 20 years with Oppenheimer a year earlier, in 2024, Nolan re-released his 2014 works “Interstellar” in theaters, which became a box office hit 10 years after its first debut. Now the film has made its way to Netflix, where it has once again been a huge success.

“Interstellar” arrived on Netflix on January 1, 2024, and despite already being a well-known sci-fi epic that has been part of the cultural conversation for a decade, immediately began to climb the most-watched charts. According to FlixPatrolwebsite that tracks streaming viewership data across platforms, the film debuted at number three on the U.S. most-watched movie chart as of Jan. 2. As of January 3rd, it is still in third place, but could very well reach number one. during the next week. To do so, however, it will have to compete with exactly the kind of mediocre streaming movies that seem intended as anti-Nolan entertainment.

If we're taking an optimistic approach, Netflix's stellar success at least suggests there's hope for streaming in 2025. Michael Fassbender's 'Snowman' flop in 2023 seems to have Netflixers watching anythingChristopher Nolan continues his mission to prove that audiences still want high-quality cinema in the age of streaming. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how “Interstellar” fares against the “Die Hard 2”-style Christmas action thriller “Carry-On,” which is currently number one on the US charts.

The Taron Egerton starrer is exactly what Netflix has become known for. It's an entertaining watch that, overall, doesn't do much to prevent it from being completely buried under a hail of “content” to come, ultimately dooming it to the crammed annals of streaming history. So it will be interesting to see if “Interstellar” can topple “Carry-On” or if the streaming movie remains king of the charts. Nolan's sci-fi epic will also have to beat Ron Howard's 2015 adventure drama “In the Heart of the Sea,” which is currently in second place stateside.

Meanwhile Nolan, who will soon bring the Greek epic to the big screen with his 2026 project The Odyssey He probably isn't too worried about “Interstellar” charting on Netflix. The director loves physical media and has spoken extensively about the dangers of streaming-only media. Still, it's impressive to see a film garnering multiple wins 10 years after its first release.