Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services. Over the years, it has been responsible for truly ground-breaking content. It has released some very popular and critically appreciated movies on its platform. Netflix movies have received 27 nominations at this year’s academy awards after last year’s tally of 37 nominations. Netflix movies have clearly impressed the Academy.
However, for some time now, fans have been complaining about the mediocre quality of movies released on Netflix. So, let’s look at how movies released on Netflix last year have performed and find out how the current year began for the streaming giant. This study included movies which are produced by Netflix as well as movies which were distributed but not produced by Netflix. We have used IMDB Ratings as a proxy for audience response to the movie.
Netflix Movies in 2021
Around 155 movies released on Netflix in 2021 which translates to ~3 movies per week. Movies were released in 19 different languages. The average IMDB rating of these 155 movies stood at a mediocre 5.8.
If we consider movies that received at least 10,000 votes, we are left with 58 movies with an average rating of 6.2. This is the distribution of these movies:
| IMDB Rating | Number of Movies* |
|
Less than 5 |
6 |
|
5 to 7 |
40 |
|
7 and above |
12 |
|
Total |
58 |
There are no movies rated above 9. Only one Netflix movie released in 2021 has an average score of more than 8 – Minnal Murali – which is also the highest rated Indian language movie of 2021. It is an Indian Malayalam-language superhero film. It has received around 25,000 votes on IMDB. There are a total of only 12 movies (with more than 10,000 votes) which are rated at least 7. It includes popular movies such as Don’t Look Up and Tick Tick.. Boom.
At the other end, too, we have a superhero movie. The lowest rated movie with at least 10,000 votes is ‘Thunder Force’. It is an American superhero comedy film rated 4.4. The lowest rated Indian language film is the Parineeti Chopra starrer ‘The Girl on the Train’. It is rated 4.6. There are a total of 6 movies rated below 5.
The remaining 40 movies are rated between 5 and 7. With most movies rated in this category, it is evident that audiences find most Netflix movies mediocre.
How has 2022 begun for Netflix movies?
Around 23 movies have dropped since the turn of the year on the platform. These movies have an average IMDB rating of 5.4. With only a few days or weeks having passed for most movies since their release, there are only 3 movies, all of which are in English, that have more than 10,000 votes. These are Brazen, Home Team and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They are all rated below 7 with Brazen and Texas Chainsaw Massacre rated 4 and 4.9 respectively.
There has been one Indian language release – Loop Lapeta. It has not even been popular enough to receive 10,000 votes. It is rated 5.1 with around 3.6k votes.
Looking at this data, it does not seem there has been any marked improvement as far as the overall reaction of audiences to Netflix movies is concerned. The streaming platform is clearly prioritising quantity over quality. However, its pricing strategy places it in the premium category. Netflix has recently raised prices in its home market (U.S.) Even in India, despite the recent reduction in prices, it remains one of the most expensive streaming platforms.
Netflix will have to provide more value through improved offerings as far as its movies are concerned if it wants to continue charging a premium in this competitive market.
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