Apex’s Lightning-Fast Ascent
In just 24 days, the survival thriller starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton reached an astonishing 105.3 million views. That figure instantly places Apex among Netflix’s most-watched films ever. What sets Apex apart? It’s not tied to an established brand and doesn't exceed 90 minutes, proving that a film doesn’t need to be sprawling to generate buzz.
Instead, Apex keeps things tight: a brisk runtime, escalating tension, and a high-stakes face-off between two household names.
Simple Premise, Strong Impact
Audiences are thrown into the Australian desert as Theron and Egerton’s characters are pulled into a brutal survival showdown. On paper, the plot is straightforward, but that directness seems to have struck a chord with viewers.
That may be part of Apex's appeal. With streaming libraries overflowing with lengthy or serialized content, many viewers are seeking films they can finish in a single evening—no multi-episode investment required.
During the week of May 11–17, 2026, Apex added 10.6 million more views, pushing it past the 100 million milestone. This made it only the second Netflix film of 2026 to reach that level, after The Rip, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Critical Response
Written by Jeremy Robbins and directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Apex has received a mostly positive response from critics. It holds a 66% score on Rotten Tomatoes, topping many other Netflix originals that often see a cooler reception.
Still, reviews are more mixed on the film's back half. A frequent criticism is that a thrilling start leads into a formula that some viewers find repetitive.
Could Apex Break Into the All-Time Top 10?
To join Netflix’s all-time Top 10 most-watched films, Apex would need to surpass 138 million views recorded by Damsel (La Demoiselle et le Dragon) over its first 91 days. That leaves a gap of more than 33 million views to fill.
Whether Apex can reach those heights remains to be seen. Streaming numbers tend to surge at launch before slowing down, so catching up won't be easy. Yet, one thing is clear: eclipsing 105 million views in just 24 days puts Apex in rare company. Few Netflix films have entered the platform’s history so swiftly.
