This Netflix movie just broke the platform's 2024 record

Netflix's record-breaking movie, "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," has taken the streaming platform by storm. Upon its release, this Eddie Murphy comedy shot to the top of the Netflix charts, becoming the most-watched film of 2024 in its first week. A staggering 41 million viewers tuned in to watch the film, spending a cumulative total of 80.7 million hours on the 1980s-inspired action-packed flick. This is prepared by SSP.

The film's closest competitor, "Damsel," which hit the screens in March, garnered 35.3 million views during its debut week. Prior to "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," the reigning champ was "Leave the World Behind," released in December 2023, amassing a similar first-week viewership of 41.7 million. Even "Extraction 2" could only manage 42.8 million views in its debut earlier in 2023, indicating the elusive nature of reaching the 40-million-view count for a movie, symbolizing the "peak Netflix" standard.

If "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" manages to sustain its viewership in the second week, there's a strong possibility it will contend for the title of the most-watched film of the year. With several months still ahead, however, there's room for other films to make a fierce bid for that honor.

Impressively, "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" not only enjoyed tremendous popularity but fared well in terms of quality. While it may not have surpassed the original, the fourth installment of this 40-year-old film series proved to be an enjoyable watch, defying expectations. Currently, it holds a respectable 67% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 79%. Fans appreciate its return to the snappy action charms embodied by the first two Beverly Hills Cop movies. Critics acknowledge its adherence to this formula, yet note that the novelty has begun to wear off.

For those looking to immerse themselves in the entire "Beverly Hills Cop" saga, Netflix also offers the first three movies. According to Rotten Tomatoes, "Axel F" ranks second in terms of quality, surpassed only by the original film. However, online consensus places it in between the second and third installments in terms of overall reception. Perhaps a marathon viewing session of the series can settle the debate once and for all.