The most watched movie ever can be interpreted in a few different ways, depending on whether you’re looking at box office performance, streaming numbers, or total viewership. Here are some answers based on different metrics:
1. Highest-Grossing Movie (Box Office):
As of 2024, Avatar (2009), directed by James Cameron, holds the title of the highest-grossing movie globally, with over $2.92 billion in total box office revenue. It surpassed Avengers: Endgame (2019) after a re-release in China in 2021.
2. Most Watched Movie on Streaming Platforms:
Red Notice (2021), starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds, holds the record for the most-watched movie on Netflix, with over 364 million hours watched in its first month. However, this number is specific to Netflix’s viewership data.
3. Highest Total Viewership (All-time):
If you consider home video sales, TV airings, and streaming, Gone with the Wind (1939) is often cited as one of the most-watched films ever due to its long-lasting presence in popular culture and its high number of home video sales and TV broadcasts over decades.
4. Most Watched Movie in Theaters (Single Event):
Avatar also holds the record for the most successful film in terms of total worldwide theater admissions. While precise data for total viewership across every medium is hard to calculate, its massive global success suggests it is among the most-watched films in cinema history.
These numbers are always subject to change, especially with the rise of streaming services and re-releases of popular films.
