The most watched movies of the week: New releases and some unexpected classics

Wondering what everyone’s been watching this week? Well, spring is in the air and so is action, action, action!

Every week, the popularity of movies across streaming might be determined by promotions, star power, critic raves, social media buzz, good old-fashioned word of mouth, or a new addition to a beloved franchise. While the reasons may vary, you can’t argue with the numbers that streaming aggregator Reelgood collected from hundreds of streaming services in the U.S. and UK.

As it has for weeks, The Batman continues to reign supreme. But there’s plenty of contenders vying for that top spot. For now, here’s the 10 most-streamed movies of the week, where to watch them, and what Mashable critics made of them.

1. The Batman

Credit: Jonathan Olley and DC Comics

Taking the caped crusader back to his early days, Matt Reeves’ The Batman sees Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) on the trail of a serial killer known as The Riddler (Paul Dano), tapping into the darkness that made Nolan’s Dark Knight series a success. The cast is pretty stacked with this one, featuring Zoë Kravitz as Cat Woman, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, and Jeffrey Wright as Lt. Gordon. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

What we thought: So, today it is my grim task to tell you The Batman is studded with stars, action, comic book characters, real-world parallels, gorgeous cinematography, and grit-teeth seriousness. But it falls short of exciting or entertaining or fun. It wasn’t a ride, but a chore. Considering all the stories that might be told with these characters, the truly daring possibilities it scratches at dwarf the film it actually is. —Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Batman is streaming now on HBO Max.

2. The Gentlemen

Credit: C Raphael / Miramax / Kobal / Shutterstock

The latest from Guy Ritchie stars Matthew McConaughey as an American expat who, after years of building a drug empire in London, is looking to cash out. This kicks off a rowdy melee for power that brings in an array of wild characters and outrageous shenanigans. As expected from a Richie endeavor, The Gentleman is stuffed with stars, including Charlie Hunnam, Jeremy Strong, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding, and Hugh Grant. —Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Gentleman is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Lost City

Credit: Paramount Pictures / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum team up for an action-rom-com in the vein of Romancing the Stone. She’s Loretta, a heartbroken romance novelist looking to turn her back on her career and love. He’s Alan, the cover model who has been the face of her sexy adventures for years. But when a tyrannical billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) kidnaps her to uncover an ancient artifact, it’s up to Alan to save the day…and get the girl?

What we thought: The Lost City perseveres through a barrage of half-hearted bits and bungled punchlines, becoming an adventure that’s inoffensively entertaining and easy enough to enjoy. Bullock is in sharp form. And while Tatum’s hero doesn’t reach the mighty heights of Chris Hemsworth’s side-splitting himbo in Ghostbusters, his Alan is solidly delightful. Radcliffe’s talents are squandered, but Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Patti Harrison, and Brad Pitt make the most out of smaller supporting roles that bring some edge to the overall tame adventure. —K.P.

How to watch: The Lost City is now streaming on Paramount+.

4. Top Gun

Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Little wonder this 1986 hit is taking flight on streaming. Next week will see the release of Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel 36 years in the making. So what better time to return to the tale of cocky pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards) as they take to the skies to prove they’re the very best of the best. Aside from aerial action, this Tony Scott gem also boasts a steamy romance, a bold performance by Val Kilmer, and plenty of moments that will be recalled in the sequel. —K.P.

How to watch: Top Gun is now streaming on Paramount+.

5. The Outfit

This is a gangster thriller with plenty of prestige attached. Graham Moore, the Academy Award-winning writer of The Imitation Game, directs Academy Award winner Mark Rylance in a tale of a simple tailor who gets tangled in the bloody business of his less reputable clients. It all begins with a suitcase. From there, tempers will flare. The scissors will come out. And the bodies will hit the floor. But who will make it through the night? —K.P.

How to watch: The Outfit is now streaming on Peacock.

6. Death on the Nile

Credit: 20th Century Studios / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Kenneth Branagh has been busy hoovering up Belfast acclaim recently, but before that he both directed and starred in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name. The story is centred on — you guessed it! — a death on the Nile, with detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) sent in to work out who exactly did what to who. This one comes with a big cast — Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, and Rose Leslie are among them — and plenty of twists. —S.H.

What we thought: When Death on the Nile is not making amusingly bad choices, it’s swimming in bloated sequences or reiterating the same point enough to make you seasick. Consequently you may find, as I did, that this whodunnit isn’t all that hard to figure out. Humblebrag, but: I had it solved before the end of act one — which left me regrettably little to do the rest of the movie. – Alison Foreman

How to watch: Death on the Nile is now streaming on HBO Max.

7. The Godfather

Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 mobster drama is a classic, boasting three Academy Awards, two sequels, and a slew of iconic performances from the likes of Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and Oscar-winner Marlon Brando. But the reason this saga about the Corleone crime family has resurrected to relevance is The Offer, the Paramount+ mini-series that explores how this marvelous movie got made. Clearly, many fans have been inspired to revisit The Godfather with a fresh appreciation that behind-the-scenes context brings. —K.P.

How to watch: The Godfather is now streaming on Paramount+.

8. All the Old Knives

No, it’s not something we’d advise against selling at a garage sale, it’s the new spy movie with Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton. Pine plays Henry, who’s investigating his ex, Celia (Newton), for possibly being a double agent. They worked as CIA intelligence officers back in the day and were unable to stop a terrorist attack; the real truth of this will be revealed in the most classic of forms: flashbacks. —Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: All the Old Knives is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

9. Run

Credit: Allen Fraser / Hulu

True crime fans might recognize the real-world inspiration behind this crime-thriller, as will anyone who saw Hulu’s The Act. Co-written and directed by Aneesh Chaganty, Run centers on a teen girl whose health issues require that her mother care for closely. But is there something that her seemingly devoted mother is keeping from her? Kiera Allen and Sarah Paulson star. —K.P.

How to watch: Run is now streaming on Hulu.

10. Doctor Strange

Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Horror helmer Scott Derrickson put this thumbprint on the Marvel Cinematic Universe with this 2009 film, which focused on the titular sorcerer. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Doctor Stephen Strange, a renowned surgeon whose life is thrown into spin when a car crash destroys his hands. In desperation, he turns to a far-flung temple he’s heard could heal him. But when he meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), he gets much more than he bargained for. Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams not only co-star here, but also reprise their roles in the now-in-theaters sequel Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. —K.P.

How to watch: Doctor Strange is now streaming on Disney+.