Einstein and the Bomb” Soars to Netflix Top 4

Netflix’s “Einstein and the Bomb” has made a significant impact on viewers since its release, quickly climbing to the fourth spot among the platform’s most popular English films. The documentary/drama offers a unique perspective on the atomic bomb’s history, focusing on the pivotal role of Albert Einstein. Released just days ago, the film has already garnered 10.9 million hours of viewing, demonstrating its widespread appeal.

Despite receiving a somewhat mixed reception from audiences, with only a 51% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have praised “Einstein and the Bomb” for its poignant and thought-provoking portrayal. The Wall Street Journal has described it as a “moving, thoughtful docudrama,” while Rolling Stone noted that it “hits what ‘Oppenheimer’ left out,” suggesting that it complements last year’s acclaimed film on the same subject.

The success of “Einstein and the Bomb” marks it as the second-best-performing Netflix documentary to be released on a Friday, according to data from What’s On Netflix. With such positive early reception, the film is expected to continue climbing the charts, especially as the critical acclaim of “Oppenheimer” persists. The latter recently swept the BAFTA Film Awards and is nominated for an impressive 21 Oscars, indicating a strong interest in the atomic bomb narrative among audiences.

In other Netflix news, the week of Valentine’s Day saw a surge in viewership for romantic content. “Players,” a romantic comedy starring Gina Rodriguez and Tom Ellis, claimed the top spot with 28.5 million viewing hours, followed by the true crime documentary “Lover, Stalker, Killer” with 21.9 million hours. “Einstein and the Bomb” followed closely behind in fourth place, indicating a diverse range of viewing preferences among Netflix subscribers.

Additionally, the enduring popularity of certain films on Netflix has been noteworthy. “The Devil Wears Prada,” released in 2006, has maintained its presence on the most-watched chart for a second week. This resurgence coincides with the announcement of Vanessa Williams starring as Miranda Priestly in Elton John’s stage production of the story, generating renewed interest in the original movie.

Meanwhile, comedian Taylor Tomlinson’s new comedy special, “Have It All,” debuted at number six on Netflix’s English TV charts with 2.6 million hours watched. This marks her third special, but it has received a lower rating from audiences compared to her previous works. Nonetheless, Tomlinson’s entry into late-night television as the host of “After Midnight” on CBS has been met with decent ratings, indicating a growing fan base for her comedic style.

Lastly, the medical drama “House,” starring Hugh Laurie, has found a new audience on Netflix. Originally airing from 2004 to 2012, the show entered the top 10 most-watched English TV shows on Netflix in its second week, accumulating an impressive 63.2 million viewing hours between February 5 and February 18.