Huge 2023 flop reaches number one on Netflix

Cameron Frew
A still from Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken

One of 2023’s biggest box office bombs has managed to become the latest number one movie on Netflix.

Last year, Barbie topped the worldwide box office with an eye-watering gross of $1.44 billion, just ahead of The Super Mario Bros Movie’s record-breaking $1.36 billion. While not breaking the 10-figure milestone, other notable successes include Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer ($957 million) and Godzilla Minus One ($106 million), making the latter Japan’s most successful kaiju movie ever.

Of course, for so many highs, there has to be some crushing lows. It was a historically rough year for Disney, with Ant-Man 3’s measly $476 million, Indiana Jones 5’s $378 million, and The Marvels landing at the MCU’s financial rock bottom with just $206 million.

Yet, films that come and go without much fanfare can easily find a new lease of life on streaming – as evidenced by Netflix’s new chart-topping movie.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken tops Netflix chart

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken has climbed to number one on Netflix’s top 10 movies in the US. Check out the full chart below:

  1. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
  2. Thanksgiving
  3. The Abyss
  4. Lover, Stalker, Killer
  5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
  6. Players
  7. Einstein and the Bomb
  8. Crossroads
  9. Minions
  10. Orion and the Dark

The film, directed by Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl, follows a shy teenager (voiced by Lana Condor) who discovers that “she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed,” the synopsis reads.

It was originally released in cinemas last summer, grossing just $46.1 million against its $70 million. Critics weren’t mixed on it too, with its Rotten Tomatoes score sitting at 65% – that said, this is still a Fresh rating. And, more importantly, viewers at home are clearly enjoying it.

“Ruby Gillman landing at #1 of Top 10 Movies Today on her Netflix debut. You LOVE to see it,” one user tweeted. “Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken is #1 on Netflix right now and that makes me very happy because there is absolutely an audience for this film, and I think it’s pre-teen girls who get to pick the title for movie night,” another wrote.

“It took about a decade for Megamind to be appreciated the way it should have been. I’m so glad Ruby Gillman’s redemption came quicker,” a third posted. “Absolutely ecstatic to see Ruby Gillman at Number 1 on Netflix in the US. I knew this movie would find its audience eventually,” a fourth tweeted.

Related Topics

About The Author

Cameron is Deputy TV and Movies Editor at Dexerto. He's an action movie aficionado, '80s obsessive, and Oscars enthusiast. He loves Invincible, but he's also a fan of The Boys, the MCU, The Chosen, and much more. You can contact him at cameron.frew@dexerto.com.