In Just 1 Day, 2026’s Hit Space Jam Replacement Turns Into the No. 1 Movie on Netflix

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The new movie everyone’s talking about, a modern take on Space Jam, quickly became a huge hit. It’s already at the top of Netflix’s most-watched list after its release.

According to data from FlixPatrol, the new movie GOAT quickly became the most popular film on Netflix in the United States on May 15th. It’s remained at number one ever since, even surpassing other animated films like Swapped, which currently ranks as Netflix’s top movie worldwide. While GOAT is mainly found on HBO Max outside the U.S., it’s the second most popular movie there as of May 17th, only behind Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights.

GOAT Enjoyed an Impressive Box Office Run Earlier This Year

I was really surprised by how well GOAT did when it hit Netflix, especially considering it already had a solid run in theaters back in February. It came out alongside a bunch of other films – Wuthering Heights, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, and Crime 101 – but still managed to pull in a fantastic $35 million domestically on its opening weekend! That’s the biggest opening for an original animated film since Elemental last year. It started in second place, but quickly took the top spot the following week – a pretty impressive feat, honestly.

A big reason why GOAT is so popular is its charming and feel-good story. Caleb McLaughlin, known from Stranger Things, voices Will Harris, a teenage goat with big dreams of becoming a pro ‘roarball’ player. The story follows Will’s journey as he strives to succeed, even though his new teammates aren’t immediately welcoming to a goat joining the team.

Alongside McLaughlin, the animated film GOAT features the voices of a star-studded cast including Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Nick Kroll, Jenifer Lewis, Patton Oswalt, and Jennifer Hudson. The movie also introduces Steph Curry in his acting debut, where he plays Lenny Williamson, a giraffe who plays roarball. Curry was also a producer on the film.

Space Jam Fans Are Loving GOAT’s Relatable Story

Although it’s a fully animated movie, GOAT has been compared to Space Jam by many viewers. Like the earlier film, GOAT features a unique visual style, lovable characters, and a heartwarming story about an underdog sports team, which made it a hit when it was released in 1996.

As a huge fan, I’m so excited that GOAT is actually a critical and audience success! Unlike Space Jam back in the 90s, everyone seems to love this movie. Right now, it’s ‘Certified Fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes with an 84% approval rating – way better than Space Jam‘s 46%! Even regular moviegoers agree – the ‘Popcornmeter’ shows 93% positive reviews from over 2,500 people. Critics are really praising the voice acting, the animation, and saying it’s a great, positive story for kids.

GOAT is now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-05-18 18:06