Adam Sandler Is #1 at Netflix, but How Many Knew ‘Spaceman’ Was a Drama About a Lonely Astronaut?

It’s unsurprising that Adam Sandler’s “Spaceman” is an immediate #1 for Netflix, but you have to wonder if the Sandler audience knew what it was getting: It’s the story of a long-distance solo astronaut who encounters loneliness and a mutant spider on his journey to Venus. Directed by Johan Renck, who won a DGA Award for his direction of HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Reviews are mediocre and, per Netflix practice, it had token one-week showings in limited theaters. “Spaceman: debuted on the streamer March 1 and it will be interesting to see what kind of hold it maintains. For now, it’s another example of how Sandler uses his Netflix deal to expand his scope. (The film was produced by Channing Tatum’s Free Association.)

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The film costars Carey Mulligan, currently a Best Actress Oscar nominee for another Netflix original, “Maestro.” That film never reached higher than #4 and only placed in the top 10 for four days.

Two other new Netflix originals also did well, with Canadian-produced action sequel “Code 8: Part II” in second place after reaching #1 during the week. Last week’s #1, Tyler Perry’s court drama “Mea Culpa,” is fourth. In between is the original “Code 8” from 2019. This unusually strong showing for Netflix originals comes shortly after the exit of Scott Stuber, the head of Netflix Film.

In its second week of release, Sony’s sleeper Christmas rom-com hit “Anyone but You” again is #1 at two sites (iTunes and Google Play), while “The Beekeeper” (Lionsgate) is #1 at Vudu. The Jason Statham thriller went from rental-only to digital download this week (still at $19.99), boosting its appeal.

The biggest new film by far was “Poor Things” (Searchlight), with Yorgos Lantimos’ Oscar nominee in fourth or fifth place across the board. Also new this week was “Lisa Frankenstein” (Focus), taking #7 at Vudu after three weekends in theaters. “Things” can be purchased for $19.99; “Lisa” rents for that cost for now.

“Wonka” (WB) and “Migration” (Universal) also placed on all charts, but “Mean Girls” (Paramount) —released the same day as “Beekeeper” in theaters — showed up only at #10 on Vudu. That comes despite the musical comedy grossing $72 million to date, about $7 million more than the Statham title.

Price decreases boosted “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (WB), which now rents for $12.99, to #2 at Vudu. “American Fiction” (MGM Amazon) came down to $14.99 and “The Boys in the Boat” (also MGM Amazon) rents for $5.99.

iTunes and Google Play rank films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, March 4. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. Anyone but You (Sony) – $19.99

2. The Beekeeper (Lionsgate) – $19.99

3. Dune (WB) – $3.99

4. Poor Things (Searchlight) – $19.99

5. The Boys in the Boat (Amazon MGM) – $

6. Oppenheimer (Universal) – $5.99

7. Anatomy of a Fall (Neon) – $6.99

8. Wonka (WB) – $19.99

9. American Fiction (MGM Amazon) – $14.99

10. Migration (Universal) – $19.99

Google Play

1. Anyone but You (Sony) – $19.99

2. The Beekeeper (Amazon MGM) – $19.99

3. Wonka (WB) – $19.99

4. Dune (WB) – $3.99

5. Poor Things (Searchlight) – $19.99

6. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate) – $5.99

7. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (WB) – $12.99

8. Oppenheimer (Universal) – $5.99

9. Migration (Universal) – $19.99

10. The Iron Claw (A24) – $19.99

Vudu

Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating premium VOD titles. This list covers February 26-March 3.

1. The Beekeeper (Amazon MGM) – $19.99

2. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (WB) – $12.99

3. Wonka (WB) – $19.99

4. Anyone but You (Sony) – $19.99

5. Poor Things (Searchlight) – $19.99

6. Migration (Universal) – $19.99

7. Lisa Frankenstein (Focus) – $19.99

8. The Iron Claw (Lionsgate) – $19.99

9. Wish (Disney) – $19.99

10. Mean Girls (Paramunt) – $19.99

Netflix Movies

Most viewed, current ranking on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, March 4. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.

1. Spaceman (Netflix original film)

2. Code 8 Part II (Netflix Canadian original film)

3. Code 8 (2019 Netflix Canadian original film)

4. Mea Culpa (Netflix original film)

5. The Legend of Hercules (2014 theatrical release)

6. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023 theatrical release)

7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023 theatrical release)

8. A Madea Family Funeral (2019 theatrical release)

9. Godzilla (2014 theatrical release)

10. 27 Dresses (2008 theatrical release)

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