One of the biggest successes of Netflix is no longer top 1: it is dethroned by this exclusive film

News culture One of the biggest successes of Netflix is no longer top 1: it is dethroned by this exclusive film

After having won the top of the charts in more than 60 countries and recorded resounding success with 46.7 million views in just three days, marking the biggest start for an American film on the platform in 2025, Happy Gilmore 2 lost in front of a newcomer: the romantic drama My Oxford Year. This rapid transition highlights the versatility of subscribers’ preferences.

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L’ascension de My Oxford Year

My Oxford Year made his debut on Netflix on August 1, 2025 and quickly climbed the ladder to rank number one. Directed by Iain Morris, this romantic drama adapts the eponymous novel by Julia Whelan. The film features Sofia Carson in the role of Anna de la Vega, a brilliant American student who goes to the University of Oxford to study Victorian poetry. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets her tutor, Jamie Davenport, interpreted by Corey Mylchreest. Their relationship is developing despite a poignant secret: Jamie suffers from genetic cancer that weakens his immune system.

Although the film seduced the public, the criticism gave it a more mixed welcome. On Rotten Tomatoes, My Oxford Year only collected 30% of the Aurpes of the press. Courtney Howard de Variety noted that the film “becomes a mediocre melodrama about being with a cute boy who desperately needed his help”, when he should have been a “tender and feminist story centered on a young woman rediscovering her sleeping dream”. John Anderson of the Wall Street Journal commented that the main actors, although “very attractive”, had “much playing”. Finally, Benjamin Lee of the Guardian considered that the film lacked emotional depth and could not fully captivate his audience, making him “forgettable”. In addition, a specialist at the University of Oxford, Honcques Laus, noted inaccuracies in the representation of university ceremonies and traditions, even if he praised the faithful inclusion of certain elements such as academic outfit and Sheldonian Theater.

The fate of Happy Gilmore 2

The decline of Happy Gilmore 2 (he has already left the top in France for the benefit of the Ducobu trilogy) intervenes despite the promising beginnings, but A mixed critical reception with 63% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. This series of the cult comedy of 1996 is also a Netflix production, carried out by Kyle Newacheck according to a script by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. The film follows Happy Gilmore, now a widower and prey to alcoholism, forced to take over the golf course to finance the ballet school of his daughter. Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter criticized the film for his “low -end” humor and his “tired” gags.

The rapid fall of Happy Gilmore 2 and the ascent of My Oxford Year illustrate the diversified content strategy of Netflix and the unpredictable nature of trends. While the precise figures of My Oxford Year in terms of views have not yet been revealed, its initial success demonstrates the capacity of the platform to launch new titles which instantly capture public attention. This proves that even the most anticipated films can quickly give way. K-POP DEMON HUNTERS is always top 2 on our territory, and this more than 6 weeks after its release on Netflix.