(Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing / Columbia Pictures)

Some movies do not need a new release, reboot, or sequel to find their way back into the spotlight. They just need to be pressed play again and again. And right now, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is getting a whole new wave of love on Netflix. The 2018 animated film has crept its way into the number seven spot on the Netflix’s global most popular list, proving that monsters, mayhem, and musical cruise ships never go out of style.

The third instalment of the beloved franchise, Hotel Transylvania 3, takes the action away from the spooky hotel and onto a luxury monster cruise. This is probably the best part about the film series: it makes sure it transports you to a new location to add to the fun. Count Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, is still running on caffeine and centuries of parental anxiety. But this time, he is also wrestling with romance as he unexpectedly “zings” with the ship’s mysterious captain, Ericka, who may or may not be trying to destroy all monsters.

What follows is classic Hotel Transylvania: hyperactive animation, offbeat humour, dance battles, and a whole lot of heart. As usual, it is fast-paced, silly in all the right ways, and somehow even sweeter than expected. The film did well at the box office when it was first released, but now, years later, it is enjoying a full-blown Netflix revival.

Part of the reason? Timing. Hotel Transylvania 3 hit the platform just as families were looking for light-hearted, school-holiday-friendly content to keep kids entertained. It is the kind of film parents can throw on and walk away from, only to find themselves standing in the hallway watching a scene play out because they forgot how genuinely funny it was.

But the other part of the film’s streaming success is simple: people already loved it. For viewers who grew up on the first two Hotel Transylvania movies, the third one has become a nostalgic comfort watch. The familiar characters, the chaotic visual style, and the pop-heavy soundtrack create an energy that is hard to resist, especially when you are looking for something light and reliably entertaining.

Its rise on the charts also speaks to the strange staying power of animated franchises. Even without a recent release, the Hotel Transylvania universe still draws in new viewers. It could mostly be kids discovering it for the first time and older fans returning for the chaos. No matter who’s watching, it helps that the film is packed with colourful set pieces, rapid-fire jokes, and physical comedy that translates across languages and age groups.

And for a film that features a werewolf dad on vacation with 50 kids, it is surprisingly heartfelt. Like the rest of the franchise, Hotel Transylvania 3 is ultimately about family, chosen and otherwise.

Whether you are revisiting it for the laughs or just to escape into a world where the biggest crisis is a sea creature with rhythm, Hotel Transylvania 3 delivers exactly what it promises. And with its return to Netflix’s Top 10, it is clear that audiences around the world still want to check back in with Dracula and his gang, but this time, at sea.