(Credit: Netflix)

No one asked. No one predicted. But here we are in July 2025, and Ride Along 2 has paved its way back into the global top ten on Netflix. This Kevin Hart starrer has landed at number seven this time, nearly a decade after it first hit theatres.

If you need a refresher (or if you chose to block it out), Ride Along 2 is the 2016 buddy-cop sequel where Kevin Hart screams a lot, Ice Cube scowls even more, and somehow they still solve crime. It is the cinematic equivalent of a loud group chat: chaotic, unnecessary, and yet… kind of fun if you are in the mood. And it looks like millions of Netflix viewers already are.

While critics panned it back then, the box office told a different story. The movie made over 124 million dollars worldwide. It once again proved that audiences and critics often live on different planets. And now? Now it is enjoying a weirdly successful second act on Netflix. Clearly, some comedies age like wine. Boxed wine, maybe. But wine nonetheless.

So why is Ride Along 2 suddenly everywhere again? Part of it might be timing. With the summer heat in full swing, people are gravitating toward easy, no-stress watches, and this movie fits the bill. It asks nothing from you. You do not need to follow a plot. You do not need to remember the first one. You just need to sit back, relax, and let Kevin Hart yell about everything from computers to car chases.

There is also the undeniable charm of Hart and Ice Cube together. Are the jokes groundbreaking? Absolutely not. Are they delivered with enough energy to power a small city? Yes. And maybe that is all viewers want right now: a loud, silly mess with a few actually funny moments and some flashy action sequences to go with dinner.

The film’s sudden re-entry into pop culture also sparks a fun question. Are buddy-cop comedies due for a comeback? We have had our fill of moody dramas, grim antiheroes, and prestige thrillers. Maybe the audience is simply craving a break. Something unserious. Something where the stakes feel low and the laughs come easy.

And let’s be honest, part of the fun here is the sheer absurdity of it all. Watching Ride Along 2 blow past newer content to re-enter the global top 10 feels like a prank. But at the same time, it is also a reminder that Netflix audiences are not always swayed by novelty. Sometimes it is easy for comfort and familiarity to win the race.

And then, of course, there’s the nostalgia factor. Streaming culture has a habit of digging up old movies and turning them into viral hits overnight. All it takes is one TikTok clip or a bored scroll through Netflix’s homepage, and suddenly an eight-year-old comedy is trending again.

But beyond the noise and the one-liners, the movie also taps into something comforting. The buddy-cop formula is well-worn but dependable. You are served exactly what you asked for. This film is a spice mix of everything from mismatched partners, a reluctant bromance, some tech-guy antics, a suspiciously shiny villain, and an explosive finale. No surprises. Just a predictable, popcorn-worthy ride.

This Kevin Hart comedy might not win any awards or top anyone’s list of cinematic masterpieces. But its return to the top charts is proof that sometimes all we want is comfort food. And this one is served with car crashes, neon Miami vibes, and Hart’s voice ringing in your ears.

Is it good? Not really. Is it fun? Kind of. Is it what Netflix viewers are choosing to stream by the millions right now? Absolutely.