(Credit: Netflix)

The top 10 movies list on Netflix this week says a lot about what people want from movies right now. The serious ones are getting watched, but so are the completely unserious ones.

This means we have officially entered that time of year when audiences want comfort as much as escape, and Netflix seems to be delivering both.

At the top sits Frankenstein, the new gothic adaptation of the famous story that manages to stay engaging even today, totally discarding the fact that the story is ages old. The difference here is the perspective because this Guillermo del Toro directorial leans more into the tragedy rather than the gore, and that choice gives it weight. Netflix viewers seem to be more interested in watching it less for the creature and more for what he represents, which is loneliness and the fear of one’s own creation.

KPop Demon Hunters at number two goes in the opposite direction to Frankenstein. The film throws bright colours and loud sound at the screen without apology. Pop idols fight demons between concerts, and it works well given that the film hasn’t budged from the top three in weeks. The energy of the film has made it so successful, apart from its spot-on humour that turns it into something more fun than it has any right to be. People needed something that does not pretend to be serious, and this one fills that gap perfectly.

A House of Dynamite has finally been moved from its number one spot, and it is down to number three now. This thriller picked up momentum in the beginning, but now it is fading away slowly. But you have to agree that the writing here is neat. It is complemented by the excellent performance of the cast, especially Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Captain Olivia.

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers continues the platform’s obsession with true crime by securing the number four spot. Netflix has given us back-to-back true crime content this year, and Aileen tops it with its detached yet thoughtful tone. If you want to experience something uneasy, this one has to be your pick.

The return of Shrek at number five and Shrek Forever After at number eight proves nostalgia is still powerful. However, this time the reason these films are coming back to the Top 10 list is that they are leaving the platform soon.

New on the list is Ballad of a Small Player, which shifts the tone of the list completely. The film moves through Macau’s gambling world with patience. Every frame looks measured (thanks to director Edward Berger), and the story leaves a sting by the end. It is a slow watch but a rewarding one.

The week closes with The Woman in Cabin 10 and Dr Seuss’s The Sneetches on numbers nine and ten respectively. One traps its protagonist in a fog of paranoia, the other celebrates difference through the simplest of metaphors. Together, they balance the list between unease and gentleness.

The mix this week has no pattern, and that’s probably the best part. It is not just a Netflix Top 10 list; it’s a movie recommendation catalogue.

The most popular movies on Netflix this week:

• Frankenstein
• KPop Demon Hunters
• A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
• Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers
• Shrek Forever After
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
• Ballad of a Small Player
• The Woman in Cabin 10
• Shrek
• Dr Seuss’s The Sneetches