'Swapped' Takes Down 'Apex' to Become Netflix’s Newest Global Hit
After spending two weeks in the number one position on Netflix, Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton's action thriller, Apex, has finally been dethroned by a new, record-setting global hit. Apex earned another 16.2 million views for the week of May 4-10, bringing its three-week total to 96.2 million. However, the weekly champion went to a family favorite newcomer that is already becoming one of Netflix's biggest movies ever. Released on May 1, the new flick features the talents of Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, and Justina Machado. Its plot revolves around a small woodland creature named Ollie (Jordan) and a majestic bird named Ivy (Temple) who accidentally swap bodies, forcing them to work together whilst trying to survive a series of adventures. Titled Swapped, the animated movie came in second behind Apex in its first week out, earning 15.5 million views for the week of April 27-May 3. However, it was its following week of release that really proved just how big of a smash Swapped really is. For the week of May 4-10, it accumulated another 38.7 million views, which is the largest number of views a Netflix animated film has ever received in a seven-day period. Not even the almighty KPop Demon Hunters reached those heights. This now brings the two-week total for Swapped to 54.2 million views, signifying that it's definitely a force to be reckoned with.
'Swapped' Has Found Success Despite Mixed Reviews
Directed by Nathan Greno and written by John Whittington, Swapped marks Jordan's first movie since he took home the Best Actor Oscar for his work in Ryan Coogler's Sinners. While it's been a big hit with audiences, critics haven't been as kind to the animated feature. It currently holds just a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from pundits, compared to an 87% score on the Popcornmeter. Produced by Skydance Animation for Netflix, critic Callie Hanna from FandomWire writes: "Swapped clearly wants to reach the heights of Pixar, Disney, or DreamWorks' best without actually understanding what made those films truly connect with people." Brogan Luke Bouwhuis from In Between Drafts adds that Swapped is "like giving a kid an iPad and then forgetting them in your car." Matt Oakes from Silver Screen Riot writes in his review:
"Visually imaginative but emotionally underpowered, it's a mostly inoffensive, largely algorithmic animated flick that even Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple can't charm into having a personality."
Of course, what really matters is what kids (both big and small) think of Swapped, and thus far, their voices have been much louder than the critics. One Rotten Tomatoes user wrote that it made them "cry happy tears," while another called it a "captivating and skyrocketing movie about friendship." Another commented that Swapped isn’t just "a beautiful animated adventure," but a movie featuring a "surprisingly thoughtful story about empathy, adaptability, and teamwork."
How Long Will 'Swapped' Stay Successful?
Given the fact that it's already breaking records for Netflix in just its second week of release, we don't expect Swapped to slow down anytime soon. Unless something catastrophic happens, look for it to maintain its position in the weekly Top 10, taking first place again next week.
The question really is: how many more views will Swapped add to its total? Time will tell, but we'll have a definitive answer for you next week when the official numbers are released. In the meantime, be sure to check out Swapped streaming now on Netflix.
Release Date
May 1, 2026
Runtime
102 minutes
Director
Nathan Greno
