Bad Teacher is the #1 movie on Netflix. Why not?

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Considering that Cameron Diaz publicly stepped away from acting, it’s surprising to read that she has a #1 movie right now. What’s even more surprising is that that movie is her 2011 hit, Bad Teacher. Not that Bad Teacher isn’t an enjoyable film, but, well, it’s a nine-year-old, raunchy comedy about an unqualified wannabe trophy girlfriend who takes a teaching job to buy herself breast implants to land her rich boyfriend. And yet, according to Netflix, that’s what we’re watching – number #3 overall and the highest ranked movie on the their Top 10 list.

Cameron Diaz is the queen of Netflix right now.

The beloved actress, 48, currently has the most-watched movie on the streaming platform, but don’t fret — you didn’t miss a new release from the semi-retired actress. Instead, it’s her 2011 Bad Teacher that’s topping the charts in a major throwback moment.

The raunchy comedy stars Diaz as a truly terrible middle school substitute teacher who’s only saving up money for breast implants before she falls in love with Jason Segel, who plays the gym teacher. The movie also stars Diaz’s ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake as a wealthy teacher Diaz’s character originally tries to win over.

Bad Teacher also stars a slew of comedic actors, including Molly Shannon, Eric Stonestreet, John Michael Higgins, Phyllis Smith and even a young Kaitlyn Dever.

The movie crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office and brought it $216.2 million total worldwide. It was one of the last movies Diaz filmed before stepping back from acting after 2014’s Annie.

[From People]

I’d forgotten Timberlake was in that with her. I actually forgot almost everything about the film until I read this article. But yeah, why not? Completely implausible premise aside – and by that I am referring to the idea that a teacher makes enough money to pay their food bill, let alone elective surgery – it’s a fun movie that made me laugh. Oya discussed how people are rewatching movies and tv shows during the pandemic because of the sense of comfort we derive from knowing the outcome. If you can add some cathartic bad behavior scenes to it, all the better. Plus, for those of home schooling, I identify a lot more with Cameron’s character in this film than any of the Pinterest blogs I’m reading on how to make learning fun and engaging. I’ve been looking for content since whatever I last watched ended – I can’t even remember what it was. I’m watching Hart of Dixie now, which I have to admit has nothing to do with the main character, who is a terrible person (the character, not Rachel Bilson), and everything to do with Wilson Bethel’s bare chest. My husband has just discovered Brooklyn 99 and I could not be more thrilled to rewatch that with him. But once those are done, I’ll be back on the hunt. The rest of Netflix’s Top Ten List as of yesterday was:

1. American Murder, the Family Next Door
2. Ratched
3. Bad Teacher
4. Enola Holmes
5. The Good Place
6. Reel Steel
7. Welcome to Sudden Death
8. CoComelon
9. Jurassic World: Camp Crustaceous
10. Wentworth

[From Netflix]

Of those listed, Bad Teacher and The Good Place are the the only ones I’d watch. I’ve never seen Welcome to Sudden Death but violent action films rarely are my thing. I’ve not read good reviews on Ratched. I might watch the American Murder, but real crime depresses me so much. CoComelon and the Jusrassic World cartoons are probably a little young for my teens. I tried Wentworth and couldn’t get my teeth into it and I very much disliked both Enola Holmes and Reel Steel. So there you have it, Bad Teacher is my number one movie choice too!

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Photo credit: Netflix

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19 Responses to “Bad Teacher is the #1 movie on Netflix. Why not?”

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  1. Gobo says:

    Wasn’t that from when Justin Timberland was using her to try to get himself an acting career?

    • LaUnicaAngelina says:

      IIRC, Cameron and Justin had been broken up a few years by then. They have a “sex” scene in the movie and it always makes me cringe but I can’t help but think it was probably really like that with JT. You just know that fool is selfish in bed.

  2. smegmoria says:

    I rewatched this just yesterday. I really want to know what happened in 2008!!!!!! Lucy Punch spin off, please?!

  3. Jen says:

    I’m so glad the final season of the Good Place is finally on Netlfix. It totally brightened my week. I’ve been rewatching Sanditon a lot over the pandemic. I think it gives me just the right level of escapist vibes.

  4. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    The only thing I’ve seen on that list is Enola. Partially. I’m currently rewatching Fringe.

  5. Jo73c says:

    I stopped watching Heart of Dixie because I couldn’t stand how terrible the main character is.

  6. ChillyWilly says:

    Man, I wish I had even a few inches of Cam’s legs! I honestly miss her acting. I find her really funny and likeable. I don’t watch many comedies or romcoms but I will watch pretty much anything she’s in.

  7. Megs283 says:

    I’m laid up this week so I’ve been rewatching Outlander season 1. If I finish season 1, I’m going to skip 2 and then start watching partway through 3 (I have it all planned).

    This week I also watched Enola Holmes (enjoyed it) and Descendants (disney).

    BTW season 6 of Schitt’s Creek is released on Netflix this month!!

  8. Sof says:

    Hart of Dixie got weird in the third season, the fourth felt as if it was rushed to give it the intended ending.
    I’m currently watching Succession with my grandmother, it’s one of the few shows she can focus on.
    I heard a lot of people say good things about Enola Holmes, maybe I’ll give in and watch it. The thing is, my patience and attention levels are so low that it’s hard for me to concentrate in movies at the moment.

  9. emu says:

    I’ve never seen it but I’ve always wanted to. Just a fun light-hearted thing is a good escape, especially right now

  10. Veronica S. says:

    It’s dumb-funny and has a hot woman in it, so it’s not as surprising as I think it looks at first glance. People are burned out and exhausted at this point. They aren’t looking to watch things that involve thinking in all fairness.

    Reel Steel is probably the most hilariously stupid film I have ever seen. It played at my old gym’s theatre once, and I nearly killed myself laughing on the treadmill at how bad it was. The only thing it’s got going for it is the Hugh Jackman, who showed up presumably to pay the bills.

  11. Jess says:

    I loved this movie at the time because it is fun to see horrible people being horrible (in movies – watching it in the whole house is awful). And I’m all about the comfort binging. I’ve done Scrubs and Community (the first five seasons), I’m doing the office now, and then it will be time for Parks and Recs again. And when is the final season of Schitts’ Creek coming to Netflix?!!

  12. Stef says:

    I re-watched Bad Teacher a few months ago and it’s fun in a lighthearted way. Tried to watch Thatched yesterday and don’t like it at all, super wired.

    Now I’m re-watching The New Girl and loving it. There is definitely comfort in watching something we’ve already seen and know the outcome of.

  13. lily says:

    Bad teacher is a guilty pleasure.

  14. Upsanddowns says:

    I just watched Bad Teacher last night for the first time and loved it!

  15. Jackson says:

    I am generally not a ‘comedy’ movie fan. They just aren’t funny to me. I like something witty if not a drama. That being said, I always watch this movie when I see it on. One of the few dumb movies that makes me laugh. I don’t care, I love it!

  16. DiegoInSF says:

    I actually love this movie and I was sad when the sequel was scrapped, she’s so charismatic and actually miss her acting a lot!

  17. SKF says:

    It’s a fun movie. I think the whole ‘a teacher could never afford breast implants’ is the point, right? That’s why she starts scamming to get money and they gets her class in for the competition to win the competition money?

  18. Daphne says:

    How is “I’m Sorry” not more popular. I think it’s the best comedy I have seen in years. Andrea Savage is an underrated comedic genius. Truly heartwarming and belly laugh funny. Also, I can stare at fellow Syracuse alum Tom Everett Scott any day. It’s on netflix.