Netflix's #1 Movie Is Kevin Hart's New R-Rated Comedy
Kevin Hart is starring in a new outrageous comedy, and it's quickly become Netflix's most watched film.
Kevin Hart is best known for his stand-up comedy career, although Hart has many popular movies as well. From playing a zoologist named Franklin "Mouse" Finbar in the blockbuster Jumanji franchise, to more dramatic films like The Upside and Fatherhood, to what is regarded as one of his breakout roles in Think Like a Man, Hart's film career thus far has highlighted his work ethic as a performer, and his strong box-office numbers. Together, both Jumanji films grossed roughly $1.7 billion globally, and whether it's his latest Roast or a new stand-up special, the projects he is involved with are consistently popular.
In his latest comedic film, 72 Hours, which is currently Netflix's number one most watched movie, Hart plays Joe, a 40-year-old executive who is struggling to connect with youth culture. He is mistakenly included in a group chat, and instead of exiting quietly, he sends the bachelor party crew $200 for drinks, before eventually not only buying them a nicer place to stay at, but tagging along for the weekend.
Released on July 24, 2026, it didn't take long for the movie to reach number one status. The film can be described as adjacent in themes and comedy to The Hangover, with the cast of the film including Marcello Hernández (Nick), Mason Gooding (Mason), Ben Marshall (Hunter), Kam Patterson (Freshman), Zach Cherry (Barry) and Teyana Taylor (Jennifer). 72 Hours is framed in a bachelor party gone wrong style, showcasing a new generation of comedy talent, that includes three of the current cast members of SNL.
Some of Hart's most highly rated movies before this latest film, showcase his skill with high-tempo comedy, and this comedy, 72 Hours, is no different. The movie moves at a fast pace, and at many points accelerated further by outside forces, be it Pepto-Bismol, partying, or a surprise entrance and fight by Katt Williams, playing into the public feud and inside jokes. In the film, in an inebriated state, Hart's character Joe asks Katt Williams (who plays himself), "So you have beef with me?" Adding that he would let him apologize. To which Williams says, "I'm sorry... that you're a b***h," which leads to a ridiculous, chaotic fight, followed by another quote from Williams, "Did you just Will Smith me?"
This escalating, absurd tone is present throughout 72 Hours, and Joe's attempt to fit in and learn from Gen Z continues to spiral out of control. Early reactions and reviews are generally negative by critics with a 14% score on Rotten Tomatoes, although Glenn Kenny from the NYT said, "The humor is broad and crude and often genuinely funny. The younger comedians are excellent foils for Hart, who himself remains an uncanny talent." In ScreenRant's Alex Harrison's review, he compared it to 21 Jump Street; however, he said, "With this cast, 72 Hours should've been much funnier."
72 Hours is directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Barbershop, Think Like a Man), and written by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, Kevin Burrows, and Matt Mider. Hurwitz and Schlossberg are known for writing Cobra Kai and The Harold & Kumar Franchise, and Burrows and Mider are known for their fast-paced, comedic action movies, with the upcoming comedy film Animal Friends set to release on January 22, 2027, and it features an all-star cast including Ryan Reynolds, Aubrey Plaza, Eric André, Dan Levy, and Jason Momoa.
Kevin Hart's latest comedic film, 72 Hours, is available to stream on Netflix.