The 5th Wave Has Climbed Global Streaming Charts
The science fiction film secured the fourth position on the global HBO Max streaming chart this week.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Science Fiction
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The 5th Wave has emerged as the fourth most-watched movie globally on HBO Max. The film is currently trending specifically across Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru.
Why it matters
The resurgence of the title demonstrates how older science fiction content continues to capture significant audience attention within international streaming libraries.
The production grossed $109.9 million worldwide against a $54 million budget. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 16% critics' score and a 38% audience score.
The players
The 5th Wave
This science fiction film is an adaptation of the 2013 novel written by Rick Yancey.
FlixPatrol
This service provides the streaming popularity data used to identify the film's current global ranking.
The details
The film appears to be finding a second life on the HBO Max streaming service throughout Latin American territories. While the movie is popular on HBO Max abroad, it remains available to viewers in the United States exclusively through Netflix.
Timeline
Rick Yancey published the novel The 5th Wave in 2013.
The 5th Wave was released in North America on January 22, 2016.
The film was reported as trending on September 22, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The rise of The 5th Wave follows the pattern set by other older titles finding renewed interest in the streaming era, as documented by tracking services like FlixPatrol. This trend highlights how legacy intellectual property gains new value through the global reach of subscription streaming services.
International viewers in Latin America can access the film through their existing HBO Max subscription. In the United States, audiences looking to watch the movie must use their Netflix account instead.
The takeaway
Legacy films often find new audiences when they transition to digital platforms across different international markets. Viewers should check regional library listings, as availability frequently varies between services like Netflix and HBO Max.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of the genre, visit the Science Fiction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBR.
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