AceShowbiz - Swapped has quickly risen to the top as one of Netflix’s most-watched animated movies, breaking the platform’s all-time weekly viewership record for this category. Directed by Nathan Greno, the film features Michael B. Jordan voicing Ollie, a small woodland creature, and Juno Temple as Ivy, a majestic bird. The story revolves around the two characters swapping bodies, which forces them to explore the longstanding conflict between their species.

Released on Netflix on May 1, 2026, Swapped opened with an impressive 15.5 million views in just three days, marking the best opening for an animated film on the streamer since Leo in 2023. However, its success did not stop there. Over the course of its first week, the movie amassed a staggering 38.7 million views, setting a new record for the highest weekly viewership ever recorded for a Netflix animated movie, according to Tudum. This achievement also secured Swapped the number one position on Netflix’s weekly English language top-10 list.

This new animated hit follows the massive success of 2025’s KPop Demon Hunters, which started with modest numbers but eventually became Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time. That film also received widespread critical acclaim and won Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. In contrast, the critical reception to Swapped has been more mixed.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Swapped holds a 67% critics’ score, reflecting generally positive but somewhat lukewarm reviews. Critics have praised the film’s captivating story and dazzling animation but have criticized its simplistic characterizations and lack of thematic depth. In a review for ScreenRant, critic Grant Hermanns rated the movie 3 out of 10 stars, highlighting the animation as the sole strength of the film. Hermanns argued that the script, written by John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, and Robert Snow, feels rushed and underdeveloped.

Hermanns stated, “Arguably the biggest issue with Swapped’s execution is just how rushed the movie feels. Even with a 102-minute runtime, the movie doesn’t do the best job of organically conveying the series of events that lead to Ollie and Ivy’s meeting, namely when his desire to connect with a Javan in his youth sparks the isolation from his family. The proper core of its plot, in which the pair travel throughout The Valley in search of the glowing pods, also rarely feels like it’s doing anything to deepen their characters. The film is just going through the motions of one misadventure after another.”

Despite the somewhat tepid critical response, audiences seem to be embracing Swapped. The film’s Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes is a far stronger 88%, indicating that most Netflix subscribers are enjoying the family-friendly fantasy adventure.

With such strong initial viewership, Netflix may be considering developing a sequel to Swapped. The success story of KPop Demon Hunters, which now has a sequel officially in the works, shows that the streamer is willing to invest in follow-ups when audience interest remains high. While Netflix is likely monitoring the film’s viewership over the coming weeks, early signs point to a promising future for the story of Ollie and Ivy and their magical forest world.

It remains to be seen whether Swapped will maintain its dominance in the weeks ahead, but the new record it set cements the creative partnership between Nathan Greno and Netflix as a fruitful one. The star power of Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple also undoubtedly contributes to the film’s wide appeal and success.

Overall, while critics may have reservations about the movie’s depth and pacing, Swapped has clearly captured the attention of Netflix viewers, setting a new benchmark for animated content on the streaming platform.