A Sacha Baron Cohen comedy is proving to be a major streaming success shortly after its release on Netflix. It has rapidly climbed global movie charts on the platform, outperforming several high-profile films. Despite receiving largely negative reviews from critics, the strong audience interest highlights the movie’s growing popularity online.
Ladies First is doing really well after Netflix debut
Ladies First, the latest comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen, is off to a strong start on streaming following its Netflix debut.
According to FlixPatrol, the film ranked No. 1 on Netflix’s worldwide top movies chart on May 24, 2026. It has outperformed titles including Swapped, In Her Shoes, No Hard Feelings, The Crash, Guess Who, and Apex. The comedy also secured the No. 3 position on Netflix’s overall top 10 chart in the United States the same day.
Helmed by Thea Sharrock, Ladies First draws inspiration from the 2018 French comedy I Am Not an Easy Man. The film premiered on Netflix on May 22, 2026. The film follows advertising executive Damien Sachs, whose comfortable and highly privileged lifestyle is abruptly disrupted after he finds himself living in an alternate society where women hold dominant positions in society.
He suddenly finds himself struggling to adapt to a world where the power dynamics have entirely shifted. As Damien attempts to navigate the unfamiliar environment, he comes into conflict with Alex Fox, a highly successful executive who now occupies the position that he enjoyed. He soon begins experiencing the same treatment and professional obstacles he once ignored around him.
Sacha Baron Cohen leads the cast as Damien Sachs opposite Rosamund Pike as Alex Fox. Supporting cast members include Tom Davis as Chris Black, Emily Mortimer as Sunny Black, Weruche Opia as Ruby, and Charles Dance as Fred Powell among others.
Critical reception for the film has been largely negative so far. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently holds a 19% critics’ score based on 16 reviews. However, audience response has been considerably more positive, with the Popcornmeter score standing at 68%. Those ratings remain subject to change as additional reviews are added.