Tyler Perry’s latest film, Straw, is making major waves on Netflix, smashing records and dominating the streaming charts with a staggering 48.9 million views in its second week. Despite drawing mixed to negative reviews from critics, the psychological thriller is resonating deeply with audiences, quickly becoming one of the biggest Netflix film successes of the year.
According to Netflix data, the film’s second-week numbers represent the biggest week this year for a movie on the platform and mark the biggest week for any 2025 launch on the streaming giant. The numbers are particularly impressive when compared to its opening weekend, where Straw garnered 25.3 million views in just three days. The second-week jump amounts to a 93.3% increase in viewership, signaling strong word-of-mouth and growing curiosity around Perry’s latest project.
Straw, which debuted on June 6, stars acclaimed actress Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah, a struggling single mother caught in a whirlwind of personal and societal chaos. According to the official synopsis, “her world unravels in chaos as her day goes from bad to worse to catastrophic as she struggles to care for her ill daughter. Pushed to the brink by a world that seems indifferent to her existence, she’s forced to confront impossible choices in a society that offers her no safety net.”
The film’s gritty, emotional storyline has seemingly struck a chord with audiences. On IMDb, Straw experienced a meteoric rise, shooting up 1,749 points in popularity to land in the Top 5 most popular movies, further fueling intrigue and viewership.
The rapid growth in audience interest also saw Straw outperform other popular releases, including Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster, which came in as the second most-watched film of the week with 17.4 million views.
While the film’s dark tone and intense narrative may have divided critics, it’s clear that Perry’s bold storytelling has captivated a massive global audience. Straw now joins a growing list of Tyler Perry projects that have defied critical reception to achieve commercial success, this time on the world’s biggest streaming platform.
