

Tyler Perry’s newest thriller, Straw, has broken Netflix records, earning nearly 50 million streams in its second week on the service. This number makes this the biggest week for any new Netflix release this year and for any movie on Netflix this year. When the film debuted on June 6th, it amassed 25.3 million viewers in its first three days. That number continued to rise in its second week, earning 48.9 million views, a 93.3% increase from its first week.
The film is led by Taraji P. Henson, and also stars Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, and Sinbad. The film’s synopsis is as follows:
“A single mother navigates a series of unfortunate events, leading her down an unforeseen path where she becomes embroiled in a situation she never envisioned, finding herself at the centre of suspicion in an indifferent world.”
The film hasn’t been well-received by critics, as it currently stands at a mixed 50% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has fared slightly better with audiences, shown by the large viewer count and the film’s 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. And despite the largely negative reviews by critics, Taraji P. Henson is being singled out with praise for her lead performance, playing a single mother who struggles to care for her ill daughter. Most critics largely dislike the film, citing its convoluted plot and shocking twist ending.
Straw is currently streaming on Netflix.
