Tyler Perry’s latest Netflix release, Straw, hit the streamer on June 6, 2025, and tells the story of a struggling single mother whose life spirals into chaos after a series of misfortunes. What begins as an everyday fight for survival becomes a nerve-racking ordeal when she finds herself at the center of a deeply disturbing situation, one that leads to isolation, misunderstanding, and, eventually, suspicion from those around her. The film is emotionally charged and thematically ambitious, yet Straw has failed to impress the critics. The film currently holds a disappointing 47% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, continuing a troubling pattern in Perry’s directorial filmography. Since 2024’s Mea Culpa, every one of Perry’s last five movies has earned a “rotten” score from critics. However, despite the critical rejection, the director’s films continue to receive much higher audience scores, including Straw, which has a 73% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The growing divide that these scores reflect leaves one wondering why Perry is stuck in this rut and why critics continue to turn their backs on his work, while audiences keep coming for more.
‘Straw’ Is a Melodrama Overdose

It’s Typical Tyler Perry

STRAW

Release Date

June 6, 2025

Runtime

105 minutes

Tyler Perry is no stranger to emotional storytelling. However, many critics argue that the director has begun to confuse drama with melodrama. In Straw, a well-intentioned narrative about single motherhood and social injustice is quickly overwhelmed by over-the-top plot developments. From spontaneous job loss to a hostage situation to surreal acts of betrayal, the film stacks hardship upon hardship. As The Guardian puts it, Perry “pulls out all the stops to break the camel’s back,” which results in him leaning too heavily on emotional extremes without giving viewers time to process the humanity behind them. This issue is not new for Perry. The director’s previous releases, such as Mea Culpa and Divorce in Black, have received similar feedback. Critics have referred to his scripts as blunt, preachy, and emotionally manipulative. While Perry’s themes often stem from real-life trauma and injustice, the execution tends to exaggerate these elements rather than ground them in realism. The result is storytelling that feels performative rather than powerful, with noble intentions that fail to deliver. Even in his more comedic or lighthearted films, Perry’s instinct to ramp up the drama often leaves critics cold. A prime example of this is the director’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, which earned a mere 19% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While audiences found it somewhat fun, evidenced by its 52% score, critics dismissed it for its clumsy tone and uneven pacing. With Straw, Perry has once again gone for emotional intensity over subtlety, and critics are simply not buying it.
Tyler Perry Overuses Black Trauma in ‘Straw’

Netflix

Tyler Perry’s work is rooted in the Black experience, often placing Black women at the heart of its narratives. While this is commendable, critics argue that Perry’s approach to portraying Black trauma is too often exploitative rather than insightful. Straw continues this trend, using deeply personal struggles such as poverty, abuse, mental health, and systematic failure as dramatic fodder. The Guardian has criticized the film for using these issues to create tension rather than spark meaningful conversation, noting:
“As ever, Perry…engages with many ideas, but none that he seems to fully understand. That includes Black women, whom he does a tremendous disservice to once again.”
Similar critiques were leveled at Divorce in the Black, which earned an embarrassing 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Many reviewers thought that Perry’s portrayal of emotional abuse and betrayal lacks nuance, instead framing serious issues through the lens of revenge and melodrama. The result, they argued, was trauma turned into spectacle, where pain was used to entertain, not enlighten. The recurring accusation is that Perry’s films trade in mere surface-level empathy with little to no depth.

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This approach has started to wear thin among critics, who believe Perry’s scripts often reduce his characters’ complex realities to a checklist of suffering. Straw may have intended to shine light on social inequities, but critics felt its lack of introspection made the film emotionally exhausting rather than illuminating. While Perry’s focus on Black women’s stories is admirable, the way he tells them often undermines the very message the director is trying to convey.
Audiences Keep Forgiving Perry’s Flaws

Netflix

Despite critical disappointment, Tyler Perry continues to enjoy overwhelming support from his fan base. The strong 73% score that Straw holds on Rotten Tomatoes is proof that viewers continue to connect with his stories on an emotional level. Social media platforms such as X exploded with praise for Taraji P. Henson’s performance, with one user writing, “If Taraji P Henson don’t get a damn Oscar for this I will raise HELL!.” The rawness of the storytelling, though exaggerated, clearly resonates with audiences who see pieces of their lives in Perry’s characters. This divide likely stems from differing perspectives. While critics analyze films based on structure, tone, performance consistency, and thematic sophistication, most audiences are looking for connection. Viewers crave stories that reflect their reality, even if the execution is not flawless. Perry’s films, especially Straw, offer catharsis. For viewers who have faced real adversity, the emotional arcs of his characters provide validation and hope. Lexi V, expressing their opinion on Rotten Tomatoes, said:
“This movie hits hard as a single mother. The ending is so profoundly heart wrenching. As someone who works in the mental health field, and has dealt with profound struggle and grief, I was sobbing at the end. It’s a must watch.”

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Furthermore, Perry’s casting choices contribute significantly to audience goodwill. The director frequently works with powerhouse actors, including Henson, Sherri Shepherd, and Teyana Taylor, who bring grit and heart to otherwise flawed scripts. While critics may dismiss the surrounding chaos, many viewers see these performances as sufficient to justify the film’s emotional weight. As long as the emotional beats land, Perry’s films will continue to draw in an audience, even if critics continue to frown upon them. With Tyler Perry now on quite an unfortunate streak, the critical backlash is likely to persist unless he significantly retools his creative approach. However, with a loyal audience and a platform that values viewership over review scores, he perhaps has little reason to change. As long as his stories strike an emotional chord, Tyler Perry will continue doing what he does best, critic reviews be damned. Straw is now streaming on Netflix.