March 5, 2026, 2:38 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
In 2026, it’s no longer necessary to have big-name stars to make a film or series successful. Sometimes, a compelling topic is enough, as seen with “The Perfect Neighbor” on Netflix. Currently, interest in the work is rapidly increasing.
“The Perfect Neighbor” Suddenly a Netflix Hit
“The Perfect Neighbor” was released on Netflix in October 2025. It’s a documentary film. It doesn’t rely on well-known faces or a popular premise. As the magazine “IndieWire” exclusively reports, the film has still managed to achieve more than 50 million views.
Notably, “The Perfect Neighbor” is competing for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category. In the two weeks following the nomination, viewership more than tripled. It also won at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Even “KPop Demon Hunters” Dethroned
However, “The Perfect Neighbor” didn’t premiere on Netflix but at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, where the documentary already made waves. After its streaming release, the success continued: The film stayed in Netflix’s global Top 10 for three weeks. It even held the No. 1 spot in the U.S. and six other countries for two weeks, dethroning “KPop Demon Hunters.”
The success shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, “The Perfect Neighbor” deals with a real murder case, aligning with the current true-crime trend.
Specifically, it covers the case of African American Ajike “AJ” Shantrell Owens, who was shot by her white neighbor Susan Lorincz on June 2, 2023, with Lorincz later claiming self-defense. The documentary consists almost entirely of police bodycam footage.